| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08876611B2 |
Customizable, adaptable, multiuser computer-based role-playing method and apparatus therefor
Game client, game server, Web application server, and database server including database with data representative of a virtual world. Game client or server, or both, includes motifs, motif manager, character manager, scenes-a-faire manager, and display manager coupled to display, all in communication with game manager, and pseudorandomizer, which can instigate changing of a motif. Motifs are representative of a game character or environment. A user interface has mass sensor, accelerometer, haptic device, first device for visual input, output, or both, second device for audio input, output, or both, and tactile sensor, effector or both. Included may be automatic translator, or TTS/STT module. The online game can be virtual world representative of at least two of a northern continent, a western continent, a southern continent, a central continent, and an eastern continent. Methods provide game client, game server, and a database that manipulate character or environment motifs and scenes-a-faire. |
| US08876610B1 |
Local environment based wagering
A system and method are disclosed for providing location-based wagering. In one embodiment, wagerable data associated with a location of a first user is identified. The wagerable data may be any type of data on which a wager may be based. Then, a wager recommendation is generated based on the wagerable data and returned to the first user. The first user defines a wager, and the wager is published to one or more second users located in proximity to the first user. Each of the one or more second users is enabled to accept the wager if desired. In addition, one or more winners and one or more losers of the wager may be identified and payout may then be effected. |
| US08876608B2 |
Virtually tracking un-carded or anonymous patron session data
A system for tracking a player session is provided, having a portable transaction device with an input device for receiving input for player characterization information for the player and a first network interface. A gaming server may have a second network interface configured for communication with the portable transaction device, a logic system, and a storage system. The storage system may be used for storing at least the following according to commands from the logic system: a player identification database including player characterization information received from the portable transaction device via the second network interface, a unique identifier database having a unique identifier assigned to the player, the unique identifier paired with the player characterization information for the player, and a wagering location database having at least one wagering location, the at least one wagering location paired with the unique identifier to track the player session. |
| US08876607B2 |
Visual display of fantasy sports team starting roster data trends
An interface for displaying statistical information about players in an online fantasy sports game is provided. The interface includes a statistics generator for providing for display at least one description component that comprises at least a name of at least one player for viewing by a user. The statistics generator also provides at least one indicator for displaying a rendition of a statistic associated with the at least one player, where the statistic is based upon a percentage of teams for which the at least one player has a defined status in the fantasy sports game. The interface also includes an update component for providing for an update of the rendition of the statistic at one or more defined times, wherein the update component is operable to provide for display a value of the statistic determined at an update time, wherein the update time is based upon the one or more defined times. |
| US08876604B2 |
Handheld electronic gesture game device and method
An electronic handheld gesture game device includes a game housing with a speaker and a plurality of lights to provide commands, feedback, and other information to a player. In one type of game play experience, the game device issues one or more commands that indicate a desired movement or gesture to perform, and the player must respond by moving the game housing to simulate the desired movement or gesture. The game device is self-contained and does not require outside computing devices or visual displays to perform the game play experiences. |
| US08876603B1 |
Video game controller device including firearm contour with mounts to connect controller to trigger
A videogame controller device with a videogame controller housing, the housing having a firearm accessory exterior contour one or more firearm mounts on the videogame controller housing, the one or more mounts for connecting the videogame controller housing to a firearm; and a trigger switch jack for operating a button to simulate firing in a videogame. |
| US08876590B2 |
Gaming system, gaming device, and method for enabling a player to select volatility using game symbols
Various embodiments of the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein provide a primary game and a free activation bonus sequence, wherein the gaming system enables the player to select one or more of a plurality of different volatility options for use in the free activation bonus sequence. Each option is associated with a different number of free activations and a different pool of symbols or different symbol functionality. The gaming system provides this variation in the pool of symbols or symbol functionality in various embodiments by enabling the player to replace one or more symbols of a pool or set of symbols of the primary game (i.e., the primary set of symbols) with the symbol associated with a player selected option. The symbols of this modified set of symbols (i.e., the secondary set of symbols) are used in the free activation bonus sequence). |
| US08876589B2 |
Multi-wager slot gaming system
A wagering game and wagering apparatus has a processor and display system. The processor recognizes two wager segments to play a single round of the wagering game. The processor credits one wager segment to a first game and the processor credits a second wager segment to a second game. The processor resolves the first wager segment with respect to the random symbols used in the first game. The processor terminating the single round of play of the wagering game by resolving no additional wagering activity if the symbols provided in the first game do not trigger a bonus event for application to the second game in the two games further resolving the bonus event applied to the second game if the symbols provided in the first game do trigger a bonus event for application to the second game. |
| US08876588B2 |
Gaming machine with a fixed wild symbol
A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a spinning reel game wherein one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. When at least one special symbol appears on the display, the special symbol is held in a superimposed representation in that position for at least one further game while at least that reel carrying the special symbol is re-spun for the at least one further game. |
| US08876587B2 |
Gaming system and method of providing an electronic game
A gaming system and a method provide primary and secondary games to players using a plurality of linked gaming machines. Each gaming machine includes a display. For each gaming machine, an associated player is allowed to make a wager on a primary game, an outcome of the primary game is randomly selected, and if the outcome of the primary game is a winning outcome, awarding the associated player a primary award as a function of the outcome, the wager made by the player, and a predetermined paytable. If a triggering conditioning occurred in one of the primary games and a secondary game is initiated. The secondary game is a video slot game including a plurality of video reels. Each video reel is displayed on a respective display of one of the gaming machines. |
| US08876579B2 |
Shape memory alloy actuated HVAC outlet airflow baffle controllers
A baffle controller for moving a baffle disposed within an HVAC outlet housing between an open position and a closed position to control airflow through an HVAC outlet in a vehicle includes a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuator that is controlled and actuated by an electrical signal. The SMA actuator rotates a main lever that rotates a valve plate. The valve plate is attached to the baffle such that the baffle rotates with the valve plate. The baffle controller may include a position biasing device that increases a position holding ability of the baffle controller, and a cut-off switch that interrupts the electrical signal to the SMA actuator to prevent over-rotating the baffle. |
| US08876576B2 |
Method for sharpening microprobe tips
The present disclosure is related to a method for sharpening the tip of a microprobe, in particular a neural probe or an array of neuroprobes having a common base portion. The probes have a constant thickness and a chisel-shaped tip portion. The probes are attached to the slanted side of a wedge-shaped carrier, with the probe tips placed in close proximity to the edge of the carrier, for example extending over said edge. The base of the carrier is then subjected to a grinding step, possibly followed by a polishing step, so that the probe tips of the probes are ground to form a sharp pointed tip shape. |
| US08876574B2 |
Device for scattering confetti
A device for scattering confetti. The device may include a body, a container, coupled to the body, and having confetti disposed therein, and at least one retaining structure for maintaining the device in a hand of a person. A portion of the body may be disposed in the palm of the hand, while one or both of the body and the container may further include at least one component for releasing confetti from the container. |
| US08876569B2 |
Vacuum cell-assembling device and cell-assembling method
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a vacuum cell-assembling device and a cell-assembling method. The vacuum cell-assembling device comprises: an upper substrate, a signal processing apparatus, and a lower substrate provided opposite to the upper substrate, wherein the upper substrate is provided with a light-emitting apparatus thereon, and the lower substrate is provided a photosensitive receiving element array thereon, and the photosensitive receiving element array is connected with the signal processing apparatus, and the signal processing apparatus is adapted for converting the electrical signals from the photosensitive receiving element array to a liquid crystal diffusion-simulation image. |
| US08876568B2 |
Airbag rescue system
The invention is directed to an airbag system and, more particularly, to such a system employed as a rescue or life-saving system to enable a person to survive an avalanche. In a particular embodiment, the invention relates to an airbag system utilized with a backpack to be worn by a skier, snowboarder, hiker, or snowmobiler, for example. Instead of relying upon compressed gas cartridges or cylinders to inflate the airbag(s), the invention inflates the airbag(s) with ambient air only. In a particular embodiment, air is supplied to the airbag by means of a battery-powered electrical motor. |
| US08876567B2 |
Drop-knee board
The present invention describes a versatile multi-purpose board having a fore section and an aft section suitable for wave boarding. The multi-purpose board of the present invention is provided with an aft section having crotch-sized width in order to allow a user's legs to kick within a general lateral outline of a wider fore section. The combination board can be utilized for surfboarding (both legs standing), drop-knee boarding (one leg standing and one knee down) or body boarding (body prone), in any sequence without the rider having to alter the board. |
| US08876562B2 |
Female type contact for an electrical connector
A female type contact is provided for use with an electrical connector. The female type contact includes a body portion and a plurality of flexible beams that extend from the body portion. The flexible beams include a base portion having a first width and a tip portion having a second width that is smaller than the first width of the base portion. |
| US08876557B2 |
Replaceable bracket lamp tube and lamp head cover
A bracket lamp tube and a lamp head cover thereon are provided. The lamp head cover comprises a cover body (2) and a metallic needle (1) penetrating the cover body (2). The front end of the metallic needle (1) extends out of the outside of the cover body (2). The rear end of the metallic needle (1) is located inside the cover body (2) and is fixedly connected to a first metallic contact plate (3). A second metallic contact plate (5) separated from the first metallic contact plate (3) is provided inside the cover body (2). A third metallic contact plate (6) is provided between the first and the second metallic contact plates (3, 5) and is connected to a touch button (4). The touch button (4) is exposed outside the cover body (2). The first and the second metallic contact plates (3, 5) are electrically connected by the third metallic contact plate (6) as the touch button (4) is pressed. The metallic needle (1) and an internal ballast are disconnected when the lamp head cover is not connected to the lamp, and the L and the N poles of the ballast are connected for power supply by using the connection of the first and the second metallic contact plates (3, 5) when the lamp head cover is installed to a lamp socket. |
| US08876545B2 |
Transmission connector module containable inside a casing of a electronic device in a detachable manner or in a rotable manner
A transmission port module adapted to an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a casing whereon a containing slot is formed. According to an embodiment, the transmission port module includes at least one transmission port and a housing covering the at least one transmission port. The housing is installed inside the containing slot in a detachable manner, such that the at least one transmission port is hidden inside the casing as being not in use by detachment and installation of the housing. According to another embodiment, the transmission port module includes at least one transmission port and a rotational holder. The rotational holder holds the at least one transmission port and drives the at least one transmission port to rotate relative to the casing, such that the at least one transmission port is hidden inside the casing as being not in use by rotation of the rotational holder. |
| US08876543B2 |
Connector
A connector is mateable with a mating connector having a mating terminal. The connector comprises a housing and a terminal held by the housing. The housing has an accommodating portion and a lock portion which are formed integrally. The terminal is accommodated in the accommodating portion so as to be connectable to the mating terminal. When the connector is in a mated state where the connector is mated with the mating connector, the lock portion locks the mated state. In detail, the lock portion has a flexible portion and a lock protrusion. The flexible portion is located over the accommodating portion. The lock protrusion is provided on the flexible portion. No wall is provided between the flexible portion and the accommodating portion so that the flexible portion is resiliently deformable toward the accommodating portion. The lock protrusion moves downward when the flexible portion is resiliently deformed downward. |
| US08876540B2 |
Battery coupling arrangement
A battery has on opposite sides male and female terminal blocks. The female block includes positive and negative power terminals, a communications line and a link detect line. The female terminals include annular female connectors for receiving a male electrical terminal. The male terminal block has a recess for accommodating the female terminal dock. Within the recess there extend a plurality of male terminal pins, which include a positive voltage terminal, a communications line terminal, a battery status terminal and a negative or nominal ground terminal. The pins are positioned and sized so as to fit into respective female terminals. As each battery is provided with both female and male terminal blocks, any number of batteries can be stacked together. The male block includes a protective cover and latch for protecting the pins and locking the battery to a device or other battery. |
| US08876538B2 |
Connector
A connector includes a housing and contacts. Each of the contacts includes a leading end, a connecting part, a held part, and a flange part. The housing has a holding part having a contact insertion hole into which the held part is inserted. The contact insertion hole includes: a first insertion hole in which a side surface of the held part of the contact is held; a second insertion hole formed in a size that holds one opposite side surface of the held part of the contact, and having a space on the other opposite side surface side, the second insertion hole being formed to be longer than the first insertion hole; and a flange holding part. The held part of the contact is made longer than the leading end of the contact. This configuration can improve alignment accuracy of the contacts without using a compensation plate. |
| US08876535B2 |
Real-time driver observation and scoring for driver's education
Driving skill data is gathered with one or more accelerometers during a driving session of a first student driver, including one or more of acceleration data, braking data, or steering data and wherein the driving skill data includes one or more of a timestamp or location stamp. A driving session report is generated with a computer processor. The driving session report includes a calculation of one or more of a student driver acceleration skill score based on the acceleration data, a student driver braking skill score based on the braking data, or a student driver steering skill score based on the steering data and storing the one or more scores on a computer-readable medium. The driving session report is displayed. Driving skill data may be gathered and driving session reports may be generated for subsequent student drivers. |
| US08876530B2 |
Device and procedure for implanting a dental implant
Various tools and procedures are provided for implantation of an implant at a target site. The procedure can include performing an osteotomy at the target site; placing a guide sleeve into the osteotomy; inserting a coring tool into the guide sleeve; coring the target site up to a depth less than the depth of the osteotomy, the coring tool being configured to collect autogenous bone material from the target site during the coring of the target site; placing the implant at the implant site; and grafting the autogenous bone material into selected portions of the target site. |
| US08876527B2 |
Electronic register device for recording jaw movements
An electronic register device for recording movements of the lower jaw of a person relative to the upper jaw of the person, the device having a bite fork for recording a position of the upper jaw relative to reference points on the head of the person, wherein the bite fork is designed to receive a plastic compound for recording an impression of the dentition of the upper jaw. |
| US08876518B2 |
Forming apparatus
A forming apparatus for forming a formable material. Each forming tool of a second forming tool set is adapted to co-act with one or more forming tools of a first forming tool set, or vice versa, to form a co-acting forming tool in a pressure forming zone. There is a first forming tool set guide or guides about which the first forming tool set can be moved about a first circuit. There is also a second forming tool set guide or guides about which the second forming tool set can be moved about a second circuit. A drive drives the tools in a machine direction. At least on part of the circuit, adjacent forming tools of one the forming tool sets are movably supported such that the only relative movement of the adjacent forming tools is towards or away from the forming tools of the other forming tool set. |
| US08876515B2 |
System and method for customizing a food tray
The subject invention provides systems and methods for customizing the arrangement of a food tray. The system includes a demonstration unit having a boundary defining a desired shape for a food tray, and components representing a segment of a food tray. Each of the components may be adapted to be arrangeable within the boundary with a subset of the plurality of components as desired to form a food tray arrangement. The system further includes a modular mold adapted to receive a sub-mold inserts in configurable arrangements, and the sub-mold inserts. Each sub-mold insert may correspond to one of the selection of components, and may be adapted to be positioned within the modular mold in a plurality of arrangements. The method includes providing a demonstration unit having a boundary that defines a desired shape for a food tray, and providing components each representing a segment of a food tray. |
| US08876512B2 |
Die for coextruding a plurality of fluid layers
A die for coextruding a plurality of fluid layers includes one or more distribution plates for forming relatively thick layers, and a microlayer assembly for forming a plurality of microlayers. The die further includes internal fluid passages and/or forming surfaces to allow the microlayers to assemble into a microlayered fluid mass prior to merging with the relatively thick layers from the distribution plates. |
| US08876510B2 |
Molded body production device, molded body production method, and molded body
In a molded body production device, a release agent injection means applies a release agent onto an upper punch surface by injecting the release agent toward the upper punch surface in a state that an upper punch is located above an upper end surface of a molding die, and applies the release agent onto a lower punch surface and an inner circumferential surface exposing above the lower punch surface by injecting the release agent toward the lower punch surface in a state that the lower punch surface is located into the cavity and below the upper end surface of the molding die, before the molding material is filled into the cavity. This makes it possible to prevent the molding material from bonding to the upper punch surface, the lower punch surface and the inner circumferential surface defining the cavity. |
| US08876506B2 |
Displacement pump with internal compression
The invention relates to a dry-compressing dual-shaft rotary displacement screw spindle pump machine for delivering and compressing gases. The spindle rotor pair therein includes multiple stages, having a primary delivery thread, a secondary delivery thread and a gas outlet collector chamber therebetween. The primary delivery thread head circle diameter decreases in the gas outlet direction, while the foot circle diameter thereof increases correspondingly for an application-specific matching inner “integral” compression ratio. The secondary delivery thread nominal delivery direction is opposite to the primary delivery thread nominal delivery direction. The secondary delivery thread is implemented such that the actual gas flow direction is opposite to the nominal delivery direction thereof, and is always directed away from the gas outlet plenum, having a gas permeation under ambient pressure just as the space in the gearbox. A control gas delivery stage is additionally provided for very high operating pressures. |
| US08876499B2 |
Fan module
A fan module includes a housing and at least one impeller. The housing includes first and second air channels. The housing further includes an axial air inlet in communication with the first air channel and a radial air inlet in communication with the second air channel. The housing further includes at least one radial air outlet in communication with the first and second air channels. The at least one impeller draws external air into the housing via the axial air inlet or the radial air inlet and expels air out of the housing via the at last one radial air outlet. By such an arrangement, external air can be guided into the fan module via different directions, providing an enhanced cooling effect. |
| US08876497B2 |
Linear compressor
A linear compressor is provided that includes a cylinder having a compression space for refrigerant therein, a piston that linearly reciprocates inside the cylinder in an axis direction to compress the refrigerant, and a frame having a mounting hole so that one end of the cylinder may be mounted thereon and a deformation prevention portion in some section around the mounting hole brought into contact with the one end of the cylinder. Even if a size of the cylinder is increased and a size of the frame limited, the frame is provided with enough strength to support the cylinder, thereby reducing fastening deformations and improving operation reliability. |
| US08876495B2 |
Case flow augmenting arrangement for cooling variable speed electric motor-pumps
Example fluid circuits (e.g., within aircrafts) include first and second pump assemblies. The first pump assembly has an electric motor and a first fluid pump. The first fluid pump is coupled to the electric motor and has a case drain port that is in fluid communication with a case drain region of the first fluid pump. The second pump assembly is powered by hydraulic pressure from the first fluid outlet of the first fluid pump and functions to augment flow through the case drain region of the first fluid pump. |
| US08876492B2 |
Method and system for operating an ejector
A selectively operable vacuum source is disclosed. In one example, vacuum source supplies as much air to an engine as is drawn by the vacuum source from a vacuum reservoir. The approach may provide vacuum to a vehicle vacuum system efficiently and with less weight than other vacuum sources. |
| US08876488B2 |
Positive air shut off device for bag-in-box pump
The present invention provides a device for turning off a pump. In operation, when the device is activated there is vacuum pressure in a syrup chamber. A diaphragm acting in response to the vacuum causes a piston assembly in the syrup chamber to move in the one direction (e.g. right), thus compressing a W-shaped spring in the air chamber. As the piston assembly moves, a spring holder of the W-shaped spring also moves to the one direction. As the W-shaped spring is compressed over and passed the most compressed position, the W-shaped spring moves a valve assembly in the air chamber to an opposite direction (e.g. left) and blocks a hole in a spool that otherwise allows air to pass through the air chamber to activate the pump. When the air is stopped, this turns off the pump. |
| US08876487B2 |
Water pump system and method
This disclosure relates a water pump control system for an internal combustion engine, and a method for operating an internal combustion engine including a clutch-controlled water pump. The water pump control system and method provide protection of the pump impeller during dry pump operation, such as when a watercraft engine is started while the watercraft is out of water, by turning off the clutch-controlled pump when no water is detected at the inlet of the water pump. |
| US08876477B2 |
Wind turbine and a pitch bearing for a wind turbine
A wind turbine includes a rotor having at least one wind turbine blade connected to a rotor hub through at least one blade pitch bearing. The pitch bearing includes at least one outer ring, at least one center ring and at least one inner ring. The pitch bearing has a first rolling element arrangement between the outer ring and the center ring, and a second rolling element arrangement between the center ring and the inner ring, wherein at least one of the first and the second rolling element arrangements includes at least two rows of rolling elements. The at least two rows are at different axial positions in relation to a rotational axis. The play in the first row of roller elements is greater than the play in the second row of roller elements. A pitch bearing for a wind turbine is also disclosed. |
| US08876476B2 |
Integrated accessory gearbox and engine starter
An air turbine starter and accessory gearbox assembly, the accessory gearbox includes a gear shaft and the air turbine starter includes an output shaft and a clutch assembly. The output shaft extends from the accessory gearbox and is coupled to and supported by the gear shaft. The accessory gearbox is adapted to receive the air turbine starter such that the clutch assembly and the output shaft are disposed within a casing of the accessory gearbox when the air turbine starter is mounted to the accessory gearbox. |
| US08876475B1 |
Turbine blade with radial cooling passage having continuous discrete turbulence air mixers
A large span industrial engine turbine rotor blade with a radial extending cooling air passage having a series of turbulence air mixers along the passage, where the turbulence mixers each have an inlet end and a curved and tapered surface such that cooling air is drawn into the inlet end of the mixer and then discharged from the curved and tapered surface into a middle of the passage. The cooling air flows through the passage along a series of these turbulence mixers from one mixer to another mixer along the spanwise length of the passage. |
| US08876474B2 |
Ram air turbine startup
A ram air turbine (RAT) in which a cam follower is operably coupled to turbine blades such that a cam follower position determines turbine blade pitch. |
| US08876473B2 |
Hinged connection apparatus for securing a first wind turbine component to a second
A hinged connection apparatus is described for securing a first wind turbine component to a second. The first wind turbine component may be a wind turbine blade (10) and the second wind turbine component may be a control surface such as an aileron (11). The first or second wind turbine component comprises at least one hinge housing in which a hinge pin (16, 26) is retained. The hinge pin (16, 26) may be extended from a retracted position into an extended position in which it engages with a hinge recess on the other wind turbine component to form a connection. A locking mechanism is provided for securing the hinge pin in place. The hinge pin may be extended manually or automatically by an actuator. |
| US08876472B2 |
Turbine wheel having de-tuned blades and including a damper device
A turbine wheel including: a plurality of first and second blades, at least one of the first blades being adjacent to at least one of the second blades; a disk presenting an axis of rotation and a periphery having the blades mounted thereat, each of the blades including a head solid with a root engaged in a housing that opens to the periphery of the disk, each of the blades including a keying mechanism including a respective shelf arranged between the head and the root of the blade, the shelves of the first blades presenting an azimuth length different from the azimuth length of the shelves of the second blades; and a damper device arranged at least between the adjacent blades, the damper device being arranged between the shelves of the blades and the periphery of the disk. |
| US08876471B2 |
Turbine stator airfoils with individual orientations
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a turbine stator component includes a first endwall; a second endwall; a first stator airfoil coupled between the first and second endwalls; and a second stator airfoil adjacent to the first airfoil and coupled between the first and second endwalls. The first stator airfoil has first crystallographic primary and secondary orientations. The second stator airfoil has second crystallographic primary and secondary orientations, the first crystallographic primary and secondary orientations being different from the second crystallographic primary and secondary orientations. |
| US08876470B2 |
Spall resistant abradable turbine air seal
An abrasive coating for a rotor shaft, the abrasive coating having a metal bond coat layer on the rotor shaft and an abrasive layer over the bond layer for contact with vanes during operation of the rotor shaft. The abrasive coating includes a matrix containing a low strength filler having an increased concentration radially outward from the bond layer to the outer surface of the abrasive layer. The matrix may be ceramic or metal. |
| US08876467B2 |
Inner wall for a turbomachine nacelle
An inner wall for a nacelle of a turbomachine, the inner wall including an outer annular fan casing for surrounding the fan blades and including at its upstream end a flange for fastening to a ring in axial alignment therewith, and a soundproofing inner annular structure for extending upstream from the fan blades, the fan casing extending substantially as far as an upstream end of the soundproofing structure such that the upstream flange of the fan casing is situated in a vicinity of the upstream end of the soundproofing structure. |
| US08876466B2 |
Abradable liner
A seal is provided between first and second relatively movable members. The seal comprises a liner attached to the first relatively movable member which liner is abraded by the second relatively movable member. The abradable liner comprises a metallic, open porous structure formed by fusing a metallic feedstock with an energy beam to build up sequential deposits of the fused feedstock. |
| US08876465B2 |
Gas turbine engine
A heat exchanger arrangement for a gas turbine engine. The arrangement including a flow path within an outer cowl, which flow path locates a heat exchanger part way therealong. A valve is provided at an inlet end of the flow path to selectively receive fluid into the flow path from outside of the cowl and/or from a pressurized fluid flow. An exit from the flow path includes a plenum chamber to receive exhausted coolant flows from the heat exchanger and possibly other exhaust flows. The heat exchanger exhaust flow is then utilized to provide cooling to engine structures. |
| US08876464B1 |
Sequential cooling insert for turbine stator vane
A sequential impingement cooling insert for a turbine stator vane that forms a double impingement for the pressure and suction sides of the vane or a triple impingement. The insert is formed from a sheet metal formed in a zigzag shape that forms a series of alternating impingement cooling channels with return air channels, where pressure side and suction side impingement cooling plates are secured over the zigzag shaped main piece. Another embodiment includes the insert formed from one or two blocks of material in which the impingement channels and return air channels are machined into each block. |
| US08876457B1 |
Apparatus and method for stacking railroad ties
A railroad tie stacker arrangement includes means for conveying ties to a tie accumulation deck to form a layer of parallel ties, means for conveying the layer of parallel ties onto a stack accumulation lift, and means for lowering the stack accumulation lift as each successive layer of ties is deposited onto the lift. |
| US08876454B2 |
Storage system
In a storage system (1; 18) with at least one shelving level (3, 4, 5, 6, 7), comprising at least one transport aisle (10), shelves (8, 9; 19, 20) situated alongside the transport aisle (10) with storage spaces (L) for products (P) and a level transport device (EBG) movable in the transport aisle (10) for approaching the storage spaces (L), with a conveyor system (2; 24) for supplying products (P) to the shelving level (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and removing therefrom, with at least one intermediate buffer (Z), in which the products (P) supplied by means of the conveyor system (2; 24) are temporarily stored until their storage in a storage space (L) and in which products (P) that are removed from the storage places (L) are temporarily stored until their transfer to the conveyor system (2; 24), there is provided that substantially each storage space (L) has a movable compartment floor (F) and that the level transport device (EBG) has compartment floor-moving means, by means of which a compartment floor (F) may be transferred from the storage space (L) into the level transport device (EBG) and vice versa and from the level transport device (EBG) into the intermediate buffer (Z) and vice versa so that the compartment floor (F) does not pass onto the conveyor system (2; 24). |
| US08876453B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A substrate processing apparatus suppresses vibration of a cover when unloading a boat from a process pipe. The apparatus comprises a boat for placing a substrate, a process pipe configured to accommodate the boat, a cover having the boat placed thereon, the cover configured to open and close a furnace port installed on a lower end of the process pipe, a motor to drive an elevation mechanism which moves the cover upward and downward, a sealing member to seal a space between the cover and the process pipe, and a controller to control motor speed and limit motor torque while the cover moves from the furnace port to a predetermined position. The substrate is maintained at a rest position in the boat during a recovery from a deformation of the cover occurring when separating the sealing member from the cover surface or the process pipe surface. |
| US08876452B2 |
Raise-assist and smart energy system for a pipe handling apparatus
The invention relates to a pipe handling apparatus that delivers and positions tubulars at a wellhead and a device for assisting pivotal movement of a boom relative to a base of the apparatus. A pneumatic spring assembly is pivotally connected between the boom and base. During operation, the pneumatic spring assembly urges the boom from a first position to a second position and resists movement of the boom from the second position to the first position. A pneumatic reservoir may be attached to the pipe handling apparatus. A gas-charging assembly fluidically connects the pneumatic spring assembly and pneumatic reservoir and allows the pneumatic reservoir to vary the pneumatic pressure within the pneumatic spring assembly. Sensors mounted in the pipe handling apparatus may provide feedback to a controller which may automatically adjust the amount of pneumatic pressure within the pneumatic springs for ideal performance of the springs. |
| US08876448B1 |
Gas turbine half-casing shipping fixture
A shipping fixture for a turbine lower casing includes a frame having a substantially rectangular shape including a pair of elongated, laterally-spaced side beams and a pair of transverse end beams. A first lateral support structure extends between the side beams at a first location corresponding to a first vertically-oriented joint between the turbine compressor casing section and the turbine combustor casing section; and a second lateral support structure includes support blocks mounted on the side beams at a second location corresponding to a second vertically-oriented joint between the turbine combustor casing section and the turbine stage casing section. |
| US08876447B2 |
Tool holder comprising a cooling means
A tool holder for a machining tool includes a cooling means for a compressed air blowing tool and a device for cooling air compressed by a vortex tube device. The tool holder is generally cylindrical and the vortex tube device advantageously includes a plurality of vortex tubes placed annularly around the axis of the cylinder and the cold air outputs of which are directed at the tool held by the tool holder. |
| US08876445B2 |
Drill
A guide portion prevents the drilling hole from curving due to a skipping rope phenomenon, and also prevents the inner wall face of the drilling hole from being damaged, so that its surface roughness can be improved.Chip evacuating flutes 4 are formed in the periphery of a drill body 1 which has a stick shape and is rotatable on its axis O, from its front flank 3 toward the rear side.Cutting edges 2A are formed along ridge lines where the front flanks 3 intersect with wall faces 4A which are in the chip evacuating flutes 4 and face in a drill rotational direction T.A cutting edge section 2, where the cutting edges 2A are formed, is provided in the front side of the drill body 1. A cutting edge section 2 has an external diameter which is smaller toward the rear side in the axis O direction than the external diameter D at the cutting edges 2A.A guide portion 6 has a maximum external diameter part 6A at the front periphery side, and is provided to the rear side of the cutting edge section 2. An external diameter at the maximum external diameter part 6A is larger than the external diameter at the rear of the cutting edge section 2, and is smaller than or equal to the external diameter D at the cutting edges 2A.The maximum external diameter part 6A of the guide portion 6 shows a smooth convex curve shape in a rotatory figure obtained by rotating it on the axis O. |
| US08876443B2 |
Composite cemented carbide rotary cutting tools and rotary cutting tool blanks
Composite articles, including composite rotary cutting tools and composite rotary cutting tool blanks, and methods of making the articles are disclosed. The composite article includes an elongate portion. The elongate portion includes a first region composed of a first cemented carbide, and a second region autogenously bonded to the first region and composed of a second cemented carbide. At least one of the first cemented carbide and the second cemented carbide is a hybrid cemented carbide that includes a cemented carbide dispersed phase and a cemented carbide continuous phase. At least one of the cemented carbide dispersed phase and the cemented carbide continuous phase includes at least 0.5 percent by weight of cubic carbide based on the weight of the phase including the cubic carbide. |
| US08876442B2 |
Rotary cutter
The object of the invention is to stably spray cutting fluid in a good mist form, when cutting fluid and air are supplied from the surrounding area and cutting fluid is sprayed in a mist form from the tip end section of a rotary cutting tool. The rotary cutter of the present invention sequentially feeds a mixture of cutting fluid and air through a supply pipe 4, first supply path b in a cover 3, second supply paths c, d in a chuck 2, a hollow center cavity (front throttle chamber d, throttle 24a, and rear throttle chamber e) in the chuck, and a third supply path g in a rotary cutting tool 1. The first supply path and second supply path are intermittently connected when the respective openings thereof face each other as the cover and chuck turn relative to each other; the second supply path sprays fluid toward the throttle; the front throttle chamber is formed such the diameter thereof expands from the second supply path; the throttle is formed such that the diameter thereof is less than the smallest diameter of the second supply path; the rear throttle chamber is formed by the rear end surface of the rotary cutting tool and the inner conical surface on the down-flow side of the throttle when that rear end surface and inner conical surface on the down-flow side come in close contact with each other; and the front throttle chamber is formed such that the capacity thereof is greater than that of the rear throttle chamber. |
| US08876441B2 |
Cutting insert having chip breaker
A cutting insert has an approximately polygonal plate shape with a cutting edge formed on a intersection portion between a rake face and a flank. A chip breaker is formed on the rake face, and a chip-breaker concave portion is defined by an inclined surface which is curved in a concave manner and which is smoothly connected to the bottom surface portion while being gradually inclined toward the bottom surface portion, from a peripheral edge portion on a nose portion side to a bottom surface portion. |
| US08876440B2 |
Cutting insert
A cutting insert, and more particularly, an improved double-sided cutting insert is provided, which provides improved machinability obtained due to increased rake angle, without compromising coupling state. The double-sided cutting insert includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of lateral relief surfaces connecting the top and bottom surfaces, and a cutting edge formed by the top and bottom surfaces and the plurality of lateral relief surfaces, in which one or more lateral relief surfaces of the plurality of lateral relief surfaces are formed into three stages in sequence which are a first positive surface, a negative surface and a second positive surface in a direction from the top surface to the bottom surface. |
| US08876437B2 |
Use of elastomers to produce gels for treating a wellbore
A method of treating an earth formation that includes introducing at least one blocked isocyanate in a liquid phase into the earthen formation; introducing at least one active hydrogen compound into the earthen formation; and contacting the blocked isocyante and the active hydrogen compound form an elastomeric gel is disclosed. |
| US08876431B1 |
Submersible bulkhead system and method of operating same
A bulkhead system and a method of implementing such a bulkhead system in relation to a dam are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, such a method includes providing a plurality of bulkhead sections assembled together as a bulkhead assembly, and coupling first and second side assemblies to first and second ends of the bulkhead assembly. Further, the method includes causing a first of the bulkhead sections to receive a respective amount of ballast within an internal cavity therewithin, receiving water pressure at an upstream surface of the bulkhead assembly such that the bulkhead system is forced against the dam and substantially sealed in relation thereto, and operating to counteract the water pressure and thereby prevent or limit the flow of water past the dam, where the operating is performed at least in part by one or more brace members of the side assemblies. |
| US08876429B2 |
Locking devices for boat lifts
Various security members for selectively preventing movement of a boat-supporting cradle of a boat lift system. In one form, each security member is structured to hang from a longitudinal support on the boat lift system and to operably move along the longitudinal support between an engaged position and a disengaged position. Each security member comprises a bracket structured to hold the cradle in a secured position when the security member is in the engaged position. |
| US08876425B2 |
Union between dissimilar materials
A sleeve is placed between a first body and second body, where the first body and the second body are different materials. The sleeve is a third material that is at least similar to the material of the first body, and a mechanical connection is made between the sleeve and the second body. The mechanical connection has a locking abutment where the surface of the sleeve is angled toward the end of the second body that is in the union, and this angled surface of the sleeve abuts the second body. A first connection substance is positioned between the sleeve and the first body, and a second connection substance is positioned between the sleeve and the second body. |
| US08876424B2 |
Maintenance-free linear annular connection and device including at least such a connection
A connection intended to connect together a first and a second element, capable of allowing small movements between the first and second elements, said connection being formed by at least one material capable of being deformed elastically, said connection including a central portion of small transverse dimension, capable of deforming elastically in flexure and in torsion and first and second end portions attached to longitudinal ends of said central portion, at least the first end portion being capable of deforming elastically in a longitudinal direction connecting the longitudinal ends of the central portion, said connection forming an angular linear connection. |
| US08876422B2 |
Airless pumping type cosmetic container having an applicator
An airless pump includes a storage unit having inner and outer shells. A head is fastened to the storage unit, wherein the head has a fastening groove and a nozzle. An application unit has the form of a brush and is fastened into the fastening groove so as to allow the content to be applied onto the skin. An airless pump is provided inside the head and connects the storage unit and the nozzle. The airless pump converts the direction of power that has been produced when an operation button is pushed, from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction in order to pump the content from the inner shell. A nozzle opening/closing unit is disposed between the airless pump and the nozzle in order to open/close the nozzle in the same stroke as an operation of the airless pump. |
| US08876421B2 |
Cleaning tool
With respect to a cleaning tool having a sheetlike cleaning member for mopping a surface to be cleaned, it is intended to provide a technology effective for enhancing of cleaning effect. There is provided cleaning tool (10) comprising cleaning sheet (100) for mopping a surface to be cleaned and injection nozzle (252) for jetting a cleaning liquid toward the surface to be cleaned at its region under the cleaning sheet (100). |
| US08876415B2 |
Optical communication module
An optical communication module includes an optical element array, a supporting member on which the optical element array is placed, an optical member for optically coupling the optical element array and a plurality of optical fibers together, a plurality of grooves provided in the supporting member or the optical member, and a plurality of protrusions provided on the optical member or the supporting member in correspondence with the grooves respectively. The grooves and the protrusions are mated together. The grooves are provided as being widened toward their openings. The grooves and the protrusions are each provided so that a location in a width direction at which no relative locational misalignment occurs therebetween lies on a line through the center of the optical element array. The grooves and the protrusions are each provided on at least two or more different lines through the center of the optical element array. |
| US08876407B2 |
Cable anchoring system
An optical fiber connector for terminating an optical fiber cable containing a buffered fiber, said connector comprising: (a) a housing having a front and rear orientation; (b) an anchor at the rear of said housing, said anchor comprising exterior threads and a collet and defining at least a first passage configured to receive said buffered fiber; (c) a nut having internal threads and being adapted for threaded engagement with said anchor; and wherein said nut and collet cooperate to define an interference portion in which said nut deflects said collect inward to constrict said first passage as said nut is threaded onto said anchor. |
| US08876406B2 |
Optical fiber connector and assembling device for the same
An optical fiber connector includes a fixing module for gripping an optical fiber, an inner housing sleeved on the fixing module; and an outer housing sleeved on the inner housing. The fixing module includes a support member, a fastening member mating with the support member, and a locking member sleeved on the support member. The locking member forms at least one pair of gripping portions at outer surfaces of the locking member. The inner housing defines a pair of sliding grooves in a side wall thereof. The outer housing defines a pair of operating grooves communicating with the pair of sliding grooves correspondingly. The locking member is capable of sliding along the support member to grip or unlock the optical fiber driven by an assembly tool engaging with the pair of gripping portions through the pair of sliding grooves and the pair of operating grooves. |
| US08876402B2 |
Relay optical connector
In a relay optical connector 1, a part 16 of a ferrule 4 is butted against a part 17 of a ferrule 5 in a ferrule end face 14 of the ferrule 4 in which an optical fiber 2 for an optical connection is exposed and a ferrule end face 15 of the ferrule 5 in which an optical fiber 3 is exposed and the one optical fiber 2 and the other optical fiber 3 are arranged so as not to come into contact with each other. Specifically, one of the ferrule end faces 14 and 15 is surface-ground so as to extend along a surface at right angles to an optical axis L and the other thereof is diagonally surface-ground so as to be inclined at a prescribed angle θ relative to the surface at right angles to the optical axis. |
| US08876398B2 |
Sealing ring with an elastic spring lip
The axial thrust bearing device, in particular for the suspension strut of a motor vehicle, comprises a bottom support cover, a top bearing cover, a rolling bearing axially disposed between said covers, and at least a sealing ring axially bearing against the bottom support cover and adapted to reduce any ingress of foreign matter between said covers.The sealing ring comprises at least one friction lip in contact with the top bearing cover and tending to keep said sealing ring in axial contact with the bottom support cover. |
| US08876391B2 |
Main bearing for crankshaft of internal combustion engine
A main bearing for a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine comprises a pair of semi-cylindrical bearings. An oil groove extends on an inner circumferential surface of one semi-cylindrical bearing in a circumferential direction so that the center thereof in an axial direction aligns with that of an inlet opening of a lubricating oil path in a journal section of the crankshaft. The oil groove does not extend up to an axial direction groove formed at a joint portion of the semi-cylindrical bearings so that a separation inner circumferential surface extends between a circumferential direction end portion of the oil groove and the axial direction groove. The length of the separation inner circumferential surface is smaller than that of the inlet opening in the circumferential direction. |
| US08876387B2 |
Hydrodynamic radial plain bearing with a very high load-bearing capacity of large turbine sets
A plain bearing includes a bearing body in which a body, which is to be stored, is arranged. The bearing body is surrounded by a supporting body. The bearing body has a partial joint arranged at an angle in relation to the horizontal. The plain bearing has an active cooling system and an articulated lubrication system. |
| US08876383B2 |
Flexible packages having multiple lines of weakness to facilitate opening
A flexible film package for storing food products comprises a body with a side wall, a closed bottom end, and a closed top end. The body includes a primary line of weakness and a pair of secondary lines of weakness formed in the side wall. Each of the primary and secondary lines of weakness includes a plurality of score lines spaced apart by non-scored portions of the side wall. The score lines of the primary line of weakness have a greater length, width, and depth than the score lines of the secondary lines of weakness. The non-scored portions between the score lines of the primary line of weakness are longer than the non-scored portions between the score lines of the secondary lines of weakness. |
| US08876376B2 |
Alignment device for bitewing radiograph
An alignment device for a bitewing radiograph includes a longitudinally extending handle having a first end and a second end and a tip disposed at the second end and extending orthogonally to the handle, wherein a length of the tip is substantially less than a length of the handle and wherein a cross-sectional area of the tip is substantially less than a cross-sectional area of the handle. This alignment device enables a dentist or other x-ray operator to easily and quickly align a bitewing radiograph so as to obtain a diagnostic non-overlapping x-ray of crooked teeth in a patient's mouth. The alignment device may optionally include a slidable rubber ring or a slidable hub with rod. The ring and hub are dimensioned to slide over the handle to facilitate the lining up of the x-ray cone. |
| US08876372B2 |
Sensor arrangement for temperature measurement and method for measurement
A sensor arrangement is provided for temperature measurement in melts, in particular in metal or cryolite melts having a melting point above 600° C., using a temperature sensor. A method for the measurement with this sensor arrangement is also provided. |
| US08876366B2 |
Through-head stand mixer
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a stand mixer including a base with an upstanding pedestal portion and a mixer head supported on the pedestal portion, the mixer head having a upward-facing side, a downward-facing side and an aperture passing through the mixer head from the upward-facing side to the downward-facing side. |
| US08876362B2 |
Nail polish display system
A nail polish display system includes a case, which may take the form of a shelving system or platform, sized to hold and display multiple bottles of nail polish. The bottles are attached to coupling devices, such as clamps, sleeves, magnetic couplers, etc. to an agitator, which preferably takes the form of a rotatable rod. A motor operates the agitator to move, rotate or otherwise agitate the bottles and therefore sufficiently and continuously mix the nail polish within the bottles. The system may include one or more sensors configured to detect the presence of a patron, configured to detect a position of the motor or agitator, and/or configured to detect when a door to the case is being opened. Further, the motor may be programmable and receive instructions from either a controller or control logic using input from one or more of the sensors. |
| US08876360B2 |
Method for constructing co-rotating, contiguous bodies and computer program product for carrying out said method
The invention relates to a method of constructing elements which wipe each other during corotation about two parallel axes in such a manner that they constantly touch each other at at least one point. |
| US08876355B2 |
Light guide, light source apparatus, and reading apparatus
A light guide includes an incident surface, an emitting surface, a reflecting surface, and a light guide section. The incident surface receives light from a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged at least in a first direction. The emitting surface outputs incident light from the incident surface. The reflecting surface includes a plurality of lenses having optical power in the first direction and a second direction different from the first direction and is provided to be opposed to the incident surface. The light guide section includes a surface including the incident surface, the emitting surface, and the reflecting surface, and causes the light that has entered from the incident surface to be reflected by the plurality of lenses of the reflecting surface to guide the light to the emitting surface. |
| US08876349B2 |
Display and electronic unit
A display includes: a display section including pixels, and grouping the pixels into pixel groups to assign, in a predetermined assignment pattern, perspective images to the groups, respectively, thereby displaying the perspective images; and a light source device including a light guide plate and one or more first light sources, and emitting light, the light guide plate having a first internal reflection face and a second internal reflection face and having one or more side faces, and the first light sources applying first illumination light into the light guide plate. One or both of the first and second internal reflection faces each have scattering regions arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern corresponding to the predetermined assignment pattern, the scattering regions allowing the first illumination light from the first light source to be scattered and to exit to the outside of the light guide plate through the first internal reflection face. |
| US08876347B2 |
Device for controlling light from an LED
A device for controlling LED light beam direction and brightness. |
| US08876342B2 |
Adaptive vehicle cabin light
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an adaptable vehicle cabin light, with which in all seating positions of a vehicle seat, reading conditions are optimal. The vehicle seat is adjustable. Each position of the vehicle seat has a corresponding reading area. The vehicle cabin light includes one or more light sources that align with the different reading areas. As the vehicle seat moves, the illumination moves with it. In some embodiments, the one or more light sources are controlled by a control unit which selectively turns on a group of the one or more light sources to illuminate the corresponding reading area of the position of the vehicle seat. In some embodiments, the one or more light sources are enclosed in an adjustable optics, wherein movements of the adjustable optics are controlled by the control unit. |
| US08876335B2 |
Workspace lighting system
A modular lighting system for lighting a work area is disclosed. The system includes a power supply with power outlets for powering LED fixtures. The power supply preferably operates at or below a fixed power output level, such as to illuminate the work area using less than 0.2 Watts per square foot of energy. The lighting system also includes an occupancy sensor and/or a light level sensor for controlling lighting levels in the work area in response to detection of a person, ambient light levels and/or a combination thereof. The lighting system can also include computer unit with a micro-processor and a memory unit for running software or firmware the executes lighting programs, stores light usage histories and/or provides system reports to a remote computer by a wireless means and/or over a computer network. |
| US08876333B1 |
LED recessed luminaire with unique heat sink to dissipate heat from the LED
A uniquely shaped heat sink which has a lower generally elliptical interior shape which extends to an upper generally circular interior shape, the heat sink having a multiplicity of radial fins a portion of which surround the elliptical shaped lower exterior, the multiplicity of lower radial fins integrally formed with a multiplicity of upper radial fins which surround the upper interior circular shape of the heat sink. The multiplicity of upper radial fins form an upper air gap between the fins and an upper surface the plate. As the body heats up, the multiplicity of fins transfer the heat from an LED press fit retained against the heat sink to the edge of the heat sink. |
| US08876332B2 |
Lamp for general lighting
A lamp includes a lamp housing which has a light exit opening. A light source of a first type is arranged in the lamp housing. A mounting is fastened to the lamp housing and at least one light source of a second type is fastened to the holder. The at least one light source of the second type includes an organic light-emitting diode and the at least one light source of the second type is arranged downstream of the light exit opening in an emission direction. |
| US08876330B2 |
Illumination device
Illumination devices are provided. In one aspect, an illumination device includes a housing including a plurality of electrically conductive leads. The illumination device also includes a lens unitarily formed as one-piece with the housing and a first light source electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of electrically conductive leads and positioned behind the lens. The first light source is adapted to emit light of a first color. The illumination device further includes a second light source electrically coupled to at least another one of the plurality of electrically conductive leads and positioned behind the lens. The second light source is adapted to emit light of a second color different than the first color. The illumination device is adapted to be coupled to a surface of a substrate and emit light through the lens generally parallel to the surface. |
| US08876325B2 |
Reverse total internal reflection features in linear profile for lighting applications
An elongated lens profile having reverse total internal reflection (TIR) features that improve light extraction when the lens is used in conjunction with a plurality of light emitters. Solid state light emitters, such as LEDs, are arranged proximate to the elongated lens along a longitudinal axis of the lens body. The emitters, which may be grouped in clusters, emit toward a receiving surface of the lens. The receiving surface includes a plurality of reverse TIR features, also disposed along the longitudinal axis. These features may be defined by a series of recessed areas spaced along the longitudinal axis to correspond with the light emitters which can protrude into the negative space created by the recessed features. The recessed features may have more than one shape. The reverse TIR features improve light output uniformity, reducing hot spots along the lens, and improve output efficiency. |
| US08876321B2 |
Modular lighted artificial tree
A modular, lighted artificial tree that includes a base portion for supporting the artificial tree and a first tree portion. The first tree portion includes a trunk portion having a first end and a second end, and forms a trunk wall, the trunk wall defines a trunk cavity and a plurality of apertures. The first end of the trunk portion is configured to couple with the base portion. The first tree portion also includes a plurality of branches coupled to the trunk portion; a first tree portion power-supply wiring harness within the trunk cavity and extending from the first end of the trunk portion to the second end of the trunk portion; a first light string operably coupled to the power-supply wiring harness. The first wire and the second wire pass through a common aperture to electrically connect to the wiring harness. |
| US08876319B2 |
Backlight unit and display apparatus using the same
Disclosed are a backlight unit and a display apparatus using the same. The backlight unit includes a light guide plate, grooves disposed in the light guide plate, the grooves having at least one inclined surface, light source modules disposed within the grooves, and stoppers disposed between the light source modules and the light guide plate, wherein a cross-sectional area of the grooves is larger than that of the stoppers. The stoppers contact at least one of the side surfaces of the grooves, the bottom surfaces of the grooves and the light source modules. |
| US08876317B2 |
Protection cover and backlight module
The present invention provides a protection cover and a backlight module. The protection cover comprises a cover main body. The cover main body includes a heat dissipation surface. Each side edge of the cover main body forms a sidewall protruding with respect to the heat dissipation surface. The heat dissipation surface disposes at least one heat dissipation hole thereon, and the sidewall disposes at least one vent hole thereon. The present invention may timely and fast dissipate the heat in the protection cover, and improve the heat dissipation efficiency. |
| US08876311B2 |
Light emitting device and illumination apparatus including same
A light emitting device includes a plurality of solid-state light emitting elements; a board on which the solid-state light emitting elements are arranged in the form of an array; and a light distribution adjusting member for adjusting a distribution of lights outputted from the solid-state light emitting elements. The light distribution adjusting member is provided to commonly cover at least two of the solid-state light emitting elements, and includes an accommodating portion which accommodates the solid-state light emitting elements; a concave curved surface portion provided above light output surfaces of the solid-state light emitting elements and immediately above the solid-state light emitting elements; and a pair of convex curved surface portions which are provided in opposite sides of the concave curved surface portion, each of the convex curved surface portions being smoothly connected to the concave curved surface portion. |
| US08876309B2 |
Adjustable back-lighting structure for a keyboard
An adjustable back-lighting structure for a keyboard includes a light guide panel having vertical peripheral edges and at least one light entering surface; and a surrounding edge made of plastic or chemical macromolecule compound material, having a connecting interface tightly bonded with the vertical peripheral edges of the light guide panel. The connecting interface can generates the feedback beam Bf to enhance the illumination effect. Therefore, the light transmission in the light guide panel can be limited in the upper and lower surfaces without leakage at the vertical peripheral edges. |
| US08876307B2 |
Webcam illumination frame
An illumination frame attaches to a laptop computer, computer notebook, table or other communications device having a camera. The frame has a series of light arrays that illuminate an object placed before the camera so that it is more easily and clearly viewed. The arrays provide lighting from many different angles. The lights include diffuse lenses to soften the light applied of an object being viewed. |
| US08876298B2 |
Projector and projector system
This projector includes a laser beam generation portion outputting a laser beam, an image projection portion, including a scanning portion scanning the laser beam, projecting an image on a projection area, an image correction portion correcting distortion of the projected image on the basis of projection condition information, a photoreceiving portion receiving the laser beam reflected by a detection object, and a position acquisition portion acquiring the position of the detection object on the basis of photoreceiving information of the laser beam received by the photoreceiving portion and the projection condition information employed by the image correction portion for correcting the image. |
| US08876294B2 |
Image forming apparatus and vehicle on which the image forming apparatus is mounted
An image forming apparatus includes an optical scanning device including a light source element configured to radiate a light beam, an optical deflector configured to deflect the light beam two-dimensionally, and a target scanning surface that is transparent and having a two-dimensional image formed thereon by the light beam deflected from the optical deflector, and a projection optical system including a convex mirror and configured to enlarge and project the two-dimensional image on a target projection surface. The target projection surface includes a reflection surface of a half mirror. The half mirror is positioned outside of the image forming apparatus and configured to transmit a part of a light incident on the half mirror and reflect another part of the light incident on the half mirror. |
| US08876293B2 |
Macular pigment measurement device with data quality indexing feature
A system measures macular pigment of a macula of a human eye of a subject. The system comprises a light source having a first light and a second light that modulate at variable frequencies, an input device for receiving an input indicating the frequency at which the user perceives the modulation of the first light and a second light, a display device, at least one processor, and one or more memory devices. The one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the system to (i) display, on the display device, test data corresponding to the user's inputs from the input device, (ii) determine whether the test data are valid or invalid through a curve-fitting algorithm, (iii) automatically indicate that the test data are valid or invalid. |
| US08876291B2 |
Control apparatus, ophthalmologic apparatus, system, control method, and program
A control apparatus includes a display control unit configured to cause a display unit to display an image of an anterior segment of a subject's eye captured by an imaging unit, and a control unit configured to output, based on an operation signal output from a mouse according to an operation on the mouse when an index indicating an arbitrary position on the display unit is located on the image of the anterior segment, a control signal indicating a change amount in an optical axis direction of the imaging unit of a focal position of the image of the anterior segment relative to the imaging unit. |
| US08876290B2 |
Objective quality metric for ocular wavefront measurements
A system and method for determining an objective quality metric for image data collected by a wavefront aberrometer. The method may include quantifying a plurality of characteristics of the image data and calculating the objective quality metric based on the quantified characteristics of the image data. The objective quality metric can be a weighted sum of the quantified characteristics of the image data. The weightings for the weighted sum can be determined based on subjective quality metrics assigned to a set of training image data by a human expert. |
| US08876289B2 |
Instrument for simulating multifocal ophthalmic corrections
The invention relates to an instrument for simulation of multifocal ophthalmic corrections, comprising two optical channels with different optical power values in the beams coming from the object observed, wherein at least one channel comprises a Badal system. This instrument simultaneously provides images of objects near and far focused. The system provides the same optical magnifications for each channel, regardless of the optical power thereof, and produces superimposed retinal images with different degrees of focus which, unlike other devices, are all of the same size. The instrument allows simulating different optical powers for near vision and different refractive corrections for distant vision. |
| US08876286B2 |
Multifocal contact lenses and related methods and uses to improve vision of presbyopic subjects
Multifocal contact lenses and methods and uses are described. The multifocal contact lenses include an optic zone. The optic zone has an aspheric power profile that provides a near vision refractive power and a distance vision refractive power, and provides an Add power that corresponds to the difference between the near vision refractive power and the distance vision refractive power. The multifocal contact lenses can improve binocular vision of presbyopic subjects by being prescribed such that the non-dominant eye contact lens is over-corrected for distance vision, and both multifocal contact lenses are under-corrected for the Add power requirement of the subject. Batches and sets of multifocal contact lenses are also described. |
| US08876278B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus includes a recording head that ejects a liquid thereby performing recording on a recording medium, and a support member disposed so as to oppose the recording head. The support member includes a deposit recess located at a position corresponding to the respective end portion of the recording medium in the width direction intersecting with the transport direction, for receiving the liquid ejected to a region deviated from the recording medium in a marginless recording process, and a support region provided upstream of the deposit recess in the transport direction so as to support a back surface of the recording medium, and most upstream nozzles in the transport direction are not used in the marginless recording process. |
| US08876275B2 |
Transfer ink jet recording method
An image recording method includes applying a liquid composition containing a reaction agent to a region of an intermediate transfer member, applying an ink containing a coloring material to at least part of the region to form an intermediate image, and transferring the intermediate image to a recording medium. The intermediate transfer member has a surface on which water forms a contact angle of 40 degrees or more with the surface. The reaction agent precipitates or aggregates the coloring material. The liquid composition has a pH of 6.0 or less and contains a polyether siloxane compound expressed by the following general formula: |
| US08876271B2 |
Liquid jet head
A liquid jet apparatus is provided. The liquid jet apparatus includes a first damper chamber and a second damper chamber, a release path operatively associated with both the first damper chamber and the second damper chamber, and a control path connecting the first damper chamber, the second damper chamber, and the release path to each other. |
| US08876269B2 |
Inkjet recording device, computer program for controlling the same, and method of using the same
An inkjet printer (100) has an ink tank (113), an ink head (110), an ink supply tube (112) configured to supply ink from the ink tank (113) to the ink head (110), an ink return tube (115) one end of which is connected to an upstream side portion of the ink supply tube (112) and the other end of which is connected to a downstream side portion of the ink supply tube (112), and a pump (116) configured to circulate the ink in the ink supply tube (112) and the ink return tube (115). |
| US08876265B2 |
Ink stick transport system
A solid ink stick transport system has been developed that differentiates between ink sticks inserted into a single insertion port of an inkjet printer. The system includes a solid ink support platform that moves between a position exposed outside of a printer housing to receive solid ink sticks and a position within the housing. The support includes a sensor that enables a controller to identify the solid ink stick before transporting the solid ink stick to an appropriate feed channel. |
| US08876264B2 |
Ink droplet generation module
An ink droplet generation module for a print head assembly for a continuous ink jet printer, the printer having an ink supply system, a control system and a power supply system. The ink droplet generation module includes a supporting plate, an ink droplet generator, a charge electrode assembly, deflector plates, a phase measurement assembly, and a gutter tube, all attached to the supporting plate. |
| US08876263B2 |
Liquid ejection head
A liquid ejection head has a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with respective ejection ports and a plurality of hollow spaces arranged around the pressure chambers in a piezoelectric block which is produced by laminating a plurality of piezoelectric plates made of a piezoelectric material. Each of the plurality of piezoelectric plates has a plurality of first grooves on a first surface and a plurality of second grooves on a second surface opposite to the first surface. The plurality of piezoelectric plates are laminated so as to put the first surfaces or the second surfaces of adjacent piezoelectric plates into contact with each other such that the pressure chambers are formed as the first grooves of the paired first surfaces are placed vis-a-vis and the hollow spaces are formed as the second grooves of the paired second surfaces are placed vis-à-vis. |
| US08876261B2 |
Actuator, liquid ejecting head, and liquid ejecting apparatus
An actuator includes a vibration plate, a first conductive layer formed on an upper surface of the vibration plate and extending in a predetermined direction, a piezoelectric layer covering the first conductive layer, a second conductive layer formed on an upper surface of the piezoelectric layer, a metal layer formed on the upper surface of the vibration plate and on an upper surface of the second conductive layer, and an electrode electrically connected to the metal layer. The first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, and the piezoelectric layer interposed between the first and second conductive layers form a driving unit. A plurality of the driving units are disposed in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction. The metal layer intersects a plurality of the second conductive layers so as to be electrically connect the plurality of second conductive layers. |
| US08876257B2 |
Sealant, inkjet recording head using sealant, and method for manufacturing the same
A sealant contains a dicyclopentadiene type epoxy resin represented by formula 1 below, a hydrogenated bisphenol A epoxy resin, and a photo-induced cationic polymerization initiator, in which the content of the dicyclopentadiene type epoxy resin is 15 to 40 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the total mass of epoxy resins contained in the sealant. where n represents an integer of 0 to 2. |
| US08876254B2 |
Image printing apparatus, image printing method and recording medium
The invention improves uniform glossiness of a printed surface. Glossiness of each of inks installed in a printer is obtained. The inks are sorted in order of glossiness. The number of scans when forming an image by scanning each head is set for each of the inks sorted. Mask data for controlling the number of operations is created. |
| US08876244B2 |
Inkjet printing system with condensation control system
Methods for operating a printing system are provided. In one method, an inkjet printhead that is positioned by a support structure is caused to emit droplets of an ink including vaporizable carrier fluid toward a target area to emit droplets according to image data and a shield is used to separate the support structure from the target area to form a first region between the support structure and the shield and a second region between the shield and the target area with the shield providing an opening between the first region and the second region to allow the inkjet printhead to jet droplets to the target area. The shield is heated to a temperature that is at least equal to a condensation temperature of the vaporized carrier fluid in the second region. |
| US08876243B2 |
Inkjet recording device and inkjet recording method
According to an embodiment, an inkjet device includes a first temperature sensor which detects an ink temperature in an upstream side of a print head, a second temperature sensor which detects an ink temperature in a downstream side of the print head, and a control device which changes at least one of energies per unit volume of first and second pressure sources, based on the temperatures detected by the first and second temperature sensors. |
| US08876241B2 |
Transporting system, image forming system, and controller
There is provided a transporting system including two rollers to transport a sheet, two driving devices to drive the rollers, two measuring devices, and a controller to control the transport. The controller includes two estimating units to estimate values R1 and R2 related to reaction forces act on the rollers, a first calculating unit to calculate a control input U1, a second calculating unit to calculate a control input U2 in accordance with a deviation between a target value and (R1−R2)/2, first and second drive controllers to input a control signal in accordance with U1 and U2 to the first and second driving devices, and a setting unit. In an initial stage of a period in which the sheet is transported by the two rollers, the setting unit sets the target value to a value greater than that of the target value after the initial stage. |
| US08876237B2 |
Inkjet recording device and image forming apparatus for stable ink ejection
An inkjet recording device includes a recording head, a head driving unit, and a controller. A selector of the head driving unit performs selection for individual nozzles so that when the drive waveform selection data for printing one line at this time sent from a data processing section indicates that the number of times of ink ejection is 0, and drive waveform selection data for printing the next one line indicates that the number of times of ink ejection is 0, drive voltage according to none of one or more drive waveforms for ink ejection or a drive waveform for meniscus oscillation is applied to a piezoelectric element. |
| US08876236B2 |
Liquid jetting apparatus
A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a liquid jetting head in which nozzles for jetting the liquid are formed and which has an actuator for jetting the liquid from the nozzles; an interposer substrate which is provided to the liquid jetting head and on which a driver IC is mounted; a control substrate which controls the liquid jetting head; a wire member which connects the interposer substrate and the control substrate; and a flexible circuit board which connects the interposer substrate and the actuator, wherein the interposer substrate has a first connecting portion to which the wire member is to be connected, and a second connecting portion to which the flexible circuit board is to be connected, and the driver IC is arranged nearer to the first connecting portion than the second connecting portion of the interposer substrate. |
| US08876233B2 |
Refrigeration device
A refrigeration device including a body and a first and a second door which jointly define an inner chamber. The first door bears an upright member which engages in the inner chamber and comes in contact with the first and the second door on their inner side in the closed position of the doors and which may be pivoted on opening the first door to pass the second door. The upright member is adjustable in height relative to the body. |
| US08876232B2 |
Drawer glide mechanism
A drawer glide mechanism can include a first elongate guide member, a second elongate glide member, a ball bearing component, and a v-notch socket. The first elongate guide member includes a distal end that is configured to fit within an opening in the v-notch socket. The drawer glide mechanism can further include one or more floating members and fixed members. |
| US08876230B2 |
Durable drawer retainer apparatus and method of use
A full extension ball bearing drawer slide assembly comprised of a fixed member attached to a cabinet piece, a middle member slidingly engaged with the fixed member with a set of linear bearings, a drawer member attached to a drawer piece slidingly engaged with the middle member via a second set of linear bearings, and a drawer retainer mechanism attached to the drawer member and in adjustable contact with the drawer member. The drawer retainer mechanism is comprised of a frame attached to the drawer member, a housing seated in the frame, a piston fitted in the frame and biased by a helical spring adjacent a post. The post has a threaded section engaged with a threaded hole in the frame. The piston, biased by the helical spring on the post, is forced towards the housing by a raised indention in a race of the fixed member. |
| US08876225B2 |
Actuator control unit and electric-mechanical brake unit
The invention achieves a further downsizing of an actuator control unit. The actuator control unit has a control circuit controlling an actuator, and a bus bar electrically connected to the control circuit and arranged such as to be partially embedded in an inner portion of a resin case and be partially exposed to an outer portion of the resin case. It is preferable to have a projection portion extending in a wiring direction of the bus bar between two bus bars wired adjacently, having a greater height than an embedded plane of the bus bar in the resin case, and made of an insulating material. |
| US08876224B2 |
Vehicular brake fluid pressure control apparatus
A vehicular brake fluid pressure control apparatus includes: normally open and normally closed electromagnetic valves disposed to correspond to plural wheel brakes; and a control unit which controls fluid pressures transmitted to the wheel brakes by controlling drive currents applied to the electromagnetic valves according to plural different fluid pressure control modes. The control unit controls the normally closed electromagnetic valves while switching, according to which of the fluid pressure control modes is effective, between a responsivity priority control in which drive currents applied to the normally closed electromagnetic valves are increased to a target current value instantaneously at a first slope, a silence priority control in which the drive currents are increased at a second slope gentler than the first slope, and an intermediate control in which the drive currents are increased at a third slope gentler than the first slope and steeper than the second slope. |
| US08876221B2 |
Oral care implement
An oral care implement and method for forming the same is provided. The oral care implement comprises a handle and a head having a base structure. A plurality of cleaning elements is attached to the base structure. One end of each of the plurality of cleaning elements is connected to one another. At least one of the plurality of cleaning elements is a spiral bristle. |
| US08876220B2 |
Segments and apparatus for high wall mining including fluid feed
A cutter head segment for use at the front of a train of conveyor segments for high wall mining includes at least one fluid transporter connected to a fluid distribution chamber. A pump segment for use in a train of conveyor segments for high wall mining as a segment following the cutter head segment is provided with a second fluid transporter and at least one front connector and at least one rear connector for connecting the second fluid transporter to adjacent fluid transporters. An assembly includes a cutter head segment and a pump segment, and a train of conveyor segments. |
| US08876217B1 |
Cover assembly for open top container
The invention generally relates to a mobile leak-proof container structured to contain a load after any rollover. The invention provides a safer way to transport loads and minimizes the risk of an environmental spill or leak when hauling waste generated by the oil and gas industry. The container, such as a dump truck bed or a dump body, includes a central leak-proof top-loading door; a rear tailgate for dumping the contents from the rear of the container; recessed framework having upper margins of the container walls and a door-jamb that define a reservoir; and a plurality of brace members for supporting the frame against the walls of the container. It also includes one or more corner panels covering the brace members and for preventing the loading of any load near the juncture of the roof framework and each respective adjoining side wall. |
| US08876216B2 |
Dump trailer
A towable dump trailer is provided. The towable dump trailer comprises a first, second and third frame. The first frame comprises one or more sets of wheels. The second frame is attached to the tow vehicle and can be displaced horizontally relative to the first frame by the towing vehicle moving rearward or forward. The third frame provides a support frame for the trailer bed. The dump trailer is operated by immobilizing the first frame and causing the second frame to move horizontally relative to the first frame. This horizontal displacement causes the third frame to rotate as a result of one or more rear torque arms translating the horizontal movement to rotational movement. The dump trailer can be configured to provide a dumping action by either forward or rearward horizontal displacement of the second frame relative to the first frame. |
| US08876215B2 |
Vehicle seat frame structure
A vehicle seat frame structure includes a frame main body formed in a frame-shape, and a wire that extends between two frame peripheral portions that make up the frame main body, end portions of the wire being integrally joined to the two frame peripheral portions. At each of the end portions of the wire, a portion that jut outs beyond the corresponding frame peripheral portion is formed as a curved portion that is curved in a direction wrapping around an outer peripheral surface of the frame peripheral portion. At least one of the curved portions of the wire has a curvature that is more gradual than a curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the frame peripheral portion to which the curved portion is joined. |
| US08876213B2 |
Full memory armrest assembly
An armrest is pivotally coupled to a seat back for movement between a stowed position and a use position. The armrest comprises a support frame and a cam. A memory mechanism is coupled to the support frame for actuation between an unlocked condition providing selective adjustment of the armrest in the use position and a locked condition for retaining memory of the use position upon pivotal movement of the armrest between the stowed position and use position. The memory mechanism includes an elongated memory bar fixedly secured to the support frame, a guide member slidably coupled to the memory bar, and a wedge plate slidably and pivotally coupled to the memory bar for movement between a slide position to allow sliding movement of the wedge plate along the memory bar and a wedge position for lockingly wedging the memory bar between the wedge plate and the guide member. |
| US08876211B2 |
Seat assembly having a guide bushing
A seat assembly having a guide bushing. The guide bushing has an opening for receiving a support post. First and second engagement features are provided that are configured to engage the support post. The first engagement feature is configured to flex in response to a biasing force exerted by a biasing member. |
| US08876206B2 |
Vehicle seatback and a vehicle seat provided with a vehicle seatback
A vehicle seatback including a seatback frame provided with a pair of seatback side frame portions and a seatback upper frame portion that connects together upper end portions of the pair of seatback upper frame portions along the seat width direction, and a support member attached to the seatback frame. The support member is provided with a lower neck bearing portion covering the seatback upper frame portion, and a shoulder bearing portion disposed further towards the front than the seatback upper frame portion in the seat front-rear direction. When a load of a specific value or greater acts on the occupant towards the rear in the seat front-rear direction, the shoulder regions of the occupant are pressed against the shoulder bearing portion, suppressing movement of the occupant towards the rear in the seat front-rear direction. |
| US08876205B2 |
Safety seat, suspended in a mounting frame, for land vehicles, aircraft and watercraft
A safety seat for land vehicles, aircraft and watercraft, having a seat part frame, and a backrest frame suspended on a restraint or suspension strap firmly attached to the vehicle, wherein the backrest frame has a lateral or transverse strut, and an additional holding strap clamps the lateral strut in. A separate mounting frame is provided to fix the restraint strap and the holding strap, and can be mounted in the vehicle, wherein bushing or guide-through eyes and attachment eyes for stretching the restraint strap and the holding strap are provided on the oppositely disposed lateral or transverse supports of the mounting frame, and wherein the holding strap is formed integrally, is fixed by its two ends to two attachment eyes, and is looped through, and passed back and forth between, a plurality of bushing eyes. |
| US08876199B2 |
Sunshade apparatus
Provided is a sunshade apparatus disposed under a sunroof panel installed in a fixed roof of a vehicle, comprising a frame having a plurality of frame openings arranged in a width direction of the vehicle, and a plurality of polarizing panel sets each of which is disposed correspondingly to one of the frame openings. The frame is formed to be higher in the middle portion thereof than both end portions thereof in the width direction so as to follow the shape of the fixed roof, and each polarizing panel set inclines to be higher as approaching the middle portion of the vehicle in the width direction. |
| US08876195B2 |
Shock absorber and vehicular door trim including the same
A shock absorber includes a first shock absorbing member formed of a foam, and a second shock absorbing member formed of a foam and having hardness greater than the first shock absorbing member. The first shock absorbing member and the second shock absorbing member are arranged in adjacent to each other and connected to each other such that a part of one of the first shock absorbing member and the second shock absorbing member is surrounded by another one of the first shock absorbing member and the second shock absorbing member, thereby the first shock absorbing member and the second shock absorbing member are connected integrally with each other. |
| US08876193B2 |
Inner wall liner for a refrigerated trailer wall panel
An inner wall liner of a wall panel of a refrigerated trailer includes a liner sheet formed of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) and a scuff plate formed of FRP. The scuff plate and the liner sheet are fused together such that the scuff plate is coupled to a bottom portion of the liner sheet. The inner liner further includes an upper wall plate formed of FRP. The upper wall plate and the liner sheet are fused together such that the upper wall plate is coupled to an upper portion of the liner sheet. |
| US08876187B2 |
Apparatus and related methods of tarping a flatbed trucking payload
Generally disclosed is a device for simply and inexpensively tarping the payload of any truck bed without placing the tarper, the tarp, or the payload in danger of injury. In a preferred embodiment, the disclosed device generally comprises: (1) a rolled or bunched tarp that is installed on a first portable and adjustable riser; (2) a cable and cable crank installed on a second portable and adjustable riser; (3) wherein the cable may be attached to the tarp so that cranking the cable crank will unroll or unbunch the tarp and suspendedly draw the same toward the second riser; and (4) wherein the risers are removable from the truck bed. |
| US08876179B2 |
Energy absorbing assembly and methods of making and using the same
In an embodiment, an energy absorbing assembly comprises a foam stage having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface comprises a recess; and a thermoplastic stage comprising a frame and crush lobes; wherein the crush lobes extend from the frame of the thermoplastic stage into the recess. In another embodiment, a method of making an energy absorbing assembly comprises forming a foam stage having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface comprises recesses; forming a thermoplastic stage having a frame and crush lobes protruding from the frame; and engaging the recesses and the crush lobes to form the energy absorbing assembly. |
| US08876171B2 |
Lock for a luggage box
An aircraft luggage box lock includes a stationary housing and a cover moveable about a rotary axis. The lock includes a locking pin device mountable on the housing, having two parallel locking pins, a catch mountable on the cover having two locking hooks pivotable about a pivot axis for receiving the pins for locking the lock, and a manually actuatable drive device for jointly pivoting the locking hooks away from the locking pins for unlocking the lock. The drive device has a gear rack and a sliding element linearly displaceable against pressure of a spring element. The locking hooks are connected to the gear rack or the sliding element by a knee lever hinged to the closing hook adjacent to the pivot axis thereof in such a way that the lock is openable only by tensile force acting on the hinged point of the knee lever on the locking hook. |
| US08876168B2 |
Adapter ring for pre-filter in chemical, biological and radiological environments
An axi-symmetric adapter is provided for attaching to a pre-filter bag as a pre-filter assembly for use with chemical, biological, and radiological filtration systems. The bag has an annular retention ring, with the assembly being insertable into a cavity of an M98 Filter Bank or other Navy-designated Collective Protection System filter housing. The adapter includes tang, groove, flange mezzanine rings. The tang ring has an exterior bevel edge and terminates a reverse side of the adapter. The groove ring possesses inner and outer cylindrical walls that define a circular channel and terminate an obverse side of adapter. The flange ring extends radially inward from the inner cylindrical wall for engaging the retention ring. The mezzanine ring connects the flange and groove rings together. |
| US08876165B1 |
Clipboard with mounting accessories
A clipboard having a board assembly with a front face and a rear face. A clip assembly is mounted onto the board assembly. The board assembly docks onto a docking assembly. The front face is defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second lateral edges. The rear face has first and second lower interior channel guide edges and first and second higher interior channel guide edges. The board assembly tapers from the top edge towards the bottom edge. The first and second higher interior channel guide edges terminate forming a channel neck. The channel neck is a channel to receive the docking assembly. The rear face further has at least one grip section that extends from the first or second lateral edge. The front face has a recessed face, and the clip assembly has a docking station, a spring assembly, and a writing instrument holder. |
| US08876159B2 |
Knee airbag arrangement for vehicles
Knee airbag arrangement for vehicles comprising an airbag module located in a lower area of an instrument panel of a vehicle and an airbag exhibiting an area of lower cross section between the airbag module and the knee impact area which is to catch the knees of a vehicle occupant in the inflated state of the airbag. |
| US08876151B2 |
Garnish mounting apparatus
A garnish mounting apparatus includes a rack formed at a back surface of the garnish and a tether clip for mounting the garnish to the body member at the rack. A slit is formed at the rack, and the tether of the clip extends through the slit. The tether and the slit-defining edge of the rack are movable relative to each other in a longitudinal direction of the slit and can be brought into engagement with each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slit. The clip has an engagement span for suppressing a rotational play of the garnish about a longitudinal axis of the garnish between a slit-penetrating portion of the tether and a contact portion of the clip with a bottom wall of the rack. A contact seat plane of the clip with the body member has a width for suppressing rotational play. |
| US08876149B2 |
Chair with height adjustable mast
A height adjustable chair suitable for use by the disabled, frail or elderly, the chair comprising a chassis having a plurality of ground engaging wheels, a seat comprising a rear seat section, a seat cradle and a back support frame. The back support frame comprises a height adjustable mast that is affixed at its lower end to the chassis, and a cross member that is connected to the height adjustable mast and which extends substantially across the width of the chair. The mast and cross member being arranged so that the seat cradle can be raised relative the chassis and moved laterally relative the mast so that a person seated on the chair can be raised and lowered in order to facilitate toileting or delivery onto a bed. |
| US08876148B2 |
Mobile building transportation device
A mobile building transportation device can comprise a frame, a front axle, and a rear axle. The frame can support a mobile building for transport on a public highway and can include left and right longitudinal support members and front and rear transverse support members that bear at least a portion of the weight of the mobile building. The front and rear axles can each be coupled to the frame by suspension components. The front and rear transverse support members can be configured to support the mobile building above the front and/or rear axles to facilitate minimizing a vertical distance between the mobile building and the front and/or rear axles. This can minimize a height of a center of gravity of the mobile building and facilitate unobstructed movement of the front and rear axles through a range of motion of the front and/or rear suspension components. At least one of the longitudinal and transverse support members can be constructed, at least in part, of tubing. |
| US08876147B2 |
Compact foldable stroller
A juvenile stroller includes a mobile base and a juvenile seat mounted on the mobile base. The mobile base includes wheels and a foldable frame carrying the juvenile seat. |
| US08876141B1 |
Self-tracking vehicle trailer
A self-tracking trailer is disclosed for towing by a vehicle which tracks the movement of the vehicle for ease of maneuvering comprising a trailer frame having a front frame member extending generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said trailer. A vehicle trailer hitch assembly includes a pivotal cross-bar carried by said front frame member; a trailer hitch tongue carried by the cross-bar insertable into a vehicle hitch receiver affixed to the vehicle. The cross-bar is pivotally carried by said front frame member for rotation about a pitch axis. A swivel connector is disposed between said pivotal cross-bar and said vehicle providing rotation about a trailer roll axis. |
| US08876133B2 |
Valve for a vehicle suspension system
A valve assembly for a suspension system includes a housing having a control port, a first accessory port, and a second accessory port. The housing defines a first flow path extending between the control port and the first accessory port and a second flow path extending between the control port and the second accessory port. The valve assembly also includes a first check valve having a first crack pressure positioned within the housing along the first flow path and a second check valve having a second crack pressure positioned within the housing along the second flow path. A difference between the first crack pressure and the second crack pressure provides a corresponding difference in pressures at the first accessory port and the second accessory port. |
| US08876132B2 |
Front end assembly for vehicle chassis
A front sub-assembly for an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The front sub-assembly includes a pair of spaced apart, substantially hollow side assemblies. Each of the side assemblies includes an upper side member and a lower side member. The front ends of the side assemblies are joined together by a front cross member that includes a front cross member reinforcing bracket and an internal mass dampener. The rear ends of the side assemblies are joined by an upper cross member and a lower cross member. A plurality of brackets, including body mount brackets, a steering gear bracket, an exhaust mount bracket, and a roll restrictor bracket are also strategically provided. The brackets as well as other components are preferably formed from stamped steel. |
| US08876131B1 |
Exercising skateboard
The exercising skateboard is a wheeled apparatus capable of use in connection with a plurality of exercises involving kneeling, standing, or sitting. The skateboard is mounted atop of a plurality of caster wheels, which may be capable of rotational movement. A detachable seat back may be secured at different locations along a top surface of the exercising skateboard, and used in conjunction with riding the skateboard. The exercising skateboard further includes a pair of knee pads adjacent foot straps such that the exercising skateboard can be ridden in a standing or kneeling position. The foot straps may be further used in conjunction with the performance of sit-ups by an end user. A pair of attachable handles each extends upwardly from a pivot point, and provide handles for use in conjunction with propelling or riding of the exercising skateboard. |
| US08876129B2 |
Field litter support
A field litter support (1) includes two side structures (2, 3), each supporting at least one wheel (4) in order to define a frame (40), connecting devices (38a, 38b, 38c, 38d) for attaching a litter (100) to the frame (40), elements (5) adapted to reciprocally move the side structures (2, 3) and a mechanism (6) for blocking the elements (5), and therefore the structures (2, 3), in a predetermined position, attachable to the structures (2, 3). The structures (2, 3) are reciprocally moved close or away along the axis (60) of the wheels (4) without removing the frame (40). This characteristic, however, does not jeopardize the size, because, once the field litter support (1) has been packaged, it has a size equivalent to the one of the closed field litter supports of the prior art. |
| US08876128B2 |
Carry-on bicycle contained by a single channel in a chassis
The teachings provided herein are generally directed to compact vehicle drive mechanisms that can be used in the design of a foldable, carry-on vehicle. The compact drive mechanisms presented herein, for example, have contributed to the advent of the compact, carry-on bicycles set-forth in the teachings which include drive-and-steering units and drive-and-chassis units. |
| US08876125B1 |
Frame apparatus for lightweight rollator
A frame apparatus for a lightweight rollator has a front frame and a rear frame. The front frame has a base and a handle frame. The base has two connecting tabs, two locking elements and a mounting frame. The handle frame is rotatably connected to the base and has a front wheel and two connecting arms. The connecting arms are formed on and protrude from the handle frame and are pivotally connected to the base between the connecting tabs. The rear frame is connected to the front frame and has a bottom mount, two rear wheels and at least one driving motor. The bottom mount is connected to the mounting frame and has a guiding rod and an engaging shaft. The rear wheels are rotatably connected to the bottom mount. The at least one driving motor is mounted on the bottom mount and is connected to the rear wheels. |
| US08876121B2 |
Quick-release bit adapter
A quick-release bit adapter includes a body having a driving hole extending from a driving section towards a connecting section of the body. The driving section includes a sliding hole extending at a non-parallel angle to and in communication with the driving hole. A resilient positioning member is mounted in the driving section. A releasing device is slideably mounted in the sliding hole. When the releasing device is in a first position, the resilient positioning member is engaged in cuts in an outer periphery of a bit in an engagement position received in the driving hole. When the releasing device is moved to a second position, the bit is disengaged from the resilient positioning member to allow easy removal of the bit. |
| US08876111B1 |
Inverting roller device for conveying paper and method for changing conveying path of paper
An inverting roller device is used for changing a conveying path of a paper. The inverting roller device includes a first rotating shaft, a first roller, a second rotating shaft, a second roller, and a first swinging arm. The first roller and the second roller are disposed on the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft, respectively. The first swinging arm is pivotally disposed on the first rotating shaft and connected with the second rotating shaft. First, the first roller and the second roller are rotated to allow the paper to be moved in a first traveling direction. Then, the rotation of the first roller is temporarily stopped, and the second rotating shaft and the second roller are driven by the first swinging arm to be moved relative to a surface of the first roller. Consequently, the conveying path of the paper is changed. |
| US08876110B2 |
Credential manufacturing device substrate shuttle
One embodiment of a credential manufacturing device comprises a first hopper, a first processing path, a first processing device, a substrate shuttle and a shuttle drive. The first hopper is configured to contain a plurality of card substrates and includes an output port. The first processing device is in the first processing path and is configured to perform a first process on individual card substrates in the first processing path. The substrate shuttle is positioned between the first hopper and the first processing path and is configured to receive individual card substrates from the output port of the first hopper, transport received card substrates along a shuttle path, and deliver received card substrates to the first processing path. The shuttle drive is configured to drive movement of the substrate shuttle along the shuttle path. |
| US08876104B2 |
Sheet feed apparatus, and document conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same
Sheet conveying path extends from sheet stacking portion. Sheet feed roller is disposed, in sheet conveying path, facing sheet stacking portion. Sheet feed pad is disposed facing circumferential surface of sheet feed roller, and has pad surface that forms, between pad surface and circumferential surface, nip portion into which sheet is conveyed. Support member has support surface to which sheet feed pad is fixed and contact surface located upstream of support surface in sheet conveying direction so as to be higher than pad surface, and configured to make contact with leading end of sheet fed from sheet stacking portion. Rib portions are disposed in support member. Rib portions are disposed on both side portions, in sheet width direction intersecting sheet conveying direction, of support surface, and have inclined surfaces that extend so as to lower front end portions thereof, respectively, from contact surface toward downstream side in sheet conveying direction. |
| US08876103B2 |
Paper conveying apparatus
There are provided a paper conveying apparatus which can drive paper set guides, paper feed rollers, retard rollers, and conveyor rollers by a single motor. The paper conveying apparatus includes a paper set guide for setting paper, a paper feed roller for feeding paper set at the paper set guide, a retard roller arranged facing the paper feed roller, a conveyor roller for further conveying paper fed by the paper feed roller, a motor for generating a drive force for driving the paper set guide, and a transmission mechanism, arranged straddling a transport path of the paper, for transmitting the drive force to the paper feed roller and the retard roller, wherein the conveyor roller is driven by the transmission mechanism. |
| US08876100B1 |
Robotic belt finishing system for high speed multiple card pick to sequenced stack
Methods and systems output printed items based on a job of instructions from a printing device; cut the printed items into cut items and output the cut items to a first location based on the job of instructions using a patterning device; and pick the cut items from the first location and place the cut items on a first conveyor based on the job of instructions using a robotic arm. The first conveyor is adjacent the first location. Further, methods and systems transport the cut items to a receiving conveyor based on the job of instructions using the first conveyor. The receiving conveyor is adjacent the first conveyor. Also, methods and systems move the receiving conveyor to position the receiving conveyor to receive specific ones of the cut items in corresponding locations based on the job of instructions. |
| US08876097B1 |
Shingle holder and alignment tool
A shingle holder and alignment tool including a telescopic bar keeper, a telescopic rod guide and adjustable catches, the telescopic rod guide extendable along a horizontal axis to conform to a desired length of a row of shingles, the adjustable catches raising or lowering the rod guide relative a preceding row of shingles by way of a pair of slide guards, such that the shingle holder and alignment tool is operable by a single individual, configurable to shingles of various sizes and accurately aligns a new row of shingles to be installed upon a preceding row. |
| US08876093B2 |
Liquid sealed vibration isolating device
A partition member is provided with an elastic body for absorbing hydraulic pressure fluctuation of the primary liquid chamber and a frame member for supporting an outer circumferential portion of the elastic body while aiming to prevent the rotation of the elastic body. A relief aperture communicating between the primary liquid chamber and the secondary liquid chamber is located on the outer circumferential side in the elastic body supporting region of the frame member. A relief valve for opening and closing the relief aperture is integrally formed on the outer circumferential side of the elastic body. The relief valve is formed of a pair of right and left relief valves. A width across flat sections are formed on a thick-walled outer circumferential section of the elastic body which is located between the right and left relief valves, such as to serve as a detent means. |
| US08876092B2 |
Motor mounting assembly with tunable vibration and noise reduction capabilities
A mounting assembly comprising an inner mounting sleeve having a cylindrical shank, wherein an end of the mounting sleeve is configured to be mounted to a support structure of a motorized device. The assembly comprises an inner grommet having a cylindrical shank, an axial opening of the inner grommet shank configured to accommodate the mounting sleeve shank there-through. The assembly comprises an outer ring sleeve having a cylindrical shank, the outer ring sleeve disposed around a portion of the inner grommet shank, the outer ring sleeve shank configured to accommodate an eyelet of a mounting arm there-around. The assembly comprises an outer grommet having a cylindrical shank, an axial opening of the outer grommet shank configured to accommodate the inner grommet shank there-in. |
| US08876091B2 |
Insulating coating with mass amplification
An insulating coating (1) with high damping power and suitable for being fastened to a structure (2). The coating comprises a dissipater mesh made up of a plurality of dissipater elements (3) and of nodes (4) with the bottom end (4′) of each node being fastened to said structure (2). Each dissipater element is secured to first and second nodes (6, 7). The bottom ends (4′) of said nodes (4) project from said dissipater elements (3) so as to be suitable for creating an empty space (5) between the dissipater elements (3) and said structure (2). In addition, at least one dissipater element (3) is provided with at least one branch (10, 20) provided with a heavy element (30, 31, 32). The heavy element (30, 31, 32) has a first mass that is greater than or equal to a second mass of said branch (10, 20). |
| US08876089B2 |
Method and apparatus to keep an aerator full of air
An aeration system has aerators that remain generally full of air when the supply of pressurized air is turned off or vented. Water does not reach the bubble discharging holes of the aerator, which are kept from plugging. The aerator has a body with a hole through a wall of the body to discharge bubbles. The hole is surrounded by a skirt at the wall of the body. The skirt extends to below the elevation of the hole. The aerator body is connected to a source of pressurized gas through an open bottomed chamber. An opening between the aerator body and the inside of the chamber is located below the elevation of the hole. When the supply of gas is off, water enters the chamber and possibly the skirt. However, the water can only rise until it has reached the skirt and the opening, both of which are below the hole, and the entire aerator body is kept dry. Aerator fouling is reduced, and the aerator begins to produce an even flow of bubbles quickly when the supply of gas returns. |
| US08876088B1 |
Fluid dispersion unit with directional component vector
A valve-tray assembly and method for lighter fluid heavier fluid contact towers. The active area of the tray is constructed with valves having multiple lighter fluid discharge areas facilitating improved mass transfer efficiency. The valves include first and second support legs oriented in line with the heavier fluid flow with both legs and the valve top constructed with apertures wherein the heavier fluid may flow into engagement with the lighter fluid passing from beneath the tray up, through and out of the valve. |
| US08876087B1 |
Water tank system
A water tank system having a tank with an inner cavity adapted to hold water, with a filling aperture in a top surface of the tank and a spout is in a first side near a bottom surface, with an air pump external to the tank, an air stone in the inner cavity of the tank which is connected to the air pump via a tube, the air stone is adapted to gradually diffuse oxygen into the water in the tank, and an air water trap that is S-shaped and generally hollow and has an open first end and an open second end, the first end penetrates the top surface of the tank, the air water trap allows condensation to collect and air to be exhausted from the tank. |
| US08876082B1 |
Bottle fill valve actuator
An actuator for operating a fill valve of a bottle filling machine, said actuator having a camshaft provided with a cam fork on its inner end adapted to engage cam follower means on a fill valve, and having a trip lever on its outer end adapted to engage a rotating shoulder means on a turntable of the machine, the camshaft being rotatable within a sleeve bearing, wherein a braking means comprising a helical wave spring is mounted over the camshaft to provide a desired frictional resistance to rotation of the camshaft within the bearing for preventing rotational drift of the cam fork from its desired operating position. |
| US08876074B2 |
Support arm
A support arm includes a support mechanism, a wall-mounted mechanism, and an arm mechanism. The support mechanism includes a support plate having a first pivot pillar and a first pivot base having a first eccentric rod and sleeving the first pivot pillar. The wall-mounted mechanism includes a wall-mounted plate detachably disposed on a display monitor and having a second pivot pillar and a second pivot base sleeving the second pivot pillar. The arm mechanism includes a casing, an arm body disposed in the casing and having first and second pivot ends, a first spring connected to the arm body and the first eccentric rod, a first shaft passing through the first pivot base and the first pivot end, a second shaft passing through the second pivot base and the second pivot end, and a damping member sleeving the first shaft for increasing a rotating torque of the first shaft. |
| US08876071B2 |
Self-stabilizing support assembly for an item of furniture
A support assembly for an item of furniture with an elongated support structure having a first pair of feet connected to a lower end thereof; a passage defining unit defining a guide passage connected to the support structure and extending lengthwise; a support member displaceable with respect to the support structure having a second pair of feet at its lower end thereof; the displaceable support member provided with a guided pin complementary to and longitudinally slidably engaged in the guide passage, characterized thereby that the passage defining unit has a hollow adjustable guide member whereby the dimension of the passage is adjustable in accordance with the dimension of the pin; and the passage defining unit is fastenable to the support structure once it has been adjusted, such that the passage defining unit may first be adjusted to conform with the guide pin and then be fastened to the support structure. |
| US08876068B2 |
Low EMF compact duct spacer
Conduit spacers useful in preparing duct banks with reduced electromagnetic fields (EMF) are disclosed. The conduit spacers are designed to maximize phase cancellation of EMF from a closely-spaced series of electric power cables placed in conduits supported underground by the conduit spacers. The spacers are also designed to minimize the EMF above ground by reducing the distance needed to bury the cables for a given EMF above ground. In one embodiment, the spacers place conduits adjacent one another for maximum cancellation of a single three-phase cable installation. In another embodiment, the spacers place conduits adjacent one another for maximum cancellation for a dual three-phase cable installation, including cross-phase cancellation, e.g., A-B-C and C-B-A. |
| US08876064B2 |
Oscillatory vorticity generator and applications thereof
An oscillatory vorticity generator device for controlling the flow on an aero- or hydrodynamic surface of an element, the oscillatory vorticity generator device comprising: two main walls, positioned opposite to each other, forming a first pair of walls and two other walls, the four walls each having proximal and distal ends, the distal ends connected to an aero- or hydrodynamic surface; a connection connecting the walls at their proximal ends; and an opening in the aero- or hydrodynamic surface, the opening being substantially contiguous with the two main walls and the two other walls. |
| US08876062B1 |
Shape memory alloy pre-loaded deployment hinge
Latching or locking deployment hinges are provided that include a shape-memory alloy (SMA) pre-load device configured to induce a pre-load across a contact interface of the latching hinge in a direction substantially perpendicular to the hinge pivot axis when the latching hinge is in a closed condition. The hinges may be sprung or actuated using a powered drive mechanism. Some implementations may feature a sprung latch/hook that is tensioned using the SMA pre-load device. Some other implementations may feature a multi-bar linkage that is tensioned using the SMA pre-load device. |
| US08876060B2 |
Split flywheel assembly with attitude jitter minimization
Various embodiments of the present invention include assemblies and methods for minimizing the amplitude of attitude jitter. In one embodiment, a split flywheel assembly includes a plurality of independent concentric flywheels axially aligned and in operable engagement with one another such that each flywheel is configured to be independently controlled in order to manipulate the phase difference therebetween. |
| US08876058B2 |
Hoisting systems and methods
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to hoisting methods for vehicles, such as UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters (“Black Hawks”). An external hoist arm system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is configured to be temporarily mounted to the outside of a vehicle. The hoist arm system is further configured to support a hoist and position the hoist above an external door of the vehicle. A rotatable adjustment member is used to adjust an angular position of the hoist relative to the vehicle. |
| US08876052B2 |
Structurally designed aerodynamic riblets
An array of aerodynamic riblets is formed with a surface layer for adhering to an aerodynamic surface and a plurality of riblet tips having a parabolic cross section extending from the surface layer. |
| US08876050B2 |
Knowledge based access and access hierarchy in an aircraft
A method and apparatus for a hierarchical access system for a compartment. The hierarchical access system comprises a moveable barrier, a locking mechanism, and a control unit. The moveable barrier is capable of preventing access to at least one of a first space and a second space in the compartment in the lavatory when the moveable barrier is in a closed position. The locking mechanism is capable of securing the moveable barrier in the closed position. The control unit is capable of unlocking the locking mechanism in a manner that provides different levels of access to the first space and the second space in the compartment in response to receiving an access request. |
| US08876044B2 |
Aircraft with yaw control by differential drag
An aircraft having an elongated fuselage and a lifting surface fastened to the fuselage. The aircraft has a device for controlling the torque around the yaw axis GZ of the aircraft in which aerodynamic forms that have devices to generate aerodynamic drag are fastened to each end of the lifting surface at non-zero distances from each side of a vertical plane of symmetry XZ of the aircraft. The drag-generating devices are commanded to produce a different aerodynamic drag at each of the two ends to generate a yaw torque on the aircraft. The aerodynamic forms, for example, have winglets improving the aerodynamics of the lifting surface, and are provided with aerodynamic drag generators. |
| US08876043B2 |
Aircraft engine exhaust nozzle system for jet noise reduction
The aircraft exhaust engine nozzle system includes a fan nozzle to receive a fan flow from a fan disposed adjacent to an engine disposed above an airframe surface of the aircraft, a core nozzle disposed within the fan nozzle and receiving an engine core flow, and a pylon structure connected to the core nozzle and structurally attached with the airframe surface to secure the engine to the aircraft. |
| US08876042B2 |
Integrated nacelle assembly
An assembly includes a unitary nacelle structure and an integrated fan housing for a gas turbine engine assembly. The unitary nacelle structure includes an inlet region and a fan cowl region, and is configured to at least partially circumscribe the integrated fan housing. The integrated fan housing comprises an integral composite structure and includes a fan case sized and configured for encircling a fan blade assembly of an associated gas turbine engine, a fan hub, and a plurality of fan outlet guide vanes. The unitary nacelle structure cooperates with the integrated fan housing to transfer static and dynamic loads directly to a support structure, rather than through the engine core, to minimize backbone bending. |
| US08876041B2 |
Locking system for air intake structure for turbojet engine nacelle
The invention relates to a nacelle for a turbojet engine that includes an air intake structure capable of directing an air flow towards a fan of the turbojet engine, and a middle structure for surrounding said fan and to which is attached the air intake structure in order to provide aerodynamic continuity, wherein the air intake structure includes at least one inner panel attached to the middle structure and defining, with the latter, a nacelle fixed structure and at least one outer longitudinal panel removably attached to the fixed structure and including an air intake lip in order to define a removable air intake structure, wherein the removable air intake structure is provided with a locking device including at least one electric lock capable of interaction with a complementary retention structure. |
| US08876040B2 |
Method for controlling the internal pressure in an aircraft
The present invention provides a method for controlling an internal pressure in an aircraft or spacecraft, the method comprising the following steps: detecting the internal pressure in the craft and an external pressure Pa outside of the craft and comparing said pressures with each other; and adjusting a flap of at least one outflow valve to a blade position, in which the flap directs air flowing past an outer surface of the craft into the craft to increase the internal pressure, if the external pressure exceeds the internal pressure by a predetermined value during the descent of the craft. The idea, on which the present invention is based, is to assign a double function to the outflow valve: during normal flight the positive pressure in the craft is relieved by means of the outflow valve. During a too steep descent or in case of failure of the air conditioner of the craft, the flap directs air into the craft and thus adapts the internal pressure to the external pressure as soon as it exceeds the internal pressure. Thus, a negative pressure relief valve is advantageously not required and a size thereof can be considerably reduced respectively. |
| US08876037B2 |
Rotorcraft counter-torque control assembly and method
There is provided a counter-torque control assembly for mounting to a tail boom of a rotorcraft where the rotorcraft has a single main rotor, no tail rotor, and no tail fin. The assembly has an air intake chamber with at least a first opening for receiving an air flow stream and a vane assembly housed within the air intake chamber. The vane assembly has at least two vane elements capable of counter-rotation in the air flow stream. The assembly further has one or more microjet propulsion devices coupled to a second end of the air intake chamber. The one or more microjet propulsion devices draw the air flow stream over the vane elements to generate a counter-torque force to counter a torque from the single main rotor. |
| US08876034B2 |
Sheet storage cassette and printing apparatus
A sheet storage cassette which contains a print sheet in roll form and is attached to a printing apparatus, comprises: a shaft which retaining the print sheet in roll form; and a support portion rotatably supporting the shaft, wherein an urging member protrudes from a maximum outer diameter of the shaft while the print sheet is not attached to the shaft, and urges the inner surface of a hollow portion of the print sheet while the print sheet is attached to the shaft, and a rib portion which continuously extends in a rotational direction and contacts a pickup guide, when the urging member rotates, the rib portion is provided to prevent the pickup guide from interfering with the urging member which rotates together with the shaft. |
| US08876027B2 |
Upgraded combustion ash and its method of production
Described and claimed herein is a method of producing enhanced combustion ash for use in pozzolanic applications or cement clinker manufacture. The method employs a primary process in which wet or dry feedstock is pulverized with sonication using one or more grinding media having a maximum component size of about 2 mm. Alternatively, the media may have a true grinding medium volume to chamber volume ratio of at least 0.29. Also disclosed an claimed is an enhanced combustion ash produced by the method, whereby the enhanced combustion ash has one or more qualities that make it particularly suitable in pozzolanic applications or cement clinker manufacture. |
| US08876024B2 |
Heated showerhead assembly
The present invention generally comprises a heated showerhead assembly that may be used to supply processing gases into a processing chamber. The processing chamber may be an etching chamber. When processing gas is evacuated from the processing chamber, the uniform processing of the substrate may be difficult. As the processing gas is pulled away from the substrate and towards the vacuum pump, the plasma, in the case of etching, may not be uniform across the substrate. Uneven plasma may lead to uneven etching. To prevent uneven etching, the showerhead assembly may be separated into two zones each having independently controllable gas introduction and temperature control. The first zone corresponds to the perimeter of the substrate while the second zone corresponds to the center of the substrate. By independently controlling the temperature and the gas flow through the showerhead zones, etching uniformity of the substrate may be increased. |
| US08876016B2 |
Water dispenser of drinking fountain
A water dispenser of a drinking fountain includes a water dispenser, an inner block and a control valve. The water dispenser has a receiving space to receive the plastic inner block made. A water channel and water inlet are recessedly formed on both ends of the inner block, wherein the water channel is corresponding to the water outlet of the water dispenser, and two engaging holes are spacedly formed on one side of the water channel and water inlet. The engaging holes are corresponding to connecting holes of the water dispenser. The major tubing inside the water dispenser is composed of a plastic inner block, the contact area between the water flow and the metal surface of the water dispenser is reduced so as to avoid accumulation of harmful heavy metal in the water when the water is flowing or stored, to achieve the goal of providing safe drinking water. |
| US08876014B2 |
Polyurethane ballast layer, the method for preparing the same and the use thereof
The present invention relates to a polyurethane ballast layer, the method for preparing the same and a railway comprising the polyurethane ballast layer. The polyurethane ballast layer provided in this invention comprises a polyurethane-filled ballast layer and a polyurethane external protective layer, wherein the polyurethane-filled ballast layer comprises ballasts and polyurethane foam filled in the space among the ballasts. The polyurethane ballast layer provided in this invention can reduce the probability of ballast crashing, shifting and cracking under heavy load, and separate the ballast track from the outside environment to prevent rain, snow and wastes from entering into the internal space of the ballast track bed. Furthermore, the polyurethane ballast layer can keep the polyurethane foam filled in the ballasts layer away from water in the outside environment to avoid hydrolysis. The polyurethane ballast layer presented in this invention can be used in the railway ballast track bed to extend the track bed maintenance cycle, and save maintenance cost significantly. |
| US08876013B2 |
HVAC controller that selectively replaces operating information on a display with system status information
An HVAC controller is described that is configured to be more intuitive and user friendly to program and operate than convention HVAC controllers. In some instances, the HVAC controller may include a touch screen interface that provides greater flexibility in displaying information to the user and/or soliciting information from the user. |
| US08876010B2 |
Wireless IC device component and wireless IC device
A wireless IC device includes a wireless IC chip, a coupling electrode, and a radiation plate. The coupling electrode includes coupling portions arranged to be coupled to the wireless IC chip and a pair of opposing ends. The pair of opposing ends are capacitively coupled to each other and oppose the radiation plate to be coupled to the radiation plate. The wireless IC chip uses the radiation plate as an antenna to transmit and receive signals having certain frequencies to and from an RFID system. |
| US08876007B2 |
RFID tag
An RFID tag includes a first flexible sheet covering a surface of a base part, an antenna and an IC chip; a second flexible sheet covering an another surface of the base part; a first reinforcing member including third and fourth sheets and covering the chip and a connecting portion of the chip and the antenna, the third sheet having flexibility and elasticity and being disposed on the first sheet, the fourth sheet having flexibility and being disposed on the third sheet; a second reinforcing member including fifth and sixth sheets and covering the chip and the connecting portion, the fifth sheet having flexibility and elasticity and being disposed on the second sheet, the sixth sheet having flexibility and being disposed on the fifth sheet; and an outer member having flexibility and elasticity and covering the first and the second sheets and the first and the second reinforcing members. |
| US08876005B2 |
Arrangement for and method of managing a soft keyboard on a mobile terminal connected with a handheld electro-optical reader via a bluetooth® paired connection
A wireless Bluetooth® paired connection is established between a Bluetooth® module in an electro-optical, handheld reader and a Bluetooth® module in a mobile terminal via a human interface device (HID) profile. Data capture from a target is initiated upon one type of manual actuation, e.g., a single pull, of a trigger on the reader. A soft keyboard is caused to appear on a display on the terminal, either immediately, or after a predetermined event, after the establishment of the Bluetooth® paired connection. The soft keyboard is caused to disappear upon manual actuation of the trigger with a different type of manual actuation, e.g., a double pull, of the trigger. Another double pull of the trigger will cause the soft keyboard to reappear. |
| US08876001B2 |
Methods and apparatus for image recognition in checkout verification
Systems and techniques for automated checkout verification. Product identification information is received and used as an index to retrieve a set of images associated with the identified product. The images may provide multiple views of the product. As the product is presented for purchase, an image of the product is captured and compared with the set of retrieved images. If it is determined that the captured image does not match the set of retrieved images, a security alert is issued. |
| US08875999B2 |
Payment cards and devices with gift card, global integration, and magnetic stripe reader communication functionality
A payment card (e.g., credit and/or debit card) or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. Gift cards may be inputted by a user into such a payment card or other device such that a user can combine gift cards. Similarly, a user be provided with a global payment account that can be utilized in multiple countries that have different standards for formatting data. A user may be provided with a default country (e.g., United States) but may have a way to select that the user is in a different country (e.g., Japan). Accordingly, a user may select that a Japanese data structure be transmitted through a magnetic stripe reader when the user is in Japan. |
| US08875998B2 |
Middle class america card
A debit card with automatic savings is disclosed. The card allows a user, such as the holder of the debit card, to automatically save a specified amount of money each time a transaction is conducted with the debit card, or according to another desired condition, such as once per week. When the card is used for a transaction, the specified amount of money is deducted from the available balance of the card and is added to one or more savings accounts maintained on the card. The debit card includes at least a microprocessor or microcontroller and sufficient memory for storing balances on the card, including the balance available for spending and a total for each savings account. The user may change the amounts desired for savings and may transfer the amount “saved” to the available balance when the user wishes to redeem the savings for desired goods or services. |
| US08875990B2 |
Systems and methods for allocating a payment authorization request to a payment processor
A point of sale (POS) device may be configured to locate a payment system and transmit a payment authorization request from a remote location to a payment system, either directly, or via a payment system directory and/or a SSL Gateway. The invention also includes inserting third party account information into an encrypted portion of the payment request, so the payment request appears as a normal request to the issuing bank, but the third party account information may be used by the third party to bill the customer. The payment system directory is further configured to determine one or more payment processors to direct a payment authorization request, such that a single transaction may me allocated among multiple payment processors for authorization. Moreover, the payment system directory is able to format alternative payment methods into a format that is able to be processed over existing payment networks. |
| US08875984B2 |
Knock-down packaging apparatus
The present disclosure relates to a packaging apparatus foldable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The packaging apparatus includes a clam-shell style box including a main section and a cover section. The main section and the cover section are connected by a rear hinge panel. The main section includes a bottom panel, a left panel, a right panel and a front panel interconnected by fold lines. The cover section includes a top panel, a left panel, a right panel and a front panel interconnected by fold lines. The rear hinge panel is connected to the bottom panel at a lower fold line and is connected to the top panel at an upper fold line. Flaps of the front panel are adhesively bonded to the left and right panels. Angled perforations allow portions of the front panel to be folded down with the left and right panels when the box is moved to the collapsed configuration. |
| US08875983B2 |
Self-sealing box for trash compactors
Embodiments of the present invention provide boxes that are particularly useful in connection with trash collection and trash compaction. The boxes are designed as having a single-piece board construction with a strength that can contain mixed types of trash, including solids and liquids, and to effectively contain the trash during the pressure of a compaction process without tearing, splitting and/or leaking. They are also designed to use a waterproof coating for adhering seams, reducing the extra step and expense of using a glue or an adhesive to secure the box seams. The trash compaction boxes provided herein are particularly useful on aircraft and other passenger transport vehicles, where weight and performance are of primary concern. |
| US08875978B2 |
Forming constant diameter spherical metal balls
A process and tools for forming spherical metal balls is described incorporating molds, injection molded solder, a liquid or gaseous environment to reduce or remove metal oxides and an unconstrained reflow of metal in a heated liquid or gas and solidification of molten metal in a cooler liquid or gas. |
| US08875977B2 |
Element pressing apparatus and heating system using element pressing apparatus
An element pressing apparatus includes: a base casing having first and second bases couplable to or separable from each other to form an arrangement space where a board and a plurality of electronic components having different heights are arranged while the first and second bases are coupled to each other; oil encapsulated in the arrangement space; an oil seal member deformed depending on a pressure of the oil; and a hydraulic pressure change portion that changes the pressure of the oil, wherein the pressure of the oil changes by the hydraulic pressure change portion to press the oil seal member to a plurality of electronic components and press the electrode terminals against the electrodes when the board and a plurality of electronic components are arranged in the arrangement space by positioning and placing each of the electrode terminals on each of the electrodes. |
| US08875973B2 |
Expanding parallel jaw device for use with an electromechanical driver device
A cutting and stapling device for use as an attachment to an electromechanical device driver comprises an upper jaw and a lower jaw which separate and close against one another in a continuously parallel alignment. The upper jaw includes a series of staple guides corresponding to one or more staples in a removable staple tray disposed within a lower jaw, whereby a blade and wedge having a threaded bore travel upon a matching threaded shaft in a channel disposed in the lower jaw below the staple tray, such that rotation of the threaded shaft causes movement of the wedge through the channel while a sloped surface of the wedge contacts the staples to push the staples against the staples guides, closing the staples. |
| US08875970B2 |
Structure containing wound treatment material
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an anvil assembly for a circular stapling apparatus, is disclosed. The anvil assembly includes an anvil head configured to support an anvil plate thereon; a shaft extending from the anvil head and configured to selectively engage a connection member of the circular stapling apparatus; an anvil plate operatively connected to the anvil head, the anvil plate defining a plurality of staple forming pockets therein; and a wound treatment material disposed in each staple forming pocket of the anvil plate. The wound treatment material is at least one of an adhesive, a sealant, a hemostat and a medicament. |
| US08875968B2 |
Multi-use bag dispenser
A multi-use dispenser for roll mourned bags includes a planar base with at least one mounting feature and a bag roll support. The support is attached to the base and is spaced upwardly there from. First and second core guides, spaced apart by at least a width of a bag roll, extend upwardly adjacent first and second ends of the bag roll support. A pair of primary bag roll retainers includes a first side guard and a second side guard mounted orthogonally to the first and second core guides, orthogonally to a long axis of the bag roll support, and spaced apart by at least the width of the bag roll. The side guards have angled brackets at their outer ends. The side guards constrain ejection of a bag roll. At least one snagging device is mounted to engage a central portion of a bag attached to the bag roll. |
| US08875966B2 |
Connecting rod breaking method
A notch is formed in an inner circumference of a bolt hole formed on each side of a large end of the connecting rod such that the notch extends continuously along the inner circumference. By radially propagating progress of breakage from the notch as a starting point, a connecting rod is broken into a rod portion and a cap portion. In this case, since no confluence of breakage propagation exists, the connecting rod can be broken without generating any breaking surface step. |
| US08875964B1 |
Backpack collapsible coolers
A collapsible backpack cooler includes a base, a collapsible portion, a back portion, and one or more straps configured for use by a user in securing the collapsible backpack cooler to their back. The collapsible backpack cooler is configured to allow the collapsible backpack cooler to transition between an expanded configuration, and a collapsed configuration having a reduced volume as compared to the expanded configuration. |
| US08875962B2 |
Single force strut for dual sided cargo box
Method and arrangement for providing and controlling operation of a dual sided opening roof mount cargo box for a carrying vehicle. A dual sided opening roof mount cargo box is provided and which has a lid portion releasably hinge-connected at two lateral sides to a bottom portion of the cargo box for alternate pivotation at each of the two lateral sides between open and closed configurations. The bottom portion is adapted to be mounted to a carrying vehicle and the lid portion is manufactured from a semi-flexible material sufficiently pliable to permit two opposite end regions thereof to be at different relative distances from the bottom portion of the cargo box during transition between the open and closed configurations. A pair of spring-biased struts are also provided, each operatively interposed between the lid portion and the bottom portion of the cargo box, and one each of the pair of spring-biased struts being located at the two opposite end regions of the cargo box. An expansively directed force is imposed on the lid portion, utilizing the pair of spring-biased struts, across a substantial entirety of travel of the lid portion during operator induced movement from the closed configuration to the open configuration and thereby assisting the operator to smoothly open the cargo box. |
| US08875961B1 |
Wetsuit hanger
A wetsuit hanger hangs over a door, fence, gate, tailgate of a truck, or similar object and comprises a member, over which the wetsuit is draped, projected away from the object the wetsuit is being hung from. |
| US08875950B2 |
Dispenser mixing module and method of assembling and using same
A mixing module that includes a mixing chamber formed of a cold flow material and placed within a housing which includes a compression device for compressing the cold flow material through which extends a reciprocating rod, preferably in the form of a valve rod relative to one or more chemical ports formed in the mixing chamber to mix or deliver chemicals within a mixing reception recess. The mixing chamber features a locking arrangement between the cold flow material mixing chamber and the housing which acts to prevent movement of the mixing chamber within the housing due to a sticking of the reciprocating rod to the mixing chamber which otherwise produces a position change in the mixing chamber as the compression device is temporarily compressed until the rod be comes unstuck and releases. The invention also includes an open front and rear end housing with releasable front and rear caps allowing easy insertion of the mixing chamber preferably having an annular front end rim as the locking member for receipt within a corresponding recess in the housing. |
| US08875948B2 |
Powered dispensing tool
A powered dispensing tool includes a housing, a motor, a rack operably coupled to the motor for powered translation along a longitudinal axis in at least one of a forward direction and a reverse direction, a transmission housing at least partially positioned within the housing through which the rack is extendable, first and second plungers, at least one of which is coupled to one end of the rack, and a first cartridge housing within which first and second material cartridges may be supported in a side-by-side relationship. The first and second plungers are associated with the first and second material cartridges, respectively. The tool also includes a second cartridge housing within which only a single material cartridge may be supported. The first and second cartridge housings are interchangeably coupled to the transmission housing to adapt the tool for use with dual material cartridges or single material cartridges. |
| US08875944B2 |
Beverage dispenser
A beverage dispenser is proposed which includes a soft raw water container and which makes it possible to spontaneously use up drinking water in the container. A water passage tube (12) of a container connecting portion (10) includes a tubular partitioning wall (13) dividing the interior of the water passage tube (12) into a water passage (14) communicating with a water passage hole (14a), and an air passage (15) communicating with the water passage (14) through a small air passage hole (15a). A water passage pipe (16) is connected to the water passage (14). The water passage tube (12) has a base portion (12a) formed with an opening (15b) communicating with the air passage (15). An air passage pipe (17) is connected to the opening (15b) and hangs vertically downwardly into a low-temperature tank (2). An on-off valve (19b) is provided at the free end of the air passage pipe (17) which is adapted to open when the water level in the low-temperature tank (2) lowers. With this arrangement, when drinking water in the raw water container (A) runs low and the water level in the low-temperature tank (2) remains low, air in the low-temperature tank (2) is introduced into the raw water container (A) through the on-off valve (19b), which is now open, the air passage pipe (17), the air passage (15) and the small air passage hole (15a). This eliminates a negative pressure in the raw water container (A), thereby allowing water remaining in the container to be dropped into the tank. |
| US08875943B2 |
Dispenser assembly
A dispenser assembly 1 including a dispenser 2 for hygienic articles and a mounting bracket 16 for releasably attaching the dispenser 2 to a wall. The dispenser 2 includes a container 4 provided with a dispensing aperture 6 for the hygienic articles and a first side portion adapted to be positioned adjacent the mounting bracket 16. Further the dispenser assembly includes a connecting arrangement for connecting the dispenser 2 to the mounting bracket 16. The connecting arrangement includes a locking interconnection 28 for securely holding the first side portion of the container 4 against the mounting bracket 16 and a guiding interconnection 42 for initially positioning the dispenser 2 in relation to the mounting bracket 16 during mounting of the dispenser 2 to the mounting bracket 16. The guiding interconnection 42 provides engagement between the dispenser 2 and the mounting bracket 16 such that the dispenser 2 is prevented from being separated from the mounting bracket 16 in a direction at least perpendicularly outwards from the wall. |
| US08875940B2 |
Prophylactic kit apparatus
A prophylactic kit apparatus configured to be used with only a single patient includes a plurality of sealed modules and a housing configured to contain those sealed modules such that only one of the plurality of sealed modules can be removed from the housing at a time. Each of the plurality of sealed modules contains at least one prophylactic agent to be used in service of the patient. These sealed modules are to be used in a particular order and the housing is further configured to facilitate the removal of the sealed modules in only that particular order. |
| US08875939B2 |
Storage device with hinged lid
A storage unit having sidewalls and a lid hinged to a sidewall. A support device has one end mounted to the lid and one end received in a track recessed in a sidewall and operable to follow in a travel path defined by the track when the lid is raised and lowered. The track having a rest surface on which the end of the support device in the track can rest to support the lid in the open position. The storage unit can include a latch assembly associated with a sidewall and the lid to selectively secure the lid in a closed position. |
| US08875937B2 |
Plastic dumpster
A unitary plastic container, which is optionally used for waste collection comprises a base, a front wall, a back wall and two opposing side walls, each wall extending upwardly from the base to define an open container top and an interior container volume. Each side wall has an outwardly extending sidewall portion which is outwardly offset relative to the rest of the container side wall. In each outwardly extending sidewall portion, an elongated cutout, indentation or channel is present. The elongated channel has a forward opening, a rearward opening and an elongated side opening extending from the forward opening to the rearward opening. The elongated channel lies within the interior container volume and divides the outwardly extending sidewall portion into two areas: an upper outwardly extending sidewall portion and a lower outwardly extending portion. The outwardly open elongate channel may be fitted with a reinforcing sleeve. |
| US08875936B2 |
Can end with negatively angled wall
An end for a beverage can is described. The end has a product side, an opposing public side, a center panel, an annular countersink, a circumferential wall, and a curl. The center panel has a means for opening the end. The annular countersink extends circumferentially about the center panel. The circumferential wall extends upwardly from the countersink and has an angled portion extending radially inwardly toward the center panel. The curl is located radially outward relative to the center panel and defines an outer perimeter of the end. |
| US08875934B2 |
Heavy duty cooler
An ice chest or portable cooler is disclosed which includes a unique construction which enables the cooler to maintain the contents therein at or below a desired temperature for an extended period of time. The top, walls, and bottom of the cooler utilize a shell which includes an inner and outer layer of a plastic and a relatively thick layer of an insulation material between the layers of plastic. The construction adds strength and rigidity to the cooler, while not increasing the weight as a result of the relatively light insulation material. |
| US08875930B2 |
Emesis container
An emesis container comprising a housing having a first compartment, and at least one open end. There is also a plurality of handles coupled to the housing. In addition, there is also at least one second compartment coupled to the housing. Furthermore, there is at least one disposable container element disposed in the second compartment. The disposable container element can be a bag such as in the form of a disposable trash bag that can be pulled up and over the open end of the housing. There can also be a connector coupled to the housing as well. The connector can be used to releasably connect the emesis container to a base. |
| US08875926B2 |
Resealable multi-compartment beverage container
Container for beverages, liquids and other fluid substances which includes a plurality of sealed chambers, sealed openings in coplanar walls of the chambers, a stationary cover plate with openings in registration with the sealed openings, an opener movably mounted on the cover plate for selective engagement with seals for the openings in the walls, and a selector plate operatively connected to the opener with an opening in the selector plate that can be moved into and out of registration with the openings in the chamber walls and cover plate. |
| US08875922B2 |
Convertible liquid container
A liquid container is in the shape of a bottle with an elongated section at its top in a first position and is convertible to a glass or goblet in a second position with the elongated section at the bottom. The container includes a first end that has a closed end; a second end that has an open end wider than the elongated section, a first body that includes the elongated section, a second body that includes a hollow container, and a closure, which is a detachable closure adapted to seal the open end of the second end in the first position and to be detached from the open end of the second end in the second position. |
| US08875921B2 |
Lightweight container having a reinforced base
A container made of thermoplastic material, including a body that extends between a neck and a base that is able to withstand, without significantly deforming, a hydrostatic pressure caused by the column of a liquid contained in the container, the column of liquid being increased by a pressure not exceeding 2×105 Pa. The base includes main ribs in the form of grooves that are open towards the outside and extend approximately radially, passing through an annular zone that forms an approximately flat seat by way of which the base can rest in a stable manner on a flat support. The main ribs extend upwards on a wall connecting the base to the body of the container. The container has a shoulder that forms a joining zone between the connecting wall and the body of the container, and the main ribs extend upwards beyond the shoulder. |
| US08875918B2 |
Closure
The present invention is directed to a packaging (1) comprising a container (2) with a container body (5), and a container opening (6) having an upper edge (7), and a closure (4) for closing said container, the container (2) and the closure (4) being made out of polyethylene terephtalate (PET), polyethylene naphtalate (PEN), or a combination thereof, said container and said closure comprising respectively first (8) and second (9) attachment means, characterized in that: (i) the attachment means (8, 9) are adapted in shape and size to cooperate with each other, and (ii) at least the second attachment means (8) is made of PET or PEN and adapted in shape and size to deform permanently by punching or rolling to link both attachment means, and create a permanent, preferably fluid-tight, arrangement between said container (2) and said closure (4). |
| US08875914B2 |
Anti-drip device for a bottle
A non-drip device for a bottle is in the form of an outwardly projecting peripheral lip. This peripheral lip has a triangular section of thickness that decreases out to an outer tip, the lip being defined by a top side and by a bottom side that, between them, form an angle lying in the range 5° to 45° . This outwardly projecting peripheral lip has a length advantageously lying in the range 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm. It may be provided at the top end of the skirt of a cover of the engagement type. In a variant embodiment, this lip may be formed integrally at the neck of the bottle. Such a lip structure makes it possible, at the time of pouring, and in effective manner, to avoid formation of drops that run down along the outside face of the bottle. |
| US08875912B2 |
Vehicle crane
A vehicle crane—in particular an articulated-arm crane—includes a lifting arm and one or more articulated arms, and the geometry of the crane arms can be changed with respect to one another. A load cable can be guided or is guided on the crane arms. A compensation device allows the tension in the load cable to be controlled or regulated upon a change in the geometry of the crane arms with respect to one another. |
| US08875909B2 |
Device for transporting objects
A device for transporting objects, in particular fittings, having a frame includes outer walls (2, 3) protruding upwards from a floor at opposite end faces, on which a plurality of receiving hoppers (4) are provided for placing a first end section of an object, and at least one middle wall section (5, 5′) protruding from the floor. A plurality of receiving hoppers (4) is provided thereon for placing a second end section of an object opposite the first end section. At least one middle wall section (5, 5′) is displaceably mounted on a floor guide and can be fixed at different distances from an outer wall (2, 3). |
| US08875908B2 |
Item display stand
An item display stand including, in a substantially rigid and foldable material, a polyhedral compartment. The polyhedral compartment including a support wall and two side walls, and being articulated to change between a flat folded state and an open and operational unfolded state for receiving an item on the support wall extending between the side walls. |
| US08875907B2 |
Storage cell and magazine
The deep cell (300) of the present invention is capable of accommodating two data cartridges (100) in a row. In addition, the deep cell (300) includes a regulating member (301) for regulating the storage of two data cartridges (100) and for regulating storage to just one data cartridge (100). |
| US08875905B2 |
Plug assembly
A plug assembly (11) adapted to be received in an opening at a first end of a pipe (13) for preventing debris passing therein. The plug assembly (11) comprises a first portion (21) adapted to be received in the opening, and a second portion (23) to ensure the first portion (21) does not move inwardly away from the opening. The plug assembly (11) also comprises a drainage means (33) to allow fluid to pass through the plug assembly (11). |
| US08875903B2 |
Vortex structure for high throughput continuous flow separation
A system to facilitate separation and concentration of particles based on centrifugal force on suspended particles, including biological matter, which are made to flow in a vortex structure is provided. The centrifugal force urges larger particles to collect along outer portions of the vortex flow. Conversely, within a vortex structure, a radial hydrodynamic pressure drop is also amplified to urge smaller particles toward inner portions of the vortex flow. This force created by the pressure can reach magnitudes that encourage a sharp cut-off and improved resolution discrimination between particle sizes. Thus, separated streams of particles can be collected with both increased concentration and purification. |
| US08875900B2 |
Replaceable screen panel seal strip
A T shaped screen panel seal strip for use in spanning between screen support rails in a vibrating screen is disclosed, which has a plurality of notches therein in registration with the screen support rails so that the strip can be placed over either new or existing screen support rails (after having been cleaned of any cushioning cap material). The strip can be metallic or a plastic material. The method includes retrofitting existing screens with a new sealing strip by first removing any cushion cap material and then placing the T shaped seal strip over the support rails. |
| US08875899B2 |
Pumpbox
A pumpbox, the pumpbox being in fluid communication with one or more vessels, wherein the pumpbox comprises a classification portion and level control means adapted to control the level of fluid within the one or more vessels. |
| US08875895B2 |
Storage body and reel
The storage body includes a tape formed with recess portions that dip in in a thickness direction formed at intervals along the tape length direction and a cover that is superimposed on the tape and closes off openings of the recess portions. The tape is fixed to the tape by intermediate fixing portions and a pair of side fixing portions. The intermediate fixing portions are formed between the mutually adjacent recess portions. The pair of side fixing portions include overlapping portions and connect portions. The overlapping portions are formed at the two tape width direction sides of the intermediate fixing portions so as to overlap with the intermediate fixing portions along the tape length direction. The connect portions are formed with constant width connecting together the respective overlapping portions disposed in lines along the tape length direction. |
| US08875891B2 |
Press-through package and method of removing medication from same
A press-through package for articles such as medicines which can reliably prevent a recipient from accidentally swallowing the whole package without opening it, including solid medicines M stored in a plurality of pockets of a base sheet one by one and the pockets sealed by a cover film having attached to the rear surface of the base sheet, wherein the entire package of the press-through package is made in a cylindrical form which cannot allow a recipient from accidentally swallowing and from which the medicines can be taken out easily. |
| US08875887B2 |
Cover for wrapping at least one article, the cover being of the type constituted by a sleeve of heat-shrinkable plastics material
The present invention relates to a cover for wrapping at least one article, the cover being of the type constituted by a sleeve of heat-shrinkable plastics material suitable for closely surrounding at least a portion of the article or a group of articles. In accordance with the invention, the sleeve is constituted by superposing at least two walls secured to each another by detachable adhesive means, said walls having shrinkage characteristics that are essentially identical, and the outermost wall of the sleeve also presenting, through its entire thickness, at least one cut defining a detachable circumferential strip, said circumferential strip being printed so as to present respective patterns of printing that appear on each of its sides, the other wall(s) also presenting a pattern of printing behind the detachable circumferential strip that appears after said circumferential strip has been detached. |
| US08875886B2 |
Carrier card arrangement with removable envelope
Methods and apparatus for providing a carrier card on which a transaction card is mounted and to which an envelope is integrally but detachably attached are described. According to one aspect, a carrier card arrangement that is suitable for carrying a transaction card includes a carrier portion and an envelope portion that is integrally formed with an edge of the carrier portion. The edge of the carrier portion is at least partially defined by at least one perforation. The carrier portion includes a first surface that is on an opposite side of the carrier portion from a second surface. The envelope portion has a third surface that at least partially abuts the second surface, and is sized to accommodate the transaction card. |
| US08875882B1 |
Holder and disposal device for hypodermic needles
A holder and disposal device for hypodermic needles safely detaches a needle from a syringe, permits use of multiple needles in sequence, and allows for the re-capping of needles without accidental puncture. The device includes a container having an interior space configured for receiving needles and needle covers. A top edge of the container defines an opening into the interior space. A lid is couplable to the container and is positionable in a closed position to cover the opening and in an open position to expose the opening. A gap is positioned in the lid. A clamp is couplable to the lid proximate the gap wherein pivoting the clamp opens and closes a pair of jaws above the gap such that the needles and needle covers positioned over the needles extend through the gap when the jaws are clamped onto the needle cover. |
| US08875881B2 |
Method and apparatus for collecting sharps
A container for collecting sharps includes an opening adapted to receive sharps in a substantially vertical orientation, and an interior region for storing sharps received through the opening. The container includes a means for reorienting the sharps into an arrangement in which the sharps lie substantially parallel to one another within the interior region of the container. A method for configuring a sharps collection container includes the step of positioning a contoured surface of a guide element beneath an opening of the container to reorient sharps that are deposited through the opening into an arrangement in which the sharps are stored substantially parallel to one another in the container. |
| US08875880B2 |
Receptacle for receiving fastening elements
A receptacle for receiving fastening elements for connection of two components of a unit to be assembled, the receptacle has means for providing a separate reception of different fastening elements which differ from one another with regard to a shape, and/or a size, and/or a material, such that different ones of the fastening elements with which the receptacle is charged are coordinated with the components which are respectively to be connected, and a number of the fastening elements to be received by the receptacle corresponds at least to a number of connection sites on the components. |
| US08875878B2 |
Package for smoking articles with lid flap
The present invention relates to a package for smoking articles comprising a container portion (2) and a lid (3). The lid is hingedly connected to the container 5 portion (2) to enclose a space defined by the container portion (2) when the lid (3) is closed. The lid (3) includes an end portion (16) and a wall (12) extending from the end portion (16) that overlaps a wall (6) of the container portion (2) when closed. A flap (26,93,107,120) extends from a face of one of said walls having a free end (29,96,109,125), and a cut-out (51,80,102) is formed in the other of said walls, 10 wherein one of the cut-out (51,80) or the free end (109,125) of the flap (107,120) has a first edge (54,65,73,87,115,127) and a second edge (55,56,66,74,88,90,116,128). The first edge is offset from the second edge such that, when the lid (3) is moved to a closed position, said first edge locates over the free end (29,96) of the flap (26,93) or the cut-out (102) before the second edge locates over the free end of the flap or 15 the cut-out. |
| US08875877B2 |
Child resistant container
A child resistant container for nicotine products includes latching elements (8, 25) adapted to interlock with cooperating latching elements (9, 27) when a lid (3) is pushed onto a the base (2) to retain the lid (3) to the base (2). The latching elements (8, 25) are further adapted to disengage from the cooperating latching elements (9, 27) when a simultaneous force is exerted on all releasable latching arrangements (6, 7, 12, 13) by two hands of a user or the like. |
| US08875873B2 |
Packaged orthodontic assembly with retaining member
Orthodontic assemblies and related methods are provided where an adhesive coated orthodontic appliance is received in a container that includes a substrate and a lid having a retaining member. When the lid is closed, the retaining member is complemental to the shape of the appliance and engages with the appliance. By conforming to the shape of the appliance, the retaining member constrains the appliance from shifting in lateral and vertical directions within the container. When the lid is opened, the associated retaining member disengages from the appliance, thereby facilitating user access to the appliance. |
| US08875871B2 |
Conveyance device for granular materials
A belt conveyor, a collecting hopper and a screw conveyor are sequentially disposed below a chute for feeding hydrogenated petroleum resin pellets from a pelletizing portion. Even when the hydrogenated petroleum resin pellets fed onto the belt conveyor are dropped off or scattered, the hydrogenated petroleum resin pellets can be collected by the collecting hopper that is located below and can be securely transferred to an outside by the screw conveyor. |
| US08875869B1 |
Article pattern forming method and apparatus
A system for palletizing a multi-row pattern of articles includes a pattern-forming apparatus that includes a pair of fingers movable towards and away from each other to constrain rows of articles that impact one another to form a multi-row pattern of articles. The fingers can be either be fixed along the conveyor path or move with the containers along a portion of the conveyor path. |
| US08875868B2 |
Apparatus for aligning a sheet product
The invention relates to an apparatus for aligning a sheet product conveyed on a conveying surface of a conveyor system in a direction of conveyance at a conveying velocity, which product has on its side facing away from the conveying surface an at least partially exposed surface. The apparatus has an alignment unit, which is arranged above the conveying surface and which is intended to change the situation of the product with respect to the conveying surface by means of a force acting upon the exposed surface. The alignment unit has a self-contained, flexible force transmission member, which, on that side of the alignment unit which is facing toward the conveying surface, forms a sagging strand, which latter is intended to rest with a portion on the at least partially exposed surface of the product and thus subject said product to the force. |
| US08875864B2 |
Continuous operation portable material handling system
A system and method for material handling includes a first portable conveyor for feeding material to a mobile bridge conveyor for the material to be stacked via a stacker until a discharge end of the mobile bridge conveyor is at or within a predetermined distance of a discharge end of the first portable conveyor. The first portable conveyor moves away from the mobile bridge conveyor after the discharge end of mobile bridge conveyor is at or within the predetermined distance of the discharge end of the first portable conveyor. A second portable conveyor that feeds material to the first portable conveyor rotates such that a discharge end of the second portable conveyor is moved towards the mobile bridge conveyor until reaching a feeding position for feeding material to the mobile bridge. |
| US08875861B2 |
Liquid friction clutch
A liquid friction clutch (1) having a housing (2, 3), a clutch disc (4) rotatable relative to the housing (2, 3) and which is rotatably arranged on an end (5) of a shaft (6) which is mounted centrally within the housing (2, 3), which shaft (6) bears on its other end (8) a driveable active element (7). A working chamber (9) is positioned between the housing (2, 3) and the clutch disk (4). A storage chamber (10) is provided for the clutch fluid. A supply duct (11) leads from the storage chamber (10) to the working chamber (9). A stationary clutch part (13) relative to which the housing (2, 3) is rotatable, wherein a rotatably mounted pump element (14) is provided which, with the housing (2, 3), defines a shear gap (12). |
| US08875858B2 |
Hydraulic control apparatus for vehicular automatic transmission
Providing a hydraulic control apparatus for a vehicular automatic transmission, which makes it possible to design an oil pump with a reduced delivery capacity, thereby permitting an improvement of fuel economy of a vehicle.The hydraulic control apparatus includes a supply passage connecting/disconnecting valve 114A which is operated, in synchronization with a switching operation of a lock-up relay valve 114, to apply a modulator pressure PM via an orifice 118 to a lock-up clutch 18, for placing the lock-up clutch 18 in the lock-up on state, and to inhibit the application of the modulator pressure PM to the lock-up clutch 18, for placing the lock-up clutch 18 in its lock-up off state. Accordingly, the modulator pressure PM via the orifice 118 is not applied to the lock-up clutch 18 when the lock-up clutch 18 is placed in the lock-up off state, so that a total amount of flow and consumption of the working oil is reduced, making it possible to design the oil pump 20 with a reduced delivery capacity, thereby permitting an improvement of fuel economy of the vehicle. |
| US08875856B2 |
Tile for forming a ground power supply line
A ground power supply line for electric traction vehicles is provided with two conductors carried by a series of tiles aligned to one another; each tile has a conductive plate and a lower supporting structure, which is made of insulating material and accommodates electric connectors, normally open switches, and a control and command unit, which switches the switches for selectively electrically connecting the conductive plate to the conductors in response to a signal deriving from an electric traction vehicle passing over said external conductive plate; the upper surface of the conductive plates is flushed with the remaining part of a road surface. |
| US08875847B2 |
Mechanical brake actuator
To provide the mechanical brake actuator enabling to downsize the device and to reduce the manufacturing costs of the parts. The mechanical brake actuator comprises the strut (23) which engages with one brake shoe (12) and has two facing plates (23b) with a strut-bridge (23a) connecting therebetween and the plate-like brake lever (24) which engages with the other brake shoe (13). The brake lever (24) is retained in the space (23c) between the facing strut plates and is pivotally supported on the strut (23), and the inner cable (41) of the brake cable (40) connected to the free end (24e) of the brake lever (24) via the connecting pin (43). The mechanical brake actuator which is operated by pulling the inner cable (41) comprises the clip (70), which rotatably attaches to the strut-bridge (23a) and restricts the rotation of the brake lever (24) in the cable releasing direction. |
| US08875846B2 |
Speed limiter in an elevator system
A speed limiter for an elevator system includes: at least one speed limiter wheel having a first radial cam with lobes, and at least a second, phase-shifted radial cam with lobes; a first mass, which is rotatably arranged in a first pivot bearing and which together with a first roller rolls on the first radial cam such that the first mass follows a first oscillating motion when the speed limiter wheel rotates; and a second mass, which is rotatably arranged in a second pivot bearing and which together with a second roller rolls on the second radial cam such that the second mass follows a second oscillating motion when the speed limiter wheel rotates. |
| US08875845B2 |
Safety arrangement for a lift car in a lift
A lift car securing arrangement includes a restraining arrangement having a restraint that is supported by the lift car arranged such that it can be placed into and removed from restraining interaction with an extended stationary interaction element arranged to extend along the vertical pathway of the lift car, and which restraint when placed into restraining interaction locks the lift car to the stationary interaction element, a power-interruption device that can be placed into and removed from a power-interrupting position whereby the power to a driving motor unit that is part of the lift is interrupted when the power-interruption device is placed arranged in its power-interrupting position, in which the power-interruption device is so arranged at the restraining arrangement that the said power-interruption device is located in its power-interrupting position when the restraint has been set into restraining interaction with the extended stationary interaction element. |
| US08875843B2 |
Robotic milk bar
A robot milk bar as a modular technology which can be either operated as a stand-alone system installed in a modified sea freight containers and/or can be partly or totally installed and operated in any convenient shopping mall and/or shopping centers. The robot milk bar contains a milk processing line wherein the basic original milk products are made, while the distribution is ensured by an embedded robot filling, packing and vending line, in which an industrial robot prepares and distributes final milk products. The milk products are either distributed directly to consumers in own retail store/restaurant, or redistributed to retail outlets. The robot milk bar is unique in having its own retail store/restaurant where consumers can buy and consume milk and milk products via a user-friendly automatic ordering system and served by a robot. |
| US08875841B2 |
Transmission
In a transmission, a lubrication oil retention section is formed to surround an area around a circumferential part of a first gear that ranges from a lubrication oil storage region to the outside of the lubrication oil storage region. In the lubrication oil retention section, the lubrication oil scooped up by the rotation of the first gear is retained between the lubrication oil retention section and the first gear at the outside of the lubrication oil storage region. The lubrication oil retention section enables the first gear to splash the lubrication oil retained at the outside of the lubrication oil storage region, toward a receiver that flows the lubrication oil to various sliding parts of the transmission. |
| US08875840B2 |
Collapsible stool
A collapsible stool with foldable legs as well as a foldable seat is disclosed herein. The stool collapses to greatly reduce its size thereby enabling it to fit within many common carrying articles, such as purses. The legs and support members fold flat against the seat of the stool, which itself is in two pieces and folds in half. |
| US08875839B1 |
Fall restraint system for telescoping ladders
A fall restraint system having a retractor assembly including a housing assembly that is mounted onto an aerial apparatus. A base pulley assembly is also mounted onto the aerial apparatus. A cable having first and second ends is partially stored within the housing assembly, whereby the first end is fixed within the housing assembly. The second end is threaded around the base pulley assembly and is also fixed onto the aerial apparatus. Tensioning means keep a predetermined tension on the cable while the aerial apparatus extends from a retracted position to an extended position and vice-versa. |
| US08875835B2 |
Vehicular rear wheel steering device
A vehicular rear wheel steering device includes a housing, a rod being non-turnable with respect to the housing and movably supported in an axial direction of the rod, and a conversion mechanism arranged between the rod and the housing to convert a rotation of a rotational drive device to a drive force in the axial direction. The housing includes a tubular first bush disposed at a first end and a tubular second bush at a second end. Each bush is slidably engaged to an outer periphery of the rod and supports the rod to be movable in the axial direction. A rod supporting rigidity of the first bush is lower compared to that of the second bush. The first bush is arranged with an elastic body that deforms in a radial direction of the rod. The second bush is arranged with an inner periphery protrusion at which the rod tilts. |
| US08875833B2 |
Utility vehicle
A utility vehicle 1 prevents a size increase of a transmission while ensuring a predetermined inter-shaft distance between an output shaft and a rear axle. The utility vehicle 1 is capable of switching a two wheel drive mode for transmitting drive force to rear wheels 3 and a four wheel drive mode for transmitting the drive force to front wheels 2 and the rear wheels 3, a transmission 9 includes an input shaft 92 to which the drive force from an engine 8 is inputted, a front wheel drive output shaft 94 for transmitting the drive force of the input shaft 92 to the front wheels 2, and a rear axle 96 for transmitting the drive force of the input shaft 92 to the rear wheels 3. A rear wheel drive output shaft 95 is provided in a motive power transmission route between the front wheel drive output shaft 94 and the rear axle 96. |
| US08875831B2 |
Drifting kart
Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn. |
| US08875829B2 |
Construction machine
Provided is a construction machine, wherein an upper slewing body comprises a slewing frame and first and second power units, and wherein the second power unit comprises a second engine, a second controller to control driving of the second engine, a second hydraulic oil tank, a second hydraulic pump configured to be driven by the second engine to thereby suck hydraulic oil from the second hydraulic oil tank and discharge the hydraulic oil toward a hydraulic actuator, a second fuel tank configured to store fuel, and a second support member supporting the second engine, the second hydraulic oil tank, the second hydraulic pump and the second fuel tank, and wherein the second support member is configured to be attachable and detachable with respect to the slewing frame independently of a first support member of the first power unit, and the second hydraulic pump is detachably connected to the hydraulic actuator. |
| US08875828B2 |
Vehicle battery pack thermal barrier
An integration assembly for a battery pack mounted between the passenger cabin floor panel of an electric vehicle and the driving surface is provided, the assembly utilizing a multi-layer thermal barrier interposed between the battery pack enclosure and the passenger cabin floor panel, where the multi-layer thermal barrier provides noise isolation, thermal isolation and vibration damping, and where the multi-layer thermal barrier is compressed when the battery pack enclosure is mounted to the vehicle. The multi-layer thermal barrier is comprised of a first layer formed from a compressible and conformable elastic material and a second layer formed from a conformable thermally insulating material. The multi-layer thermal barrier may also include a moisture barrier layer that encases the first and second layers, for example a moisture barrier layer fabricated from a plastic. A sealant may be used to seal and bond the moisture barrier layer to the battery pack enclosure. |
| US08875827B2 |
Vehicle
A vehicle has an electric storage unit having a plurality of electric storage elements and outputting energy for use in running of the vehicle, a blower placed closer to the exterior of a vehicle body relative to the electric storage unit and supplying the electric storage unit with air for adjusting the temperature of the electric storage element, and a pedestal supporting the blower. The pedestal has a bend portion allowing movement of the blower to a position off the electric storage unit through deformation in response to an external force. |
| US08875826B2 |
System for replacing a battery of a ground transportation vehicle, particularly of an unmanned heavy-duty transportation vehicle for ISO containers
The invention relates to a system for replacing a battery of a ground transportation vehicle, particularly of an unmanned heavy-duty transportation vehicle for ISO containers. The system includes storage spaces for batteries, at least one ground transportation vehicle having a receiving space for a replaceable battery, and at least one loading and unloading device for transporting batteries between the storage spaces and the receiving space of the transport vehicle in a replacement area. The storage space and the receiving space may include respective centering elements such that the battery is aligned relative to the storage space or the receiving space in response to the loading motion of the loading and unloading device. |
| US08875825B2 |
Power control unit
A power control unit that controls a rotary electric machine that drives a vehicle, and that is mounted onto a motor case in which the rotary electric machine is housed, includes a fixed base that is made of resin; a cooler that is arranged on the fixed base and that includes a power module; and a control substrate that is arranged on the cooler. The fixed base inhibits conduction of heat from the motor case to the power control unit. |
| US08875823B2 |
Multi-functional cooling system
A vehicle includes a chassis; a plurality of ground-engaging members; and an engine that cooperates with the plurality of ground-engaging members to move the chassis of the vehicle. The engine is positioned within an engine compartment. The vehicle further includes a cooling system including a baffle having a first side and a second side; a battery positioned on the first side of the baffle; and a heat exchanger positioned on the second side of the baffle. The baffle defines a first air pathway to cool the battery and a second air pathway to cool the heat exchanger. |
| US08875821B2 |
Driving-power control device for vehicle
Since a power of an engine is transmitted to a first axle and a power of a MG is transmitted to a second axle, a space for providing the MG can be readily ensured. Further, since an accessory is driven by the power of the engine, a private power source for the accessory is not necessary. In this case, the accessory may be a water pump, an oil pump, or an air-conditioner compressor. Furthermore, since a vehicle driving mode is switched between an engine driving mode and a MG driving mode, only a control system relative to the MG driving mode is necessary to be developed when the hybrid vehicle is developed by using the engine vehicle as the base part. |
| US08875818B2 |
Tiller guided industrial truck
A tiller guided industrial truck having a steered wheel, a tiller arm, a travel speed controller, an actuating unit, a hold device, and a high speed travel switch. The tiller arm is pretensioned toward a vertical or near vertical position. The hold device limits a maximum travel speed to a walk along speed when activated and provides a snap-in position for the tiller arm in which the tiller arm is held. Further, the industrial truck has a circuit that initializes a braking process when the travel speed controller is not actuated while the high speed travel switch is activated. |
| US08875816B2 |
High travel suspension for small ground mobile robots
A lightweight mobile robot includes a chassis less than 500 pounds and two independent tracked drives including a drive wheel assembly, four or more independently suspended bogie assemblies, an idler wheel assembly, a compliant front shoe fixedly coupled to an independently suspended bogie assembly positioned adjacent the idler wheel assembly, and a compliant elastomer track entraining the drive wheel, road wheels, idler wheel assembly and compliant front shoe. The bogie assembly includes a serpentine suspension arm having a corresponding road wheel rotatably mounted at a distal end thereof, the bogie arm swingable through a range entirely beneath the chassis. The serpentine suspension arm provides clearance for adjacent road wheels to swing past one another without making contact with any portion of the adjacent bogie assembly. The compliant elastomer track has center guides and peripheral drive features protruding therefrom for engaging the drive wheel, road wheels, and idler wheel. |
| US08875814B2 |
Element containing thermally stable polycrystalline diamond material and methods and assemblies for formation thereof
The disclosure provides a super abrasive element containing a substantially catalyst-free thermally stable polycrystalline diamond (TSP) body having pores and a contact surface, a base adjacent the contact surface of the TSP body; and an infiltrant material infiltrated in the base and in the pores of the TSP body at the contact surface. The disclosure additionally provides earth-boring drill bits and other devices containing such super abrasive elements. The disclosure further provides methods and mold assemblies for forming such super abrasive elements via infiltration and hot press methods. |
| US08875809B2 |
Core drill and coring method
Disclosed is a core drill comprising: an external pipe; a coring bit to be rotated by rotation of the external pipe to drill a coring hole and form a core having a core diameter; and an internal coring pipe (1), mounted within the external pipe, to receive a core formed by the coring bit, the internal coring pipe comprising: an internal tubular wall (2) defining a cavity (4) having a diameter substantially the same as the core diameter within which to retain a core formed by the coring bit, one or more viewing openings (8, 9, 10) being formed through the internal tubular wall; and an external tubular wall (3), in which the internal tubular wall is housed coaxially, the internal and external tubular walls being connected to each other so as to form a single-piece double-walled pipe. |
| US08875808B2 |
Method and assembly for conveying well logging tools
A method for conveying logging tools (LT) and obtaining well log data from a wellbore is disclosed. The method includes running a drill string (DS) including a landing sub (LS) disposed near the lower end into a wellbore. A logging tool string (LTS) is inserted into the upper end of the DS bore. A fluid is pumped into the upper end of the DS bore to assist movement of the LTS. As the fluid is pumped behind the LTS, the cable at the surface is spooled out and the fluid pressure is monitored. The landing assembly of the LTS is landed in the LS. A diagnostic test is activated and run to determine proper functioning of the LT. A release mechanism releases the running tool portion of the LTS. The cable is spooled in. The drill pipe string is pulled upward in the wellbore as the LT are recording data. |
| US08875807B2 |
Optical power for self-propelled mineral mole
Exemplary methods, systems and components disclosed herein provide propagation of light signals from an external source to a borehole mining mole which includes an optical/electric transducer configured to provide propulsive power for the borehole mining mole and its associated mineral prospecting tools. Some embodiments include one or more umbilicals connected from a remote source location to an onboard reel incorporated with the borehole mining mole. The umbilicals are spooled outwardly or inwardly from the onboard reel during traverse of the borehole mining mole along a path in an earthen environment. |
| US08875803B2 |
Method for tightening bolt connection by elongation of bolt
The present invention relates to a method for tightening a bolt connection through elongation of the bolt where strokes of a power element, especially a hydraulic cylinder, are converted into a rotational movement of a tightening tool. The method according to an embodiment of the present invention is carried out in at least two steps. As a first step, the bolt is first tightened to a predetermined snug torque. As a second step, the bolt is then tightened up through a predetermined number of complete strokes of the power element of the power wrench. In this way, a torque method is combined with a rotational angle method that is controlled by the number of strokes. |
| US08875802B2 |
Passive fire protection system
A blanket (103) providing a plurality of pockets (109) in which to contain fire suppression compound (211). A blanket (103) can be wrapped around a container of flammable liquid to resist fire resulting from a ballistic attack. Fire suppression compound (211) carried in a pocket (109) may be provided as a plurality of sub-portions individually disposed in a respective pouch (214). End caps (106) may also be included to further surround a container with fire suppression compound (211). |
| US08875799B2 |
Covered retaining shoe configurations for use in a downhole tool
A downhole apparatus suitable for downhole application may include a mandrel; a packer element assembly disposed about the mandrel that comprises at least one packer element disposed about the mandrel; and a retaining shoe disposed about the mandrel and adjacent to a first packer element of the packer element assembly. The retaining shoe may be configured such that in an unset position at least a portion of the first packer element covers at least a portion of a retaining shoe distal surface. |
| US08875797B2 |
Method for flow control and autonomous valve or flow control device
A method for flow control and a self-adjusting valve or flow control device, in particular useful in a production pipe for producing oil and/or gas from a well in an oil and/or gas reservoir, which production pipe includes a lower drainage pipe preferably being divided into at least two sections each including one or more inflow control devices which communicates the geological production formation with the flow space of the drainage pipe. The fluid flows through an inlet and further through a flow path of the control device passing by a movable disc or movable device which is designed to move relative to the opening of the inlet and thereby reduce or increase the flow-through area by exploiting the Bernoulli effect and stagnation pressure created over the disc, whereby the control device, depending on the composition of the fluid and its properties, automatically adjusts the flow of the fluid based on a pre-estimated flow design. |
| US08875795B2 |
Subsea sensors display system and method
Method and subsea sensors display system configured to display data about a blowout preventer (BOP) stack. The subsea sensors display system includes a display panel having plural universal subsea displays, each universal subsea display being configured to display a value measured by a sensor attached to the BOP stack; and a J-box electrically connected to the display panel and configured to provide electrical power to the display panel and to receive data from the display panel. The electrical power is provided from a pod provided on the BOP stack or from a battery when the pod is not available or from a remote operated vehicle (ROV) when connected to the display panel. |
| US08875794B2 |
Trigger joint
The present invention regards a joint for use in a riser (1) extending between a floating installation (3) and a subsea installation (2). The joint comprises an inner pipe segment (21) and an outer pipe segments (22), arranged moveable relative each other in an axial direction and connectable to respective riser segments, forming a chamber (23) between them with a radially extending piston (24), dividing the chamber (23) in a first chamber part (25) and a second chamber part (26), wherein on of said chamber parts (25) in an initial position of the joint is adapted to contain a mainly incompressible fluid, this chamber part (25) decreasing in volume as the inner pipe segment (21) is moved relatively out of the outer pipe segment (22). According to the invention the joint is configured with a fluid line connection (30) from said one chamber part (25) to the other chamber part (26), configured such that the relative movement of the pipe segments (21, 22) is controlled by the allowed flow rate of a fluid flowing out of the chamber part (25) through the fluid line connection (30) to the other chamber part (26). |
| US08875779B2 |
Heat dissipation element with mounting structure
A heat dissipation element with mounting structure includes a main body and a plurality of mounting elements. The main body includes a first side and a second side, between which a chamber is defined; a plurality of supports located in the chamber and respectively connected at two opposite ends to the first side and the second side of the main body; a working fluid filled in the chamber; and at least one wick structure layer internally attached to the chamber. The mounting elements respectively define an axial bore and have an end extended through the first side of the main body into the supports to thereby connect to the main body. With these arrangements, the heat dissipation element with the mounting elements connected thereto can tightly contact with a heat-generating element and maintain the chamber in the main body in an airtight state without leakage. |
| US08875777B2 |
Strip casting apparatus for rapid set and change of casting rolls
A method of continuously casting steel strip includes steps of providing rails positioned beneath a casting position and extending in opposite directions there from to discharge stations, supporting first and second scrap receptacles movable along the rails, engaging a seal between the first scrap receptacle and an enclosure enabling support of a protective atmosphere beneath a pair of casting rolls, disengaging the seal between the first scrap receptacle and the enclosure and moving the first scrap receptacle along the rails in a direction away from the second scrap receptacle to a discharge station, and moving the second scrap receptacle into the casting position and sealingly engaging the second scrap receptacle and the enclosure. |
| US08875776B2 |
Method for manufacturing a metal ingot comprising a bore, and associated ingot and molding device
A method for producing a metal ingot using a mold which includes a mold cavity defined by an ingot mold, a core and a bottom arranged inside a vacuum-cast enclosure including a portion for introducing molten metal at the upper portion thereof. A portion for receiving and distributing molten metal, which is suitable for receiving the molten steel introduced into the vacuum-cast enclosure and for redistributing the molten metal in the mold cavity, is arranged at the upper portion of the mold cavity. The molten metal is introduced into the enclosure to form a first jet of molten steel under a vacuum, to pour the molten metal over the portion and to form at least one second jet of molten steel under a vacuum, which originates with the portion and terminates in the mold cavity to fill the mold cavity with molten metal. |
| US08875775B2 |
Hook for auto-release shade
A window shade of the present invention can include a retractable window shade housed in a door of a vehicle, the window shade operable to extend over a window of the vehicle to be secured with a plurality of hooks located above the window. These hooks are specially designed to allow an improperly attached retractable window shade to detach and retract upon the application of a longitudinal force applied to the improperly attached retractable window shade. |
| US08875773B2 |
Method and device for at least partially sealing a cavity, and apparatus, in particular for repairing equipment having such a device built therein
A cover device for at least partially closing off a cavity includes at least one cover element for closing off the opening of the cavity, and a support structure in the form of an elongate body for supporting and positioning the cover element in or close to the cavity. The cover element is in the form of a pneumatic mattress equipped with return elements for urging it back into a most compact configuration in which it is rolled up about a free one of its sides and forms a spirally wound roll, the free side being formed by the side of the mattress that is opposite from the connecting side of the mattress via which side the mattress is connected to the support structure. This device includes at least one support arm for supporting the mattress while going from its rolled-up most compact configuration to its rolled-out least compact configuration. |
| US08875770B1 |
Hanger for shower curtain having same-orientation double hooks
A hanger for suspending a shower curtain and a spaced apart liner from a shower bar has a first hook for the curtain and a second hook for the liner, and the mouths or openings of both hooks face in the same direction, preferably toward the inside of the shower enclosure. A decorative medallion is preferably affixed to the outer side of the hanger and the placement and dimension thereof are sufficient to block from view of a person outside the shower the opening at the top of the curtain, by which means the curtain is hung from the outside hook of the hanger. |
| US08875769B2 |
One-handed combination tape dispenser and applicator
An apparatus for an adhesive tape dispenser/applicator is disclosed. The adhesive tape dispenser/applicator includes an ergonomically shaped housing and tape applicator/cutter assembly that permits one-handed dispensing of pressure sensitive adhesive tape from a roll while simultaneously applying the tape to a substrate. The adhesive tape dispenser/applicator allows all operations to be performed single-handedly, and without the user ever having to directly touch the tape. In addition, there is no need to pre-measure or estimate the length of tape needed as the desired length of tape is dispensed as it is being applied to the substrate. |
| US08875765B2 |
Rubber composition for clinch apex and pneumatic tire
The present invention provides a rubber composition for a clinch apex which improves in fuel economy, flex crack growth resistance, and processability in a balanced manner, and also provides a pneumatic tire produced using the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition for a clinch apex, including: a modified natural rubber having a phosphorus content of 200 ppm or less; and at least one of carbon black and a white filler. |
| US08875764B2 |
Pneumatic tire
The present invention provides a pneumatic tire having excellent durability. Provided is a pneumatic tire including a sidewall and a carcass, the sidewall being produced from a rubber composition for a sidewall which has a specific sulfur content, the carcass being produced from a carcass cord covered with a rubber composition for a carcass topping, and the sulfur contents of the rubber composition for a sidewall and the rubber composition for a carcass topping satisfying a specific relationship. Provided is a pneumatic tire including a clinch and a carcass, the clinch being produced from a rubber composition for a clinch which has a specific sulfur content, the carcass being produced from a carcass cord covered with a rubber composition for a carcass topping, and the sulfur contents of the rubber composition for a clinch and the rubber composition for a carcass topping satisfying a specific relationship. |
| US08875760B2 |
Pneumatic tire
A plurality of sipes extending in a tire width direction are provided in a tread surface of a block. In the sipes, protrusions are formed on a first sipe wall surface of mutually opposing sipe wall surfaces and recesses that engage with the protrusions are formed on a second sipe wall surface. Collapse of portions of the block sandwiched by the sipes is suppressed due to engagement of the protrusions and the recesses. A height of protrusions positioned on an upper portion in the depth direction of the sipes is greater than a height of protrusions positioned on a lower portion. |
| US08875756B2 |
Pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire including a plurality of circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction, a plurality of land portions partitioned by the circumferential main grooves, a narrow groove extending in the tire circumferential direction and disposed in an edge portion of a road contact surface side and an outer side in the tire width direction of the shoulder land portion on an outermost side in a tire width direction, and a narrow rib that is partitioned by the narrow groove. The narrow rib includes an offset portion having a road contact surface offset inward in a tire radial direction from the road contact surface of the shoulder land portion, and a protrusion protruding in the tire radial direction from the offset portion, extending in the tire circumferential direction, and having a top surface that is substantially flush with a profile line of the shoulder land portion. |
| US08875752B2 |
Method and device for filling in particular large-volume containers
A device for filling containers with a liquid by supplying the liquid at a predetermined rate of flow, the rate of flow being predetermined as a function of one or more parameter value(s) measured in parallel and in combination with rate values of at least one prior filling operation associated with the parameter values includes a sensor for measuring a parameter value at a fill point, an adjustable valve for presetting the rate of flow, and a control unit that adjusts the valve in accordance with the parameter value, the control unit having a memory in which are stored rate values of a prior fill operation associated with the parameter values, and that predetermines the current rate of flow in combination with the parameter values by making corresponding adjustments of the valve. |
| US08875750B2 |
Reciprocating compressor with heat exchanger having thermal storage media
A reciprocating compressor comprises a gas inlet section including an inlet gas meter for metering inlet gas from a high pressure storage vessel, a compressor, a valve control panel and storage, a pressure let down that depressurizes the high pressure gas from the high pressure storage vessel to the inlet of the compressor section, a heat exchanger having thermal storage media, and a dispenser. |
| US08875744B2 |
Protective sheath for structural components
A structural component system for containing a hot fluid, e.g., petroleum product, and methods to dissipate heat build-up in the structural component is disclosed. In one embodiment, the structural component is a composite pipe for carrying a hot fluid, e.g., petroleum products. The system comprises a protective sheath disposed around the structural component and forms an air space between the structural component and the sheath. The sheath has at least two gaps on its surface, with the gaps being sufficiently spaced apart to allow air flowing through the air space from one gap to another to dissipate heat build-up from the hot fluid contained within the structural component. In one embodiment, an intumescent material is applied near the gaps, which material expands when heated to a temperature in a fire to effectively close the gaps and protect the structural component from the fire. |
| US08875742B2 |
Clip
A clip includes a pair of operable jaws each of which is provided with a detachable holder. Several holders are also prepared in reserve. The holders have several kinds of shapes and sizes. Thus, by interchanging the holder with one another, the clip can fit with different kinds of tubes and multi-way valves, and with different sizes of openings or orifices. Application of the clip is expended with minimal accessories. |
| US08875740B2 |
Hydraulic accumulator, in particular bellows accumulator
A bellows accumulator has a bellows (13) serving as a movable separating element between a gas side (11) and a fluid side (21). At the movable bellows end during expansion and contraction in the accumulator housing defining a longitudinal axis (9), a closure body (25) closes off the interior space (33) of the bellows (13) in a fluid-tight manner. At its other bellows end (27), the bellows is immovably fixed to the accumulator housing (1). The immovable bellows end (27) is fixed to an end body (31) fixed to the housing, which end body (31) is in the form of a disk with region (37) projecting axially into the interior (33) of the bellows (13) from the main plane (35) of the disk. At least one fluid passage (41, 43) is formed on the projecting region (37), which fluid passage (41, 43) connects the interior space (33) associated with the fluid side (21) to a fluid connection (17) of the accumulator housing (1). |
| US08875739B2 |
Plug valve with bowing rigid arms
A movable valve for a valve assembly is described. The present valve comprises a plug attached to an immovable mounting flange by at least two non-resilient spider-like legs comprising first and second rigid leg segments that meet at hinging apexes positioned higher than the plug. The plug resists vertical displacement by virtue of the stiff leg segments having appropriately configured curvature and length. Actuation of the valve is through vertical displacement of the plug against the biasing forces, wherein displacement of the plug causes bowing of the legs without any stretching or change in the length of the leg segments. |
| US08875738B2 |
Positioning structure of water supply hose for pull-out faucet
A positioning structure of a water supply hose for a pull-out faucet contains: a faucet body including an outlet; a water supply hose accommodated in the faucet body so as to supply water and including an outlet segment; a spraying head connected with the outlet segment of the water supply hose and being pulled outwardly and retracted inwardly with the water supply hose; a magnetic attraction device including a first connecting member and a second connecting member which magnetically attract with each other. The first connecting member is disposed in the outlet, the second connecting member is mounted on an outlet segment, the second connecting member retracts back to its original position with the water supply hose and the spraying head and moves into the outlet so as to magnetically attract with the first connecting member, hence the water supply hose and the spraying head are magnetically attracted and fixed. |
| US08875736B2 |
Hydraulic control valve for heavy equipment
A hydraulic control valve for heavy equipment is provided, which includes a valve body having a supply passage supplied with a hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump, ports for supplying the hydraulic fluid to an actuator or receiving the hydraulic fluid from the actuator, tank passages for returning the hydraulic fluid from the actuator to a hydraulic tank, and a first regeneration passage for supplying a part of the returned hydraulic fluid to the supply passage; a spool slidably installed in the valve body in accordance with supply of a pilot signal pressure from an exterior, and controlling flow of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the actuator from the supply passage during shifting; and a regeneration valve installed between the first regeneration passage and the tank passage, and including a piston moved by the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump, a regeneration spool shifted by pressure fluctuation of the supply passage to variably adjust a flow rate of the hydraulic fluid discharged from the first regeneration passage to the tank passage via a return passage, a first resilient member for resiliently supporting the regeneration spool in a direction opposite to a shifted direction of the regeneration spool, and a pilot piston for resiliently supporting a set pressure of the first resilient member. |
| US08875732B2 |
Food dispensing machine and method
A food dispensing machine includes a product chamber and an ingredients source including a gas source connected to the product chamber. A flow control device is configured to control ingredients flow from the ingredients source to the product chamber. A pressure measurement device is configured to output a gas pressure signal, and a controller is configured to receive the gas pressure signal and determine a gas flow control signal based on the gas pressure signal. The controller outputs the gas flow control signal to the flow control device. |
| US08875730B2 |
Control apparatus of vacuum valve
A control device is provided with a switching valve mechanism and first and second actuators. The switching valve mechanism is provided with a valve element for switching which is located within a casing. The valve element can linearly move between an open position at which first and second pressure change chambers of the casing are communicated with each other and a closed position at which the communication is interrupted. The valve element is held at the open position and the closed position by a first holding mechanism (toggle spring). When a float ascends to a first water level, the first actuator moves the valve element from the closed position to the open position. When the degree of vacuum within a pressure detection chamber becomes a second degree of vacuum or less, the second actuator moves the valve element from the open position to the closed position. |
| US08875728B2 |
Cooled gas distribution plate, thermal bridge breaking system, and related methods
A fluidized bed reactor system is disclosed. The system may be used in connection with a locally cooled gas distribution plate, which may control the reaction and increase system efficiency. A thermal bridge breaking system for disrupting heat transfer across the reactor is also disclosed. The thermal bridge breaking system may be provided in connection with, or separate from, the gas distribution plate cooling system. |
| US08875727B2 |
Rough-in adapter clip lock for a drain assembly
A drain assembly includes a drain head, which includes a flange and a cylindrical stem, with the flange extending outwardly from the cylindrical stem. The assembly also includes an adapter. The adapter is configured to engage the cylindrical stem of the drain head to adjustably support the drain head on the adapter and has a support flange, the support flange having a top surface. The assembly further includes a clip having a top end and a bottom end. The top end of the clip is connected to an underside of the flange of the drain head and the bottom end is configured to engage the top surface of the support flange of the adapter to permit downward adjustment of the drain head with respect to the adapter and prohibit upward adjustment of the drain head with respect to the adapter. |
| US08875724B2 |
Mechanism for adjusting a telescoping member
In one embodiment, the present invention contemplates an improved mechanism for adjusting a telescoping member. The telescoping member includes at least two sections including a first pole member having an outer diameter and an inner diameter; and a second pole member having a second pole inner diameter larger than the first pole outer diameter; a collet having a top portion securely coupled to the inner diameter arranged on a lower portion of the first pole member and a bottom portion extending beyond a lower end of the first pole member, the collet further comprising an external thread; and a handle member arranged on top of the first pole member, the handle member comprising an actuator button coupled to an internal spring coupled to a rod extending through the first pole member, the rod terminating in a plunger end, the plunger end extending through the collet. |
| US08875722B2 |
Self propelled cleaning device for marine streamers
A streamer cleaning device includes a plurality of cleaning modules affixed to a main frame in angularly spaced apart orientation. At least one cleaning module includes a drive wheel rotationally coupled to a cleaning element. At least one cleaning module includes a guide mounted thereon. The guide is configured to deflect devices mounted on the streamer out of a path traversed by the cleaning modules. At least one of the cleaning modules comprises a device for conversion of motion of water past the at least one cleaning module into rotational energy to drive the drive wheel thereon. |
| US08875718B2 |
Method for mult-layer eyelash painting
A method for multi-layered eyelash painting is described. The method is directed to fastening a user's eyelashes against the user's face and then painting one layer of eyelashes at a time in a multi-layered approach. The eyelash paint is applied to the user's eyelashes one layer at a time such that eyelash paint is applied to a first layer of eyelashes and, thereafter, eyelash paint is applied to a second layer of eyelashes, thereby providing a user with eyelashes having eyelash paint attached thereto. |
| US08875717B2 |
Static dissipative personal care apparatus for grooming hair
This disclosure relates to personal grooming apparatus that include coatings on the surface thereof that incorporate static dissipative additives that reduce the static build-up in the hair of users as compared to conventional apparatus. Other aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods for producing such apparatus, and methods for grooming the hair of an individual. |
| US08875715B2 |
Electronic cigarette having a flexible and soft configuration
Generally described, the present disclosure relates to an electronic cigarette intended to more effectively simulate the feel of a traditional cigarette. In one illustrative embodiment, the electronic cigarette can have a flexible and resilient housing, sufficiently strong to protect internal components and sufficient flexible to provide a more realistic user experience to user's accustomed to the pliability of traditional cigarettes. A paper label may be provided, either affixed to the flexible housing or to a prior art, rigid housing. A plastic coating may be providing of the portion of the paper label intended to be inserted into a user's mouth, so as to prevent degradation of the label while at the same time preserving a realistic feel for those portions of the device not intended to be inserted into the mouth. |
| US08875714B2 |
Coded-sequence activation of surgical implants
Implants responsive to spatiotemporal signal sequences, and methods of operating implants by transmitting spatiotemporal signal sequences. |
| US08875713B2 |
Anti-obstructive airway dental orthotic
An anti-obstructive airway dental orthotic is described. The orthotic includes a maxillary retainer and a mandibular retainer releasably attaching to a plurality of teeth of a wearer. The retainers are attached by at least one strut, either variable in length or of a plurality of lengths, which exert a forward force on the lower jaw, tending to advance the mandible relative to the maxilla. This advancement of the lower jaw promotes a less obstructed airway in the wearer, while fenestrations in the retainers may allow for greater comfort and tongue movement. |
| US08875711B2 |
Layered nasal respiratory devices
Described herein are nasal devices, including nasal devices formed in layers having four or fewer layers. In some variations, the nasal devices include a single integrated layer from which the flap of the airflow resistor is formed as well as the base of the holdfast region. The nasal devices may include a single aligner or rim body on the side of the device facing the subject. The aligner may protect the airflow resistor, and may help center or position the nasal device. In some variations, these nasal devices may include a noise-reduction feature. Also described herein are systems, devices and methods for determining if a passive nasal respiratory device having an airflow resistor configured to inhibit exhalation more than inhalation has been worn by a subject, and thereby confirming compliance. |
| US08875708B2 |
Ventilation device and method for CPR
Embodiments are directed to a ventilation device and method to be used on a patient during CPR. In one embodiment, the ventilation device comprises a housing having at least one opening for interfacing with a patient's airway, at least one valve configured to permit outflow of respiratory gases/air from the airway to ambient, a release mechanism for opening and closing an inlet passage to permit inflow of respiratory gases/air to the airway, and a control device for controlling the opening/closing of the inlet passage. |
| US08875703B2 |
Powder inhaler
A powder inhaler includes: a housing having a port; a storage member located in the housing for storing a powder medicament; and a medicament-delivery member provided in the housing. The medicament-delivery member includes at least one concave portion for receiving medicament, and is capable of taking, relative to the storage member, a receiving position wherein the concave portion receives a predetermined amount of powder medicament from the storage member, and an inhalation position wherein the powder medicament can be inhaled through the admission port; and a stirring member for stirring the powder medicament stored in the storage member. An operation button is provided in the housing and is capable of moving between the initial position and a depressed position, while the operation button reciprocates between the initial position and the depressed position, the concave portion in the medicament-delivery member moves from the receiving position to the inhalation position and the stirring member operates. |
| US08875699B2 |
Inhaler cap strap
An inhaler (1) for dispensing doses of medicament from a container under user activation includes a body (7) which includes a mouthpiece (5) through which the medicament is dispensed and a cap (2) which can be place in a position to substantially occlude the mouthpiece (5). The cap (2) is attached to the body (7) by a strap (3) which pivots from the body (7), the cap (2) being arranged to slide on the strap (3) such that the cap (2) must translate away from the mouthpiece (5) prior to the pivoting of the strap (3). |
| US08875696B2 |
Vacuum solar thermal panel with radiative screen
A double-sided vacuum thermal solar panel comprising a vacuum-tight envelope capable of withstanding atmospheric pressure when evacuated, the envelope comprising a first and a second glass plate transparent to solar radiation and facing each other, a perimeter frame defining the lateral surface of the envelope, the solar panel comprising at least one first heat absorber, a second heat absorber, a pipe which enters and exits the envelope by passing in between the first and second heat absorber, and a box-like element which surrounds the outer surface of the pipe. |
| US08875692B2 |
Regulation valve
A regulation valve having a valve body with a gas inlet. Housed within the valve body is a rotary regulatory body having a first inlet orifice corresponding to a first minimum flow of a first type of gas and a second inlet orifice corresponding to a second minimum flow of a second type of gas. The first and second inlet orifices are angularly displaced so that when the regulatory body assumes a first angular position within the regulatory body the first inlet orifice faces the gas inlet and so that when the regulatory body assumes a second angular position within the regulatory body the second inlet orifice faces the gas inlet. The regulation valve includes first and second sets of cooperating features that are capable of limiting rotation of the regulatory body to the first and second angular positions, respectively. |
| US08875690B2 |
Toy gun
A toy gun that includes a dart ejecting device and a magazine for loading darts and shells is disclosed herein. The gun also includes a shell ejecting device having a driving mechanism and a shell ejecting mechanism. The driving mechanism includes a handle, a linkage through the center of the magazine, and a sliding piece, each of which are joined together in sequence. Other modifications and features suitable for practice therewith, and methods and means of operating the device, are also disclosed. |
| US08875689B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting the dart in a barrel of a toy gun
An apparatus for detecting the dart in a barrel of a toy gun is provided. The apparatus includes a dart sensor lever, a linkage, a transmission mechanism between the dart sensor lever and the linkage, and a pivot attached to the gun body. The dart sensor lever is linked with the pivot so that it will swing around the pivot. The transmission mechanism is linked with the linkage, which causes the linkage to move. Other modifications and features suitable for practice therewith, and methods and means of operating the device, are also disclosed. |
| US08875688B2 |
Safety valve for toy air guns
An improved safety valve for a toy air gun apparatus in which the toy air gun includes a piston and a drive spring mounted in a grip portion of the air gun. A handle extends from the bottom of the grip portion and is manipulated by the user to cock the air gun by compressing the drive spring. When the user pull a trigger the piston is released and surges upward because of the expanding drive spring. A valve element located to the rear of a barrel section of the air gun receives a blast of compressed air in a direction lateral to the longitudinal axis of the valve element and lateral to valve element movement between an open, rearward position and a closed, forward position. |
| US08875687B1 |
Tangent point arrow rest
A tangent point arrow rest preferably includes an outer housing, at least two bearing assemblies and a mounting device. The outer housing includes an arrow clearance opening for insertion of an arrow shaft. Threaded bearing holes are formed through the outer housing. The mounting device may be a mounting rod or at least one boss slot, which extend from the outer housing. Each bearing assembly preferably includes a bearing housing, a tension adjustment screw, a bearing housing cap, a contact ball bearing, an inner ball bearing and a compression spring. The inner ball bearing, the tension spring and tension adjustment screw are retained in the bearing housing. The bearing housing is threaded into one of the threaded bearing holes. The bearing housing cap is threaded on to the bearing housing to retain the contact ball bearing. |
| US08875678B2 |
Spark ignited radical injection system
A system including a free-radical ignition system, including a pre-combustion chamber, an air intake coupled to the pre-combustion chamber, a fuel intake coupled to the pre-combustion chamber, an ignition source coupled to the pre-combustion chamber, a free-radical injection passage coupled to the pre-combustion chamber, and a quench system coupled to the pre-combustion chamber or the free-radical injection passage. |
| US08875677B2 |
Air cleaner in two-stroke engine
An air cleaner in a two-stroke engine having an air supply passage and an air/fuel mixture supply passage includes: a first air passage and a second air passage arranged in parallel, the first air passage being communicated with the air supply passage and the second air passage being communicated with the air/fuel mixture supply passage; and a choke valve opening and closing both of the first air passage and the second air passage of the air cleaner. The choke valve has a pivot axis and a pivotable valve member pivoting about the pivot axis to open and close respective inlet openings of the first air passage and the second air passage. One of the first air passage and the second air passage that is located closer to the pivot axis has an inlet opening flattened along a pivoting edge of the valve member. |
| US08875673B2 |
Crankdisk bearing support for the waissi internal combustion engine
An improvement to the Waissi type opposed piston internal combustion engine is proposed. The engine has at least one pair of aligned and opposed cylinders with one reciprocating double-headed piston assembly in each cylinder pair. The reciprocating motion of the piston is transmitted to the driveshaft by a rotating crankdisk, which is off-centered mounted to the driveshaft. The high friction metal to metal contact between the crankdisk and the piston contact wall is replaced by a combination of a roll resistance and friction under hydrodynamic conditions resulting to a significantly reduced total resistance between the piston and the crankdisk. This is accomplished by utilizing a bearing ring assembly slidably installed on the annular perimeter surface of the crankdisk. The bearing ring is held in place by a linear U-profile groove, which is casted or machined on each the piston contact slot wall of the integrated piston assembly respectively. |
| US08875672B2 |
Engine system having dedicated cylinder-to-cylinder connection
An system is disclosed for use with an engine. The system may have an intake manifold configured to direct air into combustion chambers of the engine, and an exhaust manifold configured to direct exhaust from the combustion chambers to the atmosphere. The system may also have at least one conduit extending from a first of the combustion chambers to a second of the combustion chambers, and at least one valve associated with the at least one conduit. The at least one valve is configured to pass fluid from the first of the combustion chamber to the second of the combustion chambers during a compression stroke of a first piston within the first of the combustion chambers and during an expansion stroke of a second piston within the second of the combustion chambers. |
| US08875666B2 |
Method for the in situ production of fuel/water mixtures in combustion engines
A process for operating an internal combustion engine or a nozzle includes producing a fuel mixture in-situ. The fuel mixture consists of a polar component A, a nonpolar fuel component B, an amphiphilic component C, and an auxiliary component D. The fuel mixture is produced in a high-pressure region of an injection system of an internal combustion engine or of a nozzle within 10 seconds of an injection operation. The fuel mixture is injected into the internal combustion engine or the nozzle. A pressure is in a range of from 100 to 4,000 bar. |
| US08875662B2 |
Breathable retrieving device
A retrieving device includes a body with at least one respiratory passageway formed in it through which a dog can breathe when holding the device in its mouth during retrieval. In some embodiments, the body is hollow and in the form of a shell defining an internal cavity that functions as a lateral respiratory passageway, with communicating respiratory passageways formed through the shell. In other embodiments, the body is solid with internal respiratory passageways formed through it. And in still other embodiments, the body has surface features (e.g., grooves or other thinned portions) that function as external respiratory passageways. In use, the respiratory passageways decrease obstructions to enable the dog to breathe more freely to avoid overheating and associated problems. In addition, one or more flotation elements can be provided in the body so provide buoyancy for the retrieving device in the event it's launched into water during retrieving activities. |
| US08875661B2 |
Multiuse animal centerline weave device
An apparatus for demonstrating animal agility. The multiuse centerline weave device includes a rail with interchangeable legs positioned on alternating sides of the rail. One set of interchangeable legs is a competition leg set that includes a plurality of legs each with an attached peg that connects to a weave pole. Another set of interchangeable legs is a sliding leg set that includes a plurality of legs each with a slider that moves a peg from the centerline of the rail to an outboard position relative to the rail. One type of slider has a peg attached to a plate that moves with the slider. Another type of slider has a tilting mechanism that tilts the peg in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rail. |
| US08875660B2 |
Habitat enclosure
A habitat enclosure comprising a removably disposed housing or outer covering shaped or otherwise configured to represent an animate object is presented. Furthermore, the outer covering is disposed in a removable, yet confronting engagement with a container, the container being viewable through a display area of the outer covering. The container also comprises a lid removably disposed relative to a basin in order to allow at least temporary access into said interior portion thereof. The enclosure further comprises one or more access channels disposed through the outer covering and into a communicative relation with the interior portion of the container in order to facilitate feeding, breathing, and/or draining or other maintenance. A lighting assembly is disposed in an illuminating relation with the container such that the apparatus may be used as a night-light or other soothing accent. |
| US08875659B2 |
Linear water circulating animal drinker
An animal drinker allowing for the circulation of the water in the animal drinker. To this end, the animal drinker has two parallel pipe strings (23, 24) that form a water circuit ensuring a constant movement of water, namely that water flows continuously through the pipe strings (23, 24) even when no water has been removed at the drinking valves (20) over an extended period of time. |
| US08875658B2 |
Projectile pet food
An edible animal food projectile is provided. The projectile is compatible for being launched from a launching apparatus such as a toy gun or the like. The projectile includes an edible body made from a starch-based material consisting essentially of an expanded starch. The edible body is formed into a predefined geometry operable to receive a launching force causing temporary flight of the projectile and having a first density. A payload is embedded on or within the edible body and the payload is formed from a material having a second density greater than the first density of the edible body. The payload can be food, medicine, and the like. |
| US08875657B2 |
Balancing RF bridge assembly
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a PECVD apparatus. When the RF power source is coupled to the electrode at multiple locations, the current and voltage may be different at the multiple locations. In order to ensure that both the current and voltage are substantially identical at the multiple locations, an RF bridge assembly may be coupled between the multiple locations at a location just before connection to the electrode. The RF bridge assembly substantially equalizes the voltage distribution and current distribution between multiple locations. Therefore, a substantially identical current and voltage is applied to the electrode at the multiple locations. |
| US08875654B2 |
Apparatus for manufacturing cylindrical member and method of manufacturing cylindrical member
The invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a cylindrical member comprising a cylindrical core body having an outer peripheral surface with a releasing property, the apparatus comprising: a film-forming device that forms a resin film in a region at a central portion from both ends in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the core body; a judging device that judges the deterioration of the releasing property of regions continuous from the region where the resin film is to be formed in the region at the inner side from both ends in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the core body, before the resin film is formed by the film-forming device; and a control device that controls the film-forming device such that the resin film is formed by exposing regions with an undeteriorated releasing property on both ends in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface of the core body, in accordance with the results of judgment by the judging device. |
| US08875650B2 |
Valve assemblies including valve seat assemblies
A valve seat assembly includes a gasket retainer comprising an outer wall, an inner wall, an upper face extending between the outer and inner walls, and a lower face extending between the outer and inner walls. The inner wall defines an insert receiving bore extending from the upper face inwardly toward the lower face to a recess that receives a gasket. A gasket is located in the recess. A retainer insert is located in the insert receiving bore that applies a compressive force to the gasket. |
| US08875646B2 |
Mooring/shipping cover
A boat cover for a boat includes a cover section that is sized to cover the deck from bow to stern and extending over the rub rail, and a shipping section attached to the cover section and sized to cover the hull from below the rub rail toward the chine. The shipping section is removable from the cover section. The boat cover eliminates waste as a shipping cover and is usable by the boat owner as a daily or long term storage, mooring and trailering cover. |
| US08875645B1 |
Variable bouyancy profiling float
In various embodiments a variable buoyancy profiling float is disclosed. The variable buoyancy profiling float may comprise a spherical glass housing comprising a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere. The first and second hemispheres may be coupled by a partial vacuum within the spherical glass housing. A buoyancy system may be located at least partially within the spherical glass housing. The buoyancy system may be configured to provide variable buoyancy control to the variable buoyancy profiling float. A sensor bundle may be mounted to the spherical glass housing and may be configured to measure at least one environmental parameter. |
| US08875640B1 |
Slurry applicator for an agricultural machine
A trough is cut in the ground surface by a rotating member. The rotating member displaces soil upward with respect to the ground surface and rearwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the rotating member. While the soil is in the air, slurry is deposited into the trough. The soil is then redirected downward to the trough to cover the slurry with the soil. |
| US08875637B2 |
Table access door
An access door which opens and closes an opening that extends through a surface by which access is provided through the surface as, for example, to communication and power outlets, wires, cables, cable raceways, switches and the like behind the surface. |
| US08875630B2 |
Printer
The present invention provides a printer which can facilitate temperature control of a machine-plate cylinder section, can allow simple setup, and can facilitate maintenance of printing quality in continuous printing. In the printer, a machine plate is mounted on the outer circumference of a machine-plate cylinder section 12 fixedly provided on a machine-plate drive shaft 1. A fluid whose temperature is regulated is circulated in the machine-plate cylinder section 12. |
| US08875629B2 |
Ablation-type lithographic imaging with enhanced debris removal
Sequentially subjecting an imaged ablation-type printing member having a silicone topmost layer to, first, a cleaning liquid that is not a solvent for silicone, followed by subjecting to a second cleaning liquid that is a silicone solvent, conditions the printing member for subsequent printing with high-solids inks. |
| US08875628B2 |
Data carrier and method for the production thereof
The invention relates to a data carrier, especially a value document or security paper, having a substrate (20) and, applied on the substrate, a coating (12) into which, through the action of laser radiation, markings (14) are introduced in the form of patterns, letters, numbers or images. According to the present invention, it is provided that the coating (12) includes a laser-radiation-absorbing layer (22) and a printing layer (24) that is disposed over the absorbing layer and that is at least partially transmissive to the laser radiation, and that the printed substrate is pressed (26) during or after the imprinting of the at least partially transmissive layer (24). |
| US08875625B2 |
Continuous square baler
An improved baler designed in such a way as to allow for the continuous compression of foraged material and the ability to tie off rectangular bales without stopping a continuous compression mechanism within the baler. The baler includes a semi cylinder that moves up and down to compress the foraged material in the compression area while at the same time more material is added by a feeding apparatus above and below the semi cylinder during the down and up motions of the cylinder. The baler also includes a separate area for storing uncompressed material while other material is being compressed and tied off. A computer is included to monitor and control the process. |
| US08875622B2 |
Heat transfer element for barbecue grill
A heat transfer element includes two wings extending from a ridge. The ridge includes a first end and a second end. Each of the wings includes an edge. The first end of the ridge is placed at a higher elevation than the second end of the ridge when a plane defined by edges of the wings is placed horizontally. |
| US08875621B2 |
Method, continuous apparatus, and burner for producing a surface-roasted product
An apparatus, a loop burner element, and a method for surface-roasting a food product wherein the roasting apparatus comprises (a) a conveyor which carries the food product and (b) at least one non-linear ribbon flame burner element or element assembly which preferably applies a ribbon flame to at least the upper and side surfaces of the food product as it is conducted through the roasting apparatus. |
| US08875616B2 |
Facility for introducing hop into a tank
A facility for introducing hop into a tank has a hop receiving tank that can be hermetically sealed and has an outflow and an inert gas supply at its bottom. The facility furthermore has a mixing apparatus that has two inlet pipes on its inflow side and an outlet pipe on the outflow side. This facility is adapted to a method for introducing hop into a tank, in which hop is put into a hop receiving container, air is expelled from the hop receiving container by inert gas and the hop with beer or “young beer” is supplied to the mixing apparatus. |
| US08875614B2 |
Adjustable gas block for an indirect gas operated firearm
A firearm including a barrel, receiver, indirect gas system and an adjustable gas block. Four positions of adjustment are provided for on the adjustable gas block, each of which provides a different setting to regulate gas flow into the host firearm's operating system. A position of adjustment is selected based on how the firearm is being used. The provided positions of adjustment are calibrated for the standard use of the host firearm, use of a silencer, use of the firearm under hard or adverse conditions or when it is necessary to increase the firearm's rate of fire, and to block the flow of gas into the operating system. The provided gas block is designed to function with an indirect gas operating system, but could be adapted for use with a direct gas impingement system as well. Excess gas from the operating system is not vented from the gas block thereby eliminating the generation of additional muzzle flash and sound. No tool is required to manipulate the adjustment mechanism of the gas block. |
| US08875609B2 |
Power tool
The invention is based on a power tool, in particular a stationary saw, having a guard device which has a guard element. It is proposed that the guard device has an actuator system, which is provided for monitoring an opening which is formed at least by the guard element and is adaptable to at least one geometric feature of a workpiece. |
| US08875605B2 |
Spiral cutting device
A spiral cutting device includes a blade, a blade driving shaft, a guiding device, a driving device, and a controller. The blade is for processing a roller. The blade driving shaft drives the blade to move toward the roller. The guiding device moves in a guiding direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the blade. The driving device is movably supported on the guiding device and rotates the roller. The controller controls a feeding amount of the blade, a moving speed of the driving device, and a rotate speed of the roller to spirally cut the roller. When an outer surface of the roller is unfolded to a plane, the blade path of the blade is in sinusoidal shape or in cosinusoidal shape. |
| US08875603B2 |
Method of machine tool calibration
Methods are described for calibrating a turning machine having a first rotatable portion or chuck for holding a workpiece. The first rotatable portion has a first feature associated therewith. The method comprises the steps of using a measurement probe to determine the position of the first feature, rotating the first rotatable portion through an angle, and using said measurement probe to determine the new position of the first feature. The extension of the technique to swivel head mill-turn machines is also described. |
| US08875599B2 |
Wire stripping apparatus
A wire stripping apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a clamping device for holding a first portion, a cutter having a plurality of first edges, the first edges being movable toward and away from one another in a first direction wherein the first edges provide a cut in the insulation of the wire at the second portion, and a remover having a plurality of second edges, the second edges being movable toward and away from one another in a second direction different from the first direction wherein the second edges move toward one another to grasp a third portion adjacent to the second portion of the wire away from the first portion of the wire. The remover is movable in the lengthwise direction of the wire wherein the remover moves in the lengthwise direction of the wire away from the first portion to remove the insulation from the wire. |
| US08875597B2 |
Steering wheel
A steering wheel has a rim with an armature substantially encapsulated by foam. The foam includes a major foam member and a separate minor foam member. The major foam member has a cross-sectional profile effective to cover a major cross-sectional extent of the armature and define a gap in the foam member adjacent the armature. The gap has a maximum cross-sectional width which is equal to or less than the cross-sectional width of the armature, and is substantially filled by said minor foam member. |
| US08875594B2 |
Humanoid robot implementing a spherical hinge with coupled actuators
A humanoid robot includes a spherical joint with three degrees of freedom in rotation about three axes, the spherical joint connecting a first element and a second element of the robot, and three actuators for moving the spherical joint. The three actuators include a first actuator coupled to the first element, a second actuator coupled to the second element and the first actuator, and a third actuator coupled to the second element and the first actuator. The second actuator and the third actuator act in parallel and coupled together. The first actuator acts in series with the second actuator and the third actuator about a first axis of the three axes. An angular range of movement about the first axis is greater than an angular range of movement about either a second axis or a third axis of the three axes. |
| US08875589B1 |
Sampling and counting system
A system for testing the efficiency of a test HEPA filter, the system comprises a dilution system and a sampling system. The dilution system processes samples collected upstream of the test HEPA filter. The dilution system has a test portion and a calibrated portion. The calibrated portion aids in determining the dilution ratio of the test portion thereby rendering the dilution system self-calibrating. The sampling system receives upstream samples via the dilution system, and downstream samples collected directly downstream of the test HEPA filter. The sampling system incorporates a flow rate balancing system to ensure accurate counts with respect to samples collected upstream and downstream of the test HEPA filter. The sampling system works well with particle counters fitted with relatively weak fans to draw in samples for counting; this is achieved by connecting the sampling system to both the inlet and exhaust outlet of a particle counter. |
| US08875587B2 |
Ultrasonic flow measuring system and method for monitoring fluid flow having measuring tube inlet and outlet axis forming and angle not equal to 90° with the measuring tube axis
A measuring tube, a measuring system and a method for determining and/or monitoring flow through a measuring tube, comprising a measuring tube, on which ultrasonic transducers are releasably placeable. The ultrasonic transducers transmit and/or receive ultrasonic signals, which pass through the measuring tube approximately coaxially to the measuring tube axis. A connecting line between the centers of the ultrasonic transducers situated at an angle relative to the measuring tube axis and extends on a side of the measuring tube axis, on which the measuring tube outlet is located. |
| US08875585B2 |
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for testing a mattress
Apparatuses, systems, or methods for testing a mattress system are described herein. Apparatuses and systems can include a robotic arm assembly and a mannequin to simulate natural human motion or movements that occur during use of a mattress system. The apparatuses and systems described herein can test a mattress system for firmness and/or durability. Also described herein are methods for testing a mattress system with a robotic arm assembly and a mannequin. |
| US08875582B2 |
Apparatus and method for photoacoustic imaging
A photoacoustic imaging apparatus includes a signal processor. The signal processor includes an adding unit configured to add received signals obtained by acoustic wave detecting devices to obtain a summed signal, a normalizing unit configured to normalize the summed signal for each acoustic wave detecting device with reference to an amplitude value in the received signal in the acoustic wave detecting device at the time when a maximum amplitude value in the summed signal is obtained to obtain a normalized signal, a reducing unit configured to subtract the normalized signal from the received signal for each acoustic wave detecting device to obtain a reduced signal in which the amplitude value in the received signal at the time when the maximum amplitude value in the summed signal is obtained is reduced, and an imaging unit configured to generate image data using the reduced signals. |
| US08875581B2 |
Ultrasonic wave control device and recording material determining device
In a device for detecting a basis weight of a recording material, an initial measurement is performed by using ultrasonic waves that have passed through the recording material, and the recording material is roughly classified first. By changing the number of pulses of the driving signal in accordance with a result of the initial measurement, the basis weight of the recording material can be detected by using ultrasonic waves suitable for the recording material, so that the detection accuracy of the basis weight of the recording material can be increased. |
| US08875578B2 |
Electronic damper circuit for MEMS sensors and resonators
An apparatus includes a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device including a mass anchored to a substrate. The MEMS device is configured to generate an output signal indicative of motion of the mass with respect to the substrate. The MEMS device includes a feedback module configured to provide a control signal to the MEMS device. The control signal is based on the output signal. The MEMS device is configured to apply a damping force to the mass in response to the control signal. |
| US08875576B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing an in-plane inertial device with integrated clock
An in-plane, monolithically-integrated, inertial device comprising: a support structure and first and second spring mass systems springedly coupled to the support structure. The first spring mass system comprises first and second time domain digital triggers configured to measure rotation and displacement respectively of the support structure about a first axis and along an orthogonal second axis respectively. The second spring mass system comprises third and fourth time domain digital triggers configured to measure acceleration and displacement respectively of the support structure about the second axis and along the first axis respectively. |
| US08875574B2 |
Coupling structure for a yaw rate sensor device, yaw rate sensor device, and method for the production thereof
A coupling structure for a rotation rate sensor apparatus, having at least one first oscillating mass; and having a first frame, surrounding the first oscillating mass, to which the first oscillating mass is coupled; the first frame encompassing four angle elements, each of which angle elements has at least one first limb and one second limb and is respectively coupled with the first limb and with the second limb to another adjacent angle element of the four angle elements. Also described is a further coupling structure for a rotation rate sensor apparatus, to a rotation rate sensor apparatus, to a manufacturing method for a coupling structure for a rotation rate sensor apparatus, and to a manufacturing method for a rotation rate sensor apparatus. |
| US08875570B2 |
Water temperature profile measurement apparatus
A probe for measurement of water temperature profiles is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the probe may include an electronic assembly and a housing over-molded upon at least portions of the electronic assembly to sealingly enclose the portions of the electronic assembly. The electronic assembly may include a pressure sensor to measure a pressure value indicative of a water depth, and a temperature sensor to measure a water temperature value indicative of a water temperature, a communication interface. Methods of manufacture of the probe are also disclosed herein. |
| US08875564B2 |
Method and device for detecting contaminants in a fluid
A method and a device detects contaminants in a fluid (1). Fluid (2) with particles is conveyed by a first metering pump (3) to a device (4) for measuring the contamination or the particle density in the contaminated fluid (2). Before entering the device (4) for measuring the contamination, the fluid is mixed with cleaned fluid (5) in a defined mixing ratio. The particle density or the contamination of the mixed fluid (6) is measured. The particle density or the contamination of the contaminated fluid (2) is determined by an arithmetic unit (7). |
| US08875562B2 |
Filter and membrane defect detection system
The present invention is directed to a method of locating leaks in a substrate (30) having a first and a second surface wherein the substrate (30) is adapted for preventing the flow of a fluid, or components contained in the fluid, through the substrate (30) from the first surface to the second surface, and a system (10) useful in the method, wherein the method comprises: a) isolating the first surface from the second surface; b) creating a pressure differential between the first surface and the second surface wherein the pressure on the first surface is higher than the pressure on the second surface; c) contacting the second surface or the exit (32) of the device (11) containing the substrate (30) with a baffle (23), wherein the baffle (23) has a plurality of interconnected parts which form a pattern and the baffle (23) is of a sufficient size to cover the second surface of the substrate (30) or the fluid exit point (32) of the device the substrate (30) is disposed in and the parts of the baffle (23) create openings that particles (33) can pass through; d) exposing the surface of the baffle (23) to light from a source of diffuse light (24); e) contacting the first side of the substrate (30) with a carrying fluid containing particles (33) of a particle size that the substrate (30) is a designed to retain in the first surface of the substrate (30); f) monitoring the space above the surface of the baffles (23) for the light scattered by particles (33) that have passed through the substrate (30). |
| US08875558B2 |
System for determining exhaust gas volume
A system is disclosed, including: a plurality of Bragg gratings distributed in positions transversely to the direction of flow of an exhaust gas in an exhaust gas channel of the device; an optical wave guide structure including at least one optical wave guide and in which the Bragg gratings are embodied; a heating device arranged adjacently to the Bragg gratings and through which the Bragg gratings are subjected to heat, or a cooling device arranged adjacently to the Bragg gratings, through which the Bragg gratings are subjected to cold; at least one light source for irradiating light into the optical wave guide structure; and at least one signal processing device which determines, from light backscattered from Bragg gratings in the optical wave guide structure against its original direction of diffusion, the speed of the flow of the exhaust gas. |
| US08875556B2 |
Railroad spikes and methods of making the same
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to improved designs of railroad spikes and improved methods of manufacturing the same. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for manufacturing a railroad spike may have the steps of: preparing a metal blank having a substantially circular cross-section; subjecting the metal blank to at least one cold heading process and at least one cold extrusion process to form a railroad spike having (a) a circular head with a fillet at its bottom side that is angled to engage a railroad tie plate or rail base and (b) a non-threaded shank with a substantially square cross-section and a chiseled tip; and coating the railroad spike with an anti-corrosion material. |
| US08875552B2 |
Lock cylinder
The invention relates to a lock cylinder for a baggage lock having a cylinder housing, furthermore having a cylinder core which is rotatable in the cylinder housing and which has a keyway with a key introduction opening and having a plurality of tumblers which are arranged in two rows which are oppositely disposed along the key channel, with the lock cylinder being able to be actuated by means of an associated dimpled key which comprises, on two mutually oppositely disposed flat sides, a respective coding section provided with dimples and a respective end section adjoining said coding section and extending up to the tip of the key, with the associated key in particular being of the type TSA006 and with the tumbler of at least one of the rows furthest from the key introduction opening being arranged in a section of the key channel which receives the dimple-free end section of the associated key. |
| US08875545B2 |
Knitting head for knitting machines of flexible hoses and knitting machine comprising the head
A knitting head of a knitting machine for manufacturing flexible hoses (1) with a knitted reinforcement layer, which comprises a guide body (14) with a central tubular conduit (15) for the passage of the bearing layer (2) and having a outlet end portion (16) with a first outer peripheral surface (17) having a first predetermined radius (r1), a plurality of knitting needles (18) arranged along the periphery of said end portion (16) of said conduit (15) and having first longitudinal end sections (18′) arranged along the circumference of said outer peripheral surface (17) and second longitudinal end sections (18″) arranged over a second cylindrical surface (19) having a second radius (r2) greater than said first radius (r1), at least one disk-shaped cam element (22), which is adapted to rotate at a first rotation speed and has a third predetermined radius (r3). The third radius (r3) is greater than said second radius (r2), connection means (23) being provided for connecting said disk-shaped element (22) to said second end sections (18″) of said needles (18), said connection means (23) having at least one longitudinal portion (24) with a radial dimension decreasing from said third radius (r3) to said second radius (r2). |
| US08875534B2 |
Electronic apparatus having an airflow regulating device
An electronic apparatus includes a housing and an airflow regulating device. The housing defines an accommodating space therein, and an air inlet that places the accommodating space in fluid communication with the external environment. The airflow regulating device includes a cover panel for covering and uncovering the air inlet, and an actuating mechanism coupled to the cover panel and driving movement of the cover panel to adjust the degree of opening of the air inlet in response to a change in temperature in the accommodating space. |
| US08875530B2 |
Screw compressor drive control
An embodiment of method used to control operation of a screw compressor of a refrigeration system may include receiving status signals regarding operation of the screw compressor of the refrigeration system. The method may further include determining an operating point of the screw compressor based upon the received status signals, and selecting a torque profile for the screw compressor based upon the operating point. The method may also include driving the screw compressor per the selected torque profile. Refrigeration systems and compressor systems suitable for implementing the method are also presented. |
| US08875528B2 |
Test chamber with temperature and humidity control
A test chamber that is capable of operating in a mode where the temperature of the chamber is efficiently cooled without removing a substantial amount of moisture from the air. In one aspect, the test chamber includes a structure defining a work space having air, and a temperature control system (e.g., a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator valve). The temperature control system includes a heat exchanger (e.g., an evaporator) positioned to communicate with the air in the work space, a source of cold fluid (e.g., a compressed, condensed, and throttled refrigerant) coupled to the heat exchanger, a source of hot fluid (e.g., compressed refrigerant gas) coupled to the heat exchanger, and a controller for controlling a mixture of cold fluid and hot fluid entering the heat exchanger (e.g., by adjusting a cold fluid valve and/or a hot fluid valve). In order to limit the loss of humidity caused by condensation on the heat exchanger, it is preferred that the controller is programmed such that the temperature of the mixture entering the heat exchanger is controlled to limit a temperature differential between the heat exchanger and the air in the work space. |
| US08875526B1 |
Temperature and humidity air treatment system
A temperature and humidity air treatment system for air directed to an enclosed environment has a heat exchanger joined with a water vapor remover having a phase change material to cool air and condense water vapor in the air and subsequently heat the cool air by absorbing heat from humid warm air flowing through the heat exchanger. |
| US08875525B2 |
Accumulator arrangement for storing a refrigerating medium, and method of operating such an accumulator arrangement
An accumulator arrangement suitable for use in a cooling system designed for operation with a two-phase refrigerating medium, includes an accumulator vessel with a receptacle for receiving a refrigerating medium. A liquefier of the accumulator arrangement is adapted to liquefy refrigerating medium to be received into the receptacle of the accumulator vessel before fed in the receptacle of the accumulator vessel and includes a refrigerating medium outlet for discharging refrigerating medium which liquefied in the liquefier from the liquefier. The accumulator arrangement includes a heat exchanger arranged in the receptacle of the accumulator vessel and a refrigerating medium inlet connected to the refrigerating medium outlet of the liquefier for feeding refrigerating medium liquefied in the liquefier into the heat exchanger, and a refrigerating medium outlet which opens into the receptacle of the accumulator vessel for discharging refrigerating medium from the heat exchanger into the receptacle of the accumulator vessel. |
| US08875524B1 |
Vehicle air conditioning charging hose assembly and method
Air conditioning charging hose assembly and method allows for quick, safe and reliable air conditioning system testing and charging. The assembly includes a shut-off valve positioned proximate the supply fitting to allow a technician to quickly shut-off the refrigerant gas supply. The method also allows the technician to test the vehicle air conditioning system pressure when charging as the hose assembly is connected to the air conditioning system and when disconnected from the air conditioning system, allows the technician to determine the refrigerant gas canister pressure. |
| US08875521B2 |
Device and method for cooling components using magnetizable phase-change material
A device for cooling components, comprising a housing in which a cavity is formed, in which a phase-change material is accommodated, the housing having at least one surface, which is able to be brought into contact with the component to be cooled, and at least one heat-dissipating surface. The cavity accommodating the phase-change material is enclosed by at least one coil, and the phase-change material includes ferromagnetic or magnetizable particles. Furthermore a method for cooling a component using the device is described. |
| US08875513B2 |
Thermal energy conversion plant
A thermal energy conversion plant, wherein a pressurized liquefied working fluid gasifies in an evaporator unit located at the lower level of a closed-loop thermodynamic circuit, ascends through a widening ascending conduit to a condenser unit located at the upper level of said thermodynamic circuit, condenses and falls because gravity powering a power extraction apparatus, before entering back into the evaporator, and restarting the cycle. A much lighter pressuring gas could be optionally included in the widening ascending conduit. |
| US08875512B2 |
Distribution pipeline power plant
A distribution pipeline power plant, comprising: an input, configured to receive a fluid that has been heated using energy derived from a geothermal field; an expander, configured to extract energy from the fluid that has been heated using energy derived from a geothermal field; and an output configured to transfer at least some of the energy extracted from the fluid that has been heated using energy derived from a geothermal field to a circulator to drive a further fluid along a distribution pipeline. |
| US08875510B2 |
Solar receiver
A solar receiver includes a cavity that is operable to receive concentrated solar energy and a heat exchanger in thermal-receiving communication with the cavity. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of thermal capacitors. Each of the plurality of thermal capacitors has a regular geometry. The plurality of thermal capacitors defines open flow passages there between and at least two of the plurality of thermal capacitors have a different size. The plurality of thermal capacitors has a packing factor of greater than 74% with regard to the volume of the heat exchanger. |
| US08875503B2 |
Exhaust gas-cooling pipe element and internal combustion engine exhaust system
In an exhaust gas-cooling pipe element provided between an exhaust port of an internal combustion engine and an exhaust branch pipe, a center axis of an exhaust introduction opening that is connected to the exhaust port and a center axis of an exhaust discharge opening that is connected to the exhaust branch pipe are placed out of alignment with each other. |
| US08875502B2 |
SCR exhaust gas aftertreatment device
An SCR exhaust gas aftertreatment device in which a urea-water solution is injected into an exhaust gas line is provided. At least one component of the device (e.g., a filter element) lies in an area of an internal space, and is bounded by an elastomer membrane that is embedded in a frost equalization foam. This prevents freezing damage even over a very long period of time and a large number of freezing cycles. |
| US08875499B2 |
Urea solution reformer and exhaust gas purifier using same
A urea solution reformer and an exhaust gas purifier is configured to heat a carrier gas supplied from a carrier gas source by a carrier gas heating unit, to inject the carrier gas heated by the carrier gas heating unit from a carrier gas injecting nozzle, and to cause a urea solution to be supplied by a first urea solution supply nozzle to a tip end of the carrier gas injecting nozzle so that the urea solution is atomized by the carrier gas injected from the carrier gas injecting nozzle. Provided to face toward the carrier gas injecting nozzle is a catalyst unit for decomposing the atomized urea solution to reform it into an ammonia gas. An ammonia gas supply nozzle is attached to an exhaust pipe of an engine so as to supply the ammonia gas discharged from an outlet of the catalyst unit into the exhaust pipe. |
| US08875497B2 |
Exhaust purification system for internal combustion engine
An exhaust purification system for an internal combustion engine is provided that can steadily maintain a NOx purification rate of a selective reduction catalyst to be high without allowing the fuel economy or marketability to deteriorate. The exhaust purification system includes a NO2—NOx ratio adjustment mechanism that causes a NO2—NOx ratio to change; and a NO2—NOx ratio perturbation controller that executes NO2—NOx ratio perturbation control so that a NO2 balance of the selective reduction catalyst in a predetermined time period, with NO2 adsorption being positive and NO2 release being negative, is 0. Herein, NO2—NOx ratio perturbation control is defined as control that alternately executes NO2 increase control to cause the NO2—NOx ratio to be greater than a reference value near 0.5, and NO2 decrease control to cause the NO2—NOx ratio to be less than the reference value. |
| US08875494B2 |
Fuel control for spark ignited engine having a particulate filter system
A system for filtering and oxidizing particulate matter produced by a gasoline direct injection engine is disclosed. In one embodiment, engine cylinder air-fuel is adjusted to allow soot to oxidize at an upstream particulate filter while exhaust gases are efficiently processed in a downstream catalyst. |
| US08875491B2 |
Exhaust gas aftertreatment system and method
An exhaust gas aftertreatment system and method are provided. The system comprises a controller, a pump, and a volume quantity dispensing unit. The volume quantity dispensing unit comprises a pressure transducer comprising an electric pressure sensor, at least one fine atomizing nozzle for apportioning the aqueous solution directly into an exhaust gas flow, and at least one means for changing a pressure value. The means changes the pressure value in such a way that a pressure output signal from the pressure transducer to the controller is modified from an actual pressure value sensed by the pressure sensor. A first signal provided by the controller to the pump and a second signal provided by the controller to the volume quantity dispensing unit are adapted based on the output signal from the pressure transducer and a further signal indicative of an operating state of the internal combustion engine. |
| US08875485B2 |
Micro-cathode thruster and a method of increasing thrust output for a micro-cathode thruster
A magnetically enhanced micro-cathode thruster assembly for providing long-lasting thrust is provided. The micro-cathode thruster assembly includes a tubular housing, a tubular cathode, an insulator, an anode and a magnetic field. The tubular housing includes an open distal end. The tubular cathode is housed within the housing and includes a distal end positioned proximate the open distal end of the housing. The insulator is in contact with the cathode forming an external cathode-insulator interface. The anode is housed within the housing, proximate the open distal end of the housing. The magnetic field is positioned at or about the external cathode-insulator interface and has magnetic field lines with an incidence angle of about 0 to about 90 degrees and preferably about 4 to about 30 degrees relative to the external cathode-insulator interface. |
| US08875476B2 |
Sealing tool
A sealing tool for a packaging machine comprises a sealing tool outer part, a sealing tool inner part that is movable in the sealing tool outer part, and a seal provided between the sealing tool outer part and the sealing tool inner part. The has a planar and annular design and is fixed in a first holding region at the sealing tool outer part as well as in a second holding region at the sealing tool inner part. The second holding region is disposed at or in the proximity of an outer edge of the sealing tool inner part. |
| US08875475B2 |
Multiple panel beams and methods
A support beam and method for making a support beam, the support beam having a plurality of panels arranged side by side. The panels each have a core of insulative material and outer layers laminated to the core. The panels are adhered to one another and to top and bottom beam supports using bonding material. |
| US08875472B2 |
Room temperature crosslinked foam
Low rise, user friendly latex foams for sealing insulative cavities of a building are provided. The foams may be applied to the interface of the sheathing and the studs within the insulative cavities to reduce air leaks. The latex foams may also be applied to the face of the studs to obtain an additional seal against air infiltration. The foam can be used to affix fiberglass batts, batt flanges, and vapor barriers to the framing without mechanical fasteners. A tackifier may be added to impart an adhesive quality to the foam. The tacky nature of the foam permits the drywall or vapor barrier to be repositioned without damage. Drywall is held onto the face of the studs by the tacky foam while mechanical fasteners are inserted to permanently affix the drywall to the framing. The compressive nature of the foam permits drywall to be attached without significant bowing or detachment. |
| US08875467B2 |
Adjustable bracket for the attachment of building cladding systems
A device for use in the fastening of a panel or cladding to a wall is disclosed. The device includes a base plate, a panel connecting plate, and a connecting assembly that connects the panel connecting plate to the base plate and that is constructed and arranged so as to provide minimal thermal bridging between the base plate and the panel connecting plate through an insulation layer that covers the base plate and the wall while simultaneously providing structural integrity for attaching the panel or cladding to the wall. |
| US08875464B2 |
Building panels of solid wood
Building panels each comprise an upper first element of solid wood fixed to a lower second element of solid wood. The first and the lower second element are of different wood species. The building panels are provided with a mechanical locking system which comprises a locking strip at a first edge of a first building panel. The locking strip is provided with a locking element configured to cooperate with a locking groove at a second edge of a second building panel for horizontal locking of the first and the second building panels when a tension force is applied. The fiber direction of the first and the lower second elements is essentially along the first and the second edges. The lower second element has about the same or higher moisture shrinkage value than the first element. The locking strip comprises material of the lower second element. |
| US08875463B2 |
Siding system
A building product for attachment to a surface of a building includes a plurality of siding members, and a plurality of spacers, wherein the siding members and spacers are assembled to resemble a plurality of individual siding shingles. |
| US08875461B2 |
Foundation wall system
A foundation wall includes a frame having a front side and a back side. The frame further includes a plurality of vertical stud members having a first end and a second end, a top beam attached to the first end of the plurality of vertical stud members, and a bottom beam attached to the second end of the plurality of vertical stud members to define a plurality of cavities between adjoining vertical stud members. Rigid insulation is adapted for positioning in the plurality of cavities to become a load-bearing part of the frame. One or more structural sheets is affixed to the front side of the frame and to the back side of the frame. A waterproof bond is formed along an interface between edges of the one or more structural sheets and a periphery around the front side and the back side of the frame. |
| US08875460B2 |
Direct laminated floor
New direct laminated floor, of the kind that contain, on their surface, cellulose sheets impregnated in polymerizable resins, on which some characteristics have been drawn and where, once pressed and mechanised, the finished strips have an offset/sunk area on the peripheral edge and the optic/tactile texture of the surface corresponds and adapts to the characteristics drawn on the cellulose sheets.For application in the construction industry. |
| US08875457B2 |
Portable light manipulator
The invention relates to a portable light manipulator including a frame and a manipulator cloth that is stretched or can be stretched on the frame, wherein the frame includes at least one tension bar, which has at least two moving sections that can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the tension bar and are connected to one another or can be connected to one another, said moving sections being spring-loaded so as to be capable of being forced apart from one another by spring force in the longitudinal direction of the tension bar. |
| US08875456B2 |
Pressure stabilization device
A pressure stabilization device for an IGU includes a stem and a boot coupled to the stem. The stem includes an elongated shaft extending from a first end to a second end, and an element extending radially outward from the second end of the shaft, the element having a stronger magnetic attraction than the shaft. The boot includes a spout having a central bore receiving the shaft, a surface of the bore defining an interior groove, and a cap formed integrally with the spout and defining an exterior groove intersecting the interior groove of the spout. |
| US08875453B2 |
System for mounting solar modules
A system for mounting solar modules comprising a plurality of racks and clamps. Each rack has an inclined upper mounting surface to support one of the solar modules and an inclined lower mounting surface to support one of the other solar modules. Each upper mounting surface and lower mounting surface define a slot. One of the clamps slidably receivable by a slot of one of the upper mounting surfaces and configured to secure the one solar modules to the upper mounting surfaces and an other of the clamps slidably receivable by a slot of one of the lower mounting surfaces and configured to secure said one of the other solar modules to one of the lower mounting surfaces. Each rack has a tray having a first tower supporting the upper mounting surface and a second tower supporting the lower mounting surface. |
| US08875446B2 |
Systems, methods and articles for restraint
The present invention comprises methods and articles for restraint. A plurality of panels may be assembled to form a structure. A method of the present invention comprises providing a structure described herein to confine a subject in a secure area. |
| US08875443B2 |
Flexible seal for recreational vehicles
A seal assembly located at the intersection of an extension room and wall of a recreation vehicle, the seal assembly having a flap seal, a bulb snap-in member attached to the flap seal, and a bulb seal member attachable to the bulb snap-in member in a snap-fit manner The flap seal may be made removable from the bulb snap-in member. Two flap seals may be used to attach to either side of the recreation vehicle wall. The two flap seals may be connectable with each other and adjustable via a longitudinal mating shaft on one flap seal and a longitudinal mating shaft receiving member on the second flap seal. The seal assembly may be manufactured by a multi-extrusion process so that various components can be made of different materials, such as different types of plastic. |
| US08875442B2 |
Method and apparatus of active dampening a powered closure system
An actuator for moving a closure between an open and a closed position. The actuator having a first mode, where the closure is free to move with respect to a closure frame, and a second mode where the actuator resists movement between the closure and the closure frame. |
| US08875441B2 |
Adaptive ultrasound detecting system for a door assembly
Embodiments of an adaptive ultrasound detecting system for a door assembly include an ultrasound transducer assembly mounted to the door assembly and a controller coupled to the ultrasound transducer assembly. The ultrasound transducer assembly is adapted to emit ultrasound detecting beams within the door path, and to trigger a detecting signal indicative of a body located within the door path when the body intersects at least one of the ultrasound detecting beams. The controller is adapted to receive information indicative of a position of the door along the path, and to vary emitting at least one detecting beam in accordance to the position of the door relative to the ultrasound detecting beams. |
| US08875433B2 |
Firearm loading techniques eliminating firing pause and enabling rapid partial source replacement and load supplementation prior to empty
The present invention involves techniques for rapid, flexible, partial and supplemental reloading of firearms using specialized actions, intermediate storage devices/feeds and multiple magazines, which may, in some embodiments, be simultaneously engaged with a firearm. The techniques disclosed include a feeding system, which may be a multiple-magazine feeding system, that allows a firearm to remain loaded and firing-ready with multiple loaded cartridges at all times, even during reloading operations. The invention also includes other techniques for flexible, non-wasteful, partially-empty reloading, to eliminate reloading paralysis, and allow the soldier or other user, not the size of a magazine, to determine when firing should continue and when and if it should pause. |
| US08875430B2 |
Display frame
An artifact frame comprised of a hollow container bordered on front, rear, left and right sides and bottom to define an interior cavity into which can be placed ornamental material. On the front or back panel, or side or bottom panels, the artifact to be displayed may be mounted. Any number of mounting configurations are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. A top panel may also be provided, which may be partially or totally removable to permit access to the interior cavity for the mounting of the artifact and placement of the ornamental material. |
| US08875429B1 |
Combination hang tag and keycard
A hang tag is generally provided, along with its methods of manufacture and use. In one embodiment, the hang tag includes a tag body and a keyring tab. The tage body generally defines a tag aperture positioned above an information surface, and a slot extends from an edge of the tag body to the tag aperture. The keyring tab is removeably positioned within the tag aperture defined by the tag body, and comprises a tab body defining a keyring aperture. |
| US08875427B2 |
Rail including magnetic strip
A rail for supporting hanging signage is provided. The rail includes a magnetic strip. The magnetic strip includes first and second end portions and a middle portion. When the rail is in an uncoupled configuration, the first and second end portions are offset from a horizontal reference plane including the middle portion. |
| US08875424B2 |
End bit for a soil-working tool
The invention relates to a replaceable end bit for a soil-working tool, which end bit is retained by friction and wherein, at its trailing edge, the end bit is provided with one or more openings that is/are oriented rearwardly relative to the end bit and for receiving couplers from a holder part. The openings may have rounded faces, and the faces may face towards each other. The distance between the rounded faces is increased with the distance from the trailing edge of the end bit. The invention also relates to a holder part for a replaceable end bit for a soil-working tool, which end bit is retained by friction, and wherein the holder part is provided with pairs of protruding couplers, which protruding couplers are provided with a space, where the distance between the two protruding couplers is reduced with the distance from their end faces. |
| US08875422B2 |
Excavating bucket for construction machine
An excavating bucket includes a cutting edge having inclined parts at its left and right ends, a plurality of adapters fixed to the distal end side of the cutting edge, corner adapters that are fixed to the inclined parts provided to the left and right ends on the cutting edge on the distal end side, whose distal end positions are disposed on the same line as the distal end positions of the plurality of center adapters, and that have recesses into which side plates are inserted, and joint portions where the corner adapters are joined to only the cutting edge by continuous weld. |
| US08875418B2 |
Tendon assembly for an article of footwear
A tendon assembly for an article of footwear is disclosed. The tendon assembly includes a tendon positioned between a base layer and a cover layer in a non-bonded manner such that the tendon may move freely within the layers. The tendon assembly may be rigidly secured to a shoe upper. One end of the tendon may be rigidly secured at or near the sole of the footwear. A second portion of the tendon may be integrated with a fastening system of the footwear such that the tendon may pull the footwear upper snugly against a wearer's foot to provide added support. |
| US08875416B2 |
Laundry treating appliance door with planar window element and projection
A laundry treating appliance treats a laundry load according to at least one cycle of operation. A rotatable drum defines a treating chamber and includes an open face through which access is provided to the treating chamber. An air system supplies air to and exhausts air from the treating chamber and includes an airflow portal adjacent the open face and in fluid communication with the treating chamber. A door includes a panel with a flat surface, the door selectively movable to prevent access through the open face, and the flat surface facing the treating chamber when the door closes the open face. A deflector extends away from the flat surface and at least partially overlies the airflow portal when the door closes the open face. The deflector deflects items in the laundry load away from the airflow portal when the door is closed. |
| US08875414B2 |
Unidirectional multi-path lumber kilns
Embodiments provide a unidirectional multi-path kiln with two or more chambers and generally parallel flow paths extending through the kiln, on opposite sides, from charge entry portals at a first end of the kiln to charge exit portals at a second end of the kiln. Moist heated air flowing from the second heated chamber is received in the first chamber and circulated around the lumber charges with one or more fans. The lumber charges proceed in the same direction on the flow paths through the heated second chamber, which may be an existing kiln. Charge exit portals at the distal end of the kiln and/or intermediate charge portals between the second chamber and a third chamber may be provided with insulating members configured to reduce airflow from the second chamber through the charge exit portals. |
| US08875412B1 |
Grain drying apparatus
A dryer burner apparatus includes a gas supply line that is fluidly coupled to a gas supply. A burner tube is fluidly coupled the gas supply line and has a top side and a bottom side. The burner tube has a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and the apertures are positioned in the bottom side. An air mixer is positioned below the burner tube. The air mixer has a plurality of air openings extending therethrough. A blower directs air upwardly to the burner tube so that the air can be heated by the burner tube. |
| US08875411B2 |
Cylindrical ruler
The cylindrical ruler is an elongated, hollow, cylindrical tube of known diameter having an axial slit extending the length of the tube. Indicia defining a circumferential scale are disposed around one end of the tube for measuring the length of an arc. Indicia defining a ruled scale extend lengthwise down the tube adjacent the slit for measuring length and width. Since the tube has a known diameter, it may be used to measure the inner or outer diameter of a pipe, the outer diameter or radius of curvature of a cylindrical lens, etc. The tube may also be used as a drawing tool to draw arcs, circles, or rectilinear lines on a cylindrical object. Preferably, the cylindrical ruler is furnished as a plurality of cylindrical tubes of progressively increasing diameter that can telescope within each other for storage and transport in a protective case. |
| US08875410B2 |
Measuring device for a telescopic handling arm
A measuring device for a telescopic handling arm, in which the telescopic handling arm includes at least two elements (1, 2) that are mounted to slide relative to each other, includes measuring elements for measuring the extension of the telescopic arm. The device further includes calculation elements (4) for calculating the extension of the movable portion (2) of the telescopic arm using the hydraulic characteristics of a hydraulic telescoping actuator (3), and the device further includes adjuster elements for adjusting the calculated movements via a signal transmitted by at least one element (5, 6) for contactless identification of the position of the movable portion (2) of the telescopic arm. |
| US08875406B2 |
Apparatus and method for cutting tape on a hockey stick
An apparatus and method for cutting tape on a hockey stick blade is disclosed. The apparatus includes a body for holding the apparatus, a ski including a front edge and a bottom surface, and a cutting blade arranged generally upright relative to the bottom surface of the ski. The cutting blade may include a cutting edge disposed at an acute angle relative to the bottom surface of the ski, the cutting edge positioned proximate to the front edge of the ski. |
| US08875402B1 |
Method for making a door with a biofoam
A low volatile organic emission method for making a door using a liquid hardenable flowable material. The liquid hardenable flowable material expands upon contact with a blowing agent forming a foam, wherein the liquid material is formed from plant materials, and a door formed from the method. The method forms a door with sound deadening qualities, increased impact resistance, and resistance to burning and capable of sustaining at least hurricane force winds without deforming. |
| US08875401B2 |
Solar panel clamp system
In one embodiment the present invention includes a solar panel clamp system for mounting solar panels on ground-level and raised purlins. Such systems include left-handed and right-hand clamps that can be attached to opposite sides of solar panel assemblies that include mounting frames. Left-handed clamps can attach to the mounting frame of a solar panel and include surfaces that can rest on the top surfaces of purlins and include a lip or shelf surface onto which the right-handed clamps of a mounting frame of a neighboring solar panel can rest to increase the speed and safety of installing solar panels on raised purlins. Through holes in the left-handed and right-handed clamps can then be used as guide holes for drilling into the purlins. The majority of, if not all of, the solar panel installation using the clamps of the present invention can be completed from underneath the raised purlins. |
| US08875397B2 |
Vehicle wheel manufacturing method
A method for manufacturing a vehicle wheel is suggested in which the vehicle wheel can provide function and effect of preventing molding defects during molding of an outer rim portion and/or an inner rim portion having sound absorbing spaces 25 and of reducing acoustic cavity noise that occurs in a tire-internal space by use of the sound absorbing spaces. After a separation groove having a curved shape groove bottom surface 55a is formed between a ring-shaped wall portion and partition wall portions, the ring-shaped wall portion is bent toward a flange portion, and the ring-shaped wall portion and the flange portion are welded together. The sound absorbing spaces which communicate with each other via communication gaps defined according to the separation groove are thereby formed in the outer rim portion and/or the inner rim portion. In such a method, since the communication gaps can be stably formed, an increase in internal pressure caused by heat expansion of air in the sound absorbing spaces during a heat treatment step can be reduced, thus allowing prevention of molding defects due to the increase in the internal pressure. |
| US08875396B2 |
Manufacturing method for toothed part and manufacturing device for toothed part
A manufacturing method for a toothed part including a bottom surface portion and a side wall portion provided to extend upright from an outer peripheral end portion of the bottom surface portion, the side wall portion being formed with teeth. The manufacturing method includes a half drawing process of performing draw shaping on a material having a disk shape to form the bottom surface portion and the side wall portion, an inside diameter of which becomes larger in a direction away from the bottom surface portion; and a tooth shaping process of forming the teeth in the side wall portion. |
| US08875395B2 |
Manufacturing heat exchanger from porous medium and conduits
The present invention relates to a method for producing a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger comprising at least one heat conducting conduit for passage of a first medium and at least one block of an open cell porous medium for passage of a second medium. The method comprises providing at least one groove in the open cell porous medium. Thereafter, the porous medium is bent in a direction such that at least part of the grooves are opened and heat conducting conduits are applied in this at least one opened groove. Thereafter, the porous medium is rebend such that the heat conducting conduits are locked in said open cell porous medium. |
| US08875389B2 |
Method of making an electrical connection system
Systems and methods electrically connect a first electronic device or electrical component, having a external electrical connector, to a circuit board of a second electronic device. A low-cost, user-installable connection system isolates mechanical stresses imposed on the external electrical connector to within the user-installable connection system, thereby preventing the mechanical stresses from reaching the circuit board in the second electronic device. If the connection becomes faulty, only the low-cost, user-installable connection system must be replaced. |
| US08875386B1 |
Transport comb for head stack assembly
An HSA transport comb includes an alignment pin extending from the comb body into a tooling hole of the actuator arm, and a separator finger in contact with a suspension assembly of an HGA with the transport comb in a second angular orientation with respect to the actuator arm, but not in a first angular orientation. The transport comb includes a restraining tower extending into a mass-reduction opening of the actuator arm. The restraining tower includes a first lobe that fits within the mass-reduction opening with the transport comb in the first angular orientation, but not with the transport comb in the second angular orientation. The restraining tower also includes a first neck that fits within the mass-reduction opening with the transport comb in either angular orientation, and has a neck height that is greater than the actuator arm thickness. |
| US08875385B2 |
Apparatus for retaining a package of laminations of an electromagnetic core in a device for the production thereof
An apparatus for retaining a package of laminations of an electromagnetic core in a device (3) for the production thereof that is mounted into a panel (1) arranged at a distance from a yoke (2) of said device (3) for the production of individual laminations (4) and mutual joining of same into a package (5), wherein it comprises peripheral units like an aggregate for pressurized hydraulic oil, sensors, control unit and ejector. The apparatus of the invention is formed in a way that within said panel (1) a cylinder (7) is arranged co-axially with a sleeve (6) within said yoke (2), said cylinder (7) housing a hydraulic piston (8) with a piston rod (9) with a coaxial drilled hole (12), wherein on the top of said piston (8) adjacent to said sleeve (6) there is a pivotally mounted panel (10) that is simultaneously supported on said piston (8) by a spring (11) and said piston rod (9) is further led within said cylinder (7) at a distance by means of three mutually distant gaskets (14) in order to create two spaces (15) and (16) between said piston rod (9) and said cylinder (7) in that a central section (9a) of said piston rod (9) is thinner and that both spaces (15) and (16) are provided with hydraulic connections (17) and (18) for an alternate supply of pressurized oil into one or another space (15) and (16). |
| US08875384B2 |
System for installing a seal in a syngas cooler
A system, comprising a seal segment including a cable fastener. The system also includes a syngas cooler component that includes a cable guide, where the cable guide may route a cable coupled to the cable fastener to enable the cable to pull the seal segment into a mounting position. |
| US08875376B2 |
Apparatus and method for installing a transition end on a plastic pipe
An apparatus and method are shown for installing a metal transition end on an open end of a length of plastic pipe having an outer diameter and an inner diameter by placing a stiffener sleeve within the inner diameter of the plastic pipe at a point which is circumscribed by the metal transition end. An installer apparatus is positioned over the open end of the length of plastic pipe and the metal transition end from the direction of the open plastic pipe end. The apparatus has a draw rod which extends along a horizontal axis generally aligned with the open pipe end. A metal stiffener sleeve is temporarily mounted on a segmented grip located on one end of the draw rod. An actuating sleeve, carried on the draw rod, allows the stiffener sleeve to be installed in a desired location within the open plastic pipe end by using the draw rod to first position the stiffener sleeve in the desired location. |
| US08875375B2 |
Fire engine hose connector
A method for using a fire engine hose connector system is reported. The system allows for rapid connection between the fire hose and the fire engine, and more importantly the system enables even more rapid disconnection. The fire engine and fire fighting personnel may make a rapid escape form an overtaking wildfire. The ability to rapidly disconnect and escape from the fire scene allows the fire engine and personnel to access hydrant supplies that would otherwise not be available due to safety procedures that preclude connection when the long disconnect time requirements of prior art connectors place the escape of the fire engine and personnel at risk in a rapidly moving fire. |
| US08875374B2 |
Method of installing a flexible component in a U-shaped component
An installation method makes use of a tool that includes a block and a plate. The block is configured to align the installation tool with a U-shaped component. The plate extends from the block and is configured to hold a flexible component, such that the flexible component is accurately located within the U-shaped component. |
| US08875373B2 |
Manufacturing method of a heat conductive device for a light-emitting diode
A manufacturing method of heat conductive device for an LED has steps of forming a heat sink and an engagement recess in the heat sink by cold forge, punching a heat-conducting disc to form an LED carrier having a mounting portion and a heat-conducting wall formed around the mounting portion, soldering multiple LEDs on the LED carrier, and heating the heat sink to thermally expand the heat sink and assembling the LED carrier and the heat sink so that the heat-conducting wall is assembled with the engagement recess and further chilling the heat sink to thermally retract and tightly hold the LED carrier. The manufacturing method increases contact area and reduces air gaps between the LED carrier and the heat sink to effectively enhance the heat-conducting efficiency of the LED carrier so that the LEDs are operated at a suitable operating temperature to secure a prolonged life duration. |
| US08875372B2 |
Braided helical wire stent
Exemplary non-woven helical stents are described that are efficient to fabricate in terms of labor and resources by being able to be manufactured by hand or machine while providing mechanical stability equivalent or close thereto of known braided or woven stents. |
| US08875368B2 |
Controlled torque fasteners and methods for using same
A controlled torque fastener for use with a substrate includes a first driver engagement feature and a primary fastener portion connected to the first driver engagement feature. The primary fastener portion includes a threaded fastening portion and a second driver engagement feature connected to the threaded fastening portion. The first driver engagement feature is configured to be engaged by a first driver to enable the first driver to tighten the controlled torque fastener onto the substrate until the first driver engagement feature breaks off from the primary fastener portion. The second driver engagement feature includes a socket configured to receive a second driver and to enable the received second driver to apply a torque to the primary fastener portion. |
| US08875367B2 |
Increased process damping via mass reduction for high performance milling
A cutting tool incorporates a body terminating in cutting edges distal from a chuck mount and having an axial bore for reduced mass to raise the natural frequency of the tool. In certain of the embodiments, the body is preformed from a steel or carbide blank into a cylindrical pipe forming the hollow bore prior to grinding of the cutting edges. Filling of the bore with a light weight polymer to further absorb vibration can also be employed. |
| US08875363B2 |
Thin film capacitors on metal foils and methods of manufacturing same
Disclosed are methods of making a dielectric on a metal foil, and a method of making a large area capacitor that includes a dielectric on a metal foil. A first dielectric layer is formed over the metal foil by physical vapor deposition, and a dielectric precursor layer is formed over the first dielectric layer by chemical solution deposition. The metal foil, first dielectric layer and dielectric precursor layer are prefired at a prefiring temperature in the range of 350 to 650° C. The prefired dielectric precursor layer, the first dielectric layer and the base metal foil are subsequently fired at a firing temperature in the range of 700 to 1200° C. |
| US08875362B2 |
Method of manufacturing piezoelectric device
A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric device includes the steps of bonding a first substrate to a second substrate having a toughness greater than that of the first substrate, forming a first though-hole through the first substrate from the side opposite to the side on which the second substrate is bonded, and forming a second through-hole through the second substrate at a location corresponding to the first through-hole by a formation method different from that used to form the first through-hole from the side opposite to the side on which the first substrate is bonded. |
| US08875360B2 |
Mobile drawing-in unit
The invention relates to a mobile threading unit (10) for threading warp threads (20) of a warp into elements of a harness, having at least one providing apparatus (33, 43, 51) for providing elements of the harness, at least one receiving apparatus (32, 42, 51) for receiving elements of the harness with a threaded warp thread (20), a threading module (II) which is configured for separating an element from the at least one providing apparatus (33, 43), for gripping a respective warp thread (20), for threading said warp thread (20) into the separated element, and for placing the element with the threaded warp thread (20) on one of the receiving apparatuses (32, 42), wherein the threading unit (10) can be displaced spatially for threading individual warp threads (20). |
| US08875357B2 |
Clip
A clip and a method for using the clip is shown and described herein. The clip may include a base, a pair of flaps, a pair of arms and at least one wing. The pair of flaps may be mutually confronting and extend outwardly from the base, wherein each flap includes a tab. The pair of arms may be mutually confronting and extend outwardly from the base, wherein each arm includes a tab. The method may utilize a clip to secure a first component to a second component. The method may include rotating the clip or the first component in a first direction thereby securing each other together. The second component may be placed onto the clip. The first component and clip may be serviceable by rotating the first component in a second direction opposite that of the first to remove the first component from the clip. |
| US08875353B2 |
Detangling device, method of making and using the same
Described herein are axially and radially swivelable detangling connector devices that are suitable for preventing entanglement, or detangling, of a device or means that is used to secure one or more mobile objects or subjects to one or more objects or subjects. Methods of making and using the disclosed devices are also provided herein. |
| US08875351B1 |
Shopping cart handle shield device
A shopping cart handle shield device provides a temporary shield preventing contact with the handle of a shopping cart. The device includes a slot extending through a first tube between a first end and a second end of the first tube defining a gap between opposite sides of the slot. Thus, the first tube is coupled to the tubular handle of the shopping cart by inserting the handle of the shopping cart through the slot. A slit extends through a second tube between a first end of the second tube and a second end of the second tube defining a gap between opposite sides of the slit. Thus, the second tube is coupled to the handle by inserting the handle through the slit. A tether has a first end coupled to the first tube and a second end coupled to the second tube. |
| US08875346B2 |
Hinge assembly for eyewear
A hinge assembly for an eyeglass frame is provided. The hinge assembly can be configured to provide support to the earstems of the eyewear frame when the earstems are rotated between a folded and unfolded position. In some embodiments, the hinge assembly can provide a screwless appearance and improved engagement and articulation of the earstem relative to the frame of the eyeglass. |
| US08875341B2 |
Cleaning device
A cleaning device having a handheld housing engageable to one or both of a portable vacuum motor or the distal end of a hose for a conventional vacuum cleaner. The cleaning device employs a dusting head engageable to an extension that may be change to increase or decrease length to allow a user the position the dusting head further or closer to the housing to reach different areas in need of cleaning. |
| US08875332B2 |
Laundry treating appliance and method of operation
A laundry treating appliance for treating a laundry load according to at least one cycle of operation and a method of operating a laundry treating appliance to determine an amount of imbalance of the laundry load in the drum based on a determined average peak-to-peak value and taking corrective action when the determined amount of imbalance does not satisfy a threshold. |
| US08875330B2 |
Child safety and support pillow device
An invention designed for head, neck, chest and abdomen; providing support and protection for sleeping children while being transported. The said invention comprises of head, neck, chest and abdomen safety. It is constructed in the shape of a heart and extends between the head and abdomen of child. The invention is comprised of filling and cushion and is able to separate between sections for washing capability. It is worn over the front of the child, secured by elastic straps that slip over each arm of the child, represented on the backside of invention. It is further secured by seatbelts that are placed under confinement of the situated seatbelt safety controllers located on the front side of the invention. |
| US08875328B1 |
Pediatric head positioner
A positioning device is described for supporting the chest and head of a patient in a desired position during a medical procedure. The device includes removable inserts that allow the device to be adjusted to fit the size of the patient's head and torso. |
| US08875326B1 |
Fitted sheet
A sheet that includes an upper portion, a lower portion, four side portions and at least one strap is disclosed. The four side portions correspond to a first pair of sides and a second pair of sides. The first pair of sides corresponds to a top side and a bottom side opposite of each other. The second pair of sides corresponds to a left side and a right side opposite of each other. The upper portion is opposite the lower portion. The lower portion has an opening. At least one strap is attached to a point in the lower portion and an opposite point in the lower portion and extends across the opening in lower portion. At least one strap has a single indicator. The indicator indicates the position and/or size of the sheet. |
| US08875323B2 |
Portable collapsible field hospital bed
The present invention is a collapsible portable field hospital bed that can be transported to remote location and is durable enough to remain at the remote location for subsequent local use. The invention can include a frame having a horizontal support assembly including a proximal end and a distal end hingably connected so that the proximal end and the distal end can be moved from an operational position to a storage position; a vertical support assembly pivotally connected to an angled support assembly and said horizontal support assembly, said angled support assembly pivotally connected to said horizontal support assembly; a stabilizing assembly included in said frame having a first hinge member pivotally attached to a second hinge member, said stabilizing assembly biased in said operational position, said first hinge member cooperating with said second hinge member to prevent said angled support assembly from folding. |
| US08875322B2 |
Robotic posture transfer assist devices and methods
Robotic posture transfer assist devices for assisting a posture transfer of a patient in a bed may include a device body, a stabilizer coupled with the device body and the bed, and at least one robotic arm having a plurality of degrees of freedom, wherein the robotic arm may be coupled with the device body. Robotic posture transfer assist devices may further include an end-effector removably coupled with the robotic arm, a controller module that provides a control signal to the robotic arm to control a movement of the robotic arm about the plurality of degrees of freedom, and a user input device that provides a command signal to the controller module to command the movement of the robotic arm, wherein the control signal provided by the controller module corresponds with the command signal. |
| US08881299B2 |
Dynamic community generator
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods, and computer program products configured to determine communities within an organization dynamically based on the distribution of entitlements within the organization. |
| US08881298B2 |
System for preventing unauthorized acquisition of information and method thereof
A server apparatus includes: an output detector for detecting output-processing which is processing of outputting data from the application program into a shared area; and an output control section for storing instruction information in the shared area, instead of storing the output data outputted from the application program therein, in response to the detection of the output-processing, the instruction information specifying an acquisition method by which an authorized client apparatus acquires the output data. The client apparatus includes: a reading detection section for detecting reading-processing which is processing of reading data from the shared area; and a reading control section which reads the instruction information from the shared area in response to the detection of the reading-processing, and which acquires the output data by the acquisition method specified by the instruction information. |
| US08881297B2 |
Access arbitration module and system for semiconductor fabrication equipment and methods for using and operating the same
An access arbitration module includes a plurality of active component communication ports for communicating with a plurality of active components, and includes a passive component communication port for communicating with a passive component. The access arbitration module also includes switching logic defined to control transmission of access communication protocol signals between each of the plurality of active component communication ports and the passive component communication port, such that an authorized one of the plurality of active component communication ports is connected in communication with the passive component communication port at a given time, and such that non-authorized ones of the plurality of active component communication ports are prevented from communication with the passive component communication port at the given time. |
| US08881295B2 |
Garbled circuit generation in a leakage-resilient manner
Methods and apparatus are provided for generating a garbled circuit for a client in a leakage-resilient manner, for use in secure function evaluation between the client and a server. The garbled circuit is generated by obtaining a token from the server, wherein said token comprises a leakage-protected area; querying the token gate-by-gate, wherein for each gate of said garbled circuit, the token interacts with the leakage-protected area to generate a garbled table for the gate; and receiving the garbled circuit from the token. The client can interact with the server to obtain garbled inputs; and then evaluate the garbled circuit on the garbled inputs to obtain a garbled output. A final output can be obtained by matching the garbled output with an output table in the garbled circuit. |
| US08881283B2 |
System and method of malware sample collection on mobile networks
A collection agent monitors a mobile network for data samples containing executable code. The collection agent accepts executables and forwards them to a sample collection center for further analysis, reporting, or in some instances initiating one or more mitigating actions. Depending on the network protocol being monitored, the collection agent responds to connection attempts from nearby mobile devices. |
| US08881281B1 |
Application and network abuse detection with adaptive mitigation utilizing multi-modal intelligence data
In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method detects a network or application abuse to a service provider environment. In the method, data is collected describing incoming requests from plurality of different external source addresses to the service provider environment. The collected data is used to compare the incoming requests against a heuristic. When the incoming requests are determined to match the heuristic, the requests, having the plurality of different external source addresses, are from a common abuse entity. Finally, the collected data is evaluated to determine that the common abuse entity is a potential network abuser of the service provider environment. |
| US08881279B2 |
Systems and methods for zone-based intrusion detection
Systems and methods for zone-based intrusion detection are described herein. The system may comprise a multi-tenant system; a server communicatively coupled with the multi-tenant system; a zone-based intrusion detection module running on the server; a zone within the server, the zone being a tenant and including at least one process running on it; and a debugger module that examines the process in real-time. |
| US08881275B2 |
Verifying work performed by untrusted computing nodes
Techniques for verifying work performed by untrusted computing nodes are provided. A central computing system determines a first computation that is to be performed, at least in part, by a first untrusted computing node. The central computing system also determines a transformation function that is applied to the first computation to produce an equivalent second computation that is to be performed, at least in part, by a second untrusted computing node. The central computing system assigns the first computation to the first untrusted computing node and the second computation to the second untrusted computing node while keeping the transformation function secret. The central computing system receives a first result for the first computation and a second result for the second computation. The central computing system analyzes the first and second results to verify the work performed by the first and second untrusted computing nodes. |
| US08881268B2 |
Secure area for apps
An invention for providing privacy and restricted access to functions available on a computing device. According to one embodiment, an area accessible to a user interface on a computing device is provided. A request from a user of the device is accepted, the request for associating with the area one or more functions available on the device. The one or more functions are then associated with the area, and the one or more functions are made invisible. Another request from the user is accepted, the other request for gaining access to the area. Authentication against the user is requested. Access to the one or more functions is granted if the authentication is successful, and access to the one or more functions is not granted if the authentication is not successful. |
| US08881266B2 |
Enterprise password reset
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for automatically authenticating a user. During operation, the system receives a user's request for authentication. The system then extracts information associated with the user from user-specific information stored in an enterprise computer. The extracted user information does not explicitly relate to a password. The system further generates one or more challenges based on the extracted user information, and receives the user's response to the challenges. Subsequently, the system compares the user's response to the extracted user information, and authenticates the user. |
| US08881265B2 |
Computer system, computer system control method, computer system control program, and integrated circuit
A computer system includes a memory having a secure area and a plurality of processors using the memory. When an access-allowed program unit executed by one of the processors starts an access to the secure area, the program unit subject to execution by the other processors is limited to the access-allowed program unit. |
| US08881257B2 |
Method and apparatus for trusted federated identity management and data access authorization
Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are disclosed that may provide for integration of trusted OpenID (TOpenID) with OpenID. The authentication may be accomplished, in part, via communications between a trusted ticket server on a UE and a network application function. The UE may retrieve platform validation data (e.g., from a trusted platform module on the UE). The UE may receive a platform verification in response to the platform validation data. The platform verification may indicate that the network application function has verified the platform validation data and the user. The platform verification may indicate that the platform validation data matches a previously generated reference value. |
| US08881253B2 |
Method and apparatus for accepting a digital identity of a user based on transitive trust among parties
Method and apparatus for accepting a digital identity of a user based on transitive trust among parties are described. One aspect of the invention relates to managing a digital identity of a user. The digital identity is provided to a first party, where the digital identity includes a self-asserted claim. An acceptance token is obtained from the first party. The acceptance token purports authenticity of the self-asserted claim according to the first party. The digital identity and the acceptance token are provided to a second party to request validation of the self-asserted claim by the second party based on the acceptance token. |
| US08881252B2 |
System and method for physical access control
The present invention provides, in one aspect, a system and method for managing authentication tokens that operate across multiple types of physical resources binding the tokens to one or more external electronic Identity Providers; generating tokens; authenticating the tokens at multiple physical resources; managing access to physical resources by linking the tokens to the electronic identities; translating the tokens to the appropriate physical token type based on infrastructure services available at the point of service; validating tokens at the physical resource; tracking and conveying usage information; and making use of social group relationships and other data defined by individual usage to, among other things, simplify the process of granting user-generated credentials to persons connected to a given individual via the Identity Provider or an external social network, for example. |
| US08881251B1 |
Electronic authentication using pictures and images
A method and system for user authentication uses photos, pictures, images, pictures of words, logos, graphics, icons, or pictures of colors (graphical elements) as password elements (graphical password) to gain access to a secure platform, section of a platform, specific content, website, computer, mobile device or other electronic device (secure content). The Method and system provide the creation, use in authentication and maintenance of the graphical password. Graphical password creation is initiated through user selection and platform storage of a subset of one or more platform provided or user provided graphical elements (secret graphical elements). The graphical elements are photos, pictures or images that are memorable to the user and are from within one or more relevant categories, e.g. colors, playing cards, animals. A graphical user interface (GUI) having virtual dials, wheels, reels or keypads to display images is used to implement the login/authentication process. |
| US08881250B2 |
Passporting credentials between a mobile app and a web browser
Systems and methods for passporting credentials provide a mechanism by which a native app on a client device can invoke a service provider's core web site web addresses (URL) while keeping the existing session active and shared between the two experiences (native app and web flow) so that the end user does not need to re-login at each context switch. The mechanism can include a unique way for the web flow context to communicate conditions and pass control back to the native app context of the shared session. Embodiments may operate by authenticating a device session from a native app executing on a client device producing a device session token; passing the device session token from a native app to an embedded browser to authenticate a user when entering a web flow; and entering the web flow, according to the session token, on an embedded browser driven by the native app so that the user encounters a single shared session (device session and web session) running at least two parallel secure communication interactions with an infrastructure. |
| US08881249B2 |
Scalable and automated secret management
A secret (e.g. a password, key, certificate) is automatically generated by a system. For example, at the time of deployment of a computing machine, a password may be generated and securely stored by the system with other secrets. The password may be used by the system to perform various operations (e.g. configuring the machine, . . . ). When a secret is requested by a user to access a resource, a secret is provided to the user. Once the secret has been utilized by the user, the secret is reset and replaced with a newly generated secret. All/portion of the secrets may also be automatically regenerated. For example, when a breach occurs and/or is suspected, each of the secrets may be replaced with newly generated secrets and securely stored. Auditing and reporting may also be provided (e.g. each request/access to a secret is logged). |
| US08881243B2 |
Data traffic control in a communication network
A method and apparatus for controlling data traffic in a communications network. The server determines that network conditions are suitable for sending delay tolerant data traffic, and as a result of the determination, it transmits a grant message to at least one client device, the grant message informing the client device that it is permitted to send or receive delay tolerant data traffic. |
| US08881241B2 |
Method of and system for implementing privacy control
A method and a system for implementing privacy control in a communication network are provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a first Request Verification Code (RVC) for each user request in a privacy server by means of parameter hashing or non-Parameter-hashing and forwarding the user request together with the first RVC to the SP; and verifying a second RVC and user privacy setting (s) in a privacy server, wherein the second RVC is received together with a further request from the SP. The system comprises an untrustworthy subsystem comprising at least one Service Provider (SP) for providing application service and a trustworthy subsystem comprising at least one mobile operator module for providing communication service, wherein the mobile operator module further comprises at least one mobile core network for providing user privacy control by means of Request Verification Code (RVC). According to the method and system of the invention, security and privacy control in a communications network has been greatly improved. |
| US08881237B2 |
Method and system for managing security in mobile communication system
A method, an apparatus, and a system for solving and managing security problems, which may occur during a handover of a User Equipment (UE) between PLMNs in a mobile communication network, by using a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) protocol are provided. By the method, a UE can perform a security mode command and an authentication with a network. Further, the method can prevent interruption of communication due to authentication or security during a handover of a UE between Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs). |
| US08881236B2 |
Method and apparatus for a control plane to manage domain-based security and mobility in an information centric network
A networking system comprising a virtual group controller in an information centric network configured to enable mobility and security for a plurality of users groups of the information centric network, a plurality of user groups coupled to the virtual group controller and associated with the users, a plurality of agents that are each associated with one of the user groups, and a database for trusted service profile coupled to the virtual group controller, wherein the virtual group controller is configured to interact with the agents to enable mobility for the user groups using a server-less domain-based naming scheme. |
| US08881235B2 |
Service-based authentication to a network
A method and a system for service-based authentication of a terminal to a network is described, wherein the terminal comprises a number of communications interfaces, each communications interface allowing the terminal to set-up a predetermined communication channel with the network. The method comprises the steps of: sending a service request for access to a network service; receiving in response to the service request an authentication request from the network; identifying the communication channel through which the authentication request was received; and, sending an authentication response RES to the network, wherein the authentication response depends on the identified communication channel. |
| US08881229B2 |
Policy-based application management
Improved techniques for managing enterprise applications on mobile devices are described herein. Each enterprise mobile application running on the mobile device has an associated policy through which it interacts with its environment. The policy selectively blocks or allows activities involving the enterprise application in accordance with rules established by the enterprise. Together, the enterprise applications running on the mobile device form a set of managed applications. Managed applications are typically allowed to exchange data with other managed applications, but are blocked from exchanging data with other applications, such as the user's own personal applications. Policies may be defined to manage data sharing, mobile resource management, application specific information, networking and data access solutions, device cloud and transfer, dual mode application software, enterprise app store access, and virtualized application and resources, among other things. |
| US08881219B2 |
Video server controller, operation method, recording medium for recording operation program, and video server system
A video server controller has an instruction receiver, a command forming unit, and a command issuing unit. The instruction receiver receives the first instruction for recording the material data name of the program material data and the time code indicating the site of interruption of broadcasting of the program material data, and a second instruction for restarting broadcasting of the program material data from the interruption site. The command forming unit, upon receiving the first instruction, stores the material data name and the time code, and upon receiving the CUE UP WITH DATA command as the second instruction, which is standard to the VDCP protocol, the stored material data name and time code are read out. The command issuing unit issues the CUE UP WITH DATA command, the material data name, and the time code to the video server. |
| US08881217B2 |
Systems and methods for accessing media content
In one embodiment, a media content processing subsystem within a plurality of media content processing subsystems configured to receive transmissions of media content instances from a media content provider by way of a network sends a shared content request to the media content provider, the request being for a media content instance included in the transmissions of media content instances from the media content provider. The request is configured to cause the media content provider to identify at least one other media content processing subsystem within the plurality of media content processing subsystems that is able to provide the media content instance to the media content processing subsystem, and instruct the at least one other media content processing subsystem to transmit, to the media content processing subsystem, the media content instance received by the at least one other media content processing subsystem from the media content provider. |
| US08881213B2 |
Alignment of video frames
In embodiments, apparatuses, methods and storage media are described that are associated with determination of frame alignment. In embodiments, a similarity value matrix may be determined representing similarity values for pairs of frames from two pieces of video content. An alignment score matrix may be determined from the similarity scores. Multiple sets of frames may be selected from the two pieces of video content and alignment score matrices determined for each set. From these alignment score matrices, an alignment of frames may be determined. In embodiments, a Needleman-Wunsch process may be used to compute alignment scores as well as to compute alignments based on alignment score matrices. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08881209B2 |
Feedback loop content recommendation
Techniques and mechanisms described herein facilitate the performance of feedback-based weighted content recommendation. According to various embodiments, input data for performing media content recommendation analysis may be identified. The input data may describe the presentation of a plurality of media content items in association with a plurality of content management accounts. The input data may comprise a plurality of data points. Each of the data points may identify respective feedback data for a respective one of the media content items previously recommended for presentation in association with a respective one of the content management accounts. The feedback data may identify a viewer reaction to the recommended media content item. For each or selected ones of the data points, a respective weighting factor based on the feedback data for the respective media content item presented in association with the respective content management account may be applied. |
| US08881204B2 |
Method for providing access to media content through a server
A system for providing devices such as WCDs, televisions, stereos, video game systems, etc. access to media content through an entity such as a web server. In accordance with at least one embodiment, UPnP or DLNA compliant devices may utilize a user's home network to access a user's media library from on an online media service. The media service may provide a user interface to the device to enable the user to access his media library. The media may be stored on a networked storage device connected to the media service, on the user's network devices, on the user's WCD, etc. The media service may automatically query the user's WCD to determine the presence of other persons in his proximity, and determine their preferences. A customized media stream that is suitable for the whole group may be generated based at least in part on the combined preferences of the group. |
| US08881203B2 |
Digital multimedia recorder with functionality following loss of provider network service
A network addressable appliance with digital multimedia recording capabilities has limited access including playback of stored multimedia content upon faulty connection with a service provider network. Upon a connectivity event, the network addressable appliance compares a retrieved hardware address for a connected residential gateway to a stored hardware address for an assigned residential gateway. If the two hardware addresses correspond, the network addressable appliance provides playback to stored multimedia content. The system helps prevent violations of digital rights management rules by restricting access to stored multimedia content while the network addressable appliance is connected to an unauthorized residential gateway. The system provides a user with limited access (i.e. playback) to multimedia content during service provider network outages. |
| US08881201B2 |
Methods and systems for providing media content listings by content provider
An interactive television program guide method and system is provided in which a viewer may direct a media guidance application to display program listings independent of scheduled broadcast time. Selectable options are presented to viewer on the screen, allowing the user to select a subset of content providers and view associated listings. The media guidance application removes duplicate listings from the listings display, in accordance with the viewer's preference. Listings may be displayed in a variety of arrangements, including alphabetical order by title, by genre, or by day scheduled for broadcast. Listings can also be sorted according to several criteria and displayed for further convenience to the viewer. The viewer may specify a broadcast time interval to further narrow the subset of listings that are displayed. Additional options displayed on the screen allow the viewer to re-sort listings on the display screen. |
| US08881198B2 |
Method for simultaneously providing DVB-H and streaming services in a portable terminal
A method for providing Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) and streaming services in a portable terminal includes receiving Electronic Service Guide (ESG) data of DVB-H and displaying a DVB-H channel, confirming whether a field associated with a streaming channel is present in a reserved field of the received ESG data, and if the associated field is present in the ESG data, displaying a steaming channel corresponding to the associated field together with the DVB-H channel. |
| US08881197B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing augmented broadcast content using analysis algorithm based on reference signal
An apparatus and method for processing augmented broadcast content. The apparatus includes: a broadcast content receiving unit configured to receive broadcast content and a first reference signal from a broadcast content provider, the first reference signal including information used to recognize a target object in the broadcast content and composite the broadcast content and augmented content associated with the target object; an object identifying unit configured to identify the target object in the broadcast content by analyzing the broadcast content using an image or sound analysis algorithm with reference to the first reference signal; an augmented content acquiring unit configured to acquire the augmented content associated with the target object; and an augmented content compositing unit configured to composite the acquired augmented content into an augmentation region determined based on the first reference signal. |
| US08881196B2 |
Video playback apparatus, information providing apparatus, information providing system, information providing method and program
A video playback apparatus for playing back a recorded program video which is connected with an ECG server for providing information related to a program through a communication network includes a designation information transmitting portion to transmit designation information designating a program containing a specific recorded program video to the ECG server, a related information receiving portion to receive a related information associated with the designated program, which is selected from related information each containing an ECG scenario related to each program video constituting a program and a scheduled time of each program video and stored in association with the program, from the ECG server, and a display/playback control portion to control display of the ECG scenario related to the specific program video in synchronization with playback of the specific program video based on the scheduled time of the program video. |
| US08881193B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing television programs with event notifications
Improved enhanced TV programming provides the capability for a TV viewer watching one channel to be notified of interesting programming events happening or about to happen on other channels. The present invention overcomes the problem addressed by “surfing TV channels” by providing notifications that alert enhanced TV viewers to other programming events happening or about to happen on different channels that are not presently being watched. This enables the viewer to watch a primary program on one channel without interruption and be timely notified about interesting programming events about to occur on other channels. The viewer then may have the option of switching to another channel based on the information included with the event notification. |
| US08881186B2 |
Method and system for improved media distribution
This disclosure describes methods and systems for improved media distribution. More specifically, this disclosure sets forth methods and systems for distributing video to a third party. |
| US08881185B2 |
Rotary element assembly structure with rotary element capable of rotating about hollow shaft
A rotary element assembly structure in which a rotary element 53 is assembled to a tip side of a hollow shaft B1 provided upright on a pedestal 60. A cylindrical portion 53c for fitting with the hollow shaft is provided to a rotation center portion of the rotary element. In the cylindrical portion, a hook strut portion 53s that has a hook portion 53f overhanging in the radial direction at its tip side and that extends substantially in the fitting direction is arranged. A base end portion of the hook strut portion and a base end portion of the cylindrical portion are coupled with each other by a resin-made thin plate portion 53p. A small diameter portion B1s which is smaller in diameter than a hollow portion B1d of the hollow shaft is provided on the tip side of the hollow shaft. The radius of the overhang tip portion of the hook portion is set to be greater than the radius of the small diameter portion of the hollow shaft, and to be smaller than the radius of the hollow portion. By fitting the hollow shaft with the cylindrical portion of the rotary element, the hook portion on the tip side of the hook strut portion is pushed into the hollow portion via the small diameter portion on the tip side of the hollow shaft. Thereby, the hook portion engages with a stepped portion formed by the hollow portion and the small diameter portion. |
| US08881177B2 |
Communications driver management
The creation of a virtual network adapter is disclosed. At least one existing network device having an existing driver is discovered. At least one of an existing device-to-driver mapping and an existing driver associated with the existing network device is removed. A new driver capable of communicating with the existing network device using a common set of primitive commands is installed. The new driver is mapped to the existing device. The use of the virtual network adapter is also disclosed. |
| US08881176B2 |
Block device management
Embodiments of the present invention perform a method for reading data from, writing data to, powering on, or configuring a block device without the kernel translating a file system operation into a block device operation. This is implemented by a using a core module to couple applications running in user space to a character device through a character device driver, the core module configures the character device to communicate with a block device through a block device driver without the kernel translating a file system command into a block device command. |
| US08881172B2 |
Configuration interface manager
A method and system for managing configuration interfaces. In one embodiment, a system includes a user interface for receiving a user login, causing a configuration process to be invoked, and receiving user input for managing the configuration process. A log file is used to store log file information in response to the received user input for managing the configuration process. The log file can be used by a process monitor to determine if there is any recent user activity. The process monitor can determine whether the log file has been changed in response to the received user input during a specific time interval. In response to a determination that the log file has not been changed in response to the received user input during the specific time interval, the process monitor can terminate the configuration process. |
| US08881168B2 |
Scheduling a parallel job in a system of virtual containers
Methods and apparatus are provided for scheduling parallel jobs in a system of virtual containers. At least one parallel job is assigned to a plurality of containers competing for a total capacity of a larger container, wherein the at least one parallel job comprises a plurality of tasks. The assignment method comprises determining a current utilization and a potential free capacity for each of the plurality of competing containers; and assigning the tasks to one of the plurality of containers based on the potential free capacities and at least one predefined scheduling policy. The predefined scheduling policy may comprise, for example, one or more of load balancing, server consolidation, maximizing the current utilizations, minimizing a response time of the parallel job and satisfying quality of service requirements. The load balancing can be achieved, for example, by assigning a task to a container having a highest potential free capacity. |
| US08881166B2 |
Method, data processing program, and computer program product to compensate for coupling overhead in a distributed computing system, and corresponding overhead calculator for a distributed computing system and corresponding computer system
An improved method to compensate for coupling overhead in a distributed computing system offering a raw processing capacity, comprising an effective processing capacity (404) and the coupling overhead, is disclosed, wherein the distributed computing system comprises at least one computer system and at least one coupling facility. The method comprises determining a coupling efficiency, determining and adding an amount of missing processing capacity to the effective processing capacity based on the coupling efficiency in a way that the effective processing capacity of the raw processing capacity corresponds to a billable target processing capacity. |
| US08881164B2 |
Computer process with utilization reduction
A system includes computer-readable storage media encoded with code defining a computer process. The computer process is configured to monitor its own resource utilization so that it can detect a resource-utilization condition. In response to a detection of the utilization condition, the computer process causes its own resource utilization to be reduced. |
| US08881157B2 |
Allocating threads to cores based on threads falling behind thread completion target deadline
Techniques are generally described for allocating a thread to heterogeneous processor cores. Example techniques may include monitoring real time computing data related to the heterogeneous processor cores processing the thread, allocating the thread to the heterogeneous processor cores based, at least in part, on the real time computing data, and/or executing the thread by the respective allocated heterogeneous processor core. |
| US08881156B2 |
Apportioning summarized metrics based on unsummarized metrics in a computing system
A method for apportioning summarized metrics based on unsummarized metrics in a computing system includes receiving, by a memory device of the computing system, a log file, the log file comprising unsummarized metrics, the unsummarized metrics being related to a plurality of transactions performed by a program in the computing system, and a summarized metric, the summarized metric being related to the program, wherein the summarized metric comprises accumulated data from the plurality of transactions; selecting an unsummarized metric that reflects a distribution of the summarized metric among the plurality of transactions by a processing device of the computing system; and determining an amount of the summarized metric that belongs to a transaction of the plurality of transactions based on the selected unsummarized metric by the processing device of the computing system. |
| US08881153B2 |
Speculative thread execution with hardware transactional memory
In an embodiment, if a self thread has more than one conflict, a transaction of the self thread is aborted and restarted. If the self thread has only one conflict and an enemy thread of the self thread has more than one conflict, the transaction of the self thread is committed. If the self thread only conflicts with the enemy thread and the enemy thread only conflicts with the self thread and the self thread has a key that has a higher priority than a key of the enemy thread, the transaction of the self thread is committed. If the self thread only conflicts with the enemy thread, the enemy thread only conflicts with the self thread, and the self thread has a key that has a lower priority than the key of the enemy thread, the transaction of the self thread is aborted. |
| US08881151B2 |
Control of Java resource runtime usage
A method for providing control of Java resource runtime usage may include establishing communication with one or more Java virtual machines (JVMs) forming a hive via a hive communication channel where the hive comprises a plurality of JVMs configured to enable utilization of at least one shared resource, receiving, via the hive communication channel, environmental information indicative of hive activity relative to the at least one shared resource from at least one of the one or more JVMs, and adapting, via processing circuitry, operations associated with use of the at least one shared resource based on the environmental information. |
| US08881150B2 |
Virtual machine, virtual machine system and method for controlling virtual machine
In an exemplary computing machine of the invention, a shared IO device used by a first virtual machine and the second virtual machine includes a physical IO device and a virtual IO device controlled by the physical IO device. In the case of detecting that the first driver has transmitted a stop signal for stopping the physical IO device, a hypervisor keeps the stop signal from being transmitted to the shared IO device, determines whether or not a processing request transmitted by the second driver to the virtual IO device has been completed, and stops the physical IO device with the completion of the processing request as a trigger. |
| US08881149B2 |
Control of java resource runtime usage
A method for providing control of Java resource runtime usage may include establishing communication with one or more Java virtual machines (JVMs) forming a hive via a hive communication channel where the hive comprises a plurality of JVMs configured to enable utilization of at least one shared resource, receiving, via the hive communication channel, environmental information indicative of hive activity relative to the at least one shared resource from at least one of the one or more JVMs, and adapting, via processing circuitry, operations associated with use of the at least one shared resource based on the environmental information. |
| US08881148B2 |
Hypervisor for administering to save unsaved user process data in one or more logical partitions of a computing system
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for saving unsaved user process data in one or more logical partitions (‘LPARs’) of a computing system, the computing system having installed upon it a hypervisor for administering the LPARs, each LPAR supporting an operating system, each operating system supporting one or more user processes, that include: detecting, by the hypervisor, a predefined event that the hypervisor interprets as an indication that unsaved data of user processes for at least one LPAR should be saved; transmitting, by the hypervisor in response to detecting the predefined event, a save instruction to the operating system supported by the LPAR; and instructing, by the operating system in response to receiving the save instruction, each user process supported by the operating system to save any unsaved data. |
| US08881145B2 |
System and method for generating application-level dependencies in one or more virtual machines
A technique generates application-level dependencies in one or more virtual machines (VMs). An intercepting module in a VM monitor intercepts a guest operation system (OS) at TCP send and close related operations. An introspecting module in the VM monitor performs VM introspection for TCP connection and thread information by checking running thread and processing socket kernel objects. It generates an application trajectory and exports application dependencies from the application trajectory for a selected application. |
| US08881144B1 |
Systems and methods for reclaiming storage space from virtual machine disk images
A computer-implemented method for reclaiming storage space from virtual machine disk images may include (1) identifying a virtual machine that uses a virtual machine disk image as a virtual disk for storage, the virtual machine disk image being stored on a thin-provisioned volume within a host file system, (2) determining that a portion of the virtual machine disk image represents a portion of the virtual disk that is unused by a file system of the virtual machine, (3) based on determining that the portion of the virtual machine disk image represents the portion of the virtual disk that is unused by the file system of the virtual machine, marking the portion of the virtual machine disk image for reclamation from the thin-provisioned volume, and (4) reclaiming the marked portion of the virtual machine disk image from the thin-provisioned volume. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08881137B2 |
Creating a relatively unique environment for computing platforms
Systems and methods for significantly disrupting both the execution and distribution capabilities of computer viruses across computer networks and devices are provided. According to one embodiment, a computer program is installed within a computer system in a locally unique form having altered semantics based on a diversity mechanism. Execution of the computer program will fail to perform as intended on the computer system unless the locally unique form of the computer program is first transformed into an executable form of the computer program having correct semantics using the diversity mechanism. Use of the diversity mechanism differentiates an execution or loading environment associated with the computer system from that of other computer systems by affecting operational behavior of computer programs attempting to execute on the computer system. Responsive to an attempted execution of the computer program, it is transformed into the executable form by a protected pre-execution process. |
| US08881135B2 |
Information processing apparatus for associating event information in an image input device with an application program that operates according to the event information
A method for controlling an information processing apparatus which can be connected to an image input device, by installing an application program and a control program, can activate the application program by an event occurring by user's operations in the image input device, and cause the control program to control the image input device by an instruction of the application program includes installing the control program in an operating system of the information processing apparatus, determining whether the application program is installed in the information processing apparatus, when the application program is not installed, installing on the information processing apparatus an event correspondence application program which can be activated by the same event as the application program and can install the application program in the information processing apparatus, and registering the event correspondence application program as an application program which is activated by the event in the information processing apparatus. |
| US08881133B2 |
Method for servicing a field device of automation technology
A method for servicing a field device of automation technology with an operating program comprising a frame application and executable software components designed for the field devices and encapsulating the servicing functionalities of field devices. The software component designed for the field device is divided in two and comprises a basic software component and a software extension component, wherein the basic software component serves for reading and writing of device parameters of the field device and provides a graphical, basic, user interface, and the software extension component is produced from the program code of the device software of the field device and delivers the service functionality of the field device. |
| US08881126B2 |
Systems and methods for testing a compiler through compile-time decision feedback
Systems and methods for automatic generation of one or more test programs to be used in conjunction with a test framework for testing a compiler are disclosed. A compiler is instrumented to generated data exposing various internal decisions and/or actions made by the compiler. A test program is generated by test framework and compiled by the compiler and the output is validated by the test framework to ensure that the compiler is behaving according to its compiler specification. |
| US08881116B2 |
Identifying and triaging software bugs through backward propagation of under-approximated values and empiric techniques
A software testing tool may use static verification analysis techniques to locate points (lines/events) in computer code at which an error may be present and points (lines/events) in the computer code that may be the underlying cause of the located error points. In one implementation, a device may perform a static verification analysis of computer code to locate a point in the code that causes an error in the execution of the computer code. The static analysis may be performed by analyzing a first set of possible execution paths of the computer code based on an over-approximation of states. The device may back-propagate, from the located point, through a second set of possible execution paths, where the second set of possible execution paths is obtained based on an under-approximation of the states that were over-approximated. Based on the back-propagation, the device may determine potential causes of the error. Additionally, in some implementations, empiric analysis techniques, based on semantic information for the computer code, may also be performed. The empiric analysis techniques may be used to assist in classifying the potential causes of the error. |
| US08881108B2 |
Test program for HTTP-communicating service
This application relates to a computer-implemented method for testing an HTTP-communicating service. The method includes installing a service in a first system. The first system makes the service available to a second system for access using an HTTP request. The method includes installing a test program in the first system. The method also includes testing the installed service using the test program. The HTTP request is generated by the test program and received by the installed service. The method also includes presenting a result of the testing. |
| US08881105B2 |
Test case manager
The test case manager interfaces with an application under test via an automation tool manager and is automation tool independent. Scripts are installed from a library based on the automation tool and the application type. The scripts perform the actions of learning the application objects, play back/validation, and automate test case creation. In a preferred embodiment, the test case manager drives the actions of the scripts. Scripts can be modified by customizing application specific actions and invoking them through the test case manager format. |
| US08881102B2 |
Method of presenting a plurality of items
The method of the invention enables a user to select an item, associates the item with at least a parameter indicating the geographical area where the item was selected, and presents a collection of items including the item dependent on whether a relation exists between the parameter indicating the geographical area where the item was selected and a parameter indicating the geographical area where the item is being presented. The computer program of the invention enables a programmable device to carry out the method of the invention. The electronic device of the invention is capable of carrying out the method of the invention. |
| US08881099B2 |
Dynamic generation of wrapper classes to implement call-by-value semantics
A system and method for dynamically generating proxy classes in order to enforce call-by-value semantics between clients and EJBs collocated with a virtual machine. The virtual machine can be a Java virtual machine (JVM) or some other type of virtual machine. The proxy classes are dynamically generated at runtime using dynamic byte code generation. Generated proxies are then interposed between a client and an EJB. The interposition of the generated proxies allows the proxies to intercept communication between the client and the EJB. The dynamically generated wrapper classes may be used in any system wherein a first entity invokes a second entity, wherein the second entity has an interface that can be retrieved or introspected and utilizes call-by-value semantics. |
| US08881092B2 |
Stack or project extensibility and certification for stacking tool
A tool is provided for addressing a number of issues related to assembling software stacks including multiple uncoordinated components such as open source projects. The tool identifies individual projects for stacking, manages dependency relationships and provides an intuitive graphical interface to assist a user. A project filter is also provided for controlling access to or installation of projects in accordance with filter criteria. In this manner, compliance with internal policies regarding the use of open source or other software is facilitated. The user can also add projects to the collection of supported projects and define stack macros or stacros. Once such stacros are defined, various functionality can be provided analogous to that provided for individual projects. |
| US08881088B2 |
Thermal analysis based circuit design
Methods and apparatuses for circuit design to reduce power usage, such as reducing temperature dependent power usage, and/or to improve timing, such as reducing temperature dependent delay or transition time. At least one embodiment of the method implemented on a data processing system for circuit design, the method comprises determining for a first design of a circuit a first temperature solution and a first power dissipation solution, the first power dissipation solution and the first temperature solution being interdependent, and transforming the first design of the circuit into a second design of the circuit using the first temperature solution to reduce leakage power of the circuit under one or more design constraints. |
| US08881086B2 |
Integrated circuit devices and methods and apparatuses for designing integrated circuit devices
Methods and apparatuses for an Integrated Circuit (IC) with a shielding of wires. In at least one embodiment, an integrated Circuit (IC) device comprises a first plurality of signal wires disposed within a substrate a shielding mesh disposed on the substrate. In at least one embodiment, the shielding mesh comprises a first plurality of connected wires for a first reference voltage and a second plurality of connected wires for a second reference voltage. Wherein at least a first portion of each of the first plurality of the signal wires is shielded between one of the first plurality of connected wires and one of the second plurality of connected wires from adjacent signal wires and a second portion of the first plurality of signal wires are adjacent to each other in a region defined by the first and second pluralities of connected wires. |
| US08881085B1 |
Cell-level electrostatic discharge protection for an integrated circuit
A method of evaluating a layout cell for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection can include identifying at least one feature of the layout cell for use in implementing an integrated circuit (IC) and comparing the at least one feature of the layout cell to an ESD requirement for the IC. The method can include indicating whether the feature of the layout cell complies with the ESD requirement. |
| US08881083B1 |
Methods for improving double patterning route efficiency
A design methodology for routing for an integrated circuit is disclosed. The method includes placement of cells having double diffusion breaks, which create an extended intercell region. Metal layer prohibit zones are defined to prohibit any M1 structures in the prohibit zones. Metal layer allow zones are placed adjacent to outer metal lines, and jogs are formed in the metal layer allow zones. Vias and viabars may then be applied on the jogs. |
| US08881079B1 |
Dataflow parameter estimation for a design
An embodiment of a method of high-level synthesis of a dataflow pipeline is disclosed. This embodiment includes obtaining processes from the high-level synthesis of the dataflow pipeline. A schedule for read operations and write operations for first-in, first-out data channels of the processes is determined. A dataflow through the dataflow pipeline for the schedule is determined. An edge-weighted directed acyclic graph for the processes and the dataflow is generated. A longest path in the edge-weighted directed acyclic graph is located. A weight for the longest path is output as an estimate, such as a latency estimate for example, for the dataflow. |
| US08881078B2 |
Proprietary circuit layout identification
A method is provided for identifying use of a proprietary circuit layout. A representation of a layout of a circuit is input and the locations of a set of predetermined physical features of the circuit are identified. This set of locations is then compared with a previously generated characteristic pattern file, the characteristic pattern file comprising a representation of relative locations of a set of these predetermined physical features in the proprietary circuit layout. If the set of locations matches the relative locations of the characteristic pattern file, then an output is generated indicating that use of the proprietary circuit design has been found. |