最新美国发明专利第2014-12-16期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US08912064B2	Method for forming impurity region of vertical transistor and method for fabricating vertical transistor using the same A method for forming an impurity region of a vertical transistor includes forming an impurity ion junction region within a semiconductor substrate, and forming a trench by etching the semiconductor substrate in which the impurity ion junction region is formed. The etching process is performed to remove a portion of the impurity ion junction region, so that a remaining portion of the impurity ion junction region is exposed to a lower side wall of the trench to serve as a buried bit line junction region.
US08912062B2	Semiconductor storage device and method of manufacturing same In a semiconductor storage device a select gate electrode is arranged into a ring shape so as to surround the second impurity regions, and is electrically connected to a word line. A first control gate electrode is arranged into a ring shape on the outer peripheral side of the select gate electrode, and a second control gate electrode is arranged into a ring shape on the inner peripheral side of the select gate electrode. A pair of first and second bit lines corresponding to every row are placed on the memory cells of the device, a first bit line is electrically connected to one of first impurity regions that are adjacent along the row direction, and a second bit line is electrically connected to the other of the first impurity regions that are adjacent along the row direction.
US08912059B2	Middle of-line borderless contact structure and method of forming Various embodiments disclosed include semiconductor structures and methods of forming such structures. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing a semiconductor structure including: a substrate; at least one gate structure overlying the substrate; and an interlayer dielectric overlying the substrate and the at least one gate structure; removing the ILD overlying the substrate to expose the substrate; forming a silicide layer over the substrate; forming a conductor over the silicide layer and the at least one gate structure; forming an opening in the conductor to expose a portion of a gate region of the at least one gate structure; and forming a dielectric in the opening in the conductor.
US08912056B2	Dual epitaxial integration for FinFETS A dual epitaxial integration process for FinFET devices. First and second pluralities of fins and gates are formed, with some of the fins and gates being for NFETs and some of the fins and gates being for PFETs. A first layer of a hard mask material selected from the group consisting of titanium nitride, tungsten nitride, tantalum nitride, amorphous carbon and titanium carbide is deposited over the NFETs and PFETs. The hard mask material is removed from one of the NFETs and PFETs and a first source and drain material is epitaxially deposited on the fins. A second layer of the hard mask material is deposited over the NFETs and PFETs. The first and second layers of the hard mask material are removed from the other of the NFETs and PFETs and a second source and drain material is deposited on the fins.
US08912055B2	Method for manufacturing a hybrid MOSFET device and hybrid MOSFET obtainable thereby Disclosed are methods for forming hybrid metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and the hybrid MOSFETS thus obtained. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes providing a first substrate comprising a first region and a second region, providing a second substrate comprising a second semiconductor layer and an insulating layer overlaying the second semiconductor layer, and direct substrate bonding the second substrate to the first substrate, thereby contacting the first region and the second region with the insulating layer. The method further includes selectively removing the second semiconductor layer and the insulating layer in the first region, thereby exposing the first semiconductor layer in the first region, forming a first gate stack of a first MOSFET on the exposed first semiconductor layer in the first region, and forming a second gate stack of a second MOSFET on the second semiconductor layer in the second region.
US08912054B2	Thin-film semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same A method of manufacturing a thin-film semiconductor device according to the present disclosure includes: preparing a substrate; forming a gate electrode above the substrate; forming a first insulating film on the gate electrode; forming a semiconductor thin film that is to be a channel layer, on the first insulating film; forming a second insulating film on the semiconductor thin film; irradiating the second insulating film with a beam so as to increase a transmittance of the second insulating film; and forming a source electrode and a drain electrode above the channel layer.
US08912049B2	PEC biasing technique for LEDs Each LED in an array of LEDs mounted on a submount wafer has at least a first semiconductor layer exposed and connected to a first electrode of each LED. The submount wafer has a first metal portion bonded to the first electrode of each LED for providing an energization current to each LED. The submount wafer also has a second metal portion running along and proximate to the first metal portion but not electrically connected to the first metal portion. The second metal portion may be interdigitated with the first metal portion. The second metal portion is connected to a bias voltage. When the wafer is immersed in an electrically conductive solution for electrochemical (EC) etching of the exposed first semiconductor layer, the solution electrically connects the second metal portion to the first metal portion for biasing the first semiconductor layer during the EC etching.
US08912048B2	Method of fabricating semiconductor device including a substrate attached to a carrier A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes attaching a semiconductor substrate to a carrier using a carrier fixing layer, where the semiconductor substrate including a plurality of semiconductor chips. The method further includes forming gaps between adjacent ones of the chips. The gaps may be formed using one or more chemicals or light which act to remove portions of the semiconductor substrate to expose the carrier fixing layer. Additional portions of the carrier fixing layer are then removed to allow for removal of the chips from the carrier.
US08912044B2	Method for bonding semiconductor substrates and devices obtained thereof A method is provided for bonding a first semiconductor substrate to a second semiconductor substrate using low temperature thermo-compression. The bonding method comprises the step of in-situ mechanically scrubbing the metal contact structure surfaces prior to thermo-compression bonding step, thereby planarizing the removing the oxides and/or contaminants from the metal contact structure surfaces. The thermo-compression bonding step is followed by a thermal annealing step for creating interface diffusion between the metal contact structure of the first and second semiconductor substrates
US08912043B2	Dual-side interconnected CMOS for stacked integrated circuits A stacked integrated circuit (IC) may be manufactured with a second tier wafer bonded to a double-sided first tier wafer. The double-sided first tier wafer includes back-end-of-line (BEOL) layers on a front and a back side of the wafer. Extended contacts within the first tier wafer connect the front side and the back side BEOL layers. The extended contact extends through a junction of the first tier wafer. The second tier wafer couples to the front side of the first tier wafer through the extended contacts. Additional contacts couple devices within the first tier wafer to the front side BEOL layers. When double-sided wafers are used in stacked ICs, the height of the stacked ICs may be reduced. The stacked ICs may include wafers of identical functions or wafers of different functions.
US08912039B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A device that may be used for a phase change random access memory in a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The device includes a phase change unit and two sidewall electrodes respectively located on two opposite sidewalls of the phase change unit. The phase change unit includes a three layer structure, in which a phase change material layer is positioned between a top insulating material layer and a bottom insulating material layer. The first sidewall electrode and the second sidewall electrode are in contact with two opposite end faces of the phase change material layer. The contact area between electrode and phase change material is reduced, thereby obtaining a relatively small drive current and meeting a demand that the integrated level of such a device is increasingly enhanced.
US08912038B2	Method of forming emitters for a back-contact solar cell Methods of forming emitters for back-contact solar cells are described. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a first solid-state dopant source above a substrate. The first solid-state dopant source includes a plurality of regions separated by gaps. Regions of a second solid-state dopant source are formed above the substrate by printing.
US08912033B2	Dicing-free LED fabrication Provided is a method of fabricating a light-emitting diode (LED) device. The method includes providing a substrate having opposite first and second sides. A semiconductor layer is formed on the first side of the substrate. The method includes forming a photoresist layer over the semiconductor layer. The method includes patterning the photoresist layer into a plurality of photoresist components. The photoresist components are separated by openings. The method includes filling the openings with a plurality of thermally conductive components. The method includes separating the semiconductor layer into a plurality of dies using a radiation process that is performed to the substrate from the second side. Each of the first regions of the substrate is aligned with one of the conductive components.
US08912027B2	Display device and method of manufacturing the same A display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a semiconductor layer; a data line disposed on the semiconductor layer, and a source electrode as well as a drain electrode disposed on the semiconductor layer and facing the source electrode. The semiconductor layer is made of an oxide semiconductor including indium, tin, and zinc. An atomic percent of indium in the oxide semiconductor is equal to or larger than about 10 at % and equal to or smaller than about 90 at %, an atomic percent of zinc in the oxide semiconductor is equal to or larger than about 5 at % and equal to or smaller than about 60 at %, and an atomic percent of tin in the oxide semiconductor is equal to or larger than about 5 at % and equal to or smaller than about 45 at %, and the data line and the drain electrode comprise copper.
US08912025B2	Method for manufacture of bright GaN LEDs using a selective removal process A method of fabricating LED devices includes using a laser to form trenches between the LEDs and then using a chemical solution to remove slag creating by the laser.
US08912022B2	Methods for making light emitting diodes and optical elements A method for making a LED comprises following steps. A substrate having a surface is provided. A first semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second semiconductor pre-layer is formed on the surface of the substrate. A first electrode and a second electrode are formed to electrically connect with the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor pre-layer respectively. A patterned mask layer is applied on a surface of the second semiconductor pre-layer. A number of three-dimensional nano-structures are formed on the second semiconductor pre-layer and the patterned mask layer is removed. A method for making an optical element is also provided.
US08912019B2	Organic electroluminescent element manufacturing method An ink containing an electroluminescent light emitting material is discharged onto a buffer layer. The discharge amount of the ink is larger than a maximum volume where the ink is retained by the surface tension thereof on the top surface of the buffer layer.
US08912018B2	Manufacturing flexible organic electronic devices A method of making a flexible organic electronic device includes forming a first portion including a first flexible substrate, wherein the first portion is formed under a first set of conditions to provide a barrier system, separately forming a second portion comprising at least one organic electronic device region deposited upon a second flexible substrate, wherein the second portion is formed under a second set of conditions, different from the first set of conditions, and placing the first portion over the second portion (although not necessarily in contact therewith) to cover the organic electronic device region. The organic electronic device region is not placed in physical contact with another solid material before placing the first portion over the second portion.
US08912017B2	Semiconductor wafer bonding incorporating electrical and optical interconnects Methods for bonding semiconductor wafers requiring the transfer of electrical and optical signals between the bonded wafers and across the bonding interface. The methods incorporate the formation of both electrical and optical interconnect vias within the wafer bonding interface to transfer electrical and optical signals between the bonded wafers. The electrical vias are formed using multiplicity of metal posts each comprised of multiple layers of metal that are interfused across the bonding surface. The optical vias are formed using multiplicity of optical waveguides each comprised of a dielectric material that interfuses across the bonding interface and having an index of refraction that is higher than the index of refraction of the dielectric intermediary bonding layer between the bonded wafers. The electrical and optical vias are interspersed across the bonding surface between the bonded wafers to enable uniform transfer of both electrical and optical signals between the bonded wafers.
US08912010B2	Thyroxine immunoassay using fluorescent particles Provided are a base plate and a method for thyroxine immunoassay, which are capable of decreasing the signal change rate caused by temperature change in a high-sensitivity immunoassay method for thyroxine. A base plate for thyroxine immunoassay which has a conjugate of thyroxine or a derivative thereof and albumin immobilized thereon, and in which the ratio of the molecule number of thyroxine or a derivative thereof to the molecule number of albumin in the immobilized conjugate, is disclosed.
US08912009B2	Microflow analytical system A microflow analytical system includes a laminate pump assembly connectable with one or more sources of fluid, one or more pneumatic control pumps, a mixer, and a sensor. The laminate pump assembly is adapted to deliver predetermined volumes of the fluid(s) through a plurality of flow paths which are formed within layers of the assembly. Each flow path can include an inlet valve, a pump valve, and an outlet valve each of which are controllable by the pneumatic control pumps. A series of manifolds can be formed within the layers of the pump assembly to provide for simultaneous activation of selected flow paths. Delivered fluid volumes can be mixed in the mixer which, in some embodiments, may be integral with the laminate pump assembly. The sensor can measure one or more characteristics of the mixed fluids to determine one or more properties of the fluids.
US08912004B2	Optical sensor-based cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) assay An example embodiment is an apparatus for measuring antioxidant presence comprising a solid media, and a reagent carried by the media, the reagent reactive with at least one antioxidant to cause changes in light that is incident upon the reagent while carried by the solid media.
US08912003B2	Methods and devices for detecting isothiazolones Methods for quantitative determination of the presence of isothiazolone compounds in a solution include controlling pH of the solution in a range from about 3 to about 10, combining a known quantity of the pH-adjusted solution with a known quantity of an aromatic thiolate anion, quantitatively determining color intensity of the resultant combined solution; and correlating the color intensity with amount of isothiazolone compounds. The methods may be used in automated systems, including systems utilizing optical sensor devices.
US08912002B2	Process for high concentration cation exchange metathesis Provided is a method for high concentration cation exchange metathesis of divalent ions such as calcium with univalent ions such as sodium or potassium. Due to the difference between ionic valences between the exchanged ions, the provided process behavior is strongly dependent upon the selection of resin properties and to total solution normality. A combination of resin properties and solution normality is provided to achieve the cation exchange.
US08912000B2	Downhole mass spectrometric hydrocarbon determination in presence of electron and chemical ionization Methods and apparatus for obtaining a mass spectrum of a sample and determining a concentration of a component of the sample by utilizing a model of chemical and electron ionization and the obtained mass spectrum.
US08911999B2	Self-deleting plasmid A method of producing a selectable marker gene-free plasmid by culturing a plasmid containing a selectable marker gene flanked by site specific recombinase target sites in a host cell environment incapable of effecting recombination between the site specific recombinase target sites and subsequently culturing the plasmid in another host cell environment which is capable of effecting recombination between the site specific recombinase target sites, so that the selectable marker gene is excised. Uses of plasmids produced by the method for the production of recombinant protein for therapeutic and vaccine purposes, production of therapeutic DNA and DNA vaccines and delivery of recombinant protein and DNA to a patient using live bacterial vectors.
US08911996B2	Electrospun scaffolds and methods of generating and using same A porous scaffold is disclosed, the porous scaffold comprising electrospun polymeric nanofibers, wherein an average diameter of a pore of the porous scaffold is about 300 μm is disclosed. An average diameter of the polymeric nanofibers ranges from about 100 to 400 nm. The scaffold may comprise a plurality of particles, the particles being greater than about 1 μm in diameter. Methods of fabricating scaffolds, methods for generating tissue and methods of using scaffolds for tissue reconstruction are also disclosed.
US08911992B2	DNA removal in target molecule purification Removal of genomic DNA from biological samples using cation exchange is described.
US08911984B2	Tannase, gene encoding same, and process for producing same Disclosed is a thermostable tannase derived from a microorganism. Specifically disclosed is a thermostable tannase derived from Aspergillus awamori or Aspergillus niger. A preferred embodiment of the tannase has the following chemoenzymatic properties: (1) activity: to act on a depside bond to thereby cause hydrolysis; (2) molecular weight: about 230,000 Da (as measured by gel filtration); and (3) thermal stability: stable at a temperature up to 65° C. (pH 5.0, 30 min.).
US08911983B2	Pnp gene modification for improved xylose utilization in Zymomonas The endogenous pnp gene encoding polynucleotide phosphorylase in the Zymomonas genome was identified as a target for modification to provide improved xylose utilizing cells for ethanol production. The cells are in addition genetically modified to have increased expression of ribose-5-phosphate isomerase (RPI) activity, as compared to cells without this genetic modification, and are not limited in xylose isomerase activity in the absence of the pnp modification.
US08911980B2	Method for producing lipase powder compositions The present invention provides a method for producing a ground product of a lipase powder composition comprising an immobilized lipase in which a lipase derived from Thermomyces sp. is immobilized to a silica carrier and a hydrophilic powder other than a silica carrier, the method comprising the steps of wetting the hydrophilic powder with oil; separating the hydrophilic powder wetted with oil from the oil to obtain an oil-containing hydrophilic powder; mixing the oil-containing hydrophilic powder and the immobilized lipase at a ratio of 0.45:1 to 0.85:1 based on mass of the hydrophilic powder and the immobilized lipase before oil wetting; and grinding the obtained mixture, the steps being conducted in the above order.
US08911979B2	Recovery of inorganic salt during processing of lignocellulosic feedstocks A method for recovering inorganic salt during processing of a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock by adding an acid to the feedstock to produce a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock. A soluble base is then added to the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock to adjust the pH and produce a neutralized feedstock. The neutralized feedstock is then enzymatically hydrolyzed to produce an enzyme hydrolyzed feedstock and a sugar stream. Inorganic salt is recovered from either a stream obtained from the lignocellulosic feedstock prior to the step of pretreating, a stream obtained from the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock, a stream obtained from the neutralized feedstock, a stream obtained from the sugar stream, or a combination of these streams. The inorganic salt may be concentrated, clarified, recovered and purified by crystallization, electrodialysis drying, or agglomeration and granulation, and then used as desired, for example as a fertilizer.
US08911978B2	Method for the preparation of hydroxy acids The present invention concerns a modified microorganism for the biological preparation of an hydroxy acid of formula (I) wherein the microorganism comprises a two-step metabolic pathway for the production of the said hydroxy acid from a hydroxy keto-acid of formula (II) through an intermediate hydroxy-aldehyde of formula (III), wherein EA1 is an enzyme having a 2-keto-acid decarboxylase activity, and EA2 is an enzyme having hydroxy aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. The invention also concerns a method for the fermentative production of a hydroxy acid.
US08911977B2	Enzymes useful for peracid production Acetyl xylan esterases and variants thereof having perhydrolytic activity are provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. Multi-component peracid generation systems comprising an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolytic activity are also provided, as are methods of using the present enzyme catalyst to produce peroxycarboxylic acids. The polypeptide having perhydrolytic activity may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, paper pulp processing, and personal care applications.
US08911971B2	Glucosyl stevia composition Glucosyl stevia compositions are prepared from steviol glycosides of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. The glucosylation was performed by cyclodextrin glucanotransferase using starch as the source of glucose residues. The short-chain glucosyl stevia compositions were purified to >95% content of total steviol glycosides. The compositions can be used as sweetness enhancers, flavor enhancers and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
US08911969B2	Bacillus host cell A Bacillus licheniformis mutant host cell derived from a parent B. licheniformis host cell, which mutant host cell is mutated in one or more gene(s) encoding one or more secreted polypeptide(s) which is at least 80% identical to one or more of the polypeptides shown in SEQ ID NO's: 2 to 248, wherein the mutant host cell secretes at least 5% less of the one or more secreted polypeptide(s) than the parent host cell, when they are cultivated under comparable conditions.
US08911968B2	High-yield peptide antibiotics producing strain, preparation method and use thereof High-yield antibiotics producing strain, preparation method and use thereof are provided in the present invention. The high-yield strain is a mutagenized strain derived from Colephoma empetri, and deposited in CGMCC with the accession number of CGMCC 4129. The preparation method comprises the following steps: (a) mixing a seed liquid of Colephoma empetri of Accession No. FERM BP-2635 with nitrosoguanidine to obtain a mixture a; (b) mixing said mixture a with a wall-breaking enzyme to obtain protoplasts; (c) regenerating said protoplasts to obtain single colonies; and (d) culturing said single colonies to obtain said mutagenized strain. The obtained strain has stable genetic and producing property, produces little impurities in fermentation, and is suitable for industrialization.
US08911965B2	Methods to increase and harvest desired metabolite production in algae Enhanced yields of photosynthetically fixed carbon produced by hypersaline photosynthetic algae are provided by co-culturing with a halophilic archaea. Further, methods are provided to control harvesting of desired metabolic products from hypersaline photosynthetic algae by controlling caspase activity.
US08911962B2	Method for neutralization of antibiotics in a culture medium The present invention is directed to a method and means for the neutralization, binding, and/or inactivation of antimicrobials in a test sample. The invention is also directed to a method of detecting the presence of one or more microorganisms in a test sample by culturing the test sample in a culture media comprising one or more primary amine-containing compounds.
US08911961B2	Methods for detecting live pathogens Disclosed are methods and kits pertaining to detecting live bacterial pathogens using sortase enzymes and reflective spectroscopy such as reflective interferometry.
US08911958B2	Methods for assessing modified LDL immune complexes in subjects having or at risk of coronary artery disease The present invention relates to the analysis of modified LDL in the context of immune complexes. In particular, ox-LDL and AGE-LDL are shown to predict the development of coronary artery disease and other micro- and macrovascular disorders, particularly in the context of diabetes.
US08911957B2	Devices and methods for detecting cells and other analytes The invention features methods, devices, and kits for the isolation of analytes (e.g., a cell). A sample containing a desired analyte is introduced into a microfluidic device containing moieties that bind the desired analyte. A shear stress is applied that is great enough to prevent binding of undesired analytes and low enough to allow binding of the analyte of interest. Once bound, the desired analytes can be analyzed (e.g., counted). The invention also features methods for determining a shear stress for isolating a desired analyte.
US08911956B2	Methods of use for an immunoassay detecting fragment Ba Methods, compositions and kits for detecting the complement Factor B cleavage product Ba in a biological sample are described. These methods, compositions and kits are useful in convenient, reliable and early diagnosis of or ruling out pre-eclampsia in a pregnant human subject.
US08911955B2	Virus detection device and virus detection method A virus detection device includes a diffusion unit configured to diffuse a virus in a gas as an inspection target into an aqueous solution containing a fluorescent antibody specifically adsorptive to the virus by bringing the gas into contact with the aqueous solution and configured to adsorb the fluorescent antibody to the virus in the gas; an atomization unit configured to atomize the aqueous solution and generate a mist group of the aqueous solution in which the gas is diffused; a fluorescence measuring unit configured to measure a fluorescence intensity of the mist group; and an air current generator configured to form an air current flowing toward the fluorescence measuring unit from the atomization unit.
US08911954B2	Polypeptide linker and method of analyzing target material using the same A polypeptide linker comprising an antibody-binding region and an enzyme cleavage region, and related compositions, kits, and methods of using same.
US08911948B2	RNase H-based assays utilizing modified RNA monomers The present invention pertains to novel oligonucleotide compounds for use in various biological assays, such as nucleic acid amplification, ligation and sequencing reactions. The novel oligonucleotides comprise a ribonucleic acid domain and a blocking group at or near the 3′ end of the oligonucleotide. These compounds offer an added level of specificity previously unseen. Methods for performing nucleic acid amplification, ligation and sequencing are also provided. Additionally, kits containing the oligonucleotides are also disclosed herein.
US08911945B2	Method for high-throughput AFLP-based polymorphism detection The invention relates to a method for the high throughput discovery, detection and genotyping of one or more genetic markers in one or more samples, comprising the steps of restriction endonuclease digest of DNA, adaptor-ligation, optional pre-amplification, selective amplification, pooling of the amplified products, sequencing the libraries with sufficient redundancy, clustering followed by identification of the genetic markers within the library and/or between libraries and determination of (co-)dominant genotypes of the genetic markers.
US08911942B2	Single label comparative hybridization The present invention provides methods of detecting and mapping chromosomal or genetic abnormalities associated with various diseases or with predisposition to various diseases, or to detecting the phenomena of large scale copy number variants. In particular, the present invention provides advanced methods of performing array-based comparative hybridization that allow reproducibility between samples and enhanced sensitivity by using the same detectable label for both test sample and reference sample nucleic acids. Invention methods are useful for the detection or diagnosis of particular disease conditions such as cancer, and detecting predisposition to cancer based on detection of chromosomal or genetic abnormalities and gene expression level. Invention methods are also useful for the detection or diagnosis of hereditary genetic disorders or predisposition thereto, especially in prenatal samples. Moreover, invention methods are also useful for the detection or diagnosis of de novo genetic aberrations associated with post-natal developmental abnormalities.
US08911941B2	Methods and apparatus for point-of-care nucleic acid amplification and detection Methods and apparatus are provided for point-of-care nucleic acid amplification and detection. One embodiment of the invention comprises a fully integrated, sample-to-answer molecular diagnostic instrument that optionally may be used in a multiplexed fashion to detect multiple target nucleic acid sequences of interest and that optionally may be configured for disposal after one-time use. Optionally, sample preparation is fully or partially achieved via heat treatment and/or using a filter paper, such as a chemically treated filter paper, e.g., an FTA card. The instrument preferable utilizes an isothermal nucleic acid amplification technique, such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), to reduce the instrumentation requirements associated with nucleic acid amplification. Detection of target amplification may be achieved, for example, via detection of a color shift or fluorescence in a dye added to the amplification reaction.
US08911939B2	Detection of Johnsongrass and its hybrid seed Methods for detecting the presence or amount of Johnsongrass or Johnsongrass hybrid genetic material in a biological sample, preferably the detection of the presence or amount of Johnsongrass or Johnsongrass hybrid seed in a seed sample, are disclosed. The methods involve detection of certain nucleic acid sequences, namely Johnsongrass detection sequences, optionally through a primer-based amplification process, such as PCR. Also disclosed are isolated polynucleotides, replication compositions and kits for carrying out the detection methods.
US08911931B2	Spiral design graphene nanoribbon Graphene nanoribbons and methods for fabricating graphene nanoribbons, particularly those with long lengths, are provided. In one embodiment, a method (400) for fabricating a graphene nanoribbon (100) includes preparing (410) a mask for application on a substrate (102). The mask may include a continuous line of masking material spiraling outward from a first end (104) of the line to a second end (106). The method (400) also includes depositing (420) a graphene layer (108) over a top surface (102A) of the substrate (102), applying (430) the mask to the substrate (102) over the graphene layer (108), removing (440) an unmasked portion of the graphene layer (108), and removing (450) the masking material from a remaining portion of the graphene layer (108) to leave a continuous line of graphene on the surface (102A) of the substrate (100) corresponding with the mask.
US08911928B2	Resist composition, method of forming resist pattern, polymeric compound and method of producing the same A resist composition including a base component (A) that exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid and an acid generator component (B) that generates acid upon exposure, wherein the base component (A) contains a resin component (A1) including a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0-1) shown below and a structural unit (a1)) containing an acid decomposable group that exhibits increased polarity under action of acid, and the amount of the structural unit (a0) is less than 50 mol %, wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R1 represents a divalent linking group; R2 represents a —SO2— containing cyclic group; and v represents 0 or 1.
US08911926B2	Photoresist composition and method of forming a metal pattern using the same A method of forming a metal pattern is disclosed. In the method, a metal layer is formed on a base substrate. A photoresist composition is coated on the metal layer to form a coating layer. The photoresist composition includes a binder resin, a photo-sensitizer, a mercaptopropionic acid compound and a solvent. The coating layer is exposed to a light. The coating layer is partially removed to form a photoresist pattern. The metal layer is patterned by using the photoresist pattern as a mask.
US08911925B2	Liquid developer, developer cartridge, process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and image forming method A liquid developer contains a carrier liquid, and toner particles containing a binder resin and a pigment surface-treated with a polyallylamine compound as a colorant.
US08911924B2	Toner and method for producing the same A toner including base particles each containing a crystalline polyester and a non-crystalline polyester, wherein the toner has a glass transition temperature of 45° C. or higher where the glass transition temperature is determined from a DSC curve of the toner obtained in the first elevation of temperature thereof, and wherein the toner has a temperature width of 8° C. or lower where the temperature width is a temperature width at ⅓ the height of an endothermic peak attributed to the crystalline polyester in the DSC curve.
US08911921B2	Oxime ester photoinitiators Compounds of formula (I), (II), and (III), wherein R1, R2, R′2 and R′″2 for example are C1-C20alkyl, provided that at least one of R1, R2, R′2 and R′″2 carries a specified substituent; R3, R4, and R5 for example independently of one another are hydrogen or a defined substituent provided that at least one of R3, R4 or R5 is other than hydrogen or C1-C20alkyl; R6, R7, R8, R′7, RV, R′8, R″6, R″7, R′″6 and R′″7 for example independently of one another have one of the meanings as given for R3, R4, and R5; and R9 for example is C1-C20alkyl; exhibit an unexpectedly good performance in photopolymerization reactions.
US08911916B2	Fuel cell A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, a first separator, and a second separator. The membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a resin frame member. The membrane electrode assembly includes a power generation section and a stepped section. The power generation section is located in an interior space of the resin frame member. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane is provided between the first electrode and the second electrode in the power generation section. The stepped section is located on an outer side of the first electrode. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane is provided between the second electrode and the resin frame member in the stepped section. A magnitude of an interference in the stepped section is set to be smaller than a magnitude of an interference in the power generation section.
US08911915B2	Hydrocarbon composite electrolyte membrane for fuel cell The present invention provides a hydrocarbon composite electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, which is formed of an inexpensive hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane to ensure mechanical and thermochemical stability. The present invention provides a hydrocarbon composite electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell, the hydrocarbon composite electrolyte membrane including at least one composite electrolyte membrane layer having a structure in which graphene nanostructures are impregnated into a hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane.
US08911909B2	Fuel leakage preventing structure and biofuel cell The valve control unit of a fuel leakage preventing structure of the present invention includes first and second electrodes. The first electrode is attached to a first member that is movable. When a pressing force is applied to the first member to move, the first and second electrodes are brought into contact with each other, to cause conduction. The first and second electrodes are connected to a control device, and the control device opens a control valve when the first and second electrodes are put into a conducting state. As the control valve is opened and closed by a pressing force in this manner, a fuel solution can be easily supplied.
US08911905B2	Anode of lithium battery An anode of a lithium battery includes a composite film, the composite film includes a carbon nanotube film structure and a plurality of nanoscale tin oxide particles dispersed therein. A lithium battery includes at least a cathode, an electrolyte, and the anode mentioned above. A charge/discharge capacity of the lithium battery using the anode can be improved.
US08911902B2	Nickel-based positive electrode active material, method of preparing the same, and lithium battery using the nickel-based positive electrode active material A nickel (Ni)-based positive electrode active material, a method of preparing the same, and a lithium battery using the Ni-based positive electrode active material.
US08911900B2	Battery electrode production method A method is provided for producing a battery electrode having a configuration in which a compound material layer containing an active material and a binder is retained on a current collector. This method includes forming protrusions composed of a polymer on a surface of the current collector, forming a binder solution layer by coating a binder solution containing the binder over the polymer protrusions onto the current collector, depositing the binder solution layer and a compound material paste layer on the current collector by applying a compound material paste containing the active material over the binder solution layer, and obtaining an electrode in which the compound material layer is formed on the current collector by drying both the deposited binder solution layer and compound material paste layer.
US08911898B2	Rechargeable battery including a rotation restricting portion A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly in which a separator is arranged between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, an electrolyte disposed in the electrode assembly, a can accommodating the electrode assembly and the electrolyte, an upper insulation plate disposed on an upper portion of the electrode assembly to contact the upper portion of the electrode assembly, a cap assembly coupled to the upper portion of the can, and a gasket arranged to form a seal between the cap assembly and the upper portion of the can and contacting an upper surface of the upper insulation plate. A rotation restricting portion to restrict rotation of the upper insulation plate with respect to the gasket is formed at least at a lower surface of the gasket and the rotation restricting portion includes a plurality of uneven portions which face the upper insulation plate.
US08911896B2	Battery pack A battery pack includes a battery module having at least one battery cell, and at least one heat dissipation plate in contact with the battery cell, the heat dissipation plate having at least one channel configured to include a refrigerant, a rib arranged to define a frame of the heat dissipation plate, and a through-hole between the channel and the rib.
US08911893B2	Convection battery configuration for connective carbon matrix electrode Electrode compositions and devices (100) that incorporate the electrode compositions are provided. More specifically, electrode compositions that include carbon that provide a connective network to which metal and/or metal derivatives are deposited are provided. Convection battery devices (100) that incorporate the carbon electrode compositions are also provided.
US08911890B2	System and method for controlling cooling or heating of battery Disclosed herein is a system for controlling the cooling or heating of a battery. The system includes a battery having a hermetic sealing structure to prevent passage of air from an exterior, a pressure sensor provided on the battery to measure internal pressure of the battery, an climate control system cooling or heating the battery, and a controller determining cooling or heating of the climate control system depending on whether the internal pressure of the battery is positive pressure or negative pressure based on a measured result of the pressure sensor, the controller controlling cooling or heating strength depending on a level of the positive pressure or negative pressure.
US08911878B2	Structural metal-clad polymer article Metal-clad polymer articles containing structural fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings/layers optionally containing solid particulates dispersed therein. The fine-grained and/or amorphous metallic coatings are particularly suited for strong and lightweight articles, precision molds, sporting goods, automotive parts and components exposed to thermal cycling although the CLTE of the metallic layer and the one of the substrate is mismatched. The interface between the metallic layer and the polymer is suitably pretreated to withstand thermal cycling without failure.
US08911872B2	Bimodal polyethylene The invention relates to A process for the polymerization of ethylene to produce a polyethylene resin in at least two slurry loop reactors connected to each other in series, the resin having a bimodal molecular weight distribution, a molecular weight distribution MWD of at least 7.0, an HLMI of from 1 to 100 g/10 min, and a density of from 0.935 to 0.960 g/cm3, wherein in one reactor 30 to 47 wt % based on the total weight of the polyethylene resin of a high molecular weight (HMW) polyethylene fraction is produced having an HL275 of from 0.05 to 1.8 g/10 min (the equivalent of HLMI of from 0.01 to 1.56 g/10 min), a density of from 0.925 to 0.942 g/cm3 and an MWD of at least 5.0, and in the other reactor a low molecular weight (LMW) polyethylene fraction is produced having an HLMI of from 10 to 1500 g/10 min and a density of from 0.960 to 0.975 g/cm3, in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system.
US08911865B2	Generation kaolin based paint pigment extender A fully calcined kaolin pigment extender is provided which has a product Mullite Index (M.I.) of 25.0 or higher. The calcined kaolin pigment extender can be advantageously used in paints to improve scrub and burnish resistance.
US08911863B2	Aramid core wire, method for producing the same, transmission belt, method for producing the same, and treating agent for aramid core wire The present invention relates to a method for producing an aramid core wire, containing a step of covering or impregnating an original yarn of an aramid core with a first treating agent containing a condensate of resorcin and formaldehyde, a latex and a water-soluble epoxy compound; an aramid core wire produced by the method; a transmission belt containing the aramid core wire; a method for producing the transmission belt; and a treating agent.
US08911860B2	Electrically insulating material, particularly for high voltage generator An electrically insulating material for high voltage generators is provided. The electrically insulating material comprises a polymer based dielectric material filled with nanoparticles, wherein the voltage at which partial discharges start in the polymer based dielectric material is greater than the voltage at which partial discharges start in an unfilled polymer based dielectric material.
US08911856B2	Ultra-thin fabric, devices, and methods A fabric can comprise yarns comprising less than about 30 denier total and less than about 10 denier per filament; a density of greater than about 177 yarns per cm; and a thickness of less than about 3.2 mil. The fabric can further comprises a weight of less than about 60 g/m2. The fabric can have performance characteristics equivalent to or greater than those in conventional implantable fabrics. A method of making such a fabric can include twisting together filaments into a multifilament yarn; passing adjacent yarns into a loom in parallel so as to allow the yarns to be woven together more closely; maintaining a consistent tension on the yarns during placement of the yarns on a loom beam and during weaving; and or subjecting the fabric to increased heat and pressure so as to compress the yarns more tightly.
US08911851B2	Latent-reactively glued TPU/PC layer materials A document (2) containing: electronic components (14) and/or diffractive security elements; at least one protective layer (4, 5) being arranged on one side or two protective layers (4, 5) being arranged on both sides of the electronic components (14) and/or of the diffractive security element, said protective layers being formed of a first base polymer, polymer layers (8, 9, 12, 13), being formed of a second base polymer being different from the first base polymer, into which the electronic components (14) and/or the diffractive security element with the protective layers (4, 5) are laminated; and adhesive layers with a latent-reactive adhesive (10, 11) being arranged at least between the polymer layers (8, 9, 12, 13) and the protective layers (4, 5), and wherein the core layer or protective layers are formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.
US08911850B2	Amorphous patterns comprising elongate protrusions for use with web materials Three-dimensional web materials, more particularly, a three-dimensional web material having a first side and a second side are disclosed herein. The first side comprises at least one region having a plurality of spaced elongate three-dimensional protrusions extending outwardly from the first side which are preferably unitarily formed from the web material. The elongate protrusions form an amorphous pattern of a plurality of elongate two-dimensional geometrical shapes.
US08911848B2	CCL and method of manufacturing the same There is provided a copper clad laminate (CCL) including: a metal plate; an insulating layer having a planar area greater than that of the metal plate and laminated on the metal plate; and a copper layer laminated on the insulating layer, wherein edges of the insulating layer extend outwardly beyond edges of the metal plate so that an insulation distance insulating the edges of the metal plate from edges of the copper layer is formed. The insulating layer may include a polyimide layer, and a polyimide bonding layer.
US08911846B2	Block copolymer assembly The embodiments disclose a block copolymer assembly structure, including a first pattern and second pattern with a first density of patterned features integrated in data and servo zones, a silicon substrate with thin film layers deposited thereon and patterned using the first density of first pattern and second pattern features and a template fabrication pattern with a second density greater than the first density created using ordered block copolymer periodic structures across a portion of the substrate.
US08911844B2	Expanded TFE copolymers, method of making and porous, expanded articles thereof A true tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) copolymer of the fine powder type is provided, wherein the copolymer contains polymerized comonomer units of at least one comonomer other than TFE in concentrations of at least or exceeding 1.0 weight percent, and which can exceed 5.0 weight percent, wherein the copolymer is expandable, that is, the copolymer may be expanded to produce strong, useful, expanded TFE copolymeric articles having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils. Articles made from the expandable copolymer may include tapes, membranes, films, fibers, and are suitable in a variety of end applications, including medical devices.
US08911842B2	Multi-layer rotationally molded low permeation vessels and method for manufacture thereof A multiple walled enclosure with low permeation properties and rugged impact resistance useful as a fuel tank or chemical container. The enclosure is made by rotomolding a first charge of thermosetting polymer into an outer layer, then rotomolding a charge of EVOH or other low permeation thermoplastic into a second layer, then rotomolding a second charge of thermosetting polymer into a third layer so that the low permeation thermoplastic layer is fully enclosed by layers of thermoset polymer. The preferred thermosetting polymer is crosslinkable polyethylene and the preferred low permeation thermoplastic is EVOH.
US08911839B2	Heat shrinkable polyester film Disclosed is a heat shrinkable polyester multilayer film having excellent transparency, gloss and workability, which can be produced easily. Specifically disclosed is a heat shrinkable polyester film having a haze value of not more than 2%, a glossiness at a measurement angle of 45° of not less than 200% in at least one side of the film, and a dynamic coefficient friction between one side of the film and the other side of the film of not more than 1.5. The heat shrinkable polyester film also has a shrinkage in the main shrinking direction of not less than 50% when immersed in hot water of 95° C. for 10 seconds and a surface resistivity of not more than 13 log Ω at a relative humidity of 65%.
US08911838B2	Optical film material roll and method for manufacturing image display device using thereof Disclosed is a material roll that includes a roll of an optical film having defect information markings printed thereon and is resistant to the formation of a defect by the transfer of a bump/dent deformation at the marking site. The material roll includes a long sheet of an optical film with polarizer wound into roll shape; and marking(s) formed at or in a vicinity of at least one defect site. The marking has an optical density of 1.5 or more, and a thickness of a center part of the marking is 1.5 μm or less. The marking preferably has an optical density per unit thickness of 2.5 μm−1 or more.
US08911834B2	Oxide compounds as a coating composition The invention relates to a coating composition consisting of an oxide compound. The invention also relates to a method for producing a coating composition consisting of an oxide compound and to a method for coating substrates composed of metal, semiconductor, alloy, ceramic, quartz, glass or glass-type materials with coating compositions of this type. The invention further relates to the use of a coating composition according to the invention for coating metal, semiconductor, alloy, ceramic, quartz, glass and/or glass-type substrates.
US08911832B2	Method of mitigating ice build-up on a substrate The present invention is directed to a method of mitigating ice build-up on a substrate, comprising applying to the substrate combinations of curable film-forming compositions. The curable film-forming compositions may comprise functional film-forming polymers and curing agents or any of various polysiloxanes and optionally silanes with reactive groups. The film-forming compositions can be applied directly to the surface of the substrate or to a primer coat on the substrate.
US08911831B2	Surface independent, surface-modifying, multifunctional coatings and applications thereof The invention provides surface treatments that reduce or eliminate marine biofouling of various surfaces. A surface that is to be subjected to a marine environment can be treated with a mPEG-DOPA. The treated surface is thus rendered less susceptible to fouling of the surface.
US08911829B2	Method of eliminating defects while extrusion coating film using speed control of the nip roll It has now been determined that an internal optical defect can be eliminated by controlling the relative speed mismatch between the resilient roll and the casting roll in a film extrusion coating process. In particular, slowing down the surface speed of the resilient roll relative to the casting roll when coating a biaxially orientated film was found to remove the optical defect. Conversely, speeding up the surface speed of the resilient roll relative to the casting roll when coating a uniaxially orientated film was found to remove the optical defect.
US08911817B2	Method and device for coating catheters or balloon catheters A method and apparatus for coating catheters or balloon catheters is disclosed in which the catheter or balloon catheter is radially surrounded completely or almost completely at a constant distance by a device that applies a coating solution so that the coating solution completely fills the space between the catheter or balloon catheter and the device and thus completely surrounds the catheter or balloon catheter, relative motion is effected between the device and the catheter or balloon catheter in the axial direction across the surface of the catheter or balloon catheter multiple times, and partial drying of the applied coating solution occurs between the individual coating stages.
US08911810B2	Method for producing organic fertilizer and organic feed An organic fertilizer and an organic feed are produced by removing cadmium from processing residues of scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) without separating the midgut gland. That is, a small amount of an aqueous citric acid solution is added to the processing residues of scallop including the midgut gland in which cadmium has been accumulated at a high concentration and the mixture of them is heated to 55 to 65° C. Thus, the thin midgut gland membrane is broken and the internal solution of the midgut gland containing cadmium is eluted. Then, solid matters are separated from the mixture including the solid matters and the internal solution of the midgut gland eluted. As the aqueous citric acid solution, a solution prepared by mixing at least 9% by weight of water relative to the processing residues and 1.8 to 3.3% by weight of citric acid relative to the total weight of the processing residues and water is used. The content of cadmium in the solid matters can be further reduced by adding water to the solid matters having been separated and then heating the mixture of them to 55 to 65° C., thereby washing off cadmium remaining in the solid matters.
US08911806B2	Sweetener compositions The invention provides a sweetener composition comprising a core nano particle in association with a sweetener carbohydrate.
US08911803B2	Nutritional composition comprising an apple extract and reducing food allergy symptoms, especially in children A complete nutritional composition comprising polyphenols is provided for reducing the symptoms of allergies originating from food allergens in young children or infants. Preferably the composition modulates the secondary prevention of allergies while not affecting significantly the primary prevention. The composition comprises an apple extract.
US08911802B2	Composition for increasing milk production containing Artemisia capillaris The present invention relates to a composition for increasing the milk production of livestock, containing Artemisia capillaris as an active ingredient. More specifically, relates to a composition and a feed additive for increasing the milk production of cows, containing Artemisia capillaris as an active ingredient, and a composition and a feed additive for reducing the number of somatic cells in livestock milk, containing Artemisia capillaris as an active ingredient. The composition can increase milk production of animals, and, in addition, can reduce the number of somatic cells in milk being produces, thus enabling production of good quality milk.
US08911793B1	Algistatic water treatment solution and method of making Systems and methods are described that facilitate generating and storing a concentrated copper and silver ion solution for treating a remote water volume (e.g., a pool, fountain, hot tub, cooling tower, etc.), in accordance with various features described herein. Citric acid and a water-soluble binding polymer are added to a volume of water. The intermediate solution is circulated past an ion generator for a predetermined time period, and copper ions generated thereby are bound by the binding polymer and/or chelated by the citric acid. Once a desired concentration of copper ions has been achieved, the concentrated solution is stored in portable vessels for transport to the remote water volume. Concentrated solution is added to the remote water volume to achieve a concentration therein of approximately 0.2-0.3 ppm.
US08911791B2	Method for acne treatment using an oxidative-photoactivated composition There is provided a skin rejuvenation composition which comprises at least one oxidant, at least one photoactivator capable of activating the oxidant, and at least one healing factor chosen from hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and allantoin, in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US08911790B2	Solid composition containing a hypothiocyanite salt The present invention relates to a solid composition including at least one hypothiocyanite (OSCN−) salt combined with a cation, wherein said solid composition is in the form of an amorphous and/or crystalline powder. The invention also relates to a method for producing said solid composition, and to the use thereof.
US08911785B2	Pharmaceutical compositions comprising N-(4-(2-amino-3-chloropyridin-4-yloxy)-3-fluorophenyl)-4-ethoxy-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-OXO-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carboxamide Disclosed are salts and crystalline forms of N-(4-(2-amino-3-chloropyridin-4-yloxy)-3-fluorophenyl)-4-ethoxy-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carboxamide and salts thereof. Also disclosed are at least one pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one crystalline form of N-(4-(2-amino-3-chloropyridin-4-yloxy)-3-fluorophenyl)-4-ethoxy-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carboxamide, at least one method of using at least one crystalline form of N-(4-(2-amino-3-chloropyridin-4-yloxy)-3-fluorophenyl)-4-ethoxy-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carboxamide to treat cancer and/or other proliferative diseases, and processes to prepare crystalline forms of N-(4-(2-amino-3-chloropyridin-4-yloxy)-3-fluorophenyl)-4-ethoxy-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carboxamide and salts thereof.
US08911782B2	Transdermal patches having ionized beam crosslinked polymers and improved release characteristics Crosslinked hydrogel-based transdermal pharmaceutical formulations. The hydrogel transdermal formulations. Transdermal patches are useful for administering a variety of drugs to patients. The transdermal patches here employ crosslinked-hydrogels generated through irradiation, thus eliminating any residual effects associated with chemical- or UV-based crosslinking procedures. The transdermal patches may be formed from a variety of high-molecular weight polymeric compounds and include substantial levels of water to improve skin tolerance by the patient. The transdermal patches may also include transcutol as a solvent for the drug, which has been found to increase the effectiveness of drug delivery. The present disclosure also provides for methods of loading a drug into a transdermal formulation after the crosslinking of the hydrogel, thus improving stability and bioavailability through avoiding exposure of the drug to the radiation used in the crosslinking procedure. The transdermal patches here are particularly effective in delivering lidocaine to patients in need thereof.
US08911781B2	Process of manufacture of novel drug delivery system: multilayer tablet composition of thiazolidinedione and biguanides A novel patient-convenient, cost effective pharmaceutical composition, comprising of thiazolidinediones and biguanide for controlling hyperglycemia manufactured as multilayer tablet and its process of manufacturing, for immediate release of thiazolidinediones or thiazolidinediones and biguanide and prolonged release of the biguanide only, the tablet comprising of minimum two layers wherein one outer layer comprises of a mixture of excipients and thiazolidinediones or thiazolidinediones and biguanide allowing immediate release of thiazolidinediones or thiazolidinediones and biguanide respectively and the other layer arranged in contact with the immediate release layer which comprises of a novel composition of excipients and a minimum one or more non-biodegradable, inert polymer(s) and the biguanide allowing pH independent prolonged release of the biguanide up to a period of 8-12 hours. The tablets are for once a day dosing. The tablets may optionally be film coated or enrobed by soft gelatin ribbons for additional protection against oxidation, photodegradation, identification, ease of swallowing, taste masking and for aesthetic appeal without altering the dissolution profile.
US08911779B2	Tablet and pestle therefor A tablet which comprises solid particles, especially magnesium oxide particles as the main component and has excellent shape retentivity with extremely low susceptibility to wearing and chipping. The tablet has a domed shape on each of the upper and lower horizontal surfaces of a cylindrical plate shape, wherein the domed shape on each of the upper and lower horizontal surfaces satisfies the following requirements (a), (b) and (c) in the cross-sectional shape including the center line of the cylindrical plate shape: (a) each corner has an angle of 25 to 45°, (b) each corner has a horizontal length of 0.30 to 1.0 mm, and (c) the cup has a depth of 0.6 to 1.2 mm.
US08911778B2	Pellet formulation for the treatment of the intestinal tract An orally adminsterable pharmaceutical pellet formulation for the treatment of the intestinal tract is disclosed, which comprises a core and an enteric coating, the core including, as a pharmaceutical active compound, aminosalicylic acid or a pharmaceutically tolerable salt or a derivative thereof.
US08911777B2	Pharmaceutical composition of tacrolimus An oral tacrolimus composition comprises minicapsules having a core containing tacrolimus in a solubilized liquid form. The minicapsules have a release profile to release the pre-solubilized tacrolimus throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract. The composition may be used, for example, for treatment or prevention of solid organ transplant rejection.
US08911773B2	Peelable pouch for transdermal patch and method for packaging A peelable pouch comprises a substantially flat enclosure formed by first and second opposing flexible plies. A seat extends along at least a portion of a perimeter of the opposing plies. A flat, flexible transdermal patch is disposed in the enclosure and includes a bioactive agent dissolved in a layer of adhesive. A release liner is removably attached over the layer of adhesive, with the patch and the release liner together being sufficiently resilient so as to generate a spring force when displaced out of the flat configuration. The first and the second plies each being separable along the seal and displaceable out of the flat configuration. The spring force generated by the patch and the release liner being sufficient to overcome an adhesive force created by the adhesive between the patch and one of the plies.
US08911771B2	Fluid application device and method The present invention provides a device and a method for application of topical antiseptics. The device comprises a handle; a base coupled to the handle; and a substantially hydrophilic foam coupled to the base. The substantially hydrophilic foam is configured to receive the topical antiseptic.
US08911769B2	Orally disintegrating pharmaceutical composition comprising diclofenac The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions suitable for oral administration in the form of edible films comprising diclofenac.
US08911768B2	Methods for treating retinopathy with extended therapeutic effect Methods for treating and preventing retinopathic conditions by administering an anti-VEGF compound to the vitreous chamber of a patient at risk of, or suffering from, the retinopathy.
US08911765B2	Biodegradable, polymer coverings for breast implants A biodegradable, flexible covering for a breast implant is provided which comprises one or more biodegradable polymer layers dimensioned and shaped to cover at least a portion of the breast implant. The implant can be inserted into an opening of the covering immediately prior to surgery, but alternate configurations and times of insertion are contemplated as well as open or sheet type devices. The coverings can optionally contain one or more drugs for delivery at the surgical site, particularly for treating or preventing infection, pain, inflammation, capsular contracture, scarring or other complications associated with breast augmentation or breast reconstruction.
US08911764B2	Crosslinked silane coating for medical devices Coatings are provided in which surfaces may be activated by covalently bonding a combination of silane derivatives (A) to the metal surface, covalently bonding a lactone polymer (B) to the silane derivative by in situ ring opening polymerization, and depositing at least one layer of a polyester (C) on the bonded lactone polymer. Biologically active agents or therapeutic compounds may be deposited with any of the polyester layers. Such coated surfaces may be useful in medical devices, in particular stents.
US08911758B2	Insecticide formulations Insecticide formulations having improved chemical and physical stability and related methods are disclosed. The insecticide formulations may include a plurality of microcapsules, each including at least one organophosphate insecticide (e.g., chlorpyrifos-methyl) at least partially surrounded by a polymer shell. The insecticide formulations may be used to control insect populations by singular or periodic applications. The microcapsule polymer shell of the insecticide formulations may be formed by combining a cross-linking amine and a hydrophobic monomer (e.g., an isocyanate) at a molar ratio of amine to isocyanate groups of less than about 1:1.
US08911757B2	Pesticidal compositions for insects and arthropods The present invention provides an insect or arthropod pesticidal composition. The composition includes active ingredients having a mixture of fatty acids, each of the fatty acids having a straight carbon chain from 6 to 12 carbon atoms long. The fatty acid mixture includes a first fatty acid molecule having a straight carbon chain from 6 to 8 carbon atoms long, and a carboxylic acid group. The fatty acid mixture also includes a second fatty acid molecule having a straight carbon chain from 8 to 12 carbon atoms long, and a carboxylic acid group. The composition also includes a carrier that promotes adherence or absorption or transport across the surface of insects or arthropods to effect their incapacitation or death.
US08911753B2	Skin-covering sheet for impregnation with cosmetic preparation and face mask A skin-covering sheet for impregnation with a cosmetic preparation according to the present invention includes a non-woven fabric in which a splittable conjugate fiber containing at least two components as viewed in fiber cross-section, namely a polyethylene component and another polymer component, and a hydrophilic fiber are blended, and hydroentangled. The conjugate fiber is partially split and includes a polyethylene ultrafine fiber having a fineness of 0.6 dtex or less. A face mask according to the present invention includes the skin-covering sheet for impregnation with a cosmetic preparation impregnated with 500 to 2000 mass % of a liquid containing a cosmetic preparation. It is therefore possible to obtain a skin-covering sheet for impregnation with a cosmetic preparation and a face mask that have good impregnating ability of a cosmetic liquid into the sheet layer, cause very little irritation to the skin, and are soft in texture.
US08911752B2	Methods of making compositions comprising lecithin oils and NSAIDS for protecting the gastrointestinal tract and providing enhanced therapeutic activity A novel pharmaceutical composition is provided by which nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are added directly to phospholipid-containing oil such as lecithin oils or to a bio-compatible oil to which an phospholipid has been added to make a NSAID-containing formulation that possess low gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity and enhanced therapeutic activity to treat or prevent inflammation, pain, fever, platelet aggregation, tissue ulcerations and/or other tissue disorders. The composition of the invention are in the form of a non-aqueous solution, paste, suspension, dispersion, colloidal suspension or in the form of an aqueous emulsion or microemulstion for internal, oral, direct or topical administration.
US08911749B2	Vaccine delivery via microneedle arrays A microprojection array is provided, comprising an approximately planar base and a plurality of microprojections, wherein the array comprises a vaccine and a polymeric material. The array may have multiple layers. The vaccine may be placed in only one layer. In another embodiment of the invention, a method of preventing a disease is provided, comprising insertion into the skin of a patient an array of microprojections comprising a layer which comprises a vaccine for that disease and a polymer.
US08911744B2	Recombinant classical swine fever virus (CSFV) comprising a modified E2 protein and methods for generating said recombinant CSFV The invention relates to a recombinant classical swine fever virus (CSFV). A preferred recombinant CSFV comprises a deletion of at least one amino acid in a “TAVSPTTLR” domain of the E2 protein. The invention further relates to a vaccine comprising the recombinant CSFV, a method for generating a recombinant CSFV, and use of a recombinant CSFV.
US08911741B2	Formulation of human antibodies for treating TNF-alpha associated disorders A liquid aqueous pharmaceutical formulation is described which has a high protein concentration, a pH of between about 4 and about 8, and enhanced stability.
US08911738B2	Host cell specific binding molecules capable of neutralizing viruses and uses thereof Provided are human binding molecules that specifically bind to a host cell protein and have virus neutralizing activity, nucleic acid molecules encoding such human binding molecules, compositions comprising the human binding molecules, and methods of identifying or producing the human binding molecules. The human binding molecules can be used in the diagnosis, prophylaxis and/or treatment of viral infections.
US08911734B2	Methods of preventing or treating pain using anti-NGF antibodies that selectively inhibit the association of NGF with TrkA, without affecting the association of NGF with p75 NGF antagonists including antibodies and antibody fragments thereof having binding specificity to human Nerve Growth Factor (“NGF”), and methods of treating pain. Methods of treating pain or eliciting an analgesic effect in an individual comprising administering an effective amount of an NGF antagonist inhibits the association of NGF with TrkA without inhibiting the association of NGF with p75. The methods may further comprise administering an effective amount of a second anti-human NGF antibody or fragment thereof which inhibits the association of NGF with p75, that may further also inhibit the association of NGF with TrkA.
US08911729B2	Stem cell factor inhibitor Provided herein are methods, compositions, and uses relating to inhibitors of stem cell factor. For example, provided herein are antibodies targeting stem cell factor and methods for treating fibrotic and tissue remodeling diseases.
US08911728B2	High-affinity fully functional soluble single-domain human CD4, antibodies, and related fusion proteins The invention provides engineered antibody domains (eAds), a polypeptide comprising a single domain CD4, as well as a fusion protein comprising the same. Nucleic acids encoding eAd and/or polypeptide or the fusion protein thereof, as well as compositions or cells comprising the eAd, polypeptide, fusion protein, or nucleic acid also are provided.
US08911727B2	Monoclonal antibody against human non-small cell lung carcinoma and use thereof The invention discloses a monoclonal antibody against human non-small cell lung carcinoma and a use of the monoclonal antibody. The monoclonal antibody is secreted by a hybridoma cell strain which is deposited as CCTCC Access Number No.: C201172. It has high yield and high titer, and has specific reactivity against lung adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma cell lines. Therefore, the monoclonal antibody may be applied in preparing drugs for treating human non-small cell lung carcinoma.
US08911726B2	Stabilized human Igg4 antibodies A highly stable mutant of human IgG4 antibody is provided. Such antibody is an antibody in which the CH3 domain of human IgG4 is substituted with the CH3 domain of human IgG1 and which exhibits inhibited aggregate formation, an antibody in which the CH3 and CH2 domains of human IgG4 are substituted with the CH3 and CH2 domains of human IgG1, respectively, or an antibody in which arginine at position 409 indicated in the EU index proposed by Kabat et al. of human IgG4 is substituted with lysine and which exhibits inhibited aggregate formation.
US08911723B2	Hybrid hydrogel scaffold compositions and methods of use The present invention includes new hybrid hydrogel scaffolds comprised of a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene (block) copolymer (a “poloxamer”) and a self-assembling peptide, which maintain the mechanical and bioactive properties of its individual constituents (as compared to when the individual constituents are scaffolds or hydrogels by themselves). The hydrogels of the invention can include a combination of materials from different origins or with different properties that provides a hybrid material that meets the multiple needs of a scaffold for tissue engineering.
US08911720B2	Poly(diol citrate) elastomers The present invention is directed to a novel biocompatible polymer that may be used in tissue engineering. More specifically, the specification describes methods and compositions for making and using a citric acid copolymers.
US08911718B2	Methods for preparing polymeric reagents The present invention provides among other things methods for preparing polymeric reagents, wherein the method comprises (a) providing an aromatic moiety bearing a hydroxy group, a first amino group and a second amino group; (b) reacting a functional group reagent with the hydroxy group to result in a hydroxy group bearing a functional group capable of reacting with an amino group of an active agent and resulting in a hydrolyzable carbamate; and (c) reacting a plurality of poly(alkylene glycol) water-soluble polymers bearing a reactive group with the first amino group and second amino group to result in (i) a first amino group bearing a water-soluble polymer through a spacer moiety, and (ii) a second amino group bearing a second water-soluble polymer through a spacer moiety.
US08911707B2	Thioflavin derivatives for use in antemortem diagnosis of alzheimer's disease and in vivo imaging and prevention of amyloid deposition This invention relates to novel thioflavin derivatives, methods of using the derivatives in, for example, in vivo imaging of patients having neuritic plaques, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the thioflavin derivatives and method of synthesizing the compounds. The compounds find particular use in the diagnosis and treatment of patients having diseases where accumulation of neuritic plaques are prevalent. The disease states or maladies include but are not limited to Alzheimer's disease, familial Alzheimer's disease, Down's Syndrome and homozygotes for the apolipoprotein E4 allele.
US08911706B2	Complex of bifunctional chelating agent and mannosyl human serum albumin The present invention is about bifunctional chelating agents (BCA) conjugated mannosyl human serum albumin (MSA) and its radioisotope labeled compounds for imaging immune system such as macrophages, Kupffer cells, reticuloendothelial system (RES), and lymphatic system. The present invention comprises BCA-MSA conjugates, their radiolabeled compounds, and kits for radiolabeing. The present invention improved radiolabeling procedure, showed higher lymphatic system uptake, and enabled image by positron emission tomography (PET).
US08911700B2	Process and installation for producing substitute gas A process and an installation for reducing particulate material containing iron oxide are shown, wherein the material containing iron oxide is at least partially reduced with reducing gas in a reducing zone and the waste gas produced during the reduction is drawn off and subsequently subjected to CO2 cleaning in a CO2 separating device (1), in which a tail gas containing CO2 is separated. The tail gas is subjected to combustion and subsequent dewatering in a dewatering device (5), the substitute gas thereby formed being used as a substitute for inert gas.
US08911698B2	Supported catalyst for removing nitrogen oxides, method of preparing the same, and removing method of nitrogen oxides using the same A supported catalyst for reduction reaction of nitrogen oxides includes a support and an silver (Ag)-based compound and aluminum fluoride which are immobilized in the support. A method for preparing the supported catalyst for reduction reaction of nitrogen oxides includes an impregnation step wherein aluminum fluoride, a hydrate or a salt thereof, and a silver (Ag)-based compound or a hydrate thereof are reacted with a support and a step of calcining the support. Nitrogen oxides in exhaust gas are removed by reacting with a reducing agent, in the presence of the supported catalyst for reduction reaction of nitrogen oxides. Wherein, the supported catalyst has an excellent nitrogen oxide removal efficiency at a practical exhaustion temperature of 270 to 400° C.
US08911691B2	Rack with vial A sample vial [24] is disclosed, having a generally tubular body [32]. The vial [24] has a generally round lip [34] defining an opening [36] at the top of the body [32]. The vial [24] has a foot [38] at the base of the body [32], having asymmetric first and second sides [40, 42]. A rack [28] is disclosed for supporting such a sample vial [24]. The rack [28] supports the sample vial [24] in a generally upright position in a single orientation. The rack [28] has an asymmetric recess [50] adapted to receive the asymmetric foot [38] in a single orientation. The rack [28] also has an orientation abutment [82] adapted to interfere with a projecting abutment [46] of a vial [24] to prevent insertion of a vial [24] into the asymmetric recess [50] in an orientation other than the single orientation. The orientation abutment [82] also allows insertion of a vial [24] into the asymmetric recess [50] in the single orientation.
US08911687B2	Miniature sieve apparatus and manufacturing method thereof A miniature sieve apparatus is described and includes a first sieve, a separator and a second sieve from top to bottom. The first and second sieves are formed with at least one first mesh and a plurality of second meshes, respectively. The first and second meshes are misaligned with each other in a vertical direction of the first and second sieves. The miniature sieve apparatus is provided to separate or screen microparticles with different sizes, such as target cells, bio-medical particles, organic or inorganic microparticles. Additionally, the invention also provides a manufacturing method of the miniature sieve apparatus, and the same material is applied to manufacture the sieves and the separators. Thus, the problem caused by the residual thermal stress due to different material can be solved. Therefore, the cost of the miniature sieve apparatus can be lowered as the yield rate thereof is improved.
US08911684B2	Microfluidic element for analyzing a liquid sample A microfluidic element for analyzing a bodily fluid sample for an analyte contained therein is provided, the element having a substrate, a channel structure that is enclosed by the substrate, and a cover layer, and is rotatable around a rotational axis. The channel structure of the microfluidic element includes a feed channel having a feed opening, a ventilation channel having a ventilation opening, and at least two reagent chambers. The reagent chambers are connected to one another via two connection channels in such a manner that a fluid exchange is possible between the reagent chambers, one of the reagent chambers having an inlet opening, which has a fluid connection to the feed channel, so that a liquid sample can flow into the rotational-axis-distal reagent chamber. At least one of the reagent chambers contains a reagent, which reacts with the liquid sample.
US08911681B2	Wetness indicator having varied hues A wetness indicator material may be used on a substrate to form a wetness sensor. The sensor may show either the presence or absence of an aqueous-based fluid or water-containing medium, such as vaginal fluid or urine in a personal hygiene article. The wetness sensor may be incorporated into the article. The wetness indicator material includes a standard colorant that does not change color when wetted. The standard colorant increases the range of hues exhibited by the wetness indicator material.
US08911680B2	Device for collecting and triggered release of a biological sample The invention relates to a system for collecting a biological sample comprising a container having at least one open end, a closure fitting on or in said at least one open end, a holding element connected to said closure and a solid matrix on which said biological sample is deposited, and optionally at least one processing agent, wherein said solid matrix is at least partially transferable into a liquid or dissolved state by changing at least one physico-chemical property of the environment of said matrix without disintegration of the biomolecules comprised in said biological sample deposited on said matrix.
US08911677B2	Medical tool kit A medical tool kit is provided for packaging, storing, and transporting medical instruments and tools of various types. The medical tool kit is capable of providing continuing sterilization to the medical instruments and tools kept inside the medical tool kit after the tool case is opened during its normal use in a medical procedure.
US08911662B2	Powder, method of manufacturing a component and component A powder for use in the powder metallurgical manufacture of components is provided. Particularly the subject matter concerns an iron or iron based powder intended for the powder metallurgical manufacturing of components. It is especially suitable for manufacturing of components wherein self-lubricating properties are desired. The subject matter further relates to a method of manufacturing a component from said powder and an accordingly produced component. A diffusion-bonded powder comprising iron or iron-based particles, and particles diffusion-bonded to the iron or iron-based particles is provided. The said particles diffusion-bonded to the iron or iron-based particles may comprise an alloy of Cu and 5% to 15% by weight of Sn. A component is provided which is at least partly formed from such a diffusion-bonded powder.
US08911659B2	Method and apparatus for manufacturing silicon seed rods A method and apparatus for manufacturing high-purity long silicon seed rods with controlled resistivity for Siemens and similar processes with using a film of silicon dioxide, wherein a film of silicon dioxide is formed on the seed rod in the course of a reaction between a silicon melt and oxygen. The rod is formed with a quartz die and cooled by direct immersion into a cooling fluid, such as de-ionized water and/or by cooling fluid vapor in the gas cooling zone.
US08911658B2	Laser marking of polymer materials A system and method for efficiently laser marking a polymer target material, and more particularly a transparent polymer target material, is presented. The system includes a visually transparent polymer target material comprising a surface and a near 2 μm fiber laser, the fiber laser having a peak power equal to or greater than 10 kW, a pulse repetition rate equal to or greater than 1 kHz, and an average power equal to or less than 20 W. In certain embodiments, the fiber laser may be a Q-switched fiber laser having a pulse width equal to or less than 200 ns or a mode-locked fiber laser having a pulse width equal to or less than 100 ps. The method includes producing, using the fiber laser, a mark that is not transparent to visible wavelengths on the surface of the polymer target material without damaging it.
US08911656B2	Methods for manufacturing a composite fan inlet housing Methods for manufacturing a composite fan inlet housing are disclosed. The methods include inserting a first piece of composite material and a second piece of composite material into a molding tool, inserting an inflatable bladder between the first piece and the second piece, and pressurizing the inflatable bladder to a curing pressure for a length of time sufficient to allow the first piece and second piece to cure.
US08911654B2	Process and apparatus for moulding a glazing profile onto a glazing A process for manufacturing at least two different discrete edge encapsulated glazings comprising panes of glass of different configuration, the process comprising molding a glazing profile onto at least part of the periphery of each pane of glass in a composite mold. This composite mold comprises multiple different interchangeable mold modules, each mold module comprising at least one mold cavity, and the composite mold therefore has two or more mold cavities configured differently to receive different panes of glass. Fluid elastomeric material is injected into the mold cavities at the same time, so that a glazing profile is molded onto each of the panes of glass concurrently. An injection molding apparatus comprising the composite mold may have multiple injection systems for the different mold cavities, allowing different molding materials to be used. The apparatus also includes a clamp unit having platens to which the multiple mold modules are attached.
US08911652B2	System and method of sealing coil leads during encapsulation A method of sealing coil leads during encapsulation by placing a lead of a coil in a tube, such that there remains a gap between the lead and the tube; placing the coil in a mold such that the gap remains open to an environment surrounding the mold; and injecting encapsulation material into the closed mold in a liquid state under pressure, thereby causing the material to flow through the gap toward the environment. Injecting encapsulation material into the mold may be done at a rate, temperature, and/or environmental temperature to cause the material to solidify before passing through the gap into the environment. In any case, there is no need to seal the mold to the leads. Each lead of the coil may be placed into an individual tube and/or the tubes may be is formed within a single sleeve.
US08911648B2	Reactive polymer-supported porous film for battery separator, method for producing the porous film, method for producing battery using the porous film, and electrode/porous film assembly A reactive polymer-supported porous film for separator, that has sufficient adhesiveness between electrodes and separator and can suitably be used to produce a battery having low internal resistance and high rate performance, a method for producing the porous film, a method for producing a battery using the porous film, and an electrode/porous film assembly are disclosed. The reactive polymer-supported porous film for battery separator includes a porous film substrate having supported thereon a reactive polymer obtained by reacting a crosslinkable polymer having at least one reactive group selected from the group consisting of 3-oxetanyl group and epoxy group in the molecule, with an acid anhydride, thereby partially crosslinking the polymer.
US08911645B2	Oxocarbon-, pseudooxocarbon- and radialene compounds and their use The present invention relates to oxocarbon-, pseudooxocarbon- and radialene compounds as well as to their use as doping agent for doping an organic semiconductive matrix material, as blocker material, as charge injection layer, as electrode material as well as organic semiconductor, as well as electronic components and organic semiconductive materials using them.
US08911636B2	Micro-device on glass A method of fabricating a micro-device having micro-features on glass is presented. The method includes the steps of preparing a first glass substrate, fabricating a metallic pattern on the first glass substrate, preparing a second glass substrate and providing one or more apertures on the second glass substrate, heating the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate with a controlled temperature raise, bonding the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate by applying pressure to form a bonded substrate, wherein the metallic pattern is embedded within the bonded substrate, cooling the bonded substrate with a controlled temperature drop and thereafter maintaining the bonded substrate at a temperature suitable for etching, etching the metallic pattern within the bonded substrate, wherein an etchant has access to the metallic pattern via the apertures, forming a void within the bonded substrate, wherein the void comprises micro-features.
US08911635B2	Hydrocyclone for the separation of fluids It is disclosed a hydrocyclone type separator having small dimensions for possessing high capacity for fluid processing by virtue of structural characteristics for feeding, of an upper outlet orifice (overflow) and of a lower outlet orifice (underflow). The feeding comprises two equal channels (18), diametrically opposed and curved, wherein the transverse cross sectional area gradually diminishes for accelerating the two phase fluid stream in a moderate manner. The possibility of the connection of interchangeable devices (2) and (6) to the upper outlet orifice (13) permits changing the diameter of said outlet orifice and, in this manner, altering the hydrodynamic characteristics of the hydrocyclone and increasing the capacity of same to operational ranges suitable for fluid flows having high oil content, medium oil content and low oil content. The presence of a continuously adjustable valve (7) in the area of the lower outlet permits increasing the operational range of the hydrocyclone, even under conditions of high pressure drop and counter pressure in the upper outlet, where there would be a tendency to reflux at said outlet.
US08911630B2	Process for treating waste water having low concentrations of metallic contaminants A process for treating waste water having a low level of metallic contaminants by reducing the toxicity level of metallic contaminants to an acceptable level and subsequently discharging the treated waste water into the environment without removing the treated contaminants.
US08911624B2	Stacked plates filtration cartridge A filtration cartridge (20) is provided comprising one or a stack of filtration units (26) sealed to each other at their inner periphery and to end caps (22, 24) eliminating the need for a housing surrounding the stack. Fluid pathways are provided so that filtration of all incoming feed is assured prior to passing from the cartridge as filtrate. The filtration cartridge can be provided with a single outlet (30).
US08911623B2	Filter cartridge A filter cartridge for operatively engaging a manifold having an ejection cam and an insertion cam. The filter cartridge includes a filter element and inlet/outlet portion in fluid communication with the filter element.
US08911618B2	Liquid-level following type suction apparatus and floating oil collecting system having the same A floating oil collecting system which can collect floating oil containing a very small amount of water is provided. The system includes a liquid-level following type suction apparatus having an intake pipe in which one end is an inlet side end opening upwardly and the other end is connected with an inlet port of a pump, a float which causes the inlet side end to closely follow a liquid level within liquid in a storage tank, and an adjustment pipe which is loosely fitted to the inlet side end of the intake pipe so as to be movable up and down movement, in which an upper end opening edge is an inlet opening; a separation tank which receives an oil/water mixture from the storage tank to separate the mixture into oil and water; a pump for sucking up the oil/water mixture from the storage tank so as to be supplied to the separation tank; and a deaerator for removing air in the oil/water mixture sucked up from the storage tank.
US08911615B2	Recovery and separation of crude oil and water from emulsions A composition and method demulsify a produced emulsion from anionic surfactants and polymer (SP) and alkali, surfactants, and polymer (ASP). The produced emulsion is demulsified into oil and water. In one embodiment, the composition includes a surfactant. The surfactant comprises a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, or any combinations thereof.
US08911613B2	Method of simultaneously manufacturing high quality naphthenic base oil and heavy base oil Disclosed is a method of simultaneously manufacturing high quality naphthenic base oil and heavy base oil using a single catalyst system, by subjecting an oil fraction (slurry oil or light cycle oil) produced by fluid catalytic cracking and an oil fraction (deasphalted oil) produced by solvent deasphalting to hydrotreating, catalytic dewaxing and hydrofinishing of the single catalyst system, thereby obtaining not only products having low viscosity but also heavy base oil products (150BS) having high viscosity which was impossible to obtain using a conventional catalytic reaction process, and also thereby producing base oil products having different properties using the single catalyst system, thus generating economic benefits and exhibiting superior efficiency.
US08911612B2	Method of operating metal-bromine cells A method for generating molecular bromine in bromide-containing electrolyte solution suitable for use in a metal bromine cell, involves chemically oxidizing bromide (Br−) in the electrolyte solution in an acidic environment, to produce the molecular bromine.
US08911610B2	Process for producing metallic lithium Provided is a safe and efficient method for producing lithium metal which facilitates efficient production of anhydrous lithium chloride without corrosion of the system materials by chlorine gas or molten lithium carbonate, and which allows production of lithium metal by molten salt electrolysis of the produced anhydrous lithium chloride as a raw material. The method includes the steps of (A) contacting and reacting lithium carbonate and chlorine gas in a dry process to produce anhydrous lithium chloride, and (B) subjecting the raw material for electrolysis containing the anhydrous lithium chloride to molten salt electrolysis under such conditions as to produce lithium metal, wherein the chlorine gas generated by the molten salt electrolysis in step (B) is used as the chlorine gas in step (A) to continuously perform steps (A) and (B).
US08911605B2	Method for antibiotic susceptibility testing and determining minimum inhibitory concentration of the antibiotic A method of antibiotic susceptibility testing is disclosed, and includes the following steps: (A) providing a sample to be tested wherein the sample contains a microbe; (B) adding an antibiotic into the sample, wherein the antibiotic serves to inhibit cell wall synthesis; (C) checking the sample by dielectrophoresis and observing a shape change of the microbe; and (D) determining whether the microbe is susceptible to the antibiotic according to the shape change thereof. The present invention also discloses a method for determining a minimum inhibitory concentration of the antibiotic.
US08911602B2	Dual hexagonal shaped plasma source A plasma source includes a hexagonal hollow cathode, the cathode including six targets and six magnets to generate and maintain a high density plasma; and an anode located beneath the cathode. A second hexagonal hollow cathode can be positioned concentric to the hexagonal hollow cahode.
US08911598B2	Anodizing processing line A production line includes a number of production units, production equipments and a sliding bracket. The sliding bracket slides between the production units. Each production unit includes at least one base unit which is made in series. The at least one base unit has an enclosure. The sliding bracket and the production equipment are received in the enclosure. The production units are arranged in a configuration such as straight line, U-shaped or rectangular.
US08911597B2	Method of preparing double-layer antimicrobial coating A method of a preparing double-layer antimicrobial coating comprises: placing a plastic substrate into a PVD vacuum equipment for a vacuum process; rinsing and activating the substrate when the vacuum level reaches 10−2; coating a metal film onto the activated substrate by the vacuum process; spraying an antimicrobial intermediate coating onto the metal film; and then coating an antimicrobial metal film by PVD to obtain a double-layer antimicrobial layer. The coating has two antimicrobial layers, and includes bores because the density of the coated film layer produced by PVD is low, so that the antimicrobial agent of the antimicrobial intermediate coating can pass through the bores and move to the surface of the coating and the surface of the antimicrobial coating, so as to kill the bacteria or suppress their grown. The method is very suitable for the sanitary, electronics, electrical appliances and the automobile industry.
US08911586B2	One liquid type cyanate-epoxy composite resin composition The present invention is one liquid type cyanate-epoxy composite resin composition that is comprised of cyanate ester resin (A), epoxy resin (B) and latent curing agent (C) and has high thermal resistance as well as excellent fast curing properties and storage stability, characterized in that the above latent curing agent is comprised of a modified amine compound (a) and a phenol resin (b). Where, the modified-amine compound (a) is obtained by the reaction of at least one kind of amine compounds (a-1), selected from amine compounds having one or more tertiary amino groups and one or more primary and/or secondary amino groups, with an epoxy compound (a-2), in particular. It is preferable that one liquid type cyanate-epoxy composite resin composition of the present invention contains 1-10,000 mass parts of the epoxy resin component of the component (B) relative to 100 mass parts of cyanate-ester resin component of the component (A). The using amount of the latent curing agent of the component (C) is preferred to be 1-100 mass parts relative to 100 mass parts of the whole components (A) and (B).
US08911585B2	Device and method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced composite fuselage shell for an aircraft A device and a method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced fuselage shell for an aircraft, which fuselage shell for the purpose of reinforcement comprises several stringers that are spaced apart from each other, wherein the device includes a base frame comprising several supporting walls of different lengths for forming a curved mounting surface for the fuselage shell to be manufactured, wherein several actuators that extend radially outwards and that are longitudinally adjustable are affixed to the mounting surface, at the distal ends of which actuators in each case mold channels for receiving the stringers are attached, which mold channels are interconnected by means of flexible intermediate elements and/or further mold channels for forming a vacuum-tight closed mold surface.
US08911583B2	Method for processing, in particular, thin rear sides of a wafer, wafer-carrier arrangement and method for producing said type of wafer-carrier arrangement The present patent application relates to a wafer support arrangement, comprising a wafer (1), a support layer system (5, 6) and a separating layer (4), which is arranged between the support layer system (5, 6) and the wafer (1), wherein the support layer system (5, 6) (i) comprises a support layer (6) and (ii) a layer (5) from a through hardened, partially hardened or hardenable elastomer material on the separating layer side or consists of these two layers and wherein the separating layer (4) (iii) is a plasma polymer layer and (iv) the adhesive bond between the support layer system (5, 6) and the separating layer (4), after the elastomer material has through hardened, is greater than the adhesive bond between the wafer (1) and the separating layer (4).
US08911581B2	Composite light guide plate manufacturing method A composite light guide plate manufacturing method includes the steps of providing a light guide substrate; providing a transfer membrane, which sequentially includes a substrate, a reflective layer and a diffusion microstructure; attaching the transfer membrane to the light guide substrate with a side of the transfer membrane, which has the diffusion microstructure thereon; and removing the substrate to expose the reflective layer.
US08911579B2	Fluid medium non-contact consolidation A pressure head for use in a fiber placement system for thermoplastic composite materials is disclosed. Plies of thermoplastic composite tape are placed onto a mandrel to form a shaped object. The pressure head includes a nozzle and at least one delivery tube for providing fluid medium mixture to the nozzle body, wherein the nozzle directs the fluid medium onto a surface of the shaped object thereby providing a pressure on the surface without direct physical contact of the nozzle with the plies of thermoplastic composite tape.
US08911577B2	Contoured fluid-filled chamber A fluid-filled chamber may be incorporated into footwear and other products. The chamber is formed from a polymer material that defines a first surface, a second surface located opposite the first surface, and a sidewall surface extending around a periphery of the chamber and between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of bonds are spaced inward from the sidewall surface and join the first surface and the second surface, and the bonds are distributed to form a regularly-spaced array, such as a hexagonal array. In some configurations, the first surface and the second surface may define elliptically-shaped structures between the bonds. In addition, the bonds may be formed to have a slope that is an average of slopes of the first surface and the second surface in areas proximal the bonds.
US08911573B2	Medical instrument with modified memory and flexibility properties and method Medical instruments, particularly, endodontic instruments with unique limited memory characteristics, and methods for making such instruments. One embodiment includes heat treating a finished endodontic instrument. A related embodiment includes electropolishing a finished endodontic instrument and then heat treating the endodontic instrument.
US08911572B2	Tough iron-based bulk metallic glass alloys A family of iron-based, phosphor-containing bulk metallic glasses having excellent processability and toughness, methods for forming such alloys, and processes for manufacturing articles therefrom are provided. The inventive iron-based alloy is based on the observation that by very tightly controlling the composition of the metalloid moiety of the Fe-based, P-containing bulk metallic glass alloys it is possible to obtain highly processable alloys with surprisingly low shear modulus and high toughness. Further, by incorporating small fractions of silicon (Si) and cobalt (Co) into the Fe—Ni—Mo—P—C—B system, alloys of 3 and 4 mm have been synthesized with high saturation magnetization and low switching losses.
US08911570B2	Supported gas separation membrane and method A method of making a gas separation membrane system by providing a porous support material having deposited thereon a metal membrane layer and imposing upon the surface thereof certain surface characteristics that provide for surface activation that enhances the placement thereon of a subsequent metal membrane layer. The gas separation membrane system is useful in the separation of hydrogen from hydrogen-containing gas streams.
US08911568B2	Ni and cu free Pd-based metallic glasses The invention is directed to Pd-based metallic glass alloys useful in biomedical applications having no Ni or Cu. Exemplary metallic glass alloys are represented by AaBb{(Si)100-c(D)c}d, where A may be selected from Pd, and combinations of Pd and Pt, B may be selected from Ag, Au, Co, Fe, and combinations thereof, and D may be selected from P, Ge, B, S. Also, a, b, c and d are atomic percentages, and a ranges from about 60 to about 90, b ranges from about 2 to about 18, d ranges from about 5 to about 25, and c is greater than 0 and less than 100.
US08911564B2	Well cleaning apparatus A well cleaning apparatus comprises water jets rotating on a vertical feed conduit which is rotatably mounted at the top of the well and fed by a stream of fluid pumped from the well by a submersible pump. The apparatus has a housing attached above the inlet pipe to hold an atomizer which allows a deodorizing vapor to be drawn into the conduit by the feed stream. The water jets have deflectors mounted at the end of the jets to direct the effluent being pumped through them.
US08911562B2	Cleaning compositions for removing organic deposits on surfaces and method of use The present invention is improved cleaning method using a composition having at least one ketone for cleaning organic residue.
US08911560B2	Streak-free formulations for cleaning and coating hard surfaces The present invention relates to formulations for cleaning hard surfaces and leaving a glossy, streak-free finish thereon, the formulations comprising one or more liquid solvents, one or more film-forming polymers and one or more polymer surfactants comprising polymerized units derived from ethylene oxide and butylenes oxide.
US08911559B2	Method to pre-heat and stabilize etching chamber condition and improve mean time between cleaning A method for cleaning an etching chamber is disclosed. The method comprises providing an etching chamber; introducing a first gas comprising an inert gas into the etching chamber for a first period of time; and transporting a first wafer into the etching chamber after the first period of time, wherein the first wafer undergoes an etching process.
US08911558B2	Post-tungsten CMP cleaning solution and method of using the same A post-W CMP cleaning solution consists of carboxylic acid and deionized water. The carboxylic acid may be selected from the group consisting of (1) monocarboxylic acids; (2) dicarboxylic acids; (3) tricarboxylic acids; (4) polycarboxylic acids; (5) hydroxycarboxylic acids; (6) salts of the above-described carboxylic acids; and (7) any combination thereof. The post-W CMP cleaning solution can work well without adding any other chemical additives such as surfactants, corrosion inhibitors, pH adjusting agents or chelating agents.
US08911551B2	Electroless plating apparatus and method An electroless plating apparatus and method designed specifically for plating at least one semiconductor wafer are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a container, a wafer holder, an electrolyte supplying unit, and an ultrasonic-vibration unit. The container is provided with at least an inlet and used for containing electrolyte. The wafer holder is provided within the container. The electrolyte supplying unit is used to supply the electrolyte into the container via the inlet. The ultrasonic-vibration unit consisting of at least one frequency ultrasonic transducer is disposed in the container for producing a uniform flow of electrolyte in the container. Thereby, the wafers can be uniformly plated, especially for wafers with fine via-holes or trench structures.
US08911550B2	Glutamine-rich peptides as air entraining agents in building material compounds The use of hydrolysates of glutamine-rich proteins for use as air entraining agents in building material compounds.
US08911548B2	Chemically bonded ceramics based on fly ash Chemically bonded ceramics and manufacturing processes are described. In one aspect, a manufacturing process of a chemically bonded ceramic is carried out by: (1) combining an acidic liquid and Fly ash to form a mixture; and (2) curing the mixture to form the chemically bonded ceramic. The Fly ash corresponds to at least a majority by weight of solids combined with the acidic liquid to form the mixture.
US08911547B2	Decorative products and the production methods therefor Novel decorative products including interior home decorative products, garden ornaments, building decorative products and the like are disclosed in which the novel decorative products are characterized in having rigid shells of compacted fiber reinforced magnesium oxychloride composite, seam lines of below two millimeters and cores of which densities can be adjusted according to the preferred weight of the products during the product design stage. The aforesaid compacted fiber reinforced magnesium oxychloride composite is characterized in having compacted structures of F-5 MOC phase magnesium oxychloride. A method for producing the novel decorative products is also provided.
US08911546B2	Cosmetic composition for the creation of a cosmetic coating having a metallic, multicolored iridescent appearance; and artificial fingernail The invention relates to a cosmetic composition for creating a cosmetic coating having a metallic and multicolored iridescent appearance, comprising a liquid phase and a PVD aluminum pigment, wherein said PVD aluminum pigment has diffractive structures containing from approximately 5,000 to approximately 20,000 structural elements per cm and a metallic aluminum content of from 90% to 100% by weight, based on the weight of the aluminum pigment, and is present in the cosmetic composition at a pigmentation level of from 1.0 to 8.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the cosmetic composition. The invention further relates to an artificial fingernail.
US08911542B2	Anti-corrosive compositions The invention relates to an anti-corrosive composition comprising an active material of formula I wherein R is an aliphatic chain of C12 to C20 and n≦20; an anti-corrosive pigment, a filler mixture, and a diluent or carrier. The invention also relates to a process for preparing the anticorrosive composition and a metal substrate having a coating comprising the anti-corrosive composition.
US08911541B2	Aqueous floor polishing composition The present invention is the aqueous floor polishing composition which contains the polyoxyalkylene diester compound represented by the following general formula (1) and does not contain the phosphorus-containing plasticizer. R1 and R2 represent each independently alkyl groups having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, m represents an integer from 2 to 4, n represents a number from 2 to 40.The aqueous floor polishing composition of the present invention does not contain the phosphorus-containing plasticizer. Therefore, it does not affect the environment negatively, in spite of having excellent leveling properties, lustering properties and heel mark resistance properties.
US08911536B2	Method and apparatus for rapid adsorption-desorption CO2 capture An apparatus for capture and sequestration of CO2 from fossil fuel-fired power plant flue gas includes a polymer matrix embedded with a sorbent suitable for removing CO2 from the flue gas and a spacer mated with the polymer matrix. The spacer is adapted to create channels between adjacent portions of the polymer matrix such that the flue gas flows through the channels and comes in contact with the sorbent. Further, an apparatus for the capture and sequestration of CO2 from fossil fuel-fired power plant flue gas includes a hollow fiber membrane embedded with an adsorbent or other suitable material for removing CO2 from the flue gas. The adsorbent particles may be embedded into a wall of the membrane.
US08911535B2	Carbon dioxide removal process A process for efficiently removing carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon containing feed stream utilizing a membrane separation unit in conjunction with a heat exchanger and a carbon dioxide separation unit wherein the streams obtained in the carbon dioxide separation unit are utilized to provide the cooling effect in the heat exchanger.
US08911526B2	Nano-leucite for slow release nitrogen fertilizer and green environment To compete with the increasing global food demand, it is necessary to increase the food production. Fertilizers which are in practice now a days has major disadvantage that 50% of nutrient contents loss due to leaching and also leads to ground water contamination. Slow release nitrogenous fertilizers are good in this regard in that they have minimum nutrient loss due to leaching. Potassium aluminum silicate (Leucite) nanoparticles occluded by calcium ammonium nitrates are slow release fertilizers and are synthesized by hydrothermal method. Its application as slow released nitrates fertilizers was determined by observing nitrate release for 16 days.
US08911525B1	Engineered soilless plant culitvation medium An engineered soilless plant cultivation medium for potting applications includes specific balanced amounts of nutrient additives. Major nutrient cations (Ca, Mg, K, Na, H) are balanced according to optimal base saturation percentage ranges. Nutrient levels, namely, the amount of major nutrient cations, major nutrient anions and minor nutrients satisfy desired ranges for both standard Mehlich III soil extraction tests and saturated paste tests.
US08911524B1	Composition and method to increase phosphorus uptake in plants The present invention provides a composition and method to increase phosphorus uptake in plants. This can be accomplished by mining phosphorus both in the free and bound state from the soil solution surrounding the roots of a plant. The process of mining involves the release of phosphorus from the bound state and the solubilization of unbound phosphorus to facilitate uptake by the roots of a plant. The mining of phosphorus can be accomplished by providing a phosphorus solubilizing compound having: i) at least one natural root acid; ii) at least one vitamin and iii) at least one crystalline carbohydrate, to a portion of a plant. The phosphorus solubilizing compound can be applied to plants to extract available phosphorus from the soil. This product can be either a soluble liquid or a solid.
US08911523B2	Water separating container for a motor vehicle A water separating container for a motor vehicle is provided. An air stream sucked in from outside the vehicle passes through the water separating container, which separates water present in the air stream. The water separating container includes an air inlet having an air inlet opening and an air outlet having an air outlet opening. An impact wall for separating the water present in the air stream is disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet.
US08911521B1	Methods of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond body with a sintering aid/infiltrant at least saturated with non-diamond carbon and resultant products such as compacts Embodiments of the invention relate to methods of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond compacts and applications for such polycrystalline diamond compacts. In an embodiment, a method of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond compact includes at least saturating a sintering aid material with non-diamond carbon to form a carbon-saturated sintering aid material and sintering a plurality of diamond particles in the presence of the carbon-saturated sintering aid particles to form a polycrystalline diamond table.
US08911520B2	Method and device for reprocessing CO2 containing exhaust gases The invention relates to a method for reprocessing CO2-containing exhaust gases in a multistage reduction process. The CO2-containing exhaust gas is conducted in the counter stream to a solid mass stream of inert bulk material and organic material that can be thermally decomposed through a plurality of zones (4, 3, 2, 1) into a pressure equalization region and is thereby converted into pyrolysis gases. In the flow direction of the solid mass stream in a fuel gas production stage (1) at 250-700° C., the organic matter is thermally decomposed under reducing conditions into short-chained hydrocarbons, hydrogen and carbon monoxide to produce coke and residue. In an intermediate stage (2) with increasing temperature, oxidation of the pyrolysis coke is carried out, wherein the developing carbon monoxide is suctioned off counter to the solid mass stream in the direction of the fuel gas production stage (1). In a carbon monoxide production stage (3) at 800-1,600° C., the remaining coke residue is converted with carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide by setting the pressure and temperature according to the Boudouard equilibrium. In a cooling stage (4), the developing solid residual material and the bulk material are cooled in the CO2 counter stream to below 100° C. and are separated, wherein the bulk material is returned to the cycle.
US08911509B2	Mixtures of fibre-reactive dyes and their use in a method for di- or trichromatic dyeing or printing Reactive dye mixtures comprising at least one red dyeing dye and at least one blue, yellow, orange or brown dyeing dye and their use in methods for the dichromatic or trichromatic dyeing or printing of cellulosic fiber materials are described. The reactive dye mixtures yield dyeings or prints having good reproducibility and good all-round fastness properties.
US08911508B2	Modifier for polyester fiber as well as preparation method and application of the same The present invention discloses a modifier for modifying a polyester fiber as well as a preparation method and application of the same. The modifier contains ethylene glycol, two-hydroxy-end polyether, dimethyl terephthalate, two-polyether-end modified organosilicon and a metal acetate catalyst. A two-step continuous production process is adopted. The first step is esterification; that is, ethylene glycol, two-hydroxy-end polyether, dimethyl terephthalate, and two-polyether-end organosilicon are added into a reactor, and have an esterification reaction in the presence of the catalyst. In the second step, the materials produced by the esterification are transported to a polymerizer, and have a polymerization reaction under the conditions of high temperature, vacuum and catalyst, producing the high molecular weight polyester/polyether/organosilicon terpolymer with a molecular weight of 1000˜50000 as the desired modifier. This modifier can be used either directly or in combination with some other substances such as surfactants, so as to modify the polyester fiber.
US08911506B2	Suspension liner system with seal A suspension liner sleeve adapted to provide an interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket, and having outer and inner surfaces. The liner sleeve includes an elongate, generally conical body portion formed from at least one material segment defining the liner outer surface. The at least one material segment being at least radially elastically extensible from a relaxed non-extended condition and including proximal and distal end areas. The liner sleeve includes a layer of polymeric material disposed on the at least one material segment and defining the liner sleeve inner surface, and a plurality of resilient seal elements protruding radially from the liner sleeve outer surface. The plurality of seal elements extend around at least one peripheral portion of the liner body portion. A pair of opposed annular recesses may be adjacently located above and below each of the at least one seal element.
US08911500B2	Method of a pharmaceutical delivery system for use within a joint Methods and apparatus of providing a joint replacement parts with a pharmaceutical delivery system is provided. The pharmaceutical delivery system is placed within the joint replacement parts to provide, over a period of time, sustained release of a controlled concentration of pharmaceuticals within the joint space of the joint replacement and to produce a local or systemic physiological of pharmacological effect.
US08911497B2	Minimally invasive spine augmentation and stabilization system and method A minimally invasive system and method for vertebral body augmentation includes an expandable containment device, a chassis including an interior cavity for at least partially enclosing the expandable containment device, a first guidewire, a working cannula, a second guidewire having at least a partially flexible distal end portion and a sleeve for introducing bone filler material through a cannulated passageway of the sleeve and into an interior cavity of the containment device. The containment device preferably includes a plurality of pores for directing the outflow of bone filler material anteriorly within the vertebral body. The containment device and chassis are left interior to the vertebral body subsequent to height restoration and augmentation of the vertebral body.
US08911496B2	Scleral prosthesis for treating presbyopia and other eye disorders and related devices and methods A system includes a scleral prosthesis and an insert. The scleral prosthesis includes an elongated body having a first free end and a second free end opposite the first end. A maximum width of the body at each end is wider than a maximum width of the body between the ends. The body includes multiple first portions that form the first end of the body and a part of the body between the ends. The first portions are separated lengthwise along a substantial portion of a total length of the body. The first portions are biased so that they maintain separation from one another without external interference but are configured to be pushed towards each other. The insert is configured to be placed between the first portions to maintain a separation of the first portions. The body and/or the insert could be formed using one or more magnetic materials.
US08911494B2	Deployment techniques for annuloplasty ring An anchor driver is provided that includes a driver head having a flexible ring. An anchor is provided that includes a coupling head, which is shaped so as to define: (a) one or more mating elements that engage mechanical coupling elements of the driver head such that rotation of the mechanical coupling elements rotates the mating elements, which in turn rotate the coupling head, and (b) an outer coupling surface, sized to be inserted into and engage the flexible ring. The anchor also includes a tissue coupling element fixed to the coupling head. The rotation of the mechanical coupling elements causes the tissue coupling element of the anchor to screw itself into tissue, thereby causing separation of: (a) the outer coupling surface of the coupling head from the flexible ring, and (b) the mating elements of the coupling head from the corresponding mechanical coupling elements. Other embodiments are also described.
US08911492B2	Coating for a medical device having an anti-thrombotic conjugate An implantable device having a coating comprising a comb-type anti-thrombotic conjugate to prevent or reduce the formation of thrombosis on the surface of the device. The device includes a frame expandable from a first diameter to a second diameter wherein the frame has an inner surface and an outer surface, a plurality of structural features disposed along the frame and a plurality of polymer anti-thrombotic conjugate particles situated with the plurality of structural features. The particle can be created utilizing the comb type polymer and heparin conjugate as a carrier for a therapeutic agent within its polymer matrix. The structural features allow for particles having differing properties to be placed at various locations along the device. Moreover, particles having at least two different agents can be located within the same structural feature.
US08911491B2	Methods and apparatus for treatment of aneurysms adjacent branch arteries including branch artery flow lumen alignment A stent graft extends in a flow lumen to span a defective portion of the flow lumen and seal the defective portion from further blood contact. The stent graft includes a pair of apertures, from which extensions project into the renal arteries to seal the passage of blood into the renal arteries from the abnormality. The apertures are larger than the opening of the renal arteries, such that the apertures need not be centered with the renal arteries to enable placement of the extensions. The aperture opening and side branch extensions contain hook and loop structures to provide a variably positionable seal of the aperture opening.
US08911480B2	Non-metallic implant devices and intra-operative methods for assembly and fixation This invention relates to orthopedic implants and to methods of treating bone defects. More specifically, but not exclusively, the present invention is directed to non-metallic implants and to methods for intra-operative assembly and fixation of orthopedic implants to facilitate medical treatment. The non-metallic implant assembly can be secured to underlying tissue by a fastener, such as a bone screw, that is capable of swelling on contact with fluid in the underlying tissue. Alternatively, the non-metallic implant assembly can be assembled intra-operatively using a fastener that is adhesively bonded to a bone plate or the bone plate can be deformed using heat, force, or solvents to inhibit withdrawal of the fastener. In preferred embodiments, both the fastener and the bone plate are formed of biodegradable material.
US08911477B2	Dynamic stabilization member with end plate support and cable core extension A dynamic fixation medical implant having at least two bone anchors includes a dynamic longitudinal connecting member assembly having the following features: a pair of elongate segments, each segment having at least one and up to a plurality of integral fins axially extending therefrom; an inner cable fixed to one of the elongate segments and slidingly received in the other elongate segment; a molded spacer that substantially surrounds the fins and may partially or substantially surround the abutment plates; a bumper; a crimp ring; and optional sleeves having abutment plates and fins for placement between elongate segments.
US08911471B2	Articulatable surgical device Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device. In one embodiment, methods and devices are provided for moving an end effector on a distal end of a surgical fastening device. Movement can include rotational movement of the end effector about an axis of the shaft, articulation of the end effector relative to the shaft, and actuation of an end effector, e.g., closing, firing, and/or cutting. In other embodiments, a single cable actuator is provided and is movable between a first position, in which it is effective to rotate an end effector without actuating (i.e., closing and firing) the end effector, and a second position, in which it is effective to actuate the end effector without rotating the end effector. In other aspects, methods and devices are provided for moving a flexible neck formed on a distal end of an accessory channel for use with an endoscope. Movement of the flexible neck can be used to control positioning of a tool extending through the flexible neck.
US08911470B2	Compact endoscopic surgical blade assembly and method of use thereof An endoscopic surgical device comprising a slotted clear cannula, a blade and a housing, wherein the cannula is attached to the housing, and wherein the blade is enclosed in the housing and is slidable into the cannula is disclosed. The blade is enclosed within the housing and cannula, and has a horizontally-oriented pushing component and a vertically-oriented cutting component that protrudes through the slot of the cannula. A method for a performing an operative procedure on a target tissue in a subject using the endoscopic surgical device is also described.
US08911465B2	Devices, systems, methods and kits for performing selective dissection of lung tissue This invention relates to device, systems, kits and methods that enable selective dissection of lung tissue to remove diseased tissue from healthy tissue without damaging blood vessels or airways. The invention and methods enable minimally invasive lung surgery procedures by providing a device and method to perform automated dissection that discriminates against traumatizing critical lung tissue.
US08911464B2	Puncture apparatus A puncture apparatus includes a puncture needle for puncturing living body tissue, an axial portion, a puncture member including an interlock portion interlocking the puncture needle and the axial portion, an elongated urethral-insertion member insertable into the urethra, an elongated vaginal-insertion member insertable into the vagina; and a supporting member supporting the puncture member, the urethral-insertion member and the vaginal-insertion member. The distal end of the puncture needle includes a sharp needle tip, and the needle is bent in an arc shape centered on the axial portion. The axial portion is freely rotatable on the supporting member, and the supporting member restricts the positional relation between the puncture member and the urethral-insertion member such that when the puncture member rotates and punctures the living body tissue, the needle tip passes a far-position side from the center of the puncture needle compared with the urethral-insertion member or an extended line of such member.
US08911461B2	Suture cutter and method of cutting suture Suture cutters and methods of cutting suture in a surgical procedure. The suture cutter may include an actuator, an intermediate cannula portion and a movable cutting assembly. The cutting assembly may be operatively coupled to the actuator and include a cutting element. An adjustably sized cutting window receives the suture. The adjustably sized cutting window may be bound on at least one side with the cutting element for cutting the suture received inside the cutting window. Actuation moves the cutting assembly to cut the suture.
US08911459B2	Debulking catheters and methods A method of removing material from a blood flow lumen includes providing a device having a cutting element and an opening, the cutting element being movable relative to the opening. The method then includes advancing the device through a patient's vascular system to the blood flow lumen. Finally, the method involves moving the cutting element and the opening relative to the blood flow lumen so that a continuous piece of material is severed by the cutting element and directed into the opening as the cutting element and opening move through the blood flow lumen, the continuous piece of severed material being directed into the device for removal from the patient. The method may include providing a device having a rotatable cutter that, in some embodiments, is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device, is movable, has retracted and deployed positions, or any combination thereof.
US08911457B2	Method of using knot pusher and suture cutter instrument A combined knot pusher/suture cutter device for manipulating a knotted suture to properly locate the knot relative to the tissue being sutured, and then for removing excess suture from the knot. The knot pusher/suture cutter includes a body member with a handle and an inner member (or inner rod) having a knot-engageable section at the opposite end (distal end) for engaging and moving the knotted suture by manipulation of the handle. The knot-engageable section of the inner member is provided with a slot at its distal end which allows suture to be threaded through it. The inner member is provided within an outer sleeve that is designed to be actuated by a spring and a thumb pusher (trigger) located on a surface of the handle. By actuating the thumb trigger (for example, by sliding forward the thumb trigger), the outer sleeve is advanced and the suture post is cut.
US08911456B2	Methods and devices for preventing tissue bridging while suturing Suture passers and methods of suturing tissue to prevent tissue bridging, without requiring a cannula. Tissue bridging involves the capture of non-target tissue within a loop of suture formed around and/or through a target tissue. The devices and methods described herein may include the use of a threading aperture at or near the distal end of the suture passer to guide the device in passing a suture through the tissue along the same pathway that another leg or legs of the loop took to access the target tissue, thereby preventing the inadvertent capture of non-target tissue leading to tissue bridging. In particular, described herein are suture passers and methods of arthroscopically suturing the meniscus of the knee while preventing tissue bridging.
US08911454B2	Suturing device A suturing device that sutures tissues by releasing a suture unit includes: a first anchor and a second anchor included in the suture unit; a hollow needle receiving the first and second anchors inside of the needle; a tube which is fixed to a proximal end of the needle; a wire inserted into the tube and the needle; a first sheath through which the tube and the needle are inserted; an operating portion main body fixed to a proximal end of the first sheath; a slider fixed to a proximal end of the tube and configured to move forward and backward freely in a sliding manner with respect to the operating portion main body; a slider control portion configured to regulate movement of the slider with respect to the operating portion main body at all times; a handle portion provided in the slider; and a deactivation member.
US08911452B2	Device for immobilizing a primary instrument and method therefor Devices and methods provide accurate targeting, placement, and/or stabilization of an electrode or other instrument(s) into the brain or other body organ, such as to treat severe tremor or other neurological disorders. Targeting is performed using any form of image-guidance, including real-time MRI, CT, or frameless surgical navigation systems.
US08911451B2	Minimally invasive systems for locating an optimal location for deep brain stimulation Systems for locating an optimal site within a brain of a patient for deep brain stimulation include a main cannula having an internal lumen, a guiding cannula having a bent distal end portion configured to pass through the lumen of the main cannula and guide a microelectrode into the brain, a depth adjustment mechanism configured to adjust an insertion depth of the guiding cannula, and a longitudinal angle adjustment device configured to adjust a longitudinal angle of the guiding cannula. The depth adjustment mechanism and longitudinal angle adjustment device adjust a position of the guiding cannula such that the microelectrode locates the optimal site for the deep brain stimulation.
US08911450B2	Methods and apparatus for deploying ureteral stents A ureteral decompression device comprises a guide member and an anchoring structure. The guide member may be introduced through the urethra and bladder into the ureter so that the anchor structure passes a lodged kidney stone. Once past the stone, the anchor structure can be compacted to anchor the guide member in place. The anchor structure will permit leakage and the guide member will provide a leakage path directly past the stone, thus decompressing the kidney.
US08911446B2	Alignment jig for a bone fixation device A jig for a bone fixation device, including those that comprise a guide; and a connecting element reversibly engagable with the bone fixation device; wherein the guide defines a non-rectilinear path and is adapted to receive the connecting element; and wherein the connecting element is remotely operable, and is adapted to permit a tool to be engaged with the bone fixation device. Other embodiments of the present invention include methods for placing a bone fixation device in a bone, using a jig of the present invention comprising the step of reversibly engaging the bone fixation device with the jig.
US08911445B2	Reamer guide systems and methods of use A reamer guide system may include a reamer guide that is configured to guide a reamer to at least two bones that are to be reamed to form a countersink. The reamer guide may be configured to temporarily couple to the at least two bones that are to be reamed so as to prevent substantial separation of the at least two bones during the reaming. The reamer guide system may further include a positioning aid that is configured to receive a locating element. The locating element is configured to temporarily couple to a target location adjacent the bones that are to be reamed. The reamer is configured to receive the locating element and advance along the locating element to the target location.
US08911444B2	Composite surgical instrument A surgical instrument and method are provided for guiding a cutting tool to resect an anatomical structure. The surgical instrument includes a guide body formed of a guide body material having a guide body material hardness, and a first bearing and a second bearing formed of a bearing material having a bearing material hardness. The bearing material hardness is greater than the guide body material hardness. The first bearing and the second bearing are secured to the guide body with at least a portion of the first bearing and at least a portion of the second bearing exposed from the guide body. Also, the second bearing is spaced a distance from the first bearing. By arranging the first bearing and the second bearing in this manner, the first bearing and the second bearing provide a discontinuous bearing surface for a cutting tool to contact when moving within the guide body. Additionally, the first bearing and the second bearing are each sized and arranged so that with the cutting tool positioned for guiding by the surgical instrument, the first bearing and the second bearing prevent contact between the cutting tool and the guide body.
US08911443B2	Plate holder for manipulating bone plate A plate holder is provided to facilitate percutaneous introduction of a bone plate, positioning of the plate on a bone surface, and stabilizing the plate while a fastener is inserted through the plate into the bone. The plate holder includes a proximal handle, a distal mount, and an arm extending between the handle and the mount. The mount includes a first portion which seats within a slot on the shaft of a plate, and a second portion at which the shaft is coupled and which includes a tapered proximal side. A set screw hole is provided through the first and second portions, and a set screw is provided therein. When the first portion is seated in a compression slot of a plate and the set screw is driven to seat, the set screw locks the mount to the plate.
US08911441B2	Endplate preparation instruments and methods of use The present application is directed to instruments and methods for preparing a space between vertebral members. One embodiment of the instrument may include an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal end. A blade may be positioned at an end of the shaft and may rotate about an axis. The blade may include one or more teeth that include a height and/or contour. During rotation of the blade, the teeth contact and cut into one of the vertebral members. The instrument may also include a depth stop that limits a depth that the teeth can cut into the vertebral member. In some embodiments, the instrument includes a second blade that is configured to cut into the second vertebral member.
US08911440B2	Resorbable and radiopaque device for bone fixation An osteosynthesis device that is both resorbable and radiopaque, produced using gradually degrading materials, includes at least one plate and a set of screws made of resorbable material, in which the plate consists of a composite mixture including i) a resorbable polymer or copolymer compound and ii) an inorganic filler that consists of at least one resorbable ceramic. The screws can be made of resorbable polymer, or of a composite mixture with at least one resorbable ceramic. The device is totally resorbable and radiopaque, and it offers a high level of safety, ensuring a strong and durable fixation of the screws to the plate and in the bone during the entire period needed for bone uniting.
US08911439B2	Non-invasive and minimally invasive denervation methods and systems for performing the same A system and method can be used to denervate at least a portion of a bronchial tree. An energy emitter of an instrument is percutaneously delivered to a treatment site and outputs energy to damage nerve tissue of the bronchial tree. The denervation procedure can be performed without damaging non-targeted tissue. Minimally invasive methods can be used to open airways to improve lung function in subjects with COPD, asthma, or the like. Different sections of the bronchial tree can be denervated while leaving airways intact to reduce recovery times.
US08911438B2	Tuna device with integrated saline reservoir Methods and apparatus for ablating a target tissue are discussed. Such methods and apparatus include those that simplify tissue ablation. For example, a tissue ablation device having an actuator, such as a trigger mechanism, coupled to a power source and an electrode is discussed. A single step of engaging the actuator causes the electrode to be introduced into the target tissue and causes energy to be delivered from the power supply to the tissue via the electrode. Devices that include an electrode actuator for causing the electrode to be introduced into the target tissue and a fluid actuator for causing the fluid to flow to the target tissue are also discussed. Methods of causing the electrode to be introduced into the target tissue and fluid to flow to the target tissue with a single step and more than one step are also discussed.
US08911437B2	Medical technology device and medical technology device arrangement The invention concerns a medical technology device for treatment of the human or animal body, comprising at least one electrical plug connector which is adapted to be connected to a complementary counterpart plug connector of a further medical technology device and which in an active position is arranged projecting upwardly at the top side of the device. To provide a medical technology device which can be used both as an individual device and also in conjunction with a second device as a device arrangement and which in that respect satisfies existing safety and aesthetic demands, it is provided in accordance with the invention that the plug connector is adapted to be movable from the active position into a passive position, wherein in the passive position the plug connector is removed from the top side of the device and the top side is closed in substantially fluid-tight relationship.
US08911433B2	Methods and apparatus related to a distal end of a side-fire optical fiber having multiple capillary components In one embodiment, an apparatus may include a first capillary component. A second capillary component may be disposed outside of the first capillary component and may have an inner surface, wherein a portion of the inner surface may be heat-fused to an outer surface of the first capillary component. The apparatus may also include a portion of an optical fiber disposed inside of the first capillary component and the portion of the optical fiber can have an outer surface. A portion of the outer surface of the optical fiber may be heat-fused to an inner surface of the first capillary component. The optical fiber may have a distal surface configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation propagated along a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of the optical fiber in a lateral direction through the inner surface of the first capillary component and the inner surface of the second capillary component.
US08911427B2	Therapeutic agent reservoir delivery system A therapeutic agent reservoir comprises a reservoir body comprising a polymer and a therapeutic agent mixed within the polymer, and an outer coating enclosing the reservoir body, wherein at least a portion of the outer coating comprises a rate-controlling membrane configured to provide a predetermined release rate of the therapeutic agent through the rate-controlling membrane.
US08911425B2	Electronic pill comprising a medicine reservoir Electronic pill (1, 11) comprising at least one medicine reservoir (2, 12) with a solid powder or granulate medicine, a discharge opening (3, 13) and an actuator responsive to control circuitry for displacing medicine from the reservoir (2, 12) to the discharge opening (3, 13). The medicine comprises a dispersion of one or more active ingredients—e.g., solids in powder or granulate form—in an inert carrier matrix. Optionally, the active ingredients are dispersed using intestinal moisture absorbed into the pill via a semi-permeable wall section (14).
US08911421B2	System and method for mixing the contents of two containers A system for mixing the contents of a first container and a second container. The system includes the first container that has container body with an opening fluidly connected to a cavity defined by the container body, a first substance contained in the cavity, and a stopper sealing the opening. The second container includes a port assembly including a port housing connected to the second container and a retainer constructed to connect to the first container. The retainer is configured to rotate and move axially relative to the port housing, wherein relative rotation between the port housing and the retainer causes the retainer to move axially relative to the port housing. The port assembly further includes an axially fixed actuator constructed to force the stopper into the first container when the retainer is rotated relative to the port housing.
US08911418B2	Body adhering absorbent article The present invention provides a body adhering absorbent articles which is capable of absorbing bodily fluids. In particular embodiment of the present invention, provided is an absorbent article which is specifically designed for attachment to a wearer's skin in the vulva region of the wearer's torso.
US08911407B2	Surgical portal with seal system A surgical seal system is adapted for use with a cannula assembly having a cannula housing and a cannula sleeve extending from the cannula housing. The surgical seal assembly includes a seal assembly and an adapter assembly. The seal assembly is mountable to the cannula housing. The seal assembly includes a seal housing and a seal defining inner portions adapted to form a substantial seal about an instrument with a first cross-sectional dimension. The adapter assembly includes an adapter body adapted for releasably coupling to the seal housing of the seal assembly. The adapter body has an adapter seal and a tether. The adapter seal is adapted to form a substantial seal about an instrument with a second cross-sectional dimension less than the first cross-sectional dimension. The tether is mountable to the cannula sleeve thus securing the adapter assembly to the cannula.
US08911406B2	Guide wire exchange catheter system A guide wire exchange system including an elongate, flexible, guide wire exchange catheter capable exchanging one guide wire for another in a safe, efficient, and secured manner, where a primary guide wire, after having been advanced through the body, is to be replaced with a secondary guide wire that is to be securely advanced through the body to the target site by the advancement of the exchange catheter over the path of the primary wire. The exchange catheter may include a securement element in order to releasably secure at least one guide wire to the exchange catheter at or near the distal end of the exchange catheter. Once secured, both the exchange catheter and the secured guide wire(s) may be advanced or retracted in a synchronous manner, without the possibility of divergence at the distal ends of the secured components as they are being manipulated by an operator.
US08911404B2	Delivery apparatus for medical fluid in box type with a syringe Disclosed is a delivery apparatus for medical fluid, in which a body is fabricated in a box shape and a cover is detachably coupled to the body, thereby facilitating the repairing work for the delicate malfunction of the apparatus and a fluctuation-prevention member is provided such that a syringe makes a vertical movement after the installation of the syringe even if the body is fabricated in the box shape.
US08911400B2	System for intraluminal travel within living vasculature Embodiments of the invention include a catheter, comprising: a lumen having a distal end and a proximal end; one or more marker bands circumferentially arranged around the lumen; a support structure extending from the proximal end of the lumen to the most distal marker band; and a top jacket positioned annularly with respect to the lumen, comprising five durometers of material, wherein the support structure and top jacket alternate along the length of the catheter.
US08911398B2	Catheter including a bare metal hypotube Catheter and methods for designing, making, and using catheters are disclosed. An example catheter is a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter may include a proximal shaft. The proximal shaft may be a bare metal hypotube having a skew value of −1.0 to −2.5. A midshaft may be attached to the proximal shaft. A distal shaft may be attached to the midshaft. A balloon may be coupled to the distal shaft. An inflation lumen may be defined that extends from the proximal shaft, through the midshaft, and into the distal shaft. The inflation lumen may be in fluid communication with the balloon.
US08911395B2	Syringe carpule for storing, transporting and in situ mixing of lidocaine and sodium bicarbonate and delivery of buffered anesthetic solution A syringe carpule for storing, transporting and in situ mixing of a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine, and a buffer, such as sodium bicarbonate, and delivery of buffered anesthetic solution according to the present invention that comprises a hollow tubular body received within the frame of a carpule syringe, at least one axially movable plunger within the body and configured to be engaged and moved by a rod of the carpule syringe, a seal pierced by a rear portion of a needle coupled to the carpule syringe, a first chamber within the body filled with anesthetic solution during storing and transport, a second chamber defined within the body filled with buffering solution during storing and transport; and a breachable separating member between the first and second chamber configured to be removed for in situ mixing of the buffering and the anesthetic solutions allowing for delivery of a buffered anesthetic solution.
US08911392B2	Systems and methods for treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes The present invention provides systems and methods for treating and controlling obesity and/or type II diabetes. In one aspect of the invention, an internal bypass device includes gastric and duodenal anchors coupled to each other and positioned on either side of the pylorus and a hollow sleeve designed to extend from the pylorus through at least a proximal portion of a patient's small intestine. The gastric and duodenal anchors are movable between collapsed configurations for advancement through the esophagus and an expanded configuration for inhibiting movement of the anchors through the pyloric sphincter. Thus, the bypass device can be placed and removed endoscopically through the patient's esophagus in a minimally invasive outpatient procedure and it is “self-anchoring” and does not require invasive tissue fixation within the patient's GI tract, thereby reducing collateral tissue damage and minimizing its impact on the digestive process.
US08911391B2	System for connecting a blood pump without trapping air bubbles A system for connecting medical tubing or any other type of fluidic circuit conduits (e.g., cannulae) to a ventricular assist device (“VAD”) or any other pumping device used for blood pumping during cardiac circulatory support for vascular surgery. The system prevents air bubbles from entering a cardiac circulatory support system when connecting cannulae to a VAD that may later enter the blood stream of a patient during cardiac surgery, and also provide for purging any air bubbles that may have entered the cardiac circulatory support system during a cannulae-VAD connection.
US08911389B2	Knee-joint bandage made of elastic material and with application aid A knee joint bandage (1) is made of elastic material and has a pad assigned to the knee cap. The bandage is provided, on at least one side of the pad, with a flexible stabilizing rod (8,9) that extends along the length of the bandage. The stabilizing rod (8,9) is provided with a grip part and is embedded in a pocket arranged on the bandage (1) and which is firmly connected to the material of the bandage (1) at edge zones (10, 11) and at the end of the bandage arranged above the knee cap.
US08911386B2	Respiratory compression belt A device and method for restricting the respiratory movement of a patient undergoing medical treatment. A respiratory compression belt is positioned properly, secured on the patient and pressurized to control patient movement.
US08911384B2	Wound measuring device and system A wound measuring device and system measures the length, width and depth of a wound. The device and system features first and second ruler members connected and secured by a connecting member which allows the ruler members to move to measure the length and width of a wound. The connecting member affords perpendicular movement of the ruler members providing accurate and consistent measurement of wounds irregular in shape and size. An end of the first or second member is designed to be inserted in the wound to measure the depth and undermining of the wound. Use of the device provides little to no discomfort to the patient.
US08911381B2	Biopsy device with translating valve member A biopsy device includes a needle extending distally from a body. The needle includes a transverse aperture, a first lumen, and a second lumen. A cutter is movable within the first lumen to sever tissue protruding through the transverse aperture. A valve assembly is operable to change the pneumatic state of the second lumen. The valve assembly includes a valve body and a translating member slidably disposed in a bore of the valve body. The valve body includes a first port and a second port. The first port is in fluid communication with the second lumen of the needle. The second port is in fluid communication with atmospheric air. The translating member selectively couples the first port with the second port based on the longitudinal position of the translating member within the bore. The translating member translates relative to the valve body based on the position of the cutter.
US08911377B2	Patient monitor including multi-parameter graphical display A patient monitoring system and method are disclosed which provide a caregiver with more easily identifiable indications of the state of multiple physiological parameters in order to give the caregiver an indication of the patient's overall wellness in an efficient manner. Multiple physiological parameter sets are plotted on a graph, along with an indication of each parameter set's normal range. An overlapping area for all set's normal ranges provides an indication of an ideal patient state. In an embodiment, alerts are generated based on parameters distance from normal readings.
US08911367B2	Analyte sensor Systems and methods of use for continuous analyte measurement of a host's vascular system are provided. In some embodiments, a continuous glucose measurement system includes a vascular access device, a sensor and sensor electronics, the system being configured for insertion into communication with a host's circulatory system.
US08911362B2	Endoscope An endoscope including a bending operation apparatus including a bending operation mechanism section and a bending portion braking mechanism section in an operation section, the bending operation mechanism section includes a bending lever, a first bearing member transmitting a force of the lever, and a cylindrical member rotated with an operation of the lever, and the bending portion braking mechanism section includes a bending state keeping lever, a braking shaft body transmitting a force of the lever, a second bearing member pivotally supporting the braking shaft body, a rotation pressing member rotating around an axis of the second bearing member, and having inclined projection portions, a slide pressing member having inclined projection portions opposed to the projection portions, a friction member abutting on the cylindrical member, a regulation member regulating a gap where the friction member is disposed, and positioning members regulating a braking force of the friction.
US08911349B2	Interchangeable attachment connector systems The present invention relates to an interchangeable attachment connector system, characterized in that said system comprises: (a) a connector member, wherein said connector member comprises a shaft, said shaft having an engagement end and a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the shaft includes male threads; and (b) an interchangeable attachment capable of being removably engaged to the shaft of the connector member, the interchangeable attachment comprising a body, wherein said body includes two axial ends, an entry opening located in one of said axial ends and an axial bore extending from the entry opening, wherein said bore includes an entry opening and internal walls having female threads complementary to the male threads on the shaft of the connector member, wherein the shaft and the interchangeable attachment can be pushed together for engagement by inserting the engagement end of the shaft through the entry opening, and wherein engagement between the male threads and the female threads on the shaft and the interchangeable attachment prevent relative longitudinal pull-out motion between the engaged shaft of the connector member and interchangeable attachment while allowing relative rotational motion for disengagement of the interchangeable attachment from the shaft of the connector member. In aspects of the invention the interchangeable attachment comprises an interchangeable sexual aid device.
US08911348B2	Pelvic implants and methods of implanting the same In one embodiment, an implant is configured to be placed within a body of a patient. The implant includes a support member. The support member is configured to be placed adjacent a vaginal apex of a patient. The support member has a length sufficient to extend the length of the vaginal apex but not of a length sufficient to extend from the vaginal apex to a location between a vagina of the patient and a rectum of the patient. The implant also includes first and second arm members coupled to the support member. The arm members are configured to be coupled to bodily tissue of the patient to help secure the implant within the body of the patient.
US08911346B2	Gastric restriction devices with fillable chambers and ablation means for treating obesity The invention relates to a gastric restraining device for treating excessive weight or obesity in mammals. The gastric restraining device includes an elastomeric sheet configured to be placed around a stomach of a mammal, an ablation device attached to the elastomeric sheet, the ablation device configured to emit energy toward an outer surface of the stomach when the elastomeric sheet is placed around the stomach, and an energy device coupled to the ablation device to generate the energy and to transfer the energy to the ablation device.
US08911340B2	Air packaging device product and method for forming the product An air packaging device includes two layers of thermoplastic films, which form a sealable space where air is filled after first and second steps of heat-sealing process. The sealable space includes a number of independent sealed air chambers and a main air passage channel. The main channel has an air inlet. Each sealed air chamber is connected with the main channel by at least one one-way valve each including at least two layers of plastic films. At least two one-way valves are installed inside of the air chambers. This air packaging device increases the cushioning protection where the protection is most needed, but can reduce air chamber dimension at less important locations in order to reduce the volumetric size and, hence, reduce the shipping cost.
US08911336B2	Exercise apparatus An exercise apparatus is provided and includes a seat, a curved track, a linker, a backrest, and a replacing force means. The curved track is connected to the seat. A first end of the linker is slidably mounted on the curved track. An end of the backrest is pivotally connected to the seat, and a second end of the linker opposite the first end is pivotally connected to the backrest. An elastic member is used for providing a returning force to return the backrest to a first position.
US08911334B1	Exercise device and use thereof An exercise device having a water-tight, interior compartment into which a destabilizing liquid can be added to fill the device to a desired weight, such as by indicated on weight marks provided on an exterior surface of the exercise device. The device is capable of being filled with the destabilizing liquid via a water port of the device, which may be releasably securable to a water hose or faucet. The destabilizing liquid filling the interior compartment of the exercise device provides resistance to muscular movement and provides destabilization of the device as an aid in improving a user's balance and coordination. Handles and/or at least one protruding knob are provided on the exterior surface of the exercise device, and/or padded straps are provided on the exterior surface of the exercise device for attaching the device to the user's limbs or back. One side of the device may be flattened and padded to increase comfort for the user when the device is attached to the user's body.
US08911331B2	Trampoline park frame A support frame for the multiple jumping surfaces making up a trampoline park utilizes multiple trampoline support grid arrays, each consisting of support cable segments supported by a rectangular array of individual support columns. Each cable segment is attached to a separate pair of support columns within the array. Diagonal cross-brace cables likewise are attached to and extend between each separate pair of support columns. The adjacent paired support columns support the individual trampoline beds, with the loading occasioned by jumping users rapidly transferred to ground—the vertical loading through the support columns and the horizontal loading through the diagonal cross-brace cabling. The support frame includes peripheral support grid arrays having an outer grid of peripheral support columns with attached kick braces extending to adjacent outer support columns, completing the peripheral horizontal load paths.
US08911328B2	Apparatus for the assisted performance of a fitness exercise An apparatus (1) for the assisted performance of a fitness exercise, equipped with a fitness tool (2) configured to interact with the user (3) to enable the user to perform a movement along a preset path overcoming the force of a resistant load (7), comprises: sensing means (4) set up to provide a signal representing the movement of the user (3); feedback means (5) for transmitting a signal to the user (3) during performance of the exercise; a processor (6) connected to the sensing means (4) and to the feedback means (5) to provide the user (3) with feedback in real time on the correctness of performance of the exercise, based on a comparison between the signal representing the movement of the user and a predetermined reference pattern representing an ideal pattern for the movement of the user (3) corresponding to the exercise performed correctly.
US08911327B1	Rehabilitation device and method A device for joint rehabilitation after injury or surgery and a method of use are described and taught. The device automatically senses and manipulates performance parameters to optimize the rehabilitation process in response to user performance. In particular, device sets the pedal throw and other variables automatically to be in an optimum range for the patient based on the respective patient data. A motor resistance unit allows for the user to experience variable resistances while using the device. This not only increases the patient's range of motion but also strengthens and increases muscle tone. In order to use the device, the patient or user simply inputs preliminary parameters and the on-board computer then calculates a rehabilitation plan, and monitors patient performance and adapts to changes. The central data server permit central storage of all data associated with usage of the rehab devices and is fully HIPPA compliant.
US08911322B2	Low stroke length locking differential with high locking engagement length A differential, comprising a gear case, a side gear, an actuator, and a collar. The gear case comprising a central axis and recesses. The side gear configured to rotate around the central axis. The side gear comprising radially outward-extending locking members comprising side gear segments separated by plural grooves. The actuator surrounding the central axis. The collar configured to translate bi-directionally along the central axis. The collar comprising ears and radially inward-extending locking members comprising collar segments separated by plural grooves. The actuator is configured to move the collar relative to the side gear to move the ears axially in the recesses. When the actuator moves the collar to a locked position, the collar segments are configured to engage the side gear segments. When the actuator moves the collar to an unlocked position, the side gear segments are configured to pass through the grooves of the radially inward-extending locking members.
US08911311B1	Expandable arrowhead or broadhead and spring element An expandable arrowhead having a blade-carrying body with a slot that houses at least one movably mounted blade. Each blade can be pivotally mounted about a shaft. In some embodiments, the shaft is fixed with respect to the body. In other embodiments, the shaft is movably mounted with respect to the body, for example by mounting a shaft within the slot so that the shaft moves within the slot with respect to the blade-carrying body. In some embodiments of this invention, a spring element positively holds one or more blades in a closed position or a retracted position, particularly during extreme forces encountered when launching an arrow from an archery bow, such as a compound archery bow. The spring element of this invention can be used to improve blade opening capabilities of conventional blade-opening arrowheads or broadheads.
US08911308B2	Football quarterback training apparatus The present invention is an apparatus for training a quarterback in skills necessary for the game of American football. The invention comprises a snap deck, targets, and blitz sticks, which all stand freely. The snap deck is a station that allows the user to create or modify play sequences, which are defined by selecting certain targets and blitz sticks to illuminate at certain times. The interface also includes displays showing session statistics. A play is initiated by removing the football from a holder on the snap deck. The targets illuminate according to the programmed play, representing open receivers, to which the user attempts to complete a pass. The blitz sticks illuminate according to the programmed play, signaling a blitz to the user, who reacts accordingly while attempting to complete a pass. If a successful pass is not completed within the time limit, all targets illuminate red and an alarm sounds.
US08911307B2	Golf ball with resin inner core and specified inner core and cover layer hardness A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of a blend of highly neutralized polymers and a low flexural modulus ionomer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The inner core and cover layer each has a specified hardness with a hardness relationship. The cover is a single layer ionomer cover, and may be made from a blend of different grades of the ionomer. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as backspin off the irons, feel, and sound.
US08911306B2	Golf ball with resin inner core having specified coefficient of restitution of the inner core at various speeds A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of a blend of highly neutralized polymers and a low flexural modulus ionomer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The inner core has a specified range of coefficients of restitution when measured at different velocities. The cover is a single layer ionomer cover, and may be made from a blend of different grades of the ionomer. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as backspin off the irons, feel, and sound.
US08911300B1	Golf training aid assembly A golf training aid assembly simulates taking a divot while swinging a golf club. The assembly includes a platform having a top surface. A resiliently flexible member is coupled to the platform. A panel has a first end pivotally coupled to the platform wherein the panel is pivotable relative to the platform. The panel is supported on the resiliently flexible member in spaced relationship to the first end of the panel such that a top surface of the panel is coplanar with the top surface of the platform when the panel rests upon the resiliently flexible member. The panel is downwardly pivotable relative to the top surface of the platform such that the top surface of the panel is configured for being urged downwardly when contacted by a golf club head. The resiliently flexible member is deformable and provides resistance to downward pivoting of the panel.
US08911299B1	Billiard rack assembly and method of racking billiard balls A billiards rack assembly tightly organizes billiard balls on a table. The rack assembly comprises a rigid frame defining a ball containment area. An elongated pivoted racking bar is located at one end of the rigid frame. A handle is attached to the pivoted racking bar, and is adapted for being grasped by a user to move the racking bar between a downwardly pivoted ball-engaging position and an upwardly pivoted frame-removing position. In the ball-engaging position, the pivoted racking bar forces the billiard balls tightly together within the ball containment area towards an opposite end of the rigid frame, thereby reducing gaps between adjacent balls. In the frame-removing position, the pivoted racking bar is moved away from the billiard balls and the handle located to facilitate lifting and removal of the rack assembly from the table.
US08911297B2	Method for managing an electronic gaming machine group Various embodiments are directed to gaming systems and related methods for managing one or more electronic gaming machines (EGMs). The gaming system includes a network management system capable of establishing one or more groups (or collections) of gaming machines. The groups of gaming machines may be defined according to one or more gaming machine characteristics. The grouping of the gaming machines on the casino floor allows the system to dynamically configure these groups of gaming machines.
US08911293B2	Multivendor progressive gaming system Methods and systems for facilitating the play of a progressive game. The methods and systems are configured to accrue contributions to a multivendor progressive prize fund by a first set of game terminals in a first prize determination interval. Optionally, the methods and systems is configured to receive contributions from a second set of game terminals. The methods and systems may determine the value of the progressive prize, the value depending on the size of the multivendor progressive prize fund and on an amount of contributions accrued from one of the sets of game terminals to the multivendor progressive prize fund during a second prize determination interval. The odds of winning the progressive prize may be different for different sets of game terminals and may be set by a game operator.
US08911288B2	Gaming device and method providing slot game having virtual map driven reel stop position determinations Various embodiments of the disclosed gaming device include a housing which supports a plurality of mechanical reels and a plurality of stop input devices which are configured to provide a Pachisuro-style slot game. Each of the plurality of reels is associated with a different one of the plurality of stop input devices. Each stop input device enables a player to stop the respective reel when the reel is spinning by activating the stop input device. Each reel includes a plurality of stop positions and each stop position includes a symbol. The gaming device also includes a processor and a memory device. For each reel, the processor randomly determines the stop position at which the reel ultimately stops based on a virtual map stored in the memory device for an initiating stop position of that reel which is selected by the player's activation of the stop input device for that reel.
US08911285B1	Double function, hand operated meat tenderizer with quick release clip A double function, hand operated meat tenderizer includes a handle with a blade segment clamped inside said handle; a generally flat plate attached to said handle by at least one slidably moving cylinder attached to a compressed spring, comprising at least one seat including a releasably attached spigot of the cylinder, wherein an end face of said plate is provided with a plurality of projections and flow-through slots aligned in evenly spaced relation, parallel to the spring axis, and wherein in a position of rest, ends of said blades are retracted in said flow-through slots.
US08911281B2	Method for trimming the working layers of a double-side grinding apparatus A method for trimming two working layers including bonded abrasive applied on mutually facing sides of an upper and a lower working disk of a grinding apparatus configured for simultaneous double-side processing of flat workpiece includes providing the grinding apparatus including the upper and lower working disks and providing at least one carrier including an outer toothing. The upper and lower working disks are rotated. The carrier is moved between the rotating working disks using a rolling apparatus and the outer toothing on cycloidal paths relative to working layers of the working disks. Loose abrasives are added to a working gap formed between the working layers. A carrier, without workpieces inserted therein, is moved in the working gap so as to effect material removal from the working layers.
US08911271B2	Marine vessel and marine vessel propulsion unit A marine vessel includes a hull, a jet pump disposed outside the hull, and an electric motor arranged to drive the jet pump. The jet pump includes a water inlet, a jet nozzle disposed posterior to the water inlet, and a flow path connecting the water inlet and the jet nozzle, and is arranged to jet water, taken in through the water inlet, through the jet nozzle. The electric motor is disposed between the hull and the jet pump.
US08911258B2	Right angle transition adapter with interchangeable gender components and method of use A right angle transition adapter allows vertical connector components to be used in a right angle connector. The right angle transition adapter comprises a vertical connector housing, a wafer, overmolded lead frames, and a right angle transition housing. The overmolded lead frames can be mounted to a board while the vertical connector housing can connect with mating connectors as if it were a vertical connector.
US08911256B2	Gasket for an EMI connector A gasket 102 for an Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) connector 100 comprising a first conductive part 104 including a plurality of spring tabs 108, a second conductive part 106 including a plurality of spring tabs 108, wherein the first conductive part 104 is configured to engage a first connector piece 110 and the second conductive part 106 is configured to engage a second connector piece 112, wherein the first conductive part is configured to engage the second conductive part when the first connector piece 110 is attached to the second connector piece 112, and wherein the spring tabs 108 are configured to electrically connect the connector 100 to an EMI shielding cage.
US08911254B2	Multi-conductor cable connector having more than one coaxial cable and method thereof A multi-conductor cable connector for coaxial cables is provided, the connector including a cable connection portion, wherein the cable connection portion receives a prepared multi-conductor cable having a plurality of conductive strands concentrically sharing a common central axis, and a multi-contact portion coupled to the cable connection portion, the multi-contact portion having a plurality of contacts non-concentrically aligned with the cable connection portion. The connector may also include elements configured to seize the coaxial cables, such as posts, a clamping element and a fastening member. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided. In one embodiment three contacts may be used with one of them electrically connected to the outer conductors of two coaxial cables while the other two contacts are to be electrically connected to center conductors of the two cables.
US08911253B2	Receptacle contact A receptacle contact for receipt of a mating contact and a method therefore. The receptacle contact has side walls, each of the side walls has an opening provide therein. A resilient contact arm extends between the side walls. Projections extend from the resilient contact arm and extend through the openings of the side walls. A weak area is provided on the resilient contact arm, the weak area positioned between the fixed end and the projections. The projections engage a wall of the opening as the mating contact is inserted into the receptacle contact, causing the at least one contact area to become fixed and allowing the weak area to move into engagement with the mating contact, thereby providing multiple areas of contact between the resilient contact arm and the mating contact.
US08911243B2	Connection member, socket module, socket and method for manufacturing connection member A connection member to be inserted into a through-hole of a socket module that is electrically connected between an electronic component and a substrate, the connection member includes: a first end portion that is connected to the electronic component; a second end portion that is connected to the substrate; a plurality of upper flexure portions that correspond to projections of a waveform arranged near the electronic component; and a plurality of lower flexure portions that correspond to projections of the waveform arranged near the substrate; wherein the connection member is a single conductor member with elasticity and is formed in the shape of the waveform.
US08911242B2	Electrical component having an array of electrical contacts An electrical component including a substrate having opposite first and second sides and a plurality of vias extending into the substrate from the first side. The substrate has first conductive pads on the first side that are electrically connected to corresponding vias. The electrical component also includes a plurality of electrical contacts that are mounted to the substrate along the first side. Each of the electrical contacts includes a contact heel and a contact beam that extends from the corresponding contact heel and at least partially away from the first side. The contact heels are laser-welded to corresponding first conductive pads.
US08911230B2	Assisted flameless oxidation operation and burner therefor In a burner and method for the operation of such a burner which is provided with first fuel and air supply means for FLOX® operation and second fuel and air supply means for operation with flame combustion, a control unit is provided for controlling fuel and air supply means in such a manner that, aided by flame combustion operation, the temperature required for FLOX® operation is rapidly achieved and FLOX® operation can be maintained at least in the region directly in front of the burner so as to provide for assisted FLOX® operation of the burner already before the conditions for pure FLOX® operation are established.
US08911228B2	Non-naturally balanced feed system for an injection molding apparatus A low constant pressure injection molding machine forms molded parts by injecting molten thermoplastic material into a mold cavity at low constant pressures of 6,000 psi and lower. As a result, the low constant pressure injection molding machine includes a mold formed of easily machineable material that is less costly and faster to manufacture than typical injection molds.
US08911227B2	Device for injection molding silicone rubber A precision cassette plate, which is an integral component of a mold assembly in an injection molding system, is designed to secure a predetermined number of components fabricated in an injection molding process. The precision cassette plate is designed with two pre-alignment holes and two precision position anti-rotational features that guarantee accurate placement of the precision cassette plate each time at each stage of the manufacturing/assembly process.
US08911226B2	Device for producing three-dimensional models The present invention relates to a device for manufacture of three-dimensional models by means of a 3D printing process, whereby a spreader device is used to deposit particulate material in layers on a build platform and the particulate material flow, which occurs perpendicular to the spreading direction, is transferred into containers that are actively cleaned by sliders or brushes at the spreader device. It exploits the fact that particulate material that is moves dynamically can only bridge small height differences. The arrangement can be implemented in a space-saving manner beneath the spreading plane.
US08911225B2	Compression-molding apparatus and compression-molding method [Problem] To suppress the deviation of a synthetic resin to be fed to a metal mold and to enable the to-be-compression-molded synthetic resin to be easily molded into a shape of a pre-molded article that is to be molded.[Means for Solution] A female mold 31 includes a moving rod 34 and female mold body 33 surrounding the moving rod 34, the female mold body 33 forming a cavity 33a that is opened upward, the moving rod 34 moving up and down between a normal position and an elevated position above the normal position, and when a synthetic resin 8 is to be fallen down from the a synthetic resin cutting/holding unit 14, the moving rod 34 moves to the elevated position so that the synthetic resin 8 falls down on the upper surface of the center member.
US08911222B2	Input shaft assembly for gear pump A shaft assembly includes a shaft with a first radial shoulder and a second radial shoulder. A retainer plate is located at least partially between the first radial shoulder and the second radial shoulder to avoid damage when an impact load is applied to the shaft. A spring assembly biases the shaft out of contact with the retainer plate during operation.
US08911217B2	Abnormality detecting device for hydraulic system An abnormality detecting device for a hydraulic system is disclosed. The hydraulic system has a pressure level switching mechanism that adjusts oil pressure in accordance with the operating state of an internal combustion engine. The device includes an oil pressure sensor and a ECU. The oil pressure sensor detects an oil pressure that is adjusted by the pressure level switching mechanism. When the pressure level switching mechanism changes the oil pressure from a first oil pressure level to a second oil pressure level, which is higher than the first oil pressure level, the ECU compares the oil pressure detected by the oil pressure sensor with a determination oil pressure level, which is lower than and close to the second oil pressure level. The ECU determines that there is an abnormality in the hydraulic system if the oil pressure detected by the oil pressure sensor does not change to pass the determination oil pressure level.
US08911211B2	Wind turbine A wind turbine is described. The turbine includes a hub with one or more blades that rotatably mounted on a frame and operatively coupled to a shaft. The shaft is provided at least partially internally to the frame, and a center piece from which a plurality of spokes extends substantially radially is mounted on the shaft. The hub is provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged axial protrusions. Flexible elements are arranged to connect the spokes to the protrusions.
US08911208B2	Castings, casting cores, and methods The pattern has a pattern material and a casting core combination. The pattern material has an airfoil. The casting core combination is at least partially embedded in the pattern material. The casting core combination comprises a metallic casting core and at least one additional casting core. The metallic casting core has opposite first and second faces. The metallic core and at least one additional casting core extend spanwise into the airfoil of the pattern material. In at least a portion of the pattern material outside the airfoil of the pattern material, the metallic casting core is bent transverse to the spanwise direction so as to at least partially surround an adjacent portion of the at least one additional casting core.
US08911207B1	Deployment device and system for hydrokinetic energy converter turbine A deployment device and system for a hydrokinetic energy converter such as a hydrokinetic turbine that can be coupled to a generator to produce electricity. The deployment device can include a floatable platform including a central aperture sized to allow a hydrokinetic turbine to be lowered therethrough into water. A pair of deployment swing members are rotatably attached to the platform and located adjacent to the central aperture. Each deployment swing member has a support for connection to an end of a hydrokinetic turbine. Each deployment swing member is rotatably supported for rotating the swing members from a first position in which the swing member and any attached turbine are raised at least partially out of the water, through the central aperture, and to a second position in which the swing member and any attached turbine are lowered beneath the platform at least partially in the water.
US08911201B2	Turbine for the expansion of gas/vapour provided with contrast means of the axial thrust on the drive shaft The invention concerns a turbine for the expansion of gas and vapor, comprising a body or case, a fixed external sleeve member, overhanging frontally from a frontal wall of said case, and a turbine shaft (15) extending coaxially and rotating in said external sleeve member (18) with the interposition of a supporting unit (19). The external sleeve member has a head flange to axially hold said supporting unit; the turbine shaft ends with a joint to connect it to a device to be operated. The supporting unit (19) includes ball bearings to support the turbine shaft (15) in said external sleeve member (18), and between said external sleeve member (18) and a contiguous end of said turbine shaft (15) an aggregate (50) is provided to generate an adjustable axial force so as to compensate the axial thrust of the turbine shaft to limit the application of improper axial loads on the ball bearings.
US08911200B2	Assembling titanium and steel parts by diffusion welding A method of assembling together titanium parts and steel parts by diffusion welding, the method interposing two thin layers of niobium or vanadium and copper respectively between a titanium part and a steel part, evacuating the assembly of parts and interposed metal layers, and subjecting the assembly to hot isostatic compression at a temperature lying in a range 900° C. to 950° C. and at a pressure lying in a range 1000 bars to 1500 bars for about two hours. The method can be applied to fabricating turbine shafts for turbomachines.
US08911194B1	Softcapture cradle This soft capture cradle is useful for moving an aircraft having a nose-wheel without contacting the strut, oleo or landing gear, only contacting the nose landing gear tire or wheel. The cradle comprises a front left capture gate; a front right capture gate; a forward motion safety bar; and a rear capture plate. A forward motion safety switch is connected to the forward motion safety bar. The switch is configured to disengage the throttle of an aircraft tug porter when the forward motion safety bar contacts the aircraft nose-wheel. The cradle also includes a means for moving the front left capture gate and front right capture gate between a cradle open position and a cradle closed position. The cradle further includes a means for moving the cradle between a cradle up position and a cradle down position. Still further, the cradle also has a gate lock and cradle locator safety switch configured to locate the cradle, configure to stop the “cradle down” movement when the cradle is lowered to the ground, and configured to prevent “cradle open” movement when the cradle is in the up position.
US08911193B2	Substrate processing sequence in a cartesian robot cluster tool A method and apparatus for processing substrates using a multi-chamber processing system, or cluster tool, is provided. In one embodiment of the invention, a robot assembly is provided. The robot assembly includes a first motion assembly movable in a first direction, and a second motion assembly, the second motion assembly being coupled to the first motion assembly and being movable relative to the first motion assembly in a second direction that is generally orthogonal to the first direction. The robot assembly further comprises an enclosure disposed in one of the first motion assembly or the second motion assembly, the enclosure containing at least a portion of a vertical actuator assembly, a support plate coupled to the enclosure, and a first transfer robot disposed on the support plate.
US08911191B2	Self-indexing nut plate An aircraft comprises a plurality of spanner bars. Each spanner bar has a pattern of mounting holes separated by lands. A plurality of nut plates engage the spanner bars. Each nut plate includes a body having a mounting surface against one of the spanner bars; and first and second posts extending from the mounting surface and through respective holes in the corresponding spanner bar. Each post has an undercut portion that abuts against one of the lands. Each nut plate further includes a locking member occupying a space between one of the posts and the lands to prevent the nut plate from disengaging the corresponding spanner bar.
US08911190B2	Blind rivet with a plastic rivet body A blind rivet made of plastic, the shank of the body has a first region located between the head and the foot end, and the first region has a reduced first wall thickness. Within the first region is located a second region with a second wall thickness further reduced as compared to the first region. The first and second regions are arranged such that, as a result of the rivet setting process, the wall of the shank forms a roll fold with an annular bead that is pressed axially against the blind side of the workpiece.
US08911188B1	Double folding seat for a vehicle The invention relates to a double folding seat for a vehicle, particularly a public transportation vehicle such as a bus or a train, with a bench seat positioned in the direction of travel of the vehicle that has a backrest and a seating surface that can be folded between a home position and a sitting position, with a retaining device for holding a wheelchair or the like that has at least two hooks arranged in extension of the backrest and mounted on a wall supported on a floor of the vehicle, which hooks can be tightened by respective tightening members and loosened by respective loosening members, with a safety belt for the wheelchair user and with a covering for the tightening members and loosening members.
US08911186B2	Dust extractor A suction cup dust extractor for a drill having a housing; a drill collar attached to the housing, having a drill passage formed through it; a recess formed by the walls of the housing having an opening and which, in use, locates against a work piece to create a chamber; a single aperture located on the housing through which air can pass; at least one first air passage formed by the walls of the housing which connects between the drill and the aperture to enable air to pass from the drill passage to the aperture; and at least one second air passage formed within the housing which connects between the recess and the at least one first air passage and which enables air to pass from the recess to the aperture via a part of the at least one first air passage; characterized in that there is a dividing wall which forms both one of the walls of the recess and one of the walls of the first passage, the at least one second passage being an aperture formed through that wall.
US08911177B2	Stowing method for goaf of potash salt ore A method of stowing a goaf of potash salt ore comprising making wall slurry into barricades each have the same area as the sectional area of a tunnel and a thickness of 0.5 to 5 meters inside the underground tunnels in goaf of potash salt ore, with the interval between adjacent barricades being 5 to 100 meters, then stowing the interval between the barricades by using the filling slurry is described. The stowing method uses the wall slurry of high strength that is solidified with a gelling agent as the main bearing material, and uses the solidified filling slurry with a low strength as the main filling material, which has a good effect when compared with conventional filling materials. Moreover, the stowing method effectively utilizes the tail liquids, thereby reducing the addition of other additives, decreasing the cost, avoiding the discharge of liquid waste and relieving the environmental pressure.
US08911176B2	Subsea crude oil and/or gas containment and recovery system and method A system and a method to contain and recover crude oil and/or gas from a leaking wellhead on a sea bed is described. The system broadly consists of a series of elongated tubes positioned vertically from the sea floor and enclosing the wellhead and rising to the sea surface to be recovered. The leaking crude oil and/or gas rises is contained in the elongated tubes and rises through the series of elongated tubes to sea surface for recovery. Recovery of the crude oil and/or gas on the sea surface is carried out by any of the means currently applicable for this purpose. The method describes how to deploy the crude oil and/or gas containment and recovery system.
US08911166B2	Cutting device and printer with a cutting device A cutting device and a printer having a cutting device eliminate paper jams and other transportation problems that can occur as a result of the cutting device cutting the paper, and can cut and reliably discharge the paper in a stable condition. The cutting device has a fixed knife 21, a transportation path 13 through which label paper 11 is conveyed, and a movable knife 22 that moves bidirectionally to the fixed knife 21 and cuts the label paper 11 on the upstream side of the fixed knife 21 on the transportation path 13. A catching unit 22b is disposed to the surface of the movable knife 22 on the upstream side of the transportation path 13, and catches the cut end of the label paper 11 after the movable knife 22 moves to the fixed knife 21 side and cuts the label paper 11.
US08911162B2	Clamp assembly for scope and camera phone mount for a weapon A clamp assembly for a scope and camera phone mount is disclosed. In particular, a clamp assembly for a camera phone attachment to a scope of a weapon is provided including a spacer block having a first end coupleable to a camera phone mount and having a recess with first and second flanges that engage a portion of the camera phone mount. The second end of the spacer block has a recess which receives a portion of a weapon scope. A scope securing member is coupled to the spacer block on a first end of the scope securing member by a tongue and groove assembly and on a second end by a thumb screw. The scope securing member receives a portion of the weapon scope.
US08911161B2	Thermal mechanical diffusion system and method Provided is a thermal mechanical diffusion system and method. In accordance with the present invention, one end of a fiber under tension is vibrated while a portion of the fiber is heated. A push-pull action of one end of the fiber forces increased (or rapid) diffusion of dopants in the portion of the fiber that is in a heat zone, which receives the heat. By controlling the amplitude and frequency of the vibration, a diffusion profile of one or more fibers can be dictated with precision. Heat sources having narrower thermal profiles can enable greater precision in dictating the diffusion profile. As an example, this can be particularly useful for creating a diffusion taper within a fiber to be spliced, where the taper is a result of thermal expansion of the fiber core. Diffusion can occur much more rapidly than is typical.
US08911153B2	Spherical elastomeric bearing with improved shim thickness An elastomeric spherical bearing includes a multiple of shims, at least two of which have different thicknesses. In one exemplary embodiment, each of the shims has a different thickness with a generally equivalent stress on each shim.
US08911152B2	Bearing The bearing device has a support ring positioned around a rotating shaft and a plurality of bearing pads provided between the rotating shaft and the support ring and configured to support the rotating shaft. Some of the plurality of bearing pads are positioned at a lower side of the rotating shaft, and a key member is installed between the support ring and a carrier ring supporting the plurality of bearing pads. The key member is inserted therebetween in a tangential direction of an outer circumference of the carrier ring and is configured to perform positioning of the plurality of bearing pads and the support ring in a radial direction.
US08911147B2	System and method for analyzing a thermal image using configurable markers A graphical user interface for analyzing thermal images is provided. The interface can be used to identify the temperatures at multiple areas of interest defined on an image. The areas can be denoted by configurable markers of different predetermined shapes. In some embodiments, the interface simultaneously displays temperature statistics relating to the user-identified areas of interest.
US08911146B2	Device and method for measuring the temperature of a wall in a vessel preform A method of measuring the wall temperature of a container blank, including the following operations: inserting a temperature probe into the blank in motion, upon completion of the operation of heating the blank in an oven; maintaining the probe in the blank in motion for a predetermined time; making a temperature measurement by the probe maintained in the blank without contact with the inner wall of the blank; and storing the temperature or the temperature profile thus measured.
US08911143B2	Switch device A switch device of the present invention includes a cylindrical member attached to a through hole of a wristwatch case, an operation member having an operation shaft section inserted into the cylindrical member and an operation head section provided at the outer end of the operation member, a cushioning member attached to the operation head section of the operation member to cover the operation head section, and an exterior member fixed to the operation head section to cover the cushioning member and from which a plurality of portions of the cushioning member project outwardly. Therefore, when the exterior member receives an external impact, the impact can be mitigated by the cushioning member projecting outwardly from the exterior member. As a result, the operation member and the cylindrical member can be prevented from being damaged by the external impact, whereby the impact resistance can be increased.
US08911142B1	Bowl and spatula assembly A bowl and spatula assembly provides an integrated spatula to scrape a mixture efficiently from a mixing bowl. The assembly includes a bowl having a bottom and a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the bottom. An arcuate spatula has opposite ends pivotally coupled to the bowl. The spatula also has an outer perimeter edge abutting an inner surface of the bowl whereby the spatula is configured for scraping a substance out of the bowl when the spatula is pivoted.
US08911139B2	Internal batch mixer with alarm An internal batch mixer is provided with: a casing within which a material is mixed; a door which opens and closes a material discharge opening of the casing by being rotated about the axis thereof and closes the material discharge opening when in a closed state; and a latch mechanism which, when the material is mixed in the casing, holds the door in a latched state, the latched state being a state in which the material discharge opening is being closed by the door and cannot be opened, and which, when the material having been mixed in the casing is discharged from the inside of the casing, releases the door from the latched state. The latch mechanism is provided with a linear actuator which has a movable section capable of moving linearly and moves the movable section to the door side to supply power to the latch member, the power causing the latch member to move to the door side, and a linear sensor for measuring the distance of linear movement of the movable section caused by the linear actuator. Information relating to the displacement of the latch member is displayed on a display device on the basis of the distance of linear movement of the movable section measured by the linear sensor.
US08911137B2	Desktop item with LED means has USB-unit(s) or USB-module to charge other electric or digital data device(s) Desk top items with LEDs also include USB-unit(s) or USB-module(s) and, optionally, additional outlet-units, to supply charging power to other electric or digital devices such as a smart phone or digital data device. The USB-unit(s) or USB-module(s) are arranged to supply power only, and do not have an additional USB data transfer function.
US08911136B2	Illumination apparatus and display device Provided is an illumination apparatus which prevents variations in the distance between the light-receiving surface of a light guide plate and a light source. Also provided is a display device which incorporates the illumination apparatus. The light guide plate, which constitutes a backlight unit, receives light through a light-receiving surface with the light-receiving surface oriented toward the light being emitted. In the backlight unit, pillars extend to intersect the direction of emission from an LED and are thus brought into contact with a device-carrying board and the light guide plate, which are superposed one on the other, thereby securing the device-carrying board and the light guide plate.
US08911135B2	Light guide plate having uniform light emission and backlight module including same A light guide plate includes a light incident surface, a bottom plate, a light emitting surface opposite to the bottom plate, and a side surface opposite to the light incident surface. The light incident surface is perpendicular to the light emitting surface. The bottom surface is imaginarily divided into rectangular sub-portions which are equal in area and shape. A portion of the sub-portions close to the side surface constitutes a main portion. Each sub-portion uniformly distributes micro protrusions. Along a direction from the light incident surface to the side surface, the micro protrusion densities of the sub-portions of the main portion gradually ascend, and the difference values of the micro protrusion densities of any two adjacent sub-portions of the main portion gradually ascend.
US08911126B2	Vehicle lamp system A vehicle lamp system includes a laser source, a reflecting mirror, a light converting element and a reflecting plate. The reflecting mirror is located at a position towards a light emitting direction of the laser source. Light generated from the laser source is reflected to the light converting element by the reflecting mirror. The light converting element includes a base and diffusing particles cooperating with the base. The light transmitted from the reflecting mirror is diffused via the light converting element. The reflecting plate reflects the light transmitted from the light converting element out of a vehicle.
US08911122B2	Seam hider for tiled displays A tiled display (100) for lighting or imaging includes a plurality of display tiles (110) arranged side by side. The tiled display (100) furthermore includes a seam hiding arrangement (114) formed of at least one light absorbing cloth or textile (114) in a seam (112) between two neighboring display tiles (110). A corresponding method for assembling or adjusting a tiled display is described. The seam hiding arrangement may be used for blocking environmental light or stray light in the seams and optionally also for aligning or controlling the position of the display tiles.
US08911115B2	Irradiation device One spectrum correction filter that changes a spectral characteristic of emission light from the light source, at least one neutral density filter disposed on the same optical axis of the spectrum correction filter, wherein the at least one spectrum correction filter and/or the at least one neutral density filter is tilted so that a travel direction of reflection light reflected from the at least one spectrum correction filter is deviated from the optical axis.
US08911112B2	Light emitting element adjusting and fixing structure, optical scanner, and image forming apparatus A light emitting element adjusting and fixing structure includes a light emitting element having a plurality of light emitting points is fixed to a housing with a holding member. The housing includes a mounting hole having a reference plane to which the light emitting element is mounted, and a holding portion for holding the holding member such that the light emitting element can be rotated in contact with the reference plane. A distance between the adjacent light emitting points in a projection plane of the light emitting points can be adjusted by rotationally adjusting the light emitting element with respect to an optical axis in a state in which the holding member is held by the holding portion, and then fixing the light emitting element to the housing.
US08911110B2	Lighting device A lighting device includes a light emitting module including a substrate and a light emitting device mounted on the substrate; a case body receiving the light emitting module; a gap member contacting the case body and wider than the substrate; a lens on the light emitting module and contacting the gap member; a first ring provided on a peripheral portion of the lens; and a case cover coupled with the case body and having an opening, wherein the case body is provided therein with a coupling cavity in which the gap member is seated, and wherein the lens includes a first portion between the ring and the gap member and a second portion that extends outward from the first portion through the opening of the case cover.
US08911108B2	Light bulb shaped lamp and lighting apparatus A light bulb shaped lamp includes: a hollow globe having an opening; an LED module having a base platform and an LED chip mounted on the base platform, the LED module being housed in the globe; a stem extending from the opening of the globe to the vicinity of the LED module; and a regulating component which regulates movement of the LED module with respect to the stem.
US08911106B2	Surface illumination fixture and surface illumination device [Purpose] To provide a surface illumination fixture using a point light source having strong directivity.[Constitution] In the surface illumination fixture 3 including a surface illumination light-source device 6 converting light from a plurality of point light sources 36 having strong directivity into surface illumination and an illumination fixture main body 41, the surface illumination light-source device 6 includes a casing 30 having a flat plate part 35 being used to attach the surface illumination light-source device to the illumination fixture main body, lateral plate parts standing from the flat plate part, and an opening on a surface opposite to the flat plate part, and includes a light-guide reflection plate covering the opening. The flat plate part 35, the lateral plate parts 32 and 33, and the light-guide reflection plate 40 are formed by members having a high light reflectance and a low light transmittance. The light-guide reflection plate 40 is formed to have a lower light reflectance and a higher light transmittance as the distance from the corresponding point light source increases. The illumination fixture main body 41 having attaching means for attachment to a ceiling or a wall.
US08911105B2	LED lamp with shaped light distribution A lamp comprises an optically transmissive enclosure. A plurality of LEDs for emitting light are located to emit light toward the enclosure. The enclosure has at least one reflective area disposed on the enclosure to reflect a portion of the light into the enclosure to create a desired luminous intensity distribution.
US08911104B2	Mounting bracket and wiring system for linear LED tube lighting A mounting bracket for a linear LED tube-type light to be installed principally inside of display cases, shelves and soffits. In one embodiment, a cylindrical bracket is mounted to each side of a display case and an LED tube light (a semi-cylinder with mounted LED circuit boards) is inserted into these brackets and secured with a set screw. This bracket/tube system allows for power harness wiring through either side of the case or through a down rod at various positions to the bracket. Additional embodiments allow for mounting said brackets to the underside of the case glass or side walls using adhesive. Further embodiments incorporate this same cylindrical bracket design to mount the LED light tube to the front edge of shelves or on to a flat pedestal for mounting to a variety of flat surfaces such as a wall or ledge. Additional related embodiments are described and shown herein.
US08911103B2	Adjustable portable light A portable light includes: a cylindrical housing having a longitudinal axis and receiving a bezel and a lamp for projecting a light radially away from the longitudinal axis; and a cradle assembly including a clamp for receiving the cylindrical housing, wherein the clamp includes a plurality of features for engaging selected ones of corresponding features on the cylindrical housing to secure the cylindrical housing at a selected rotational position about its longitudinal axis with regard to the cradle assembly.
US08911098B2	Substrate for a mirror support with reduced weight as well as mirror with reduced-weight mirror support In a substrate, particularly in a substrate for a mirror support, in which recesses are introduced in one surface, preferably in the back side of the substrate, as a result of which, in particular, bridging pieces are defined between the recesses, in order to achieve the situation that despite a reduced weight, a high rigidity still remains, which means only a slight sagging after its correct uptake in a holding device provided for it, it is provided that at least one first portion of the bridging pieces has a width that is different than a second portion of the bridging pieces.
US08911095B2	Discharge lamp driving device, projector, and method for driving a discharge lamp A discharge lamp driving device includes: a direct-current power supply section (a power supply section) that controls a current of power to be supplied to a discharge lamp from input power, and outputs the current; a voltage detecting section that detects a lamp voltage (a drive voltage) of the discharge lamp; and a control section that controls a modulation factor of a lamp current (a drive current) on which amplitude modulation has been performed, the lamp current (the drive current) which is supplied to the discharge lamp from the direct-current power supply section (the power supply section), in accordance with the detected lamp voltage (drive voltage) of the discharge lamp.
US08911092B2	Illuminating device, projecting device, and method for controlling projecting device An illuminating device for emitting light onto a light modulating element that forms an image in accordance with a modulation signal and irradiates a target to be illuminated with light, the illuminating device includes a substrate on which equal to or more than two phosphors that emit light with exciting light are formed in a band-like form along a predetermined direction, equal to or more than two light collecting units that are arranged for the respective equal to or more than two phosphors, and collect light components emitted from the respective equal to or more than two phosphors, and a driving unit that drives the substrate in the predetermined direction.
US08911091B2	Ophthalmologic apparatus having corneal thickness correction An ophthalmologic apparatus images a cross-section of the cornea of the eye to be examined based on return light from the eye illuminated with measurement light, measures a corneal thickness from a cornea cross-sectional image of the imaged eye, and corrects the corneal thickness based on the position of the cornea cross-sectional image on an imaging plane.
US08911089B2	Normalization of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements made by time domain-optical coherence tomography A scan location matching (SLM) method identifies conventional time domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT) circle scan locations within three-dimensional spectral domain OCT scan volumes. A technique uses both the SLM algorithm and a mathematical retinal nerve fiber bundle distribution (RNFBD) model, which is a simplified version of the anatomical retinal axon bundle distribution pattern, to normalize TD-OCT thickness measurements for the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) of an off-centered TD-OCT circle scan to a virtual location, centered on the optic nerve head. The RNFBD model eliminates scan-to-scan RNFL thickness measurement variation caused by manual placement of TD-OCT circle scan.
US08911085B2	Pupilary screening system and method A method of screening a pupil of a subject to determine whether the pupil reflex resembles a canonical pupil reflex is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of stimulating the pupil with a stimulus source, such as a pupilometer and determining whether one of various pupillary response conditions is met.
US08911084B2	Ophthalmic instrument for the measurement of ocular refraction and visual simulation, and associated methods of measurement of ocular refraction, simulation of ophthalmic elements, visual simulation and for obtaining optical parameters An ophthalmic instrument for measurement of ocular refraction and visual simulation and a method of measurement obtaining the ocular refraction in a binocular manner, which incorporates a digitally controlled phase modulator for generating best ophthalmic correction in each subject. The instrument enables measuring refraction, not only associated with blurring and astigmatism, but also optical aberration of any order. The phoropter can simulate vision by any phase profile, including those of a diffractive or discontinuous type. The instrument also incorporates a subsystem for presentation of stimuli that produces stereoscopic vision of the same, enabling the subject to enjoy a three dimensional perception during the process, and two output pupils. The instrument, by its electro-optical features, enables simulation of vision as it would be modified after submitting an eye to different surgical techniques, such as refractive surgery or interocular lens implantation.
US08911082B2	Eyewear lenses with controlled filters for night driving The present invention is embodied in an eyewear lens with at least two controlled, limited visible light blocking filters that attenuate its transmittance spectrum. More specifically, in the present invention, the eyewear lens attenuates limited amounts of light in at least two visible wavelength regions via controlled, limited blocking filters, wherein the overall luminous transmittance is at least 75%. The at least two controlled, limited blocking filters have their peak blocking wavelengths in the region of 410-500 nm and 530-620 nm, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the minimum transmittance that occurs within the 410-500 nm region is ≧55% and the minimum transmittance that occurs within the 530-620 nm region is ≧65%. In another preferred embodiment, the eyewear lens comprises an anti-reflective coating on its inner surface (the eye-side of the lens).
US08911074B2	Ink jet recording method An ink jet recording method includes recording a white color-based image by discharging droplets of a white color-based ink composition from nozzles of an ink jet recording head, and then attaching the droplets of the white color-based ink composition on a recording surface of a flexible packing film, recording a color by discharging droplets of a color ink composition from the nozzles, and then attaching the droplets of the color ink composition on the white color-based image, and firstly heating at least the white color-based image and the color image at temperature higher than 40° C., in which the white color-based ink composition contains water, a coloring material of a white color base, and a urethane-based resin, but substantially does not contain alkyl polyols having a normal boiling point of 280° C. or more, and the color ink composition contains water, and a coloring material of a color system.
US08911071B2	Ink jet ink, ink cartridge, and ink jet recording method An ink jet ink includes a pigment and a polyurethane polymer having units derived from a polyisocyanate, a polyol, and a diol having an acid group, and in the ink jet ink described above, an acid value of the polyurethane polymer is 20 mgKOH/g or more and 100 mgKOH/g or less, the unit derived from the polyisocyanate includes a unit derived from a compound represented by the following general formula (I), and the proportion of the unit derived from the compound represented by the general formula (I) in the unit derived from the polyisocyanate is 90 percent by mole or less.
US08911067B2	Printing liquid transfer and supply system A printing system for printing on a print media includes a first printhead and a second printhead for printing on the print media. A first liquid supply module including a first liquid reservoir is in fluid communication with the first printhead and provides liquid from the first liquid reservoir to the first printhead. A second liquid supply module including a second liquid reservoir is in fluid communication with the second printhead and provides liquid from the second liquid reservoir to the second printhead. A liquid transfer module transfers liquid between the first liquid reservoir and the second liquid reservoir. A method of transferring liquid in the printing system is also provided.
US08911063B2	Thin film forming apparatus, thin film forming method, electro-mechanical transducer element, liquid ejecting head, and inkjet recording apparatus A thin film forming apparatus which automatically forms, on an electrode layer formed on a substrate, a functional thin film which is crystallized from a precursor layer is disclosed, including a water-repellant film forming unit which forms, on a region other than a region on which is to be formed the functional thin film on the electrode layer, a water-repellant film which includes a self-assembled monolayer; an inkjet coating unit which coats, on the region on which is to be formed the functional thin film on the electrode layer, the precursor layer by an inkjet method; and a controller which controls, to within a predetermined time, a time from forming the water-repellant film with the water-repellant film forming unit to coating the precursor layer with the inkjet coating unit.
US08911060B2	Passivation of printhead assemblies and components therefor A printhead assembly comprising the printhead and filters intended for use with the printhead is passivated by passing a gaseous coating such as Parylene through the assembly. In this way dirt particles created during manufacture of the printhead are encapsulated and thus prevented from blocking the nozzles. The printhead assembly is also prevented from interacting physically or chemically with ink flowing through the printhead.
US08911050B2	Droplet ejecting apparatus and computer-readable medium In recording on a back side of a sheet in duplex recording, an overlapping pixel where both a pixel in back-side image data and a pixel opposed thereto in front-side image data has a gray level value larger than zero is retrieved from the front-side and back-side image data. A block area containing at least a predetermined number of overlapping pixels is extracted as an overlap area from block areas arranged in a matrix in the back-side image data. The area drying time in a block area other than the overlap area is determined from the volume of droplets to be ejected to the back side. The area drying time in the overlap area is determined from the total volume of droplets to be ejected to the front and back sides. The maximum area drying time is determined to be the drying time for the back side.
US08911049B2	Method for activating a processing device and processing device activated in such a way To activate a processing device which processes a surface of a moving work piece at regular intervals, wherein a predetermined time duration passes between an activation signal of the processing device and the processing on the surface, the movement of the work piece is sensed with a sensor that generates work pulses. A respective control pulse is generated if a predetermined number of work pulses has been generated. A number of the work pulses is repeatedly detected in a respective time interval that corresponds to the predetermined time duration. The activation signals are each generated at each control pulse of a series, and the activation signals are offset forward in time relative to the respective control pulse corresponding to the number of work pulses that have been detected in the respective time interval. The activation signals are output to the processing device.
US08911046B2	Method, apparatus, and system to provide droplets with consistent arrival time on a substrate Described herein is a method, apparatus, and system for driving a droplet ejection device with multi-pulse waveforms. In one embodiment, a method for driving a droplet ejection device having an actuator includes applying a first subset of a multi-pulse waveform to the actuator to cause the droplet ejection device to eject a first droplet of a fluid in response to the first subset. The method includes applying a second subset of the multi-pulse waveform to the actuator to cause the droplet ejection device to eject a second droplet of the fluid in response to the second subset. The first subset includes a drive pulse that is positioned in time near a beginning of a clock cycle of the first subset. The first droplet has a smaller volume than the second droplet.
US08911045B2	Printing device and method for controlling printing device A control section of a printing device has a print instruction receiving section configured to receive print instructions to a printing medium including a plurality of pages, and an ink use analyzing section configured to analyze image forming dots formed on each page and to output each of ink use information and ink non-use information for each page. The control section is configured to acquire the ink non-use information of a given first page of continuous pages of the plurality of pages and the ink use information of a second page that is a next page of the first page, and to determine to use ink, that is not used in the first page shown by the ink non-use information and is used in the second page shown by the ink use information, at least for flushing dots to the first page.
US08911043B2	Ink delivery system An ink delivery device, method and non-transitory computer readable medium, the device may include a first closed pathway for a first ink flow through a multi-nozzle printhead in a first direction, and a second closed pathway for a second ink flow through the multi-nozzle printhead, the second pathway configured to move the second ink flow in a second direction. The device may further include a first shunt between the first closed pathway and the second closed pathway at a first end of the multi-nozzle printhead, the first shunt allowing some of the first ink flow to merge with the second ink flow, and a second shunt between the first closed pathway and the second closed pathway at a second end of the multi-nozzle printhead, the second shunt allowing some of the second ink flow to merge with the first ink flow.
US08911042B2	Refrigerator shelf adjustment system with in-shelf lighting An adjustable refrigerator shelf assembly receives electrical power through a loosely draped conductor held within a pocket on one side of the shelf assembly. The shelf assembly may include a detent mechanism allowing adjustment of the shelf assembly upward and downward by successive lifting and lowering of the shelf without direct manipulation of a detent or a lock allowing both the detent mechanism and conductor to be wholly covered at all times.
US08911037B2	Brackets and associated components for drawer and tray slides in cabinetry A bracket for attaching a drawer slide to a cabinet wall includes: a main panel having front and rear surfaces, upper and lower edges, and opposed side edges; an L-shaped upper flange mounted to front surface of the main panel; an L-shaped lower flange mounted to the front surface of the main panel substantially parallel to the upper flange; a recess in the main panel positioned between the upper flange and the lower flange; an access ramp extending between one of the side edges and the recess; and means for mounting the main panel to the cabinet wall so that the rear surface confronts the rear wall. The upper and lower flanges are configured to capture the upper and lower edges of a panel of a mating bracket that is attached to a drawer slide. The recess is configured to receive and capture a nub extending from the panel of the mating bracket, the recess being of sufficient length that the nub can translate horizontally within the recess, thereby enabling the horizontal position of the mating bracket to be adjusted relative to the main panel.
US08911036B2	Domestic appliance hinge assembly with hinge keeper A hinge assembly is provided for pivotably attaching a door to a domestic appliance. The hinge assembly has a hinge body that attaches to the door; a damper including a damper cylinder attached to the hinge body; a foot attached to the hinge body and the cylinder and engaging a foot receiving portion of the domestic appliance; and a hinge keeper fixedly attached to the appliance body of the domestic appliance. The hinge keeper has a retaining portion that contacts the foot, the retaining portion having an edge that contacts the foot from above such that the foot is prevented from moving vertically upward relative to the appliance body of the domestic appliance, and a fixing portion fixed to the appliance body of the domestic appliance and preventing the retaining portion from moving vertically upward relative to the appliance body of the domestic appliance.
US08911031B2	Track system This invention generally relates to track systems and traction assemblies for use as wheel replacement for normally wheeled vehicles. The track system uses a traction band disposed about a sprocket wheel, idler wheels and road wheels for propulsion. The idler wheels and road wheels are typically pivotally mounted to a support frame, itself configured to be coupled to the sprocket wheel via a support member. The track system also comprises a movement limiting link mounted both to the support member and to the vehicle frame. The movement limiting link limits longitudinal and lateral movements of the track system, such as to prevent contact between the track system and the vehicle.
US08911029B2	Electric braking device In an electric braking device that produces brake fluid pressure by driving a second slave piston in the axial direction with the driving force by a motor, a driving force transmission mechanism for transferring the driving force by the motor includes a nut that rotates upon reception of the rotational driving force by the motor, and a ball screw shaft which is engaged with the nut and is movable in the axial direction and which abuts the second slave piston. The electric braking device further includes a worn-out reducer for reducing the worn-out of a contact part between the ball screw shaft and the second slave piston.
US08911027B2	Mixed braking device with optimized control A braking device including a dissipative braking system, an electric braking system, and a first actuating device combined with the dissipative braking system. A second actuating device is combined with the electric braking system and a position sensor is combined with the second actuating device. This second actuating device is designed to drive the first actuating device after a non-zero travel from its inactive position, and the sensor is designed to drive the electric brake system according to the displacement travel of the second actuating device from its inactive position.
US08911026B2	Variable lug insert for wheel opening A wheel assembly configured for attachment to a vehicle via a plurality of wheel studs or holes, the wheel assembly including a wheel defining a plurality of wheel openings therethrough, wherein each of the wheel openings has a non-circular shape and is configured to receive a wheel stud or bolt; and a plurality of variable lug inserts, wherein one of the variable lug inserts is within each of the openings and wherein each variable lug insert comprises a body having a longitudinal cross-sectional shape generally corresponding to the non-circular shape of the wheel opening and a variable lug insert opening extending through the body.
US08911019B2	Adjustable and reconfigurable head array system for a power wheelchair Certain embodiments provide a head array system for a power wheelchair, including a head array body and one or more lateral arms. The head array body includes shafts. Each of the shafts includes lateral arm receiving sections. The one or more lateral arms are detachably coupled to one of the lateral arm receiving sections of one of the shafts.
US08911016B2	Seat structure A seat structure is configured to allow three passengers to be seated, respectively, in a left seat (1L), a right seat (1R), and a region striding across a boundary between the right and left seats (1R, 1L). The left seat (1L) can be slid leftward to create a walk-through space (S) between the right and left seats (1R, 1L). A headrest (1c) for a middle seat passenger seated between the right and left seats (1R, 1L) is split into right and left split headrests each supported on a top of a seat back of a corresponding seat. The middle seat passenger's left split headrest (1c-L) is moved with the left seat (1L) when sliding the left seat (1L) to allow the right and left seats (1R, 1L) to become spaced apart from each other so as to unblock the walk-through space (S).
US08911014B2	Vehicle seat Provided is a vehicle seat which has a simple structure, prevents the lower back region of an occupant from sinking into the seat back, induces backward rotation of the entire upper body when a rear-end collision occurs, and reduces the degree to which the neck region of the occupant independently tilts backward, and is therefore able to effectively reduce the load on the neck region and so on of the occupant. A vehicle seat is provided with a neck-burden reduction element that, during a rear-end collision, causes a greater amount of backward movement of a connection point between the neck region and a torso region of the occupant than the amount of backward movement of a lower torso region of the occupant, and causes an upper torso region of the occupant to sink into the seat back.
US08911011B2	Armrest assembly having beverage holder An armrest assembly includes a body and a pair of elongate side members at an outer side periphery of the body. The assembly further includes a tray extending between the side members, wherein the tray defines a beverage holder and is slidably mounted relative to the body.
US08911009B2	Rocking-reclining seating unit A reclining seating unit includes: a base; a rocker assembly fixed to the base; an arm frame fixed to the rocker assembly, wherein the rocker assembly is configured such that the arm frame experiences rocking motion relative to the base; a generally horizontally-disposed seat; a generally upright backrest positioned rearwardly of the seat; a footrest unit; and a reclining mechanism that interconnects and controls movement of the seat and the backrest relative to the arm frame between an upright position and a reclined position. The footrest unit comprises at least one footrest and a footrest mechanism that interconnects the footrest with the seat. And is decoupled from the reclining mechanism. When the backrest moves between the upright and reclined positions, the footrest unit moves relative to the arm frame in concert with the seat. In the reclined position, the rocking mechanism prevents the arm frame from rocking.
US08911003B2	Arrangement consisting of a support and a tie bolt An arrangement, comprising a bearing support (1), a mass to be supported (2) and a support (3), which is connected with the mass to be supported (2) and supports itself on the bearing support (1), wherein the mass to be supported (2) is movable relative to the bearing support (1) and wherein a linkage element (4) is provided, which ties the bearing support (1) onto the mass to be supported (2), in consideration of the problem, an arrangement is to be indicated in which a support is easily and permanently connected with a bearing support in a stable manner, wherein the linkage element (4) includes a disk-shaped section (5) and a bolt-shaped section (6), which are designed as one piece together.
US08911002B2	Vehicle with parking brake lever A driver seat is disposed at a position offset by a predetermined distance to the left from a vehicle width center line and an ingress-egress opening through which a driver gets on and off the vehicle is provided on a lateral side of the driver seat. A door is attached to a left upper frame via a door hinge and the ingress-egress opening is opened and closed by using the door. A parking brake lever is disposed near the left upper frame and the door hinge is provided on the same left upper frame. Since the door hinge and the parking brake lever are disposed close to each other, there is no possibility of the parking brake lever hindering ingress and egress.
US08911000B2	Retractable air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least two air deflection elements coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle. The air deflection elements are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, and may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control. The air deflection elements are preferably arranged above, below and on either side of the rear-facing door(s) of the vehicle, with at least the latter two air deflection elements having matching configurations. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed.
US08910998B1	Systems and methods for altering the color, appearance, or feel of a vehicle surface Systems and methods for altering the appearance and/or texture of a vehicle surface include installing a vest relative to a vehicle surface such that an exterior side of the vest, spaced from the vehicle surface, defines a fluid-tight space between the vehicle surface and the exterior side of the vest. Visual media can be provided into and from the fluid-tight space using one or more ports, the exterior side being at least partially transparent or translucent such that the visible media within the fluid-tight space are visible through the exterior side of the vest, thereby allowing the repeatable alteration of the appearance of the surface.
US08910996B2	Tarp deploying device for rear dump trailer A tarp deploying apparatus includes radial arm with a proximal arm and a distal arm. The distal arm is formed from a flexible material such as a double-walled hydraulic hose. The distal arm attaches to a tarp roller having a splined end. The distal arm is selectively removable from the distal arm to permit a hand crank with a female splined socket to be attached to the splined end of the tarp roller to permit hand operation of the tarp deploying system when the electric motor is not functional. A mounting bracket including two feet, a pair of legs and a support span allows easy mounting of the tarp deploying apparatus.
US08910993B2	Cowling structure of riding-type vehicle A cowling structure includes a head pipe mounted to the front of a body frame, a steering gear held such that it is capable of pivoting about the axis of the head pipe, side cowls each arranged at the transverse outside of the body frame, together with an opening so formed in each side cowl that it communicates with the transverse outside and inside of each side cowl. When viewed in a side view, the side cowls are lengthened up to the fore of the head pipe, and the opening is in such a position that it is level with the head pipe and overlaps with the steering gear in the fore of the head pipe. Such cowling structure permits less damages to the external appearance while providing the improvement in the lightness of banking at the time in the early stage of turning of a vehicle body.
US08910992B2	Bus with a panoramic front window A bus which enhances the viewing experience of passengers by providing a panoramic front window to enable a passenger to see into a cab section of the bus and through the panoramic front window. The panoramic front window has a predetermined configuration that minimizes drag and includes a cab section window as well as a passenger section window.
US08910991B2	Device for fastening a compressible areal structure to a body part of a vehicle The invention relates to a device for fastening a compressible areal structure to a body part of a vehicle having at least one connecting element and at least one counterpart element, which subject to fixing a compressible areal structure to a body part can be connected to each other. It is provided that the counterpart element comprises a mounting, into which the connecting element for connecting to the counterpart element can be inserted, wherein the mounting allows a movement of the connecting element relative to the counterpart element subject to maintaining the fixing of areal structure and body part. The invention furthermore relates to an arrangement of body part, compressible areal structure and at least one device for fastening the areal structure to the body part. The body part can be a window support, in particular for the windshield of a vehicle, and the areal structure can be a sound/and a heat-insulating structure.
US08910989B1	Extensible trailer An extensible trailer has a rear frame supporting a front cargo deck, and a front frame supporting a front cargo deck. The rear frame has a yoke fixed to it for the front frame to slide in and out of, between collapsed and extended extremes. When collapsing the trailer, the front frame slides into the yoke as the front cargo deck rides up over a front edge of the rear cargo deck, until it lands on top of the rear cargo deck, where it stays all the while the trailer is in the collapsed position. When extending the trailer, the front frame slides out from the yoke as the front cargo deck slides back over the rear cargo deck's front edge, until it lands on top of the front frame, where it stays all the while the trailer is in the extended position.
US08910988B2	Adaptable bin with folding secondary bin An adaptable bin includes a bin floor, at least two bin side walls, and one or more bin end walls. The bin floor, bin side walls, and bin end wall define a primary storage volume and define a bin opening allowing access to the primary storage volume. The adaptable bin also includes a secondary shelf moveable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The secondary shelf defines a secondary storage volume in the expanded position. The secondary shelf includes a first shelf segment and a first hinge, which rotatably connects the first shelf segment to the bin end wall, and a second shelf segment and a second hinge, which rotatably connects the first and second shelf segments. The first and second shelf segments are substantially parallel to the bin end wall in the collapsed position and are substantially perpendicular to the bin end wall in the expanded position.
US08910983B1	Slide fastener extension tether device and method A slide fastener extension tether device facilitates manipulation of a slide fastener on a rear side of a garment. The device includes a cord having a first end and a second end. A first clip is coupled to the first end of the cord. The first clip is configured for coupling to a garment in a position reachable by a person wearing the garment. A second clip is coupled to the second end of the cord. The second clip has a pair of biased jaws wherein the second clip is configured for engaging a slider of a slide fastener such that pulling on the cord urges the slider to move along opposed sides the slide fastener wherein the slide fastener is selectively openable and closable by manipulation of the cord.
US08910982B2	Exhaust gas odor foam blocking structure The present invention includes an improved rear bumper assembly which is designed to help prevent exhaust gases from entering a vehicle. The bumper assembly can have a blocking structure sealed to the bumper cover and the rear of the vehicle. This blocking structure helps push the exhaust gases down and away from the rear of the vehicle which can help carry the exhaust gases away from the vehicle as it travels forward.
US08910981B2	Door latch A door latch mechanism (10) comprises a pin (11) having an elongate axis, and releasable jaw means (12) comprising a pair of jaw elements (18) which engage the pin therebetween to latch a door (16) in a closed position to a door frame (14). The pin is mounted on the door or the door frame with biasing means, such as a pair of springs, so as to allow the pin to move substantially linearly in a direction perpendicular to the elongate axis of the pin and substantially parallel to the plane of the door when in the closed position. The movement of the pin (11) allowed by the biasing means caters for any vertical displacement of the door caused by worn hinges for example without any forced distortion of the door. The invention is of particular benefit to doors having no frame and which are susceptible to flexing and come with the associated risk of structural failure.
US08910980B2	Liquid-tight fitting A liquid-tight fitting comprising a ground element including a ferrule and a tube that extends from the ferrule to receive a conduit, wherein the tube includes one or more protruding elements that each protrudes from the tube and provides grounding to the conduit, and wherein the ferrule includes a lip portion; a threading element including a first shaft having a circumference sufficient to receive the ferrule portion, wherein the first shaft includes threads; a sealing ring including an opening defined by a tapered portion to seat against the lip portion; and a nut including threads to be received by the first shaft, wherein as the nut is threaded with the first shaft, the sealing ring is compressed onto an outer surface of the wall of the conduit based on a pulling of the nut against the sealing ring toward the lip portion of the ferrule.
US08910979B1	Pipe repair coupling The pipe repair coupling includes a sleeve and two seal retainers that secure to the sleeve ends to retain corresponding seals therein. The repair coupling is installed about a damaged section of pipe without need for substantial displacement of either portion of the broken pipe or need to dress or otherwise modify the broken ends of the pipe. A seal retainer and seal are placed over each portion of the broken pipe, and the sleeve is slipped over one of the broken pipe portions. The two pipe portions are aligned with one another, and the sleeve is generally centered over the break. The two seal retainers are then locked into place on the sleeve ends by splines inserted into cooperating circumferential grooves in the sleeve ends and retainers, capturing the seals between the seal retainers and corresponding seats and distending the seals to bear against the broken pipe therein.
US08910978B2	Binding system using concentric cylinders A binding system for binding a set of media sheets, including a cylinder having an outer diameter and a length, and a retainer fabricated from a flexible material. The retainer has an arc-shaped cross-section having an inner diameter and an associated arc angle thereby providing an opening slot that extends along a length of the retainer. The binding system is adapted to bind the set of media sheets by wrapping the media sheets around the cylinder and inserting the wrapped cylinder into the retainer with the wrapped media sheets extending out of the opening slot in the retainer. The inner diameter of the retainer is less than the sum of the outer diameter of the cylinder and a total thickness of the wrapped media sheets so that the retainer flexes to provide a clamping force to bind the media sheets.
US08910965B2	Trailer hitch systems and methods A hitch system comprises a housing, a hitch plate, and an actuator system. The housing is secured to a hitch post, and the housing defines a housing opening and a housing chamber. The hitch plate is rotatably attached to the housing, and the hitch plate defines a first ball opening. The actuator system displaces the hitch plate relative to the housing such that the hitch system operates in an unhitched configuration in which the first ball opening is aligned with the housing opening and a hitched configuration in which the first ball opening is not aligned with the housing opening. A ball portion is inserted into the housing chamber and removed from the housing chamber when the hitch system is in the unhitched configuration. The ball portion is substantially secured within the housing chamber when the hitch system is in the hitched configuration.
US08910964B2	Adaptive carrier insert bar assembly An insert bar assembly can comprise an elongate hitch-attachment bar which in turn comprises a hitch-receiver insert portion located at an insertable end of the bar. An insert bar assembly can include an expander which accommodates attachment of the assembly to a hitch which is larger than the insert portion of the bar.
US08910963B2	Suspension fork, in particular for a bicycle A damper device for a bicycle suspension fork has a magneto-rheological damping medium. A piston partitions a damper chamber into first and second chambers that are connected via a return duct, an adjustable throttle valve, and a transfer duct. A field-generating device generates a magnetic field in a damping duct of the throttle valve. A one-way circuit is provided for the damping medium, with two one-way valves disposed to cause a same direction of circulation of the damping fluid both when the piston rod plunges into and retracts from the damper chamber. A first one-way valves in the piston allows a flow of the damping medium from the second into the first chamber. A second one-way valve in the transfer duct allows a damping medium flow from the transfer duct into the second chamber. The adjustable throttle valve control the plunge and the retraction of the piston rod.
US08910959B2	Folding sports board and truck mounting apparatus A folding sports board having a first section and a second section separated by a deck joint. A double hinge assembly may interconnect the first section and the second section at the deck joint. At least one tooth member may extend between the first section and the second section. The at least one tooth member may be operable to distribute forces away from the deck joint such that failure at the deck joint may be eliminated or reduced. Sections of the sports board can be easily replaced to customize the board based upon rider preferences or to fix broken sections.
US08910949B2	Seal with fire protection A seal for pipe penetration or the like is formed, in at least one embodiment, of two halves, the seal received in a sleeve or opening of a wall or the like. The seal forms a central opening for a pipe or tube when the seal halves are brought together. Each seal half is formed of two base parts. Between the base parts a layer of intumescent material is placed. On the inside of the base parts peelable layers are arranged. The layers are peeled off to adapt the inner diameter of the seal to the pipe or tube received. In case of fire, the intumescent material will expand which expansion will collapse and close off the pipe or tube received in the seal.
US08910948B2	Mounting guard ring A mounting guard ring for a sealing ring with at least one sealing lip, surrounding a sleeve-shaped protective ring with a supporting surface for the sealing lip disposed at the outer periphery and a holding device shaped as a grip, the protective ring being provided in at least one peripheral region with a first predetermined breaking site and being capable of being severed along the first predetermined breaking site by pulling on the holding device, the protective ring being closed off in sealing manner by a disk-shaped lid.
US08910947B2	Method of forming a seal element A method is provided for forming a seal element on a substrate surface. A layer of base material is formed on the substrate surface and a plurality of crenellations are formed in the layer of base material prior to forming a layer of seal material on the crenellated layer of base material. The method may be applied to making an original seal element or to repairing an existing seal element. The resulting seal includes a layer of base material bonded to a substrate and having a plurality of crenellations formed in a face surface of the layer of a base material and a layer of a seal material bonded thereto, the seal material filling the crenellations.
US08910943B2	Reactive target with point of impact feedback The target according to the present disclosure is configured to indicate to the shooter whether the shot hit or missed the target. The target also provides the shooter feedback as to shot placement relative to particular locations on the target. This configuration is advantageous for many types of shooting and is especially advantageous in situations where immediate and consistent shot placement feedback is desire.
US08910941B2	Pivoting roller nip structure A roller nip assembly has a drive axle (with driver rollers) and a drive unit connected to a first end of the drive axle. The drive unit rotates the drive axle. In addition, a slotted mount is connected to a second end of the drive axle (opposite the first end). Additionally, an idler frame (with idler rollers) is positioned adjacent the drive axle. Further, a bias member is connected to the drive axle. The bias member moves the drive axle in the slotted mount to bias the drive rollers toward the idler rollers. The idler frame also includes a pivot structure. The bias member causes the drive axle to pivot. The pivot structure pivots the idler frame to compensate for the pivoting motion of the drive axle and to maintain pressure between the idler rollers and the drive rollers as the drive axle pivots.
US08910937B2	Sheet medium detection device and sheet medium processing device The present invention provides a sheet medium detection device, which comprises a light guide bar (2) provided on one side of a medium conveying passage (4) and provided with a plurality of reflection surfaces (21) arranged with Intervals along a length direction of the light guide bar, wherein each of the reflection surfaces (21) reflects the light within the light guide bar (2) to the other side of the medium conveying passage (4); a plurality of light receivers (31), each of which, being opposite to a reflection surface (21) of the light guide bar, is provided on the other side of the medium conveying passage (4); and a point light source (1) provided at least on one end of the light guide bar along the length direction of the light guide bar, wherein each of the reflection surfaces (21) is provided obliquely to form an obtuse angle relative to the light guide bar (2) on the side where the point light source (1) locates. The present invention also provides a sheet medium processing device which comprises the detection device described above. The sheet medium detection device has a low cost and high adaptability.
US08910936B2	Bill position correction method using the characteristic of step loss of step motor When a bill is inserted into the bill acceptor, sensor components sense the insertion of bill, bill-pressing roller set of bill transmission mechanism is driven to press bill, bill-transfer roller set is driven to transfer bill the bill-pressing roller set is released from the bill, and step motors of alignment correction unit are controlled to move correction devices toward each other to align the bill with the center line of bill passage subject to a predetermined number of steps. If the resistance force from bill is larger than the thrust force produced during rotation of step motors, utilize the step loss status of step motors and enable transmission devices to move correction devices away from bill when the rotation of step motors reaches the predetermined number of steps, and then enable bill-pressing roller set to press bill again and then enable bill-transfer roller set to transfer bill.
US08910935B2	Sheet products stacking and feeding apparatus In an apparatus for stacking and feeding sheet products discharged successively from a discharge position, catcher bars 4 are bent to be accumulated at an accumulated position. The sheet products collide against shutter bars 9 to fall onto a conveyor 3 after being discharged successively, for stacking the sheet products on the conveyor 3. The catcher bars 4 are pushed out of the accumulated position to pass between the shutter bars 9 and protrude toward the discharge position so that coming products should be received on the catcher bars 4 after stacking the sheet products.
US08910933B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a main body including a printing unit for printing an image on a recording medium and a pickup roller for picking up the recording medium, a paper feeding device, which includes an elevatable knock-up plate on which recording media are stackable and a pressure member for elastically pressing the knock-up plate towards the pickup roller and is removably inserted into the main body, and a variable guide unit, which is supported by the main body, is fixed in a slope state to lower the knock-up plate in a direction against the pickup roller when the paper feeding device is withdrawn from the main body, and moves to maintain a contact state with the knock-up plate due to a rising state of the knock-up plate in a state in which the paper feeding device is inserted into the main body.
US08910932B2	Separator assembly for use with printers Separator assembly for use with printers is described herein. One example separator assembly includes a separator pad movable between a first position and a second position such that the separator pad is to engage a leading edge of a print media in the second position. A cam is rotatable between a third position and a fourth position to move the separator pad from the first to the second position.
US08910931B2	Sheet feeding device A sheet feeding device including: a sheet feeding roller configured to convey a sheet; a placing portion on which the sheet is configured to be placed; a moving unit configured to move the placing portion toward the sheet feeding roller; a separation pad to which a leading end of the conveyed sheet is configured to abut at a contact position; a separation roller configured to nip the sheet conveyed by the sheet feeding roller between the separation pad and the separation roller at a nip position while bringing the sheet into sliding contact with the separation pad; and a separation assistant member provided between the sheet feeding roller and the separation roller and configured to change a distance between the nip position and the contact position according to a basis weight of the sheet by coming into contact with the sheet.
US08910930B2	Machine for separating sheets of cartons A sheet separator machine for cartons for packaging from a warehouse, typically a well warehouse, in which the cartons are stacked. More particularly, a machine for separating sheets of cartons. The machine includes a frame on which a handling station of the cartons, a warehouse for at least one stack of cartons, and a gripping station of the cartons, are mounted, in an operatively contiguous position. The gripping station includes a pair of counter-rotating motorized rolls for withdrawing a carton from the stack of cartons.
US08910929B2	Printer architecture enabling narrow or wide front facing orientation A printer architecture that enables a printer (or other media processing device) with an elongate foot print to be configured with media input and operator controls oriented at either a narrow end or a wide side thereof, that surface becoming the “front” of the unit. Controls and/or display(s) are mounted such that either the end or side orientation can be accommodated. The media input tray includes a separate assembly so that selection of the tray with access to end or side complements the user control panel in establishing the front of the machine. The combination of control/display mounting and oriented media tray structure integration with the print engine to establish which of the printer surfaces is considered the front allows for multiple orientations of the printer and greater flexibility to the customer.
US08910927B2	Work holding device for an archery bow An archery bow holding device that is preferably mounted to a ball joint assembly for attachment to a table top, bench or like surface, and provides a movable mount for the archery bow holding device that holds an archery bow for performing work thereon. The preferred ball joint assembly includes a cylindrical housing that is slotted on opposite sides thereof from a center opening in the housing top and contains a ball that mounts a stem that the archery bow holding device is secured to, with the stem fitted through a slot through the housing top, to tilt between the slots and pivot when the ball in unlocked and, with the ball locked, provides a rigid mount to the archery bow holding device that includes a main beam that is bent to provide a rest for an archery bow limb positioned and clamped there against for an operator to work on.
US08910926B2	Liquid-sealed vibration isolation device and vibration isolation unit A liquid-sealed vibration isolation device including: a cylindrical outer tube member; a boss member; a vibration isolation base body ; a diaphragm; a partition member; an orifice; a decompressing-cum-pouring hole allowing the liquid-sealed chamber to communicate with the outside; and a sealer sealing the decompressing-cum-pouring hole. In the liquid-sealed vibration isolation device, an annular attaching member is provided to which the diaphragm is vulcanizingly adhered on the inner peripheral side and which is formed into an annular shape when viewed in the axial direction and attached to the upper end side of the outer tube member, and the decompressing-cum-pouring hole is disposed in the annular attaching member.
US08910923B2	Chain hoist having a slip clutch A chain hoist having an electric drive motor connected to a gearbox by a slip clutch, wherein the slip clutch comprises an enlarged outer surface area in the form of recesses disposed in the outer surface of the slip clutch for improving heat dissipation with the recesses being implemented circumferentially in the form of a thread pitch in the outer surface of the slip clutch.
US08910921B2	Valve and stem sealing assembly A valve and stem sealing assembly capable of preventing leakage under demanding environmental and operating conditions. The valve comprises a body and bonnet secured together to house a flow-element, stem, and stem sealing assembly. The body may contain a body joint encapsulated within its liner. The flow-element is positioned between a first port and second port on the valve. The body and bonnet may be configured to eliminate rotational forces from being translated to the bonnet. The stem sealing assembly comprises a primary seal, primary shaft insert, spacer, and force transmitting member. The stem sealing assembly may also comprise a secondary seal and secondary shaft insert. The stem seal assembly is substantially adjacent to the stem, and configured to fit within an annular space or cavity between the stem and the first body half, second body half, and bonnet. The valve may also include a leak detection port.
US08910915B2	Folding stand and cover A folding stand may attach to an electronic device for transportation in one configuration and may fold into a second configuration to hold the electronic device for use. The folding stand may have two main rigid components that are joined by a hinge. Each of the rigid components may have engagement mechanisms that clamp onto the electronic device in the first configuration and hold the device in one of several upright positions in the second configuration. A stringer may be attached to one of the rigid components with a hinge and may engage the other rigid component with a snap or other mechanism. In some embodiments, the entire stand may be a single piece manufactured from rigid plastic components joined with a second, flexible material that may provide one or more of the hinges in the stand.
US08910914B2	Mount for electronics equipment A mount that is useful for mounting electronics equipment such as audio or video equipment such as a microphone or a camera in a desired orientation has first and second interconnected body members that retain a swivel adapter that is movable in a ball and socket swivel joint relative to the body members. The body members rotated on threaded connections to thereby adjust the tightness of the swivel adaptor retained between the body members. A stop prevents inadvertent disassembly of the assembled mounting apparatus.
US08910912B2	Conductive floating pipe assembly clip An isolating clip for holding tubes, fluid lines and the like is provided with a rigid outer shell and a flexible insert. The insert includes an outer body and a tube seat suspended from the outer body by flexible connectors. Bumpers can be provided in the space between the outer body and tube seat to limit deflection of the tube seat.
US08910911B2	Plumbing mount for agricultural sprayer A mount for supporting plumbing conduits on an agricultural sprayer includes a mounting base mountable on the boom arm at its proximal end and having a platform portion extending to a distal end. The platform portion has front and rear faces, and opposing side faces, the front face forming a base interface having a center groove running between two tracks. The tracks run from the distal end to a primary stop. One of the tracks has a secondary stop formed thereon located between the primary stop and the distal end of the mounting base. The plumbing mount also has at least one conduit bracket having a conduit retaining portion and a bracket interface configured to lock with the base interface. The bracket interface has a center tongue with skids on opposing sides. The conduit bracket is configured to engage the mounting base by interlocking the center tongue and center groove.
US08910910B2	Wing comprising a flow fence, and aircraft having such wings A wing of an aircraft has a pressure-side flow surface and a suction-side flow surface relative to an assumed main direction of attack and comprises a flow fence disposed on a flow surface, wherein the flow fence extends in the main wing chordwise direction and between a location of the pressure-side flow surface and a location of the suction side flow surface.
US08910906B2	Articulable rotational coupling for an aircraft An airfoil surface control system includes a movable surface. An actuator is coupled to the surface. The airfoil surface control system includes a motor. A torque tube assembly operatively couples the motor and actuator and includes first and second shafts coupled by a universal joint. The universal joint is configured to provide a first maximum angle between the first and second shafts. A stop is configured to provide a second maximum angle between the first and second shafts that is less than the first maximum angle.
US08910905B2	Combined balloon shipping container and deployment system Disclosed embodiments relate to a combined shipping container and balloon deployment system for deploying balloons into a balloon network. Such a shipping container may allow one or more balloons to be transported to a desired launch location, and then launched directly from the shipping container.
US08910902B2	Towed sensor array maneuvering system and methods A towed sensor array maneuvering system and methods are disclosed. A towed airborne vehicle comprising a sensor array is actively maneuvered via a plurality of surfaces coupled thereto. The surfaces are controlled such that a desired path is tracked based on and as a function of desired tracking parameters.
US08910897B2	Web rewinding apparatus A web rewinding apparatus having a mandrel cupping assembly for releasably engaging unsupported ends of a plurality of mandrels is disclosed. Each of the plurality of mandrels extends generally parallel to the web winding turret assembly axis. Each of the mandrels is driven in a closed mandrel path about the web winding turret assembly axis. The mandrel cupping assembly comprises a cupping arm turret having a cupping arm turret central axis, a mandrel cup cooperatively associated with each mandrel of the plurality of mandrels, and a first actuator.
US08910892B2	Waste tire separation recycling treatment device A waste tire separation recycling treatment device includes a machine rack, a pair of crushing rollers, a pair of stripping wheels and a guiding portion. After a waste tire, which is performed with pyrolysis, is placed in the device to obtain a non-metal scrap, a metal scrap and a mixture, and above 98% of the non-metal scrap, the metal scrap and the mixture are sequentially rolled and striped off to transform them into the non-metal scrap and the metal scrap. Afterward, several separation processes are performed to separate the non-metal scrap and the metal scrap, thereby greatly increasing the efficiency of separation recycling treatment.
US08910889B2	Process and a device to clean substrates The present invention relates to a process and a device for cleaning substrates. In particular the invention relates to an air-water jet device connected to a detergent dosing system. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide air-water jet device for cleaning fabric articles with enhanced performance; and to provide a dosing device for a detergent composition that may be connected to an air-water jet device. Surprisingly it has been found that a dispensing chamber for a detergent composition DET between the water source and the outlet of the water nozzle provides improved cleaning of an air-water jet.
US08910888B2	Sprinkler linear side-load, multi-nozzle system A sprinkler head includes a sprinkler body formed with a through-bore defining a flow path adapted for alignment with a nozzle bore. A nozzle carrier is mounted on the sprinkler body for linear movement across the flow path and adapted to support plural nozzles. The nozzle carrier is configured to enable any one of the plural nozzles to be aligned with the flow path. The nozzle carrier is provided with plural discrete seal pads that are selectively movable into a position covering the flow path to thereby shut off flow through the sprinkler body.
US08910887B2	Garden watering device A multi-purpose watering device that operates as a handheld device and ground based watering device. The device consists of a long handle leading to a turret sprinkler with water distribution on at least two sides. One side is used in a ground based position to water small to medium area lawns and the other is used for watering when the device is used in a held position. A valve on the turret face allows the operator to switch select which will distribute water. The device also contains a rotating sprinkler head suited for watering of large areas. When the rotating head is actuated, water is redirected from the turret head to the rotating head.
US08910881B2	Air heater for a motor vehicle The invention relates to an air heater (12) to be integrated into an air-carrying housing of a motor vehicle. The invention is characterized in that a flange plate (48) seals at least one exhaust gas discharge (54) from the vehicle interior by means of scaling elements between a fitting site for the air heater (12) and the flange plate (48) and between the air heater (12) and the flange plate (48).
US08910878B2	RFID tag antenna The present disclosure relates to a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag antenna. The RFID tag antenna includes: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a feeding structure mounting on the first surface and a rotation structure mounting on the second surface. Specifically, the feeding structure corresponds to the rotation structure for forming a resonant circuit.
US08910876B2	Method and apparatus for accessing electronic data via a familiar printed medium The disclosed methods and apparatus relate generally to the electronics media industry, such as cable television (CATV), home shopping services, on-line computer services and computer memory applications. These methods and apparatus allow a user to access and make use of electronic media input and output devices by reference to and/or utilization of standard printed matter, such as magazines, textbooks, or any other printed matter that can be correlated to electronic media. The methods and apparatus further allow the user to tailor the retrieval of electronic data by using a user profile.
US08910875B2	Indicia reading terminal with color frame processing An indicia reading terminal can comprise an image sensor integrated circuit having a two-dimensional image sensor, a hand held housing encapsulating the two-dimensional image sensor, and an imaging lens configured to focus an image of a target decodable indicia onto the two-dimensional image sensor. The two-dimensional image sensor can include a plurality of pixels arranged in repetitive patterns. Each pattern can include at least one pixel sensitive in a first spectrum region, at least one pixel sensitive in a second spectrum region, and at least one pixel sensitive in a third spectrum region. The image sensor integrated circuit can be configured to capture a frame of image data by reading out a plurality of analog signals. Each read out analog signal can be representative of light incident on a group of two or more pixels of the plurality of pixels.
US08910873B2	Method and apparatus for defining illumination field of view of barcode reader A method and apparatus for defining the illumination field of view of a barcode reader. The method includes (1) generating an illumination with an illumination source; (2) directing the illumination with an illumination lens to pass through an aperture to generate an illumination pattern directed toward a target object and to define an illumination field of view with the aperture; and (3) focusing light reflected from the target object onto a photosensor array with an imaging lens in an imaging system.
US08910870B2	System and method for document processing Embodiments of the present invention are directed to document processing, and more particularly to systems and methods that can utilize relative positions between the content of the document and a decodable indicia affixed to the document. In one embodiment, indicia reading terminals are provided that include an imaging module for capturing a frame of image data of a document. The document can include one or more decodable indicia such as a form barcode and various content fields, which delineate particular content of the document. The form barcode can include information respecting the form design and form design data. This information can be used to process the content of the document such as by providing coordinates or similar location and positioning metrics for use in processing the content of the document. In one example, the frame of image data is analyzed to identify the form barcode, from which the relative location of the content fields can be discerned without extensive processing of the frame of image data.
US08910868B1	Firmware management Aspects of the subject disclosure provide a card reader for receiving payment card information at a mobile point-of-sale terminal. In some implementations, a reader of the subject technology can include a memory, a conditioning module and a 3.5 mm audio plug including an audio bus that is configured for insertion into a headphone port of a host device, such as a smart phone or tablet computer. Implementations of the subject technology also include a microprocessor configured to perform operations for determining whether a newer firmware version is available for the card reader or whether a download of such a firmware needs to be completed, and in response to determining such a download is needed, performing a download of the firmware via the audio plug during periods of inactivity.
US08910861B2	Automatic teller machine (“ATM”) including a user-accessible USB port Systems and methods for authenticating a user's identity at an ATM are provided. A method for authenticating a user's identity at an Automated Teller Machine (“ATM”) includes using a first receiver to receive information from an ATM touch screen relating to a first numerical digit and a second numerical digit selected by the user. The method further includes using a second receiver to receive information from a fingerprint scanner relating to first biometric information input into the fingerprint scanner and second biometric information input into the fingerprint scanner, wherein the fingerprint scanner is removably coupled to the ATM via a USB port included in a secured portion of the ATM, the secured portion of the ATM being inaccessible to the user. The method may also include using a transmitter to transmit the information received by the first receiver and the second receiver to a remote server.
US08910859B2	Methods and devices for marking and authenticating a product by a consumer The method for marking a product includes: a step of forming, on or in the product, a mark robust to copying, with a first resolution, a step of forming, on or in the product, a mark sensitive to copying, with a second resolution higher than the first resolution, a step of capturing an image of the robust mark, the sensitive mark and another part of the product and a step of memorizing an item of information representing the image of the robust mark, the sensitive mark and the other image part. In embodiments, during at least one forming step, the position of the mark formed during this forming step is random in relation to the other image part.
US08910856B2	Shipping and display container A packaging container, adapted to be cut to establish a display container for products stored therein, is formed with corner slits having a primary slit portion extending around a respective corner of the container, as well as secondary slit portions which extend at non-linear angles to the primary slit portion. Between the corner slits, the container can be provided with cut lines to act as a guide for a cutting instrument used to separate the container into top and bottom sections, with the bottom section establishing the display container. With the inclusion of the corner slits, the cutting instrument need not make any cuts through the corners. In addition, cuts made between the corner slits need not be perfectly aligned between respective primary slit portions due to the existence of the secondary slit portions.
US08910854B2	Container having reinforcing linerboard and methods of making the same A container is disclosed. The container comprises a side portion including a plurality of side panels. The container further comprises a bottom portion including a plurality of bottom panels. Each of the plurality of bottom panels extend from a respective one of the plurality of sides. The container includes a first linerboard, a second linerboard, at least one corrugated medium positioned between the first and second linerboards, and at least one additional linerboard being coupled to at least a portion of the first linerboard.
US08910852B2	Pipe-joining method and apparatus for producing underwater pipelines, and underwater-pipeline-laying vessel comprising such an apparatus A method of joining pipes to produce underwater pipelines, wherein the facing free ends of two adjacent pipes, aligned along an axis, are welded to define a cutback; a protective sheet of plastic material is extruded close to the cutback; and the protective sheet is wound about the cutback by simultaneously rotating the extruder extrusion outlet and the extruder about the pipeline as the protective sheet is extruded from the extrusion outlet.
US08910846B2	Gear driven knife drive mechanism A surgical apparatus includes a handle assembly, an elongated body portion defining a first longitudinal axis, a tool assembly pivotally supported on the distal end of the elongated body portion to form a pivot axis, and a flexible drive assembly that includes a flexible drive member extending from a position proximal of the pivot axis to a position distal of the pivot axis. The drive member has a distal end which is movable in relation to the tool assembly and a gear drive assembly to enable movement of the distal end of the flexible drive member. The flexible drive assembly includes a flexible knife drive beam that advances or retracts via a primary drive gear meshing with the flexible knife drive beam to effect movement of the flexible knife drive beam.
US08910843B2	Self-weighing backpack with weight notification features A self-weighing backpack includes a container body that is connected to right and left carry straps that include strain gauges. Processing circuitry is included that compares dynamic force measurements to a predetermined threshold force and generates an alert when the predetermined threshold force is exceeded.
US08910837B2	Sliding-carriage garment hanger A hanger assembly for a garment including a neck opening and a pair of shoulder areas, including: a frame having a pair of lateral ends, each lateral end configured to support one shoulder area of the pair of shoulder areas from inside the garment; and a suspensor, coupled to the frame to transition between a pair of locations along the frame with the pair of locations including a first location generally centered between the pair of ends and a second location closer to a particular lateral end than an other lateral end, the suspensor having a suspending mode wherein the suspensor is located at the first location and an insertion-removal mode in which the suspensor is located at the second location.
US08910836B2	Valve assembly A valve assembly for dispensing liquid from a container. A manifold includes a first channel extending downwardly from a first inlet to a first side outlet, and a second channel extending downwardly from a second inlet on the manifold to a second outlet. The first side outlet and the second inlet are located on the same horizontal plane in reference to the longitudinal axis of the manifold. An elastic membrane sheathed around the manifold extends over the first side outlet and the second inlet. External fluid pressure causes the membrane to expand under fluid flow to provide for fluid communication through the manifold. In alternate embodiments fluid pressure flowing through the first and second channels causes the elastic membrane to expand enabling fluid communication between the first side outlet and the second inlet. A sealing sleeve extends around the elastic membrane is movable from a first to a second position.
US08910835B2	Fuel container and methods A fuel container includes a container, a spout, an outlet valve, an air intake valve, and an actuator. The spout is coupled to the container at a bottom end portion of the container. The outlet valve is positioned at the bottom end portion and operable to control fluid flow into the spout. The air intake valve is positioned at a top end portion of the container. The actuator is operable to open both the outlet valve and the air intake valve concurrently.
US08910832B2	Device for the preservation of substances to be kept separate until their application Device for the preservation of substances to be kept separate until their application includes a container (2), which is provided with an at least partially deformable body (6), and a delivery mouth (4), on which there is provided a delivery element for delivering the mixture. A watertight chamber (5) is arranged between the delivery mouth and the body of the container and is provided with a connection mouth (12) for the connection to the body (6), which is closed by cap means (20). A component of the substance to be delivered is contained in the watertight chamber (5), whereas another component is contained in the body (6). The communication between the two components is established by removing said cap, by interference between the walls of the cap and the walls of the body.
US08910831B2	System for dispensing sprayable material A system for dispensing sprayable material such as paint and other liquefied products. The system includes a dispenser designed to accept a flexible, crushable container filled with sprayable material and having a valve and spray tip at one end. The container is placed into an interior portion in the dispenser with the valve on the container secured in the housing of the dispenser. In operation, a pump action lever is activated causing a piston to slide lengthwise in the housing of the dispenser and exert force on the bottom of the container crushing it as it is emptied and forcing the sprayable material out through the valve and spray tip.
US08910827B2	Secure merchandising display with tunnel feature Disclosed is a dispenser for controlling access to product, such as but not limited to bottles, housed within the dispenser. In some embodiments, the dispenser includes an opening having a contour that generally mirrors the shape and/or dimensions of the product stored within the dispenser plus a relatively small amount of clearance and also includes a tunnel within the interior of the device. The configuration of the opening and/or the tunnel feature prevents a user from accessing product stored behind the opening within the dispenser. In some embodiments, the dispenser includes a pusher system that provides a time delay between the dispensing of products into a receiving area.
US08910823B2	Ready-made meal package A meal package includes a reusable bag and first and second inserts arranged in the reusable bag to form compartments. The first insert has a first side edge and a second side edge and includes bottom and top portions bent out-of-plane from a side portion at first and second score lines. The second insert has a top edge and a bottom edge and includes two side portions bent out-of-plane from a middle portion at first and second score lines. The bottom portion of the first insert is located adjacent a bottom of the bag and the side portion of the first insert is located adjacent a first side of the bag. The bottom edge of the second insert abuts an interior surface of the bottom portion of the first insert. An interior surface of the top portion of the first insert abuts the top edge of the second insert.
US08910819B2	Insulating container and latching mechanism According to an aspect of the invention, a latching mechanism/device is provided, as well as a method of maintaining a closed position between opposing first and second portions of a container. The latching mechanism includes a latch attached to the first portion and a latch keeper integrally molded to the second portion. The latch keeper includes an elongated keeper slot and a recessed pocket formed in the keeper slot, such that when at least a portion of the latch is received within the recessed pocket, the container is closed and/or sealed.
US08910818B2	Universal closure device The invention relates to a universal closure device (1) for openings (2) of sample containers (3) having different cross-sections (4). The closure device (1) comprises a shaft part (6) extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis (5) and a plurality of sealing elements (12, 16), which are disposed in the region of an outer surface (9) of the shaft part (6) and are intended for applying to an inner lateral surface (11) of the sample container (3) to be closed, wherein said lateral surface faces the longitudinal axis (5). The sealing elements (12, 16) arranged on the shaft part (6) are arranged in succession in a circumferential plane and in the circumferential direction of the shaft part (6). At least one supporting element (31, 33) is arranged and extends between the sealing element (12, 16) and the outer surface (9) of the shaft part (6).
US08910815B2	Cover for fuel system component and method of making One embodiment of a cover for use in a fuel system component has a body and a seal molded around the body. The body has at least one first connecting feature that is complementary to at least one second connecting feature of the seal. The first connecting feature and the second connecting feature help hold the body and the seal together.
US08910812B2	Container with grip panel and annular rib having variable width A plastic container includes a base, a neck portion with a dispensing opening, and a body portion. The body portion includes a horizontally-extending annular rib and a grip panel. The horizontally-extending annular rib may extend around the circumference of the body portion. The annular rib includes a variable vertical width and includes a pinch segment that is circumferentially and longitudinally offset from the grip panel. With some embodiments, the plastic container includes two grip panels and/or at least two horizontally-extending annular ribs.
US08910809B2	Teat unit A teat unit has a teat with a suction opening, a support body, and a securing part for securing the teat unit on a drinking vessel. The securing part and the support body are fixedly connected to each other indirectly or directly, and they cannot be detached from each other without being destroyed. The support body has a surface with recesses, which are covered by the teat. The teat is overmoulded over the support body, wherein the teat covers the recesses. This teat unit permits a sucking action that is as natural as possible. It is of a simple construction and can be produced inexpensively, which means that it can be disposed of after one use.
US08910808B2	Coupler knuckle An improved coupler-knuckle assembly is comprised of a coupler body, a knuckle, and at least two knuckle retainer plugs. The knuckle has an internal coring geometry that increases the cross-sectional area of the throat portion of the knuckle compared to previous designs. The present invention's knuckle design includes a top and a bottom tapered holes in the knuckle with a locking groove at the bottom of each tapered hole for the knuckle retainer plugs to snap into. The knuckle retainer plugs are inserted through the coupler body and into the tapered holes in the knuckle. The improved coupler-knuckle assembly of the present invention reduces fatigue on the coupler, knuckle, and knuckle pin, prevents misalignment of the coupler-knuckle assembly, and prevents knuckle pin breakage.
US08910806B2	Method for controlling a hoisting or paying out movement and hoisting frame having tiltable cable shreave for use therein A method for controlling a hoisting or lowering movement of a load, which is suspended from a hoisting mechanism of a crane by means of at least two hoisting cables trained round cable sheaves on the load, by monitoring the position of the load and braking and/or stopping the hoisting mechanism upon detection of an undesirable position, wherein the cable sheaves are each connected to the load for pivoting about a horizontal axis, and the position of the load is monitored by detecting a pivoting movement of at least one of the cable sheaves.
US08910802B2	Multi-component display and merchandise systems A multi-component divider including a first divider component and a connection mechanism for a second divider component. The second divider component connects to the first divider component when the first divider component is connected to a base. The second divider component extends above the first divider component, thereby extending the overall height of the divider. The base and multi-component divider can be used in locations where there is limited space between shelves, such as a shelf in a freezer or refrigerated display, or in any application where a higher divider may be preferred, but cannot be installed. The base can additionally include a pusher moveable along a longitudinal direction of the base, wherein the pusher is also adjustable linearly along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base.
US08910798B2	Apparatus and method for sorting flat material from waste material A portion of a circulatable air permeable conveyor member (6) constitutes a sorting track (7) inclined from a lower end (8) to an upper end (9). A vacuum (11) is maintained underneath the sorting track (7). The sorting track (7) is arranged for entraining a portion of the material to be sorted with the conveyor member from a drop zone (15) of the sorting track (7) towards the upper end (9) of the sorting track (7) and allowing another portion of the material to be sorted to descend from the drop zone (15) towards the lower end (8) of the sorting track (7). A sweeper (2) is arranged between the drop zone (15) and the upper end (9) for sweeping flat material entrapping non-flat material off the entrapped non-flat material. A method for sorting flat material such as paper or plastic film from a stream of waste material is also disclosed.
US08910797B2	Method and apparatus for separating plastics from compost and other recyclable materials There is disclosed a method and apparatus for separating plastics from compost material. In an embodiment, the method comprises: providing an inclined trough having a feed entry at a top end and a materials discharge end at a bottom end, the inclined trough including a plurality of riffles positioned substantially perpendicularly to a direction of flow of compost material down the inclined trough; inducing a vibration in the inclined trough to induce a prolonged period of hindered unsettling in the compost material; providing a longitudinal dam to at least one side of the inclined trough; and generating an air flow over a substantial length of the inclined trough perpendicular to the direction of flow of compost material down the inclined trough, thereby to blow plastics separated from the compost material over the longitudinal dam.
US08910794B2	Method for removing metal pieces from gypsum board wastes A method for removing metal pieces contained in gypsum board wastes from the gypsum board wastes by means of a drum magnetic separator, wherein the method comprises the step of dropping cut pieces obtained by cutting the gypsum board wastes at fixed intervals “D” on the drum magnetic separator at a drop height “h”; and the drop height “h” is 0.8 to 3 times the interval “D”.
US08910791B2	Slot-type protection device for plate-shaped product A slot-type protection device for a plate-shaped product is disclosed. The device comprises a buffer component for inserting the plate-shaped product. The buffer component comprises a folding card and at least one buffer unit. A plurality of slots used for fixing the plate-shaped product are disposed on the buffer unit. The buffer unit comprises a carrying portion and a connecting portion. The slots are disposed on the carrying portion. Two ends of the connecting portion are a fixed end and a free end. The fixed end is fixed and connected to one end of a bottom of the carrying portion, and the free end cooperates with the other end of the bottom of the carrying portion. A connecting structure is disposed to allow the free end and the carrying portion to connect with each other. The folding card is held between the carrying portion and the connecting portion.
US08910787B2	Protective case for portable electronic device A protective case for an electronic portable device includes a main body portion having a transparent base and sidewalls defining a recess configured for releasably receiving a portable electronic device. A plate is disposed against or defined by a portion of the base of the main body. The plate covers a portion of the front face or a portion of the display of the portable electronic device. The covered portion of the display is not actuable through the plate.
US08910786B2	Packaging for motors Packaging for a motor, including an iron frame and a plurality of plastic pallets. The iron frame includes a baseboard, a left guardrail, a right guardrail, a dismountable compression bar, and a support bracket. The baseboard includes a frame and a plurality of connecting rods. Each plastic pallet includes a plurality of bosses and a recess. The connecting rods are interlaced horizontally and vertically inside the frame. A plurality of the support brackets is disposed beneath the frame. The frame includes a left side and a right side. Each side is provided with two connecting holders. The left guardrail and the right guardrail are connected to and are capable of turning around two corresponding connecting holders, respectively. The left guardrail and the right guardrail are stackable after being turned over. The top of the left and the right guardrail are unfolded by connecting to the compression bar.
US08910779B2	Conveyor means with concave belt A conveyor device with an elastic load-bearing means guided between a drive and a return roller which are spaced apart parallel to and opposite one another, wherein the load-bearing means circulates endlessly in a carrying run and a lower run, is flexible in all directions and is configured to receive articles to be conveyed, and which can be driven in a conveying direction by drive trains disposed on longitudinal edges of the load-bearing means, characterised in that a support means for the carrying run is located between the carrying run and the lower run, wherein the drive trains are stretched to a greater extent than a region of the load-bearing means located between them.
US08910778B1	Conveyor belt tracking and continuous take-up tensioning A tracking and tensioning device for a belt conveyor that provides a tracking assembly that is mounted to the conveyor frame. The tracking assembly is capable of sliding along the length of the conveyor frame. An idler roller is mounted to the tracking assembly that is held under constant tension by an adjustable tensioner. The adjustable tensioner provides take-up tensioning at the portion of the belt with the lowest operating tension.
US08910775B2	Transfer apparatus for transferring electronic devices A transfer apparatus has a conveying track for electronic devices in a row, two vacuum passages to create vacuum forces to hold electronic devices against the conveying track at first and second positions respectively preventing overlapping of electronic devices; and sensors arranged with respect to the conveying track, the first sensor detects presence or absence of the leading electronic device at the first position for removal of the leading electronic device from the conveying track, and the second sensor detects presence or absence of the leading electronic device at a sensor position between the first and second positions as the leading electronic device is conveyed along the conveying track from the second to the first vacuum passage.
US08910771B2	Bills and/or card validator and storage apparatus The invention relates to apparatus for the provision of receipt, validation and collection of banknotes or tickets which are input by a user, typically as payment for a service which has or is to be provided. The apparatus allow for the accurate location of the banknote or ticket as it passes through the apparatus and the accurate validation of the same. In one embodiment a printer assembly is provided which allows the apparatus to print tickets and to pass the same in the reverse direction to input banknotes or tickets, to be provided to the user as, for example a credit which can be cashed subsequently by the user.
US08910770B2	Gear change device for motor-vehicles A gear change device for a motor vehicle has a braking member for stopping a rotation of a primary shaft before engagement of a reverse gear. The braking member includes a lever pivotally mounted on a gearbox about a separate axis with respect to axes of the primary and secondary shafts of the gear change device. The braking lever is controlled by an electrically-driven actuator by a pusher member displaceable by the actuator in a direction substantially tangential with respect to the primary shaft, towards an operative position in which it interposes with a wedge-like action between the braking lever and a fixed abutment wall, so as to press the brake pad against a cooperating part which is connected in rotation with the primary shaft.
US08910766B2	Multi-disc clutch The present invention relates to a multi-disc clutch for the transfer of torque between a first clutch part and a second clutch part, having at least one first and at least one second disc that engage on another and that are movable parallel to a rotational axis of the multi-disc clutch, and having a reset device for the receiprocal ventilation of adjacent discs. The first clutch part is connected in a rotationally secure fashion to the first disc and the second clutch part is connected in a rotationally secure fashion to the second disc. The reset device has at least two reset elements that are disposed eccentrically relative to the rotational axis and distributed in the circumferential direction.
US08910762B2	Centrifugal-pendulum vibration absorbing device A centrifugal-pendulum vibration absorbing device, including a member attached coaxially with a rotary element; and mass bodies swingably coupled to the support member and disposed adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction. The mass bodies are configured such that when a first mass body, which is one of two mass bodies disposed adjacent to each other, and a second mass body, which is the other of the two mass bodies, move with respect to the support member so as to approach each other, the first mass body and the second mass body overlap each other as seen from an axial direction of the rotary element.
US08910760B2	Brake system for motorcycle In a brake system for a vehicle, a first control mode and a second control mode are provided by which it is possible to cope with variations in the running environments such as changes between traveling on a public road and traveling on a circuit racecourse and variations in road conditions such as changes between a dry road surface and a wet road surface. A mode change-over switch is disposed between a kill switch on the upper side and a starter switch on the lower side, on the vehicle body center side relative to a right grip. Switching between the first control mode and the second control mode is carried out by use of the mode change-over switch.
US08910755B2	Self-energizing disc brake and brake pad for the same A self-energizing disc brake includes a brake caliper held on a fixed brake carrier, an active-side and a reaction-side brake pad, which may be pressed against a brake disc, an actuating device with a self-energizing device and an adjuster device for compensating pad and/or disc wear. The self-energizing device has at least one pressure ram, in contact on the front face with the active-side pad by way of a split bearing and fixed by the end thereof facing the brake pad to a guide plate movably held in the brake carrier, designed such that the split bearing is enclosed by a seal arrangement when the self-energizing device is in a non-functioning state.
US08910753B1	Customizable brake monitoring system An air brake monitoring system which provides a warning signal, either visual or audible, to truckers informing them when their brake system needs corrective attention. More particularly, the system of the present invention permits the brake monitoring system to be easily adjusted to account for the needs and desires of the individual vehicle operator.
US08910752B2	Elevator system An elevator system in which plural elevator banks are present in a building, and a security gate through which a user should pass is defined for each bank, appropriate guidance can be given to the user without reducing the elevator operating efficiency. The elevator system includes a notifying device for notifying the user who passes through the security gate of information; an identifying mechanism determining, based on the identification information inputted from an inputting device when the user passes through the security gate, whether or not the user is a pre-registered person; and a determining mechanism determining whether or not the security gate through which the user, who is determined to be a pre-registered person by the identifying mechanism, passes is a normal gate for the user. If the result of determination is Yes, elevator call registration is made, and if the result of determination is No, the notifying device notifies the user of information for guiding the user to the normal gate with no elevator call registration being made.
US08910750B2	Tree stand An improved tree stand includes an elongated frame having a vertical and horizontal section. A central platform extends in an opposite direction from the frame and includes a tree connection member. A seat is provided along the upper horizontal portion of the frame, and a shooting rail having a vertically adjustable back and side sections connect the top portion of the frame to the tree.An improved tree stand also includes a swivel mounted seat platform that transitions between an open and closed position.
US08910743B2	Acoustic Reflectors An acoustic reflector primarily for underwater use comprising a shell surrounding a core in which holes are provided in the shell to allow air and water freely to enter and leave the interior of the shell when the reflector is immersed in water. Various embodiments are described including the use of a metal shell matched to a water core, the use of a mounting bar, provision of a frame to reflect acoustically alpha numeric characters, a soluble plug to delay operation of the reflector, and coating the reflector with polyurethane to limit damage. Also proposed is a pulse pattern to improve the identification of an acoustic reflector in some circumstances. Designs of reflectors particularly suitable for use with the relatively low frequency sonars found in the fishing industry with an aluminum or aluminum alloy shell are described, as are reflectors with a non-metal shell suitable for use with the higher frequency sonars in the underwater exploration industry. The reflectors can be spherical, toroidal, ovoid, or cylindrical provided that they have at least on circular cross section. A particularly important development with the current invention is the ability to mark and trace underwater non-ferromagnetic pipes.
US08910740B2	Road vehicle chassis and road vehicle The invention relates to a road vehicle chassis comprising a front chassis, a rear chassis and flange means, wherein the front chassis and the rear chassis are connected together to form the road vehicle chassis by the interposition of the flange means and wherein the front chassis comprises front wheel suspension fastening means and the rear chassis comprises rear wheel suspension fastening means. In this case, the rear chassis is configured as a lightweight sandwich construction chassis, wherein the lightweight sandwich construction chassis comprises a plurality of sandwich plates, wherein the sandwich plates are configured as longitudinal members, crossmembers, a top chord and a bottom chord, wherein the sandwich plates are connected together such that the sandwich plates form a three-dimensional structure, wherein the three-dimensional structure is defined at the top by the top chord and at the bottom by the bottom chord, wherein adjacent sandwich plates are connected together.
US08910739B2	Pressure control device and method for a vehicle A pressure control device for a vehicle comprises an electronic control unit and a valve device for controllably connecting a compression chamber of the vehicle's air compressor to the vehicle's compressed-air supply and storage system. The pressure control device is configured to (i) connect the compression chamber to the compressed-air supply and storage system in a compressed-air production mode to convey compressed air from the compression chamber into the compressed-air supply and storage system, (ii) connect the compression chamber to the compressed-air supply and storage system in a compressed-air expansion mode to convey compressed air from the compressed-air supply and storage system into the compression chamber, and (iii) switch from the compressed-air production mode to the compressed-air expansion mode and vice-versa by electrically actuating one or more electrically operable valves of the valve device.
US08910731B2	Material handling and stair climbing vehicle In a material handling and stair climbing vehicle, when the vehicle is shifted from a state where the wheels with two axles are grounded on a travelling surface to a standing state achieved by the wheels with one axle, a main body portion is turned around support shafts with respect to supporting portions in the two-axle wheel grounded state. Then, an inertial force around the support shafts is generated by reducing the speed of turning of the main body portion with respect to the supporting portions. Then, the vehicle is shifted to the standing state achieved by the wheels with one axle by turning the supporting portions around the axles of the wheels with one axle, which are grounded on the travelling surface, by the inertial force.
US08910725B2	Hitch assembly and cross-tube structure for an agricultural implement An agricultural implement is provided that includes a frame assembly. Moreover, the agricultural implement includes a multiple wheel assemblies coupled to the frame assembly. Additionally, the agricultural implement includes a cross-tube coupled to wheel assemblies and positioned between the wheel assemblies. The agricultural implement includes a rear hitch assembly coupled to the frame assembly. The rear hitch assembly is also configured to be coupled to an auxiliary implement. Furthermore, the cross-tube is positioned vertically above the rear hitch assembly.
US08910722B2	Slip-deployed anti-extrusion backup ring Arrangements and packer devices having anti-extrusion backup rings that are expanded radially outwardly by a setting mechanism that lies proximate the elastomeric packer element that is being protected against extrusion. The setting mechanism can be a slip assembly that has a radially expandable slip element.
US08910716B2	Apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow from a formation In one aspect, an apparatus for controlling fluid flow between a formation and a tubular is provided, wherein the apparatus includes a retrievable communication device configured to be conveyed to a selected location in the tubular downhole. The apparatus also includes a control node configured to communicate with the retrievable communication device at the selected location, a flow control device coupled to and controlled by the control node and a sensor coupled to the control node, wherein the sensor and flow control device are downhole of the control node.
US08910715B2	Oil well control system A system including a combined plug and valve device that may be precisely delivered to and inserted into an uncontrolled undersea oil well. Once positioned in the well, the device is operated in graduated fashion to anchor the plug to the well and gradually stanch the flow of oil from the well.
US08910712B2	System and method for converting class II hydrate reservoirs Clathrate reservoirs of Class II are modified in order to improve the ability to produce hydrocarbons from them. Specifically a method for improving producibility of subsurface clathrate formation underlain by a mobile aquifer includes drilling a borehole to a depth providing access to the mobile aquifer and injecting a material into the mobile aquifer such that the material passes through pore spaces and forms a barrier underlying the clathrate formation and substantially impeding fluid flow from the mobile aquifer into contact with the clathrate formation.
US08910709B2	Expandable liner tieback connection A method of connecting a first tubular member to a second tubular member located in a wellbore, the second tubular member including an upper end portion which has a greater diameter than the diameter of the first tubular member, the method comprising: lowering the first tubular member into the wellbore until the first tubular member is located at least within the bore of the upper end portion of the second tubular member; and expanding the first tubular member until the first tubular member is sealingly connected to the second tubular member.
US08910708B2	Pumice-containing remedial compositions and systems for use Systems for remedial cementing are provided that utilize pumice and various additives. One of the systems for remedial cementing embodiments comprises a lightweight settable composition comprising pumice, a calcium activator, and water, wherein the lightweight settable composition has a density of less than about 13.5 pounds per gallon; mixing equipment for mixing the lightweight settable composition; and pumping equipment for delivering the lightweight settable composition to a well bore.
US08910705B2	Radiator fan control for heat pump HVAC An automobile which includes a radiator fan control for heat pump HVAC which can selectively reverse fan direction based on ambient temperature and moisture to reduce ice buildup on a liquid-gas converter. The automobile may include a liquid-gas converter located within an engine bay, a radiator located adjacent the liquid-gas converter, a first fan located adjacent the radiator, a fuel cell and motor with the inverter located adjacent the first fan, the fuel cell supplying electricity to the motor with the inverter to drive the vehicle. The automobile can also include a temperature sensor located on an exterior surface of the automobile to sense an ambient temperature, a heater core connected to the liquid-gas converter and located between the engine bay and the passenger area, and a control unit connected to the first fan, the temperature sensor, and the heater core.
US08910702B2	Re-direction of vapor flow across tubular condensers Vapor flow-diverting devices that re-direct upwardly flowing vapor, for example, in a downward direction across condenser tubes disposed in the upper or top section of a vapor-liquid contacting apparatus, are described. These devices are particularly beneficial in tubular condensers within distillation columns and may be used in combination with other associated equipment (e.g., a deflector plate and divider plate) as well as in combination with the tube surface enhancements to improve the heat transfer coefficient.
US08910698B2	Sunshade assembly A sunshade assembly includes a mounting seat, a reeling shaft rotatably mounted to the mounting seat, a foldable shade member connected to the reeling shaft and having an expandable end section that has two side portions and a center portion interconnecting the side portions, a sidebar formed with a first receiving groove that is engaged with the center portion of the expandable end section, and two end components connected respectively to opposite ends of the sidebar. Each of the end components is formed with a second receiving groove in spatial communication with the first receiving groove and engaged with a respective one of the side portions of the expandable end section.
US08910696B2	Slat controller of window blind A slat controller for a window blind has a gear, a worm member, and a connector. The gear connects to slats through cords, and the worm member having spiral teeth meshed with the gear. The connector has flexible arms, and the flexible arms have teeth. The worm member has teeth normally engaging the teeth of the connector, and the teeth of the worm member disengage the teeth of the connector to protect the meshed gear and the worm member when the user keeps turning the tilting rod beyond the allowable turning range.
US08910691B2	Glass handling assembly Assemblies are provided for stabilizing sheets of glass during handling. The assemblies may include rollers of different varieties for stabilization. Crowder rollers may be provided to contact edges of the sheets. One or more of the crowder rollers may have an outer surface having a noncylindrical portion with an increasing diameter in an upward direction relative to the conveyance plane of the sheets. Conveyor rollers may be arranged so as to define a conveyor for conveying the sheets. One or more of the conveyor rollers may be a support roller in substantial registration with a strip applicator for contacting a bottom side of the sheets below the strip applicator during application of a strip.
US08910683B2	Steer axle high-temperature warning system A high temperature warning system for a vehicle steer axle an air pressure supply, a normally-closed valve in fluid communication with pressure supply, a heat sensitive control capable of opening the normally-closed valve upon a predetermined temperature, the heat sensitive control mounted adjacent to the wheel end assembly in a heat exchange relationship therewith, and a warning system connected to the air pressure supply for actuation upon opening of the normally-closed valve.
US08910679B2	Theft protectable carrying bag in particular for portable computers A carrying bag (10) with a shoulder-strap (22) and a zipper (14) with zipper-rider (16) for closing/opening the bag. The shoulder-strap (22) is provided with a loop (24) at one end and a key-operated locking device (26) at the other end thereof. Means (36) are provided for fastening the loop (24) to an inside wall of the bag. Means (48) are provided for securing the zipper-rider (16) by the locking device (26) to an outside wall of the bag (10) for preventing the un-zipping of the bag.
US08910676B2	Device for loading solid particles into an enclosure The invention relates to a device for loading solid particles into an enclosure, including: a means for supplying solid particles to be dispensed, which can be arranged on the top part of the enclosure to be loaded and which pours the solid particles in a substantially vertical manner into a feeding pipe (1); a mobile device (2) disposed entirely or partially inside the enclosure and under the feeding pipe, including a central shaft (3) rotatably driven by a motor means (4) about a substantially vertical axis and deflector elements (6) having a substantially identical shape and being rotatably secured to the shaft (3), preferably arranged in line with one another at different heights about the shaft (3) and pivotably connected thereto so that they can be raised, for example by centrifugal force; and a feeding pipe (1) at least partially surrounding said central shaft (3) and comprising at least one opening (5) for discharging the solid particles, which opening is provided on the horizontal or side wall thereof. The invention is characterized in that the device includes at least one deflector element (7) disposed on the rotatably driven shaft (3), the width of said deflector element (7) close to the shaft (3) being less than that of the other deflector elements (6), in particular the width of the element close to the shaft is smaller than that of the other deflector elements. The invention also relates to a use of said device and to a loading method involving said device.
US08910675B2	Method and valve for the venting of a saddle fuel tank A method for venting of a liquid tank with a valve, a primary compartment and a secondary compartment which are connected together via a bridge. The valve includes a chamber provided with a cover, which extends at least partly into the tank and is connected via an upper venting aperture to a venting circuit. A first device monitors a level of liquid in the primary compartment. A second device monitors a level of liquid in the secondary compartment. The valve configured to be closed when the first device detects that the level of liquid in the primary compartment is equal to or higher than a first predetermined filling level, and the second device detects that the level of liquid in the secondary compartment is equal to or higher than a second predetermined filling level.
US08910674B2	Beverage dispense valve controlled by wireless technology Methods and systems directed to dispensing fluids, such as beverages, using wireless technology are provided. Aspects relate to a container, such as a beverage cup, having a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and/or receive wireless signals to a second wireless transceiver associated with a dispenser. The wireless transceiver may be configured to transmit electronic signals indicative that the container is validated to receive a beverage and whether it is properly located to receive the beverage from a valve of the dispenser. Further aspects of the invention relate to a beverage dispensing system having a wireless transceiver. In one embodiment, the dispenser is configured to receive a return signal from a container indicative that the container is validated to receive a beverage and whether the container is properly located to receive a beverage from a valve of the dispenser.
US08910673B2	Synthetic resin bottle, and a combination of regularly used container and refill container A bottle shape is provided that allows for volume-reducing deformation of a peripheral wall of the body, while maintaining stable posture of the bottle by making use of a combination of a refill container and a regularly used container having an upright discharge cylinder segment. The body is formed to have a thin peripheral wall so that volume-reducing deformation would take place along with the depressurization going on inside the bottle. The peripheral wall has three ridge lines formed in a mountain fold at approximately equal intervals in the vertical direction and has three panel walls connected to one another. Each panel wall is bordered by two adjacent ridge lines, and has a valley fold line that diagonally connects an upper end of one ridge line to a lower end of another adjacent ridge line so that three valley fold lines are disposed obliquely in parallel along a circumferential direction.
US08910669B2	Insert for pipe assembly and method for forming pipe assembly An insert, a pipe assembly, and a method for forming a pipe assembly are disclosed. The pipe assembly includes a hollow body and an insert bonded to the hollow body. The insert spans a knit line defined in the hollow body. The insert is formed from a fiber reinforced polymer material. The fibers are generally anisotropic, and preferably unidirectional, and the insert is oriented such that the fibers extend at an angle to the knit line and thus span the knit line. Preferably, the fibers extend perpendicularly to the knit line. The use of an insert having such an orientation reinforces the hollow body, particularly at the knit line. Thus, the use of such an insert bonded to a hollow body according to the present disclosure produces a pipe assembly having increased pressure ratings.
US08910665B2	Methods and apparatus for bypassing a positioner in an active control loop Methods and apparatus for bypassing a positioner in an active control loop are described. An example actuator assembly includes a pneumatic actuator and a transfer station. The transfer station includes a body defining flow paths that enable fluid to flow between a supply pressure, a valve positioner, and the pneumatic actuator and between the supply pressure and the pneumatic actuator to bypass the valve positioner without disrupting a process loop including the valve positioner. The transfer station also includes a plurality of fluid flow control devices to control the fluid flow through the flow paths.
US08910664B2	Nonlinear air stop valve structure A nonlinear air stop valve of an air sealing body includes an inner member having left arcs on one side and right arcs on the other side, and both left and right arcs are asymmetrically arranged sideway, and a breach is formed at the bottom of the left and right arcs and on a concave arc surface, and left and right arcs are arranged from top to bottom, such that air entering from an air inlet at the top of the inner membrane flows along an upper arc of the left and right arcs to a lower arc and is blocked by the concave arc surface to flow to the breach and pass through the right arc, breach, left arc and breach in turn from right to left or from left to right into an air outlet at the bottom of the inner membrane and enter into the sealing body.
US08910659B2	Hydraulic valve device A hydraulic valve device has a valve housing (10) in which an activating piston (16) is guided in a movable manner. The activating piston (16) is actuatable by an actuating device (18) and activates a pilot valve (20) to connect a fluid port (T) in the valve housing (10) to a fluid chamber (22) of a shut-off piston (24). The shut-off piston (24) activates at least one fluid-conducting connecting line (1, 2) of the valve device and has a fluid conducting control line (26) opening from the connecting line (1, 2) into the fluid chamber (22) of the shut-off piston (24).
US08910654B2	Washer drain system and method A system for preventing flooding caused by blockages in the drain lines of appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and the like included a sealed connection between a washing machine drain line and the sewer line drain, further including a washing machine drain line inlet attachment to a housing, the inlet line connecting to the sewer drain line and to a sealed vent pipe connected to the sewer line drain above the inlet attachment, and including a C-shaped loop in fluid communication with the sewer drain line and containing a float actuated control valve adapted to cut off power to the washing machine upon actuation; a kit containing components of the system and methods of installing the system and kit.
US08910652B2	Fuel ventilation system valve A fuel system vent valve comprises a housing with a first opening, and a float inside the housing. The float is movable between a first position in which the valve is open and a second position in which the float covers the first opening such that the valve is closed. The valve further comprises a liquid trap arranged above the housing such that it covers the first opening. The liquid trap comprises a housing in which is arranged a perimeter wall surrounding the first opening, the perimeter wall being arranged at a distance from the liquid trap housing thereby creating a first volume inside the wall and a second volume outside the wall. The first volume is larger than the second volume and the two volumes are connected via at least one gap between a top of the wall and a top of the liquid trap housing.
US08910647B2	Tip assembly for mobility devices The present invention relates to a tip assembly for a mobility device such as a cane or walking stick, for example. The tip assembly including a specially shaped extension for enhanced gripping of the surface upon which the associated mobility device is being used. The tip assembly also generally includes a dampening element to assist in dissipating the reverberations of contacting the tip assembly with hard surfaces over time.
US08910641B2	Electronic cigarette An electronic cigarette comprises nicotine without harmful tar. The cigarette includes a shell, a cell, nicotine solution, control circuit, and an electro-thermal vaporization nozzle installed in the air suction end of the shell. The advantages of the present invention are smoking without tar, reducing the risk of cancer, the user still gets a smoking experience, the cigarette is not lit, and there is no fire danger.
US08910639B2	Single-use connector and cartridge for a smoking article and related method The present disclosure relates to connectors that may be employed in cartridges for smoking articles. The connectors may include a single-use mechanism that may include a blocking pin, a biasing mechanism, and a release mechanism. The release mechanism may hold the blocking pin in a partially retracted position in which the blocking pin is at least partially retracted from an aperture extending through threads defined by the connector. The release mechanism may include a latch that is displaced from contact with the blocking pin by a release pin upon engagement of the connector with a mating connector. The biasing mechanism may force the blocking pin against an end of the mating connector such that when the mating connector is unscrewed from the connector, the blocking pin extends through the aperture and blocks at least one recess defined between the threads such that the connector may not be reused.
US08910638B2	Methods and apparatus for high-throughput neural screening In exemplary implementations of this invention, high-throughput screening of a mammalian brain is performed to locate neural circuit targets of interest. A variety of search patterns may be used for this neural screening, including (a) iterative subdivision, (b) serial search, and (c) combinatorial. To perform this neural screening, an array of optical fibers (or an array of waveguides) is inserted into the brain. Alternately, the array is positioned adjacent to the brain. Each fiber or waveguide in the array is coupled to a light source (LED or laser). The brain has been previously sensitized to light, using genetically encoded optical neural control reagents, which are delivered either using viruses or via transgenic means. In the screening, the array is used to optically perturb the brain. For example, the neurons of the brain may be activated by one color of light, and/or silenced by another color of light.
US08910635B2	Lateral gas line configuration A mask for patient ventilation comprises a frame portion, a front portion, a retention strap, and a gas delivery orifice. The frame portion is for surrounding a respiratory opening of a patient. The front portion is coupled with the frame portion and covers the respiratory opening region. The retention strap is for maintaining positive pressure between the frame portion and the patient. The gas delivery orifice is coupled with the frame portion and configured such that the gas delivery orifice is lateral to the front portion.
US08910632B2	Energy trigger A method and apparatus for facilitating breathing using a mechanical breathing gas ventilator is presented. The patient effort is deduced from a measured flow signal and analyzed with respect to the energy in the breathing system comprising the mechanical ventilator and the patient. When a predetermined energy threshold has been reached the ventilator responds to the breathing pattern change.
US08910631B2	Fault diagnosis in CPAP and NIPPV devices A ventilation device for non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment of a patient has a gas flow generator, a gas delivery circuit optionally including a humidifier, a controller and sensors monitoring values of operational parameters of the device. The device further includes one or more relationships stored in data storage of the controller relating combinations of parameter values as being indicative of fault conditions of the device operation, the sensors and/or the fault detection process.
US08910629B2	Delivery of gases to the nasal airway A delivery device for providing therapeutic gas to the nasal airway of a subject, the delivery device comprising: a nosepiece (21) for fitting to one nostril of the subject; a mouthpiece (23) through which the subject in use exhales and which is fluidly connected to the nosepiece (21); and a scrubber (27) which is operative at least to reduce the concentration of at least one gas from an exhaled breath of the subject as delivered through the mouthpiece (23) and provide a gas flow to the nosepiece (21) which has an increased concentration of at least one other,” therapeutic gas which provides a therapeutic effect.
US08910628B2	Dry-powder inhaler An inhaler for delivering dry-powder medicament to a patient from an open blister pocket of a blister pack. The blister pack is in the form of a flexible elongate strip including a base sheet having a plurality of recesses spaced along its length and a cover sheet peelably sealed to the base sheet to define a plurality of blister pockets each containing a measured dose of the medicament. The inhaler also includes a housing for enclosing used and unused portions of the blister pack together with the medicament dispensing mechanism. The housing defines internal transverse walls extending in the width direction of the blister pack for isolating the used portion of the cover sheet from the unused portion of the blister pack.
US08910627B2	Apparatus for the aerosolization of large volumes of dry powder The claimed subject matter relates to a device for dosing and aerosolization of aerosolizable material. The device comprises: a body with an aerosolization channel with a distal attachment portion connectable to a source of carrier gas which provides pressure pulses to the aerosolization channel; a proximal attachment portion for outputting aerosolized material and a reservoir for receiving aerosolizable material. The reservoir comprises walls and is connected in a gas-tight manner to the body and in fluid connection with the aerosolization channel. At least part of the walls of the device are self-exciting membranes that can be put into oscillation by the pressure pulses.
US08910626B2	Chin pivot patient interface device A patient interface device that includes a body portion comprising a pair of arms and a chin support. A first end portion of each arm in the pair of arms is coupled to an opposite end of the chin support. The chin support is adapted to be disposed under the mandible responsive to the patient interface device being donned by a user. At least one headgear attachment element is provided on each arm in the pair of arms. A circuit portion is provided at a second end portion of each arm in the pair of arm. A patient interface portion is coupled to the circuit portion.
US08910624B2	Solar collector, collector element, building roof, building, and solar energy recovery system The invention relates to a solar collector (1) comprising a collector element plane comprising a set of parallel metallic collector elements (2) for collecting solar energy. The collector element plane, on its side to be arranged to face the sun, comprises a set of parallel, elongated ridges (R, r) formed by the metallic collector elements (2), and elongated depressions (v) between the ridges (R, r), and that at least some of the ridges (R, r) comprise therein a channel (3) for a heat transfer medium. The invention also relates to a collector element. The invention further relates to a building roof, a building, and a solar energy recovery system comprising said solar collector (1).
US08910617B2	Control device for internal combustion engine If a relative rotational phase between a first rotor drivably connected to a crankshaft and a second rotor drivably connected to a camshaft is not an intermediate lock phase when an engine is started, a fuel injection starting timing is delayed more than that of the time when the relative rotational phase is the intermediate lock phase. The delay time is determined according to the working oil temperature of a valve timing mechanism during the engine start or the same oil temperature at the previous stop time of the engine, for example. As a result, the start of the engine can be completed as soon as possible while retaining the startability of the internal combustion engine.
US08910612B2	Pre-chamber jet igniter and engine including combustion chamber employing the same An engine includes a pre-chamber jet igniter which injects at least one jet combustion flame into the combustion chamber from the outside of the combustion chamber in which the piston reciprocates to generate power so that the injected jet combustion flame is utilized as the source of ignition of the fuel injected into the space in the combustion chamber to drive the explosion stroke such that combustion of the combustion chamber can be maintained reliable by the use of jet combustion flames in the form of large flame kernels, fuel consumption can be remarkably improved and the generation of NOx can be remarkably reduced using rapid cold combustion which is caused by the continuously reliable combustion, and, in particular, it is possible to prevent liquefaction of the air-fuel mixture due to variations in the flow and pressure of the air-fuel mixture flowing in the combustion chamber.
US08910607B2	Method and mechanism configured for reducing powertrain rigid body motion during start/stop A starting system for an engine of a vehicle includes a starter motor and a motion control mechanism. The starter motor includes a starter pinion gear configured to selectively mesh with a primary mass of the engine. The starter pinion gear is selectively rotatable about a first axis of rotation to cause the primary mass to rotate about a second axis of rotation. The motion control mechanism includes a mechanism pinion gear that is configured to selectively mesh with the primary mass of the engine. The mechanism pinion gear is configured to rotate about a third axis of rotation in response to rotation of the primary mass about the secondary axis of rotation.
US08910605B2	Valve timing control device A valve timing control device includes a driving rotary element synchronously rotatable with a crankshaft; a driven rotary element mounted coaxially with the driving rotary element and synchronously rotatable with a camshaft; a plurality of partitions provided in the driven rotary element each for dividing a fluid pressure chamber formed between the driving rotary element and the driven rotary element into a regarded angle chamber and an advanced angle chamber; and a connecting element for connecting the driven rotary element to the camshaft. The connecting element includes a flange inserted into a recess formed in the driven rotatory element, and a shaft portion inserted into a through bore formed in a wall of the driving rotary element adjacent to the camshaft. The flange has an outer diameter larger than that of the shaft portion, and is disposed between the driven rotary element and the wall.
US08910604B2	Valve timing control device A valve timing control device that enables simplification of the manufacturing process and reduction of the number of parts while suppressing deformation of a driven rotary element. The valve timing control device includes a driving rotary element, a driven rotary element, a plurality of partitions each for dividing a fluid pressure chamber into a regarded angle chamber and an advanced angle chamber, and a connecting element for connecting the driven rotary element to a camshaft. The connecting element includes a press fitting portion having a plurality of fitting segments configured to fit to an inner circumference of a recess of the driven rotary element. At least one of centerlines of the fitting segments extending in a radial direction does not overlap any of the partitions.
US08910602B2	Control valve comprising an integrated filter and cam shaft phase setter comprising said control valve A control valve for controlling a pressure fluid, said control valve comprising: a valve housing (10) comprising a valve inlet (P) for the pressure fluid, a control port (A, B) for connecting to an assembly which is to be operated using the pressure fluid, and a valve outlet (TA, TB); a valve piston (20) which can be moved in the valve housing (10) along an axis (R) and which comprises a hollow space (21) through which the pressure fluid can flow from the valve inlet (P) to the control port (A, B); and a filter device (30) which is arranged in the control valve and comprises a filter cross-section (35) which filters the pressure fluid as it passes through it, wherein at least a part of the filter cross-section (35) of the filter device (30) is situated in the hollow space (21) of the valve piston (20).
US08910600B2	Pressure storage unit for a camshaft and piston for a pressure storage unit A pressure storage unit (2) for a camshaft, having an integrated controllable pressure storage device for supporting hydraulic engine components, which includes a housing (4) with a piston (14) mounted movably therein having a piston floor (18), and a spacer element (28) being provided on the piston floor (18).
US08910594B2	Poultry cage having litter plate The invention relates to a poultry cage comprising: a cage floor (10), preferably having a grid structure, end (11, 13) and side walls (12, 14) which extend upward from the cage floor and define all sides of an area where the animals are kept, an introducing device (50) for introducing litter material (51), which is disposed above the cage floor and from which the litter material can be dispensed from at least one discharge opening, wherein at least one section of the device for introducing litter is disposed between the side walls, a litter plate (60, 160) connected to the cage floor, which has an upwardly facing floor standing area, comprising one section (66) which lies above the at least one discharge opening and has fixing means for fixing the litter plate to the cage floor. According to the invention, the floor standing area has at least one abrasive surface section (62), the roughness of which serves to shorten the claws of the poultry walking thereon and to blunt the beaks of the poultry picking thereon.
US08910593B2	Livestock trailer corral assembly A removable corral assembly for use in a livestock trailer which includes a plurality of interlocking livestock panels. The panels are in a substantial U-shape so when they are installed in the livestock trailer a left aisle and right aisle are formed with a middle or center aisle which is segregated. The worker stands in the center aisle and is protected from livestock being worked in the left and right aisles. A catch gate or squeeze chute may be associated with the corral assembly and positioned near the rear opening of the trailer in either the left or right aisle. Rollers, wheels or similar mechanisms are fastened to the panel assembly so that the corral can easily be rolled in to and out of a livestock trailer. Varying panel sizes may be used to adjust the overall dimensions of the corral assembly for installation in trailers having varying sizes.
US08910588B2	Polyurethane roller coating device for carpet backing A device for applying a polyurethane mixture to a backstitch side of a greige includes: a tensioning roller rotatable in a first direction; an application roller arranged adjacent to the application roller and rotatable in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the tensioning roller and the application roller positioned transversely and adjacent to a path of travel of the greige on the backstitch side of the greige, the tensioning roller rotatable against a feed direction of the greige, the application roller rotatable in the feed direction of the greige; and a dispenser configured to create a puddle of the polyurethane mixture between the tensioning roller and the application roller.
US08910586B2	Precision seasoner A seasoning apparatus and method for evenly and consistently seasoning french fries or other food. The seasoning apparatus may include a hollow hopper for holding and selectively dispensing seasoning therefrom and a plurality of actuatable dispensing elements each translatably attached to the hopper and each having a holding compartment formed therein. The actuatable dispensing elements may receive seasoning in the holding compartment from the hopper. When translated to a dispensing position, the dispensing elements may dispense seasoning from the holding compartment. The seasoning apparatus may also include a seasoning spreader for spreading seasoning dispensed from the actuatable dispensing elements and a food-holding container fixed a distance below the hopper and seasoning spreader. The food-holding container may have a weighing device coupled with a controller for determining an amount of seasoning to dispense from the hopper and actuating the actuatable dispensing elements accordingly.
US08910581B2	Side dressing fertilizer coulter An agricultural side dressing fertilizer coulter row unit includes a first attachment member adapted to be rigidly connected to a towing frame, and a second attachment member pivotably coupled to the first attachment member for pivoting movement about a substantially vertical axis. A linkage is pivotably coupled to the second attachment member for pivoting movement of the trailing end of the linkage relative to the second attachment member, and a tool-carrying stem pivotably coupled to the trailing end of the linkage carries a rotatably mounted coulter wheel for forming a slit in the soil, a liquid fertilizer dispenser for dispensing fertilizer, and a rotatably mounted closing wheel for closing the slit. A biasing element is pivotably attached to the linkage and coupled to the second attachment member for urging the stem downwardly with a controllable force.
US08910577B2	Rail cribber A cribbing work head including a work head frame having a longitudinal extent and a lateral extent. At least two inverted U-shaped work arms are mounted parallel to one another on the work head frame and spaced longitudinally from each other for lateral reciprocating movement on the frame, each of the work arms having a replaceable tool secured to each free end of the inverted U-shaped work arm. A separate fluid power double cylinder is secured to the work head frame and to each of the inverted U-shape work arms for independently laterally reciprocating the work arms. A main cylinder of each of said fluid power double cylinders is operable to laterally reciprocatingly move a respective work arm and a secondary cylinder of each of the fluid power double cylinders operable to move a respective work arm to one of two discrete lateral starting points.
US08910576B2	Bomb for deployment from an air vehicle A bomb for deployment from an air vehicle includes a rocket motor for propelling the bomb. The rocket motor includes propellant which at least partially defines a void downstream of an initial burning surface. As the propellant is burned the void will be exposed, increasing the surface area of the burning surface of the propellant to increase the thrust of the rocket motor.
US08910575B2	Printed packaging and method of printing packaging with electron beam curable inks Provided are a printed packaging and a method for printing and decorating packaging materials, such as paper, paper board, metals, and various flexible and rigid polymer films by electron beam exposure of plural layers of curable inks, which do not substantially change viscosity during the printing process. The inks are essentially free of volatile components such as organic solvents, inorganic solvents, water and low molecular weight fractions before, during and after exposure to electron beam irradiation. The method involves applying multiple layers of ink and an optional coating onto a substrate. The ink is an admixture of a colorant, and an unsaturated component such that the inks have a maximum of 10% volatile components. Thereafter these layers are simultaneously exposed with electron beam radiation to cause the ethylenically unsaturated components to polymerize or crosslink such that they become dried.
US08910572B2	High-rigidity adapter sleeves for printing sleeves An adapter sleeve has an external layer for supporting a printing cylinder carrying data and/or images to be printed. The adapter sleeve has an internal layer defining a bore enabling the sleeve to be mounted onto a rotary mandrel of a printing machine. Each opposite extreme end of the adapter sleeve includes a rigid, load-bearing, radial spacer member disposed between the layers to provide rigidity and indeformability during the use of the sleeve with time. The inner surface of each of the extreme end radial spacer members is defined by rigid and non-deformable material of very low coefficients of dynamic and static friction.
US08910571B2	Dampening unit in offset printing press It is desirable that ink and water be fully kneaded or distributed together when an inking unit 4 and a dampening unit 5 are in communication with each other. Accordingly, a dampening water communication path 17 which brings the inking unit 4 and the dampening unit 5 in and out of communication so that they can come in and out of contact with each other is provided, the dampening water communication path comprises a plurality of rollers including an oscillating roller 14 in rotational contact with an ink distributing roller 8 and an oscillating roller 16 in rotational contact with a dampening roller 10, and a roller interposed between them is a bridging roller 15 in rotational contact with one of these adjoining rollers and capable of coming in and out of contact with the other.
US08910566B2	Grilling device A grilling device comprises an upper shell and a lower shell, an upper pan disposed on the lower surface of the upper pan and a lower pan disposed on the top surface of the lower shell, and electric heating tubes disposed on the rear sides of the pans, wherein the top surface of the lower pan is slant from two sides to the middle portion, and the shape of the lower surface of the upper pan is cooperated with the shape of the top surface of the lower pan. When cooking, the oil will flow to the middle and will be discharged out from the opening in the middle. The steam can be discharged from two sides because the pan is lower in middle and higher in two sides. Steam is prevented from being discharged from front side. The arc surface has more cooking surface in the same size.
US08910563B2	Apparatus for brewing a beverage Shown is an apparatus for brewing a beverage, such as coffee, as well as associated methods for brewing a beverage. Apparatuses and methods are included to reduce labor involved in pour-over brewing techniques, while providing greater consistency in the results. Manual and/or automatic movements are provided to a filter (e.g., rotation) and/or a nozzle dispensing liquid over the filter. Water dosage and timing therefore can be automated to the filter. The nozzle can be positioned off-center with respect to the filter to ensure wetting thereof. The nozzle can be made movable for constrained changes to the path of liquid flow relative to the rotating filter.
US08910558B2	Firearm recoil modifying device A firearm recoil modifying device includes a cylindrical body having a rearward end, a forward end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. An adapter having a central aperture aligned with the longitudinal axis is coupled to the rearward end of the cylindrical body. An end cap is coupled to the forward end of the cylindrical body, and includes a central aperture aligned with the central aperture of the adapter along the longitudinal axis. A piston is carried within the interior volume of the cylindrical body for reciprocal movement between a rearward position and a forward position. The piston includes a central aperture aligned with the central apertures of the adapter and the end cap, along the longitudinal axis. A biasing member biases the piston into the rearward position.
US08910554B2	Protective sleeve for motor component and method for manufacturing same The protective sleeve for a motor component of the present invention is obtained by braiding multifilament yarns made of synthetic fibers into a cylindrical braided cord of at least 24 strands. The multifilament yarns have a single-yarn fineness of at least 15 dtex but less than 30 dtex and the yarn total fineness of a single braid unit of the braided cord is in the range of 800 to 1500 dtex. This protective sleeve has good covering properties and few voids. Therefore, a protective sleeve for a motor component is provided that has high partial discharge characteristics (electrical insulation performance) and good electrical insulation properties even when a step of washing away the raw yarn oil solution applied to the filaments was omitted.
US08910552B2	Movable saw apparatus and method Disclosed is a movable cutting tool apparatus and/or methods for cutting workpieces; either generally including a cutting tool apparatus having a cutting tool unit support apparatus including at least a substantially stationary support structure and one or more rear-mount glide rails; a cutting tool unit which is supported by the support apparatus; a cutting implement held by the cutting tool unit, whereby the cutting tool unit operates and controls the cutting implement; and, at least one fluid coolant and/or lubricant tube connected to the cutting tool unit and adapted to flow a fluid to the cutting implement in operation; wherein the cutting tool unit and the cutting implement are directly movable with the glide rails to provide reciprocal and translational movability for the cutting tool unit and the cutting implement.
US08910551B2	Apparatus for punching moving material webs In order to punch a moving material web there are two punching units present, which are arranged one after another in the direction of movement of the material web. Each punching unit has two punching tools, which interact with a rotatably mounted back-pressure cylinder that can be driven. The punching tools are arranged on a rotatably mounted drive shaft that can be driven, and their position can be adjusted in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the latter and locked in various working positions. Each punching tool has a cylindrical base, to the periphery of which a punching strip which is provided with at least one punching shape is fixed such that it can be replaced. The drive shafts can be driven independently of the associated back-pressure cylinder.
US08910549B2	Method and device for producing precision blankings from a material strip The incomplete compound die cut along the circumference of the precision blanking is performed with a specially shaped cutting edge of cutting punch (11) and/or the die plate (5) in such a way that the precision blanking (1) remains initially connected by a material bonding to at leas one partial connecting part on the material strip (2), either on the upper or lower plane at a level relative to the material strip. It is then moved together with the material strip in the running direction of the strip to a subsequent removal stage (ejector), in which the precision blanking and the material strip are separated from each other perpendicular to the running direction of the material strip towards the bottom by breaking out the connecting part without a vertical shear force component and without being pressed back, wherein the removed precision blanking (1) is discharged through a discharge chute (9) in the die plate.
US08910547B2	Computerized, segmented steel rule type die making system and method A steel rule die making system produces a steel rule dies having an operative surface that form creases and cut patterns in a sheet material to form a box blank. The system includes a die manufacturing station having an indexing bench that securely holds a substrate. At least one slug driver device is disposed adjacent the die manufacturing station to drive the penetrating point of a slug into the substrate. The upper surface of the slug head defines a segment of the operative surface of the steel rule die.
US08910545B2	Wave gear device provided with tapered flexible externally toothed gear In an elliptical rim neutral line of each axially perpendicular cross section in a tooth trace direction of a flexible externally toothed gear of a wave gear device, external teeth are applied with addendum modification along the external teeth tooth trace direction so that the bending stress generated at the root rim surface of the external teeth that is caused by flexing of the flexible externally toothed gear is averaged out, the maximum value thereof can be reduced, and the transferred torque of the wave gear device can be increased.
US08910544B2	Cam part for a variable sliding cam valve drive A cam part (1) is provided for a variable sliding cam valve drive of an internal combustion engine, which cam part (1) can be mounted on a basic shaft of the sliding cam valve drive fixedly so as to rotate with it but axially displaceably, and has one or more cam groups (2, 3) and at least one connecting link piece (4) with at least one spiral groove (5) for an actuator pin engagement. At least one weight-reducing groove (7) which does not coincide with the spiral groove (5) is formed on the outer casing (6) of the cam part (1).
US08910541B2	Electronic device with angled control orientation Systems and methods for packaging a Control Assembly (“CA”) on an Electronic Device (“ED”). The methods involve: mounting a first component (112, 812, 908) of CA on a Top Surface (“TS”) (104, 804, 904) of ED (100, 800, 900) such that a Central AXis (“CAX”) (136, 836, 934) thereof is at an acute angle (170, 870, 962) relative to a plane (152, 852, 952) perpendicular to a horizontal center axis (150, 850, 950) of ED; mounting a second component (106, 806, 906) of CA on TS such that CAX (132, 832, 932) thereof is at a first Obtuse Angle (“OA”) (164, 860, 960) relative to the plane; and mounting a third component (108, 808, 912) of CA on TS such that CAX (134, 834, 936) thereof is at a second OA (166, 862, 970) relative to the plane. The second or third component may have a trapezoidal shape.

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