最新美国发明专利第2015-05-05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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US09023549B2	Gas diffusion electrode A method of preparing a gas diffusion electrode comprising a diffusion layer, and a reaction layer arranged to each other, wherein the diffusion layer is prepared by i) admixing a) sacrificial material, b) polymer and c) a metal-based material and d) optional further components, wherein the sacrificial material has a release temperature below about 275° C. and is added in an amount from about 1 to about 25 wt % based on the total weight of components a)-d) admixed; ii) forming a diffusion layer from the admixture of step i); iii) heating the forming diffusion layer to a temperature lower than about 275° C. so as to release at least a part of said sacrificial material from the diffusion layer. A gas diffusion electrode comprising a diffusion layer and a reaction layer arranged to one another, wherein the diffusion layer has a porosity ranging from about 60 to about 95%, and an electrolytic cell comprising the electrode. An electrolytic cell, a fuel cell comprising the gas diffusion electrode and a metal-air battery comprising the gas diffusion electrode.
US09023546B2	Fuel cell There is disclosed a fuel cell in which an insulating material is disposed, whereby the thermal diffusion of the inside and outside of a fuel cell can be suppressed to suppress the deterioration of the performance of the fuel cell due to a temperature drop. Moreover, the physical properties of the insulating material are specified, whereby appropriate insulating properties required in the fuel cell can be obtained, and startup properties are improved. A fuel cell has a cell stack in which a plurality of unit cells are stacked, and terminal plates disposed on both sides of the cell stack in a cell stack direction thereof. The fuel cell comprises an insulating portion having an insulating material and holding plates which hold the insulating material from both the sides of the insulating material in the cell stack direction, the insulating material is held between the holding plates, and the insulating material has a thermal conductivity of 0.1 W/mK or less and a porosity of 70% or more.
US09023543B2	Temperature-sensitive bypass device for discharging condensed water from fuel cell stack The present invention provides a temperature-sensitive bypass device for discharging condensed water from a fuel cell stack, in which a bypass line is provided between an end plate and a separator located at the outermost cell adjacent to an inlet of the fuel cell stack, and a temperature-sensitive valve for opening and closing the bypass line is provided on the inner side of the end plate such that the temperature-sensitive valve is opened when an excessive amount of condensed water is introduced into the inlet of the stack during cold start-up, thereby easily discharging the excessive amount of condensed water present in the inlet of the stack through the bypass line.
US09023542B2	Fuel cell system including an ammonia remover and method of operating the same A fuel cell system 100 includes: a reformer 1 configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by using a raw material; a fuel cell 6 configured to generate electric power by using the hydrogen-containing gas; an ammonia remover 5 configured to remove ammonia from the hydrogen-containing gas generated in the reformer before the hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the fuel cell; a fluid passage configured to allow the ammonia remover to be in communication with the atmosphere; an on-off valve 8 provided on the fluid passage and configured to allow and block the communication between the ammonia remover and the atmosphere; and a controller 80 configured to open the on-off valve in at least one of a water draining process and a water loading process of the ammonia remover.
US09023539B2	Retaining member and metal-air cell unit utilizing the same The instant disclosure relates to a retaining member of a metal-air cell unit. The retaining member comprises a plurality of side plates constructed to define an anode compartment; and an air-distributing structure formed in the anode compartment. The air-distributing structure has a height difference from the side plates, and the height difference defines an air-distributing path.
US09023536B2	Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery using a polyanion compound or a lithium nickelate as a positive electrode active material, suppressing the elution of a transition metal from the polyanion compound or ameliorating the deterioration of a binder by a residual alkali component, and provides a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a negative electrode intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions, a positive electrode containing a lithium-containing compound as a positive electrode active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte with a lithium salt dissolved in organic solvent. The lithium-containing compound is a polyanion compound or a lithium nickelate. The non-aqueous electrolyte contains a fluorosilane compound: R1 to R3: alkyl group having 1-8 carbon(s), an alkenyl group having 2-8 carbons, a cycloalkyl group having 5-8 carbons, an aryl group having 6-8 carbons or a fluorine atom. R4: alkylene group having 1-8 carbon(s) or an alkylene group having 4-8 carbons having an ether group.
US09023533B2	Cable-type secondary battery A cable-type secondary battery, includes an electrode assembly including first and second polarity electrodes with a thin and long shape, each having a current collector whose cross-section perpendicular to its longitudinal direction is a circular, asymmetrical oval or polygonal shape, an electrode active material applied onto the surface of the current collector, and a separator or an electrolyte layer interposed between the electrodes; and a cover member surrounding the electrode assembly, wherein the cable-type secondary battery is provided with a first polarity terminal and a second polarity terminal connected to the first polarity electrode and the second polarity electrode, respectively, at the first end of the cable-type secondary battery; a housing cap configured to fix the first and second polarity terminals and cover the first end of the cable-type secondary battery; and a length-adjustable coupling unit at a second end of the cable-type secondary battery.
US09023532B2	Positive active material composition for rechargeable lithium battery, positive electrode for rechargeable lithium battery including the positive active material composition, and rechargeable lithium battery including the positive active material composition A positive active material composition for a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a positive active composite material including a compound being reversibly capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium, WO3, and a binder; and an aqueous binder, a positive electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery including the positive active material composition, and a rechargeable lithium battery comprising the positive electrode including the positive active material composition.
US09023531B2	Coated positive electrode active material, positive electrode for nonaqueous secondary battery, nonaqueous secondary battery, and their production methods Disclosed is a nonaqueous secondary battery (100) comprising a positive electrode (155) having a positive current collector (151) made of a metal, and a positive electrode active material (153) composed of a lithium-metal complex oxide. The surface of the positive electrode active material (153) is coated with a lithium salt (158) having an average thickness of 20-50 nm.
US09023529B2	Nanomaterials for sodium-ion batteries A crystalline nanowire and method of making a crystalline nanowire are disclosed. The method includes dissolving a first nitrate salt and a second nitrate salt in an acrylic acid aqueous solution. An initiator is added to the solution, which is then heated to form polyacrylatyes. The polyacrylates are dried and calcined. The nanowires show high reversible capacity, enhanced cycleability, and promising rate capability for a battery or capacitor.
US09023520B2	Lithium ion battery A lithium ion battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a microporous polymer separator disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and a polymer having a chelating agent tethered thereto. The polymer is incorporated into the lithium ion battery such that the chelating agent complexes with metal cations in a manner sufficient to not affect movement of lithium ions across the microporous polymer separator during operation of the lithium ion battery.
US09023517B2	Secondary battery A secondary battery including an electrode assembly; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate coupled with the case; a terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly and extending through the cap plate; and a safety member between the terminal and the cap plate, the safety member having an apex contacting one of the cap plate and the terminal to electrically connect together the cap plate and the terminal.
US09023514B2	Battery pack [Object] To prevent elements in a pack main body and an electronic apparatus from malfunctioning even if the pack main body having an outer shape line-symmetric in up and down directions and left- and right-hand directions is incorrectly attached.[Solving Means] There are provided a pack main body 11 installing the battery cell 29 and a terminal portion 12 constituted of a plus terminal 12a, a minus terminal 12b, and a control terminal 12c that are provided on a front surface 11c of the pack main body 11. The plus terminal 12a, the minus terminal 12b, and the control terminal 12c are provided so as to be deviated to one end portion 11f in a width direction of the front surface 11c and arranged in an order of the plus terminal 12a, the control terminal 12c, and the minus terminal 12b. The sizes of the control terminal 12c, the plus terminal 12a, and the minus terminal 12b are increased in an order of the control terminal 12c, the plus terminal 12a, and the minus terminal 12b such that the control terminal 12c is formed to be the smallest. While being attachable to various electronic apparatuses, the pack main body can ensure a sufficient mechanical strength.
US09023513B2	Rechargeable secondary battery having improved safety against puncture and collapse A rechargeable battery having improved safety against puncture and collapse includes an electrode assembly, a case, a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal, a cap plate, and a short circuit member. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode, a separator, and a second electrode. The case contains the electrode assembly. The first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal are electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, respectively. The short circuit member is between the electrode assembly and the case and short circuits the secondary battery when the secondary battery is punctured or collapsed.
US09023512B2	Method for preventing erroneous loading of component-to-be-loaded on main body side apparatus, component-to-be-loaded and battery pack In case a similar component-to-be-loaded is erroneously loaded on a main body side apparatus, contact of terminals are avoided. To this end, a video camera (main body side apparatus) 1 has a main body side terminal 30, and a battery pack (component-to-be-loaded) 100 has a battery side terminal (component-to-be-loaded side terminal) 120. In the vicinity of the battery side terminal of the component-to-be-loaded, a discriminating tab 111 is provided, and a blocking portion 19 is provided in the vicinity of the main body side terminal of the video camera (main body side apparatus) for determining whether or not its loading is permitted based on the combination of concave and convex engagement with respect to the above-mentioned discriminating tab, and when the loading is not permitted due to the interference between the blocking portion and the above-mentioned discriminating tab, an electric connection between the main body side terminal and the battery side terminal (component-to-be-loaded side terminal) is not to be established.
US09023510B2	Electrochemical device [Object] To provide an electrochemical device that permits a thin package, as well as securely prevents an electrolyte or gas in an internal space from leaking outside even when temperature rise occurs in the electrochemical device during the process where the electrochemical device is reflow soldered to a circuit board or encapsulated into an IC card.[Solution] In the electrochemical device RB1, the main body of the package PA includes first cover plate 15, first terminal plate 12, frame plate 14, second terminal plate 13, and second cover plate 16 stacked in this order and bonded at the facing surfaces. The electric storage element SD is encapsulated in internal space IS formed, between the cover plates 15, 16, by the through holes 12a1, 13a1 in the frame sections 12a, 13a of the terminal plates 12, 13 and the through hole 14a in the frame plate 14.
US09023508B2	Bus bar assembly of novel structure Disclosed is a bus bar assembly to electrically connect two or more cell module assemblies such that the assemblies are arranged in a lateral direction in a state in which the assemblies are in contact with each other or adjacent to each other to constitute a battery module assembly, the bus bar assembly including (a) a cover plate made of an electrically insulative material, the cover plate being mounted at upper ends of the assemblies, (b) two or more conductive connection parts electrically connected to external input and output terminals of the assemblies in a state in which the conductive connection parts are mounted on the cover plate, and (c) two or more bus bars mounted at the upper end of the cover plate in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the assemblies are arranged to electrically connect the conductive connection parts of the assemblies to each other.
US09023507B2	Battery assembly and method of manufacturing the same Provided is a battery assembly that is lightweight while ensuring sufficient bonding strength that is required between frames, as well as a method of manufacturing the same. The battery assembly includes a plurality of cell units that are integrated together, each of the plurality of cell units including: a cell having a metal case; and a plastic frame that is integrally formed with an outer surface of the case, wherein the cell units are integrated together by having the frames of adjacent ones of the cell units joined together through surfaces thereof.
US09023506B2	Battery separator, and battery separator manufacturing method A battery separator includes a porous membrane A with a thickness of less than 10 μm including a polypropylene resin, and a porous membrane B laminated thereon including a heat resistant resin and inorganic particles or cross-linked polymer particles, wherein the porous membrane A satisfies a specific range of thickness, average pore size, and porosity, and the entire battery separator satisfies a specific range of thickness, peeling strength at the interface between the porous membrane A and the porous membrane B, and difference in air resistance between the entire battery separator and the porous membrane A.
US09023502B2	System for the storage of electric energy with reduced thickness for a vehicle with electric propulsion An embodiment of a system for the storage of electric energy with reduced thickness for a vehicle with electric propulsion; the storage system has: a support plane; and a plurality of chemical batteries, each of which includes at least one electrochemical cell which rests on the support plane and has a flat parallelepiped shape with two mutually parallel, opposite larger bases; in each chemical battery the electrochemical cell is arranged parallel to the support plane and rests a larger lower base on the support plane; and each chemical battery includes its own compression system which presses directly on a larger upper base of the electrochemical cell opposite to the larger lower base, keeps the electrochemical cell pressed against the support plane, and is independent from the compression systems of the other batteries.
US09023501B2	Battery and production method thereof According to one embodiment, there is provided a battery having a plurality of current collector tabs extended from a plurality of points of a current collector of at least one electrode of a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The battery further has a lid and a lead. The lead has a current collector tab junctional part connected with the current collector tabs, a lid junctional part fixed to the lid, and a vibration absorber part linking the current collector tab junctional part to the lid junctional part.
US09023495B2	Unit thermionic electric converter and thermoelectric converter system A unit thermionic electric converter. The unit thermionic electric converter includes a case having a first end portion and a second end portion; a working fluid disposed inside the case; a solid electrolyte dividing the inside of the case; a first electrode disposed on a surface of the solid electrolyte; and a second electrode disposed on another surface of the solid electrolyte; wherein the first end portion and the second end portion are alternately heated by a heat source.
US09023493B2	Chemically complex ablative max-phase material and method of manufacture A MAX-phase material is provided for a cutting tool and other applications.
US09023484B2	Shaped direct chill aluminum ingot Method and apparatus for forming aluminum ingot having shaped ends to avoid alligatoring during rolling.
US09023474B2	Glass batch materials having a core-shell structure A plurality of soda-lime glass batch materials are formed into granules that include a core and a shell surrounding the core. The core comprises a first portion of the plurality of glass batch materials, and the shell comprises a remaining portion of the plurality of glass batch materials. These core-shell granules can be melted in a glass furnace to produce molten soda-lime glass in less time and at a lower temperature than conventional soda-lime glass batch preparations.
US09023473B2	Silicone microparticle and method for producing the same The present invention provides a silicone microparticle, wherein the silicone microparticle comprises 100 parts by mass of a silicone elastomer spherical microparticle having volume-average particle diameter of 0.1 to 100 μm and 0.5 to 25 parts by mass of a polyorganosilsesquioxane to cover surface of the silicone elastomer spherical microparticle, wherein the polyorganosilsesquioxane has a shape of granule with the size thereof being 60 nm or less. There can be provided a silicone microparticle having low agglomerating tendency and excellent dispersibility even if rubber hardness of a silicone elastomer microparticle is low and a particle diameter thereof is small.
US09023470B2	Polylactic acid resin expanded beads and molded article of polylactic acid resin expanded beads Polylactic acid resin expanded beads exhibiting excellent fusion bonding at the time of in-mold molding have such a crystal structure that gives a first time DSC curve when heated according to heat flux differential scanning calorimetry referenced in JIS K7122(1987) and a second time DSC curve when thereafter cooled and then again heated, the second time DSC curve having a fusion peak having a reference peak temperature and the first time DSC curve having at least one fusion peak with a peak temperature higher than the reference peak temperature and another at least one fusion peak with a peak temperature not lower temperature than the reference peak temperature.
US09023469B2	Basic zinc cyanurate fine particles, and method for producing same Basic zinc cyanurate fine particles are produced by subjecting a mixed slurry to wet dispersion using a dispersion medium at a temperature in the range of 5 to 55° C., the mixed slurry being formed by blending water, cyanuric acid, and at least one component selected from zinc oxide and basic zinc carbonate such that the cyanuric acid concentration is 0.1 to 10.0 mass % with respect to water.
US09023468B2	Method for preparing poly (ether ketone ketones) A method of preparing a poly (ether ketone ketone) consisting essentially of the repeat unit: —Ar—O—Ar—C(═O)—Ar—C(═O)— wherein each Ar is independently an aromatic moiety is provided. The method may comprise the step of polymerising a monomer system in a reaction medium comprising: (a) a Lewis acid; and (b) a controlling agent comprising an aromatic carboxylic acid, an aromatic sulphonic acid, or a derivative thereof.
US09023464B2	Connecting film, and joined structure and method for producing the same A connecting film which electrically connects a first circuit member with a second circuit member having a nitrogen atom-containing film on a surface thereof facing the first circuit member, the connecting film including a first layer which is to be located at the first circuit member side, and a second layer which is to be located at the second circuit member side, wherein the first layer contains a cationic curing agent and an epoxy resin, and the second layer contains a radical curing agent, an acrylic resin and an epoxy compound, wherein one of the first layer and the second layer is a conductive particle-containing organic resin layer, and the other layer is an insulating organic resin layer containing no conductive particles, and wherein the minimum melt viscosity of the conductive particle-containing organic resin layer is ten times or more greater than that of the insulating organic resin layer.
US09023461B2	Apparatus for optically laser marking articles The present invention relates to laser marking articles. In particular it relates to laser marking articles by laser ablating a coating applied to the article which reveals the surface of the article underneath, thereby forming the mark by the contrasting appearance between the revealed surface of the article and the adjacent remaining coating. Laser parameters are selected to provide uniform, commercially desirable appearance and avoid damage to the underlying surface while maintaining acceptable system throughput. In particular the laser pulse envelope is tailored to provide desirable appearance while maintaining acceptable system throughput.
US09023456B2	Profiled wire screen for process flow and other applications A screen has a plurality of rods arranged longitudinally around a central axis. The rods have first and second edges (e.g., inner and outer edges). Each of the first edges defines a profile that varies in lateral distances from the central axis along a longitudinal length of the rod. For example, the first edges can have an undulating profile of crests and troughs. With the plurality of rods disposed around the central axis, the profile produces a varied surface on the screen when a plurality of wraps from one or more wires is disposed laterally around rods. These one or more wires attach to the first edges of the rods and form a plurality of gaps.
US09023451B2	Rigid structure UHMWPE UD and composite and the process of making Fabrication of ballistic resistant fibrous composites having improved ballistic resistance properties. More particularly, ballistic resistant fibrous composites having enhanced flexural properties, which correlates to low composite backface signature. The composites are useful for the production of hard armor articles, including helmet armor.
US09023448B2	Substrate structures applied in flexible devices A substrate structure applied in flexible devices is provided. The substrate structure includes a carrier; a release layer with a first area formed on the carrier, which has a first adhesion force to the carrier; and a flexible substrate with a second area overlying part of the first area of the release layer and contacting the carrier, which has a second adhesion force to the release layer and a third adhesion force to the carrier, wherein the first area is larger than or equal to the second area, the third adhesion force is greater than the first adhesion force, and the first adhesion force is greater than the second adhesion force.
US09023443B2	Multi-layer high moisture barrier polylactic acid film A laminate film including a first core polylactic acid layer, a coating receiving-layer of polylactic acid, and coated on one side of the coating receiving-layer with PVOH, EVOH, a blend of crosslinked EVOH/PVOH, vinyl alcohol-vinylamine (PVAm) copolymer, anionic carboxylated styrene-butadiene copolymer (SBR) emulsion, or blends thereof. This coating may be applied after the machine-direction orientation step and dried and oriented in a transverse direction orientation oven if in-line coating is desired; or applied to the film in an off-line coating method and dried in an air flotation oven. The dried coating layer can be metallized. This laminate film exhibits excellent gas and moisture barrier properties, appearance, and metal adhesion. It may also optionally include a heat sealable or winding improving layer on the side opposite the coating receiving-layer of the core layer.
US09023441B2	Impact energy attenuation module A new and novel impact energy attenuation material, impact energy attenuation module employing the material and a fit system for optimizing the performance thereof is provided. Non-linear energy attenuating material consisting of a plurality of loose particles is employed for impact energy dissipation. The loose particles are preferably spherical elastomeric balls. An impact energy attenuation module includes a container that holds the loose particles. The impact energy attenuation module can be provided in a wide range of sizes and shapes and the loose particles can be provided in different materials, sizes, density, compaction and hardness to suit with the application at hand. A matrix of impact energy attenuation module are provided about the surface of a shell to provide the required impact energy attenuation. The material, impact energy attenuation module and system of the present invention are well suited for protection of body parts and other cushioning and protection needs.
US09023436B2	Methods for depositing material onto microfeature workpieces in reaction chambers and systems for depositing materials onto microfeature workpieces Methods for depositing material onto microfeature workpieces in reaction chambers and systems for depositing materials onto microfeature workpieces are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes depositing molecules of a gas onto a microfeature workpiece in the reaction chamber and selectively irradiating a first portion of the molecules on the microfeature workpiece in the reaction chamber with a selected radiation without irradiating a second portion of the molecules on the workpiece with the selected radiation. The first portion of the molecules can be irradiated to activate the portion of the molecules or desorb the portion of the molecules from the workpiece. The first portion of the molecules can be selectively irradiated by impinging the first portion of the molecules with a laser beam or other energy source.
US09023433B2	Silsesquioxane resins and method of using them to form an antireflective coating A silsesquioxane resins useful in antireflective coatings wherein the silsesquioxane resin has the formula (PhSiO(3-x)/2(OR′)x)m(HSiO(3-x)/2(OR′)x)n(MeSiO(3-x)/2(OR′)x)o(RSiO(3-x)/2(OR′)x)p and a method of forming an antireflective coating on an electronic device comprising applying to an electronic device an antireflective coating composition comprising the silsesquioxane resin and a solvent, and removing the solvent and curing the silsesquioxane resin to form an antireflective coating on the electronic device.
US09023418B2	Sweetener compositions The invention provides a sweetener composition comprising a combination of cellulose and a sweetener carbohydrate formed from a combination of at least two carbohydrates selected from the group consisting of sucrose, glucose and fructose, and a method for the preparation thereof.
US09023414B2	Rapidly dissolving comestible solid A rapidly dissolving comestible solid is disclosed that includes a fondant formed from a super saturated solution having a bulk sweetener, a hydrocolloid, a texturizing agent, and water. Other ingredients may also be added, and in embodiments in which the solid is provided as a breath freshener, flavoring agents, cooling agents and/or other ingredients useful in conventional breath freshening products may be used. A method for making the comestible solid is also disclosed.
US09023409B2	Low calorie, non-grain, vegan treats for companion animals The invention provides methods of using hay, vegetable and/or fruit pulp, and a hydrocolloid for making animal food; and the food products produced using such methods; and the products then being dried through low-temperature dehydration. The animal food products are free of gluten, grains, legumes, nuts, animal-products, sweeteners, and fats.
US09023408B2	Composition and method for control of diabetes Correctly formulated enterically coated nutrient pellets are able to significantly to lower the blood sugar level of type two diabetics when administered with a normal meal. The inventive composition is effective at dosage levels of 10 g or less. Effective doses of the composition contribute 42 kcal or fewer to the patient's diet. A preferred form of the composition contains lauric acid coated for release in the distal bowel. When taken with an ordinary meal, the effective dosage does not induce the ileal brake and is more than 50 times (often more than 100 times) as effective on per kilocalorie basis as an ordinary meal at eliciting increases in PYY and GLP-1. Thus, ordinary nutrients—as opposed to drugs—can be used to reduce blood sugar levels when administered at dosage levels that are not significant promoters of weight gain.
US09023407B2	Plant extract for treating diabetes and process for making same The present invention relates to a plant extract for treating diabetes and a process for making same. The plant extract of the invention is prepared from an overground part of Hedychium coronarium Koenig, which has the efficacies of lowering blood glucose, increasing insulin levels, reducing insulin resistance and treating and/or preventing diabetes without overly reducing blood glucose in a subject, i.e., not reducing blood glucose in a fasting subject. Also provided herein is a method for treating diabetes in a subject in need thereof comprising administering an effective amount of the plant extract to the subject.
US09023406B2	Amelioration of the appearance of bruises The present invention is directed to compositions and processes for their use that ameliorate the appearance of bruises, making them less cosmetically unappealing. The composition functions by acting both as a humectant and occlusive agent attracting water, returning the skin surface to a smooth state and holding water in place. The re-establishment of a homeostatic state in the skin results in a rapid dissipation of the negative cosmetic effects of the bruise on the skin.
US09023404B2	Further preparations of silk proteins, seed oils, monosaccharide, natural botanicals and polysaccharide mixtures in compositions for hair care or hair repair, and skin care and topical treatments The present invention intends to provide a composition for hair and skin treatment containing a combination consisting of silk amino acid and protein complexes, seed oils, polysaccharides, polyol, monosaccharide, and botanicals. The composition for hair and skin treatment containing the combination consisting of silk amino acid and protein complexes, seed oils, polysaccharides, and botanicals has excellent improvement effects on the condition of the hair follicle and cuticle, imparts moisture to dry hair; thereby reducing the damaging effects of psoriasis, eczema, alopecia, and seborrheic dermatitis. Furthermore, it imparts retention of moisture to the skin resulting in an improved appearance and diminished appearance of lines on the skin. This invention relates to the manufacture of personal care products to be applied to the hair and skin. The compositions may be in the form of hair conditioners, hair growth treatments, shampoos, skin care, skin cleansing, or anti-wrinkle products, and ointments.
US09023402B2	Method for treating a mammal by administration of a compound having the ability to release CO Several classes of in vivo carbon monoxide-releasing compounds are useful for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases, such as chronic inflammatory, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, and of diseases with a strong inflammatory component, such as atherosclerosis, stroke, coronary disease, and Alzheimers disease. The in vivo carbon monoxide-releasing compounds can be attached to known drug vectors and/or known anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin.
US09023395B2	Formulation of active agent loaded activated PLGA nanoparticles for targeted cancer nano-therapeutics The present invention includes compositions and methods of making an activated polymeric nanoparticle for targeted drug delivery that includes a biocompatible polymer and an amphiphilic stabilizing agent non-covalently associated with a spacer compound that includes at least one electrophile that selectively reacts with any nucleophilic on a targeting agent and places the targeting agent on the exterior surface of a biodegradable nanoshell, wherein an active agent is loaded with the nanoshell.
US09023391B2	Stable benzimidazole formulation A stable composition with a benzimidazole derivative, such as Omeprazole, which does not contain a separating layer between the active compound and an enteric coating layer. Instead, the enteric coating layer is applied as a solution with a pH value of at least 6.5, and more preferably in a range of from about 7 to about 10, directly to the benzimidazole derivative substrate. This solution, with the optional addition of a plasticizer, can be directly coated onto the substrate without any necessity for an intermediate layer. Furthermore, in this pH range, the enteric coating is optionally applicable in an aqueous solution, thereby obviating the need for organic solvents for dissolving the enteric coating material. The resultant formulation maintains the stability of the benzimidazole derivative during storage and at the same time protects the product during passage through the acidic environment of the stomach. The problem of interaction between the enteric coat and the alkaline core is thus completely eliminated as the enteric coat at this stage is no longer acidic.
US09023389B1	Compositions for treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Therapeutic compositions and methods for treatment of attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) include dosage forms that deliver a therapeutic amount of active drug in a delayed and controlled release formulation. The dosage form can be administered at night and drug release is delayed for from 4 to 6 hours or longer, followed by an ascending release rate.
US09023373B2	Functionalized calcium phosphate hybrid systems for the remineralization of teeth and a method for producing the same A dental remineralizing system, including a functionalized calcium-containing complex having an organic surfactant component mechanochemically attached to a distressed calcium phosphate component and blended with the comestible material.
US09023371B2	Drug releasing coatings for medical devices Medical device are provided for delivering a therapeutic agent to a tissue. The medical device has a layer overlying the exterior surface of the medical device. The layer contains a therapeutic agent and an additive. In certain embodiments, the additive has a hydrophilic part and a drug affinity part, wherein the drug affinity part is at least one of a hydrophobic part, a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by hydrogen bonding, and a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by van der Waals interactions. In embodiments, the additive is water-soluble. In further embodiments, the additive is at least one of a surfactant and a chemical compound, and the chemical compound has a molecular weight of from 80 to 750 or has more than four hydroxyl groups.
US09023366B2	Vaccine composition for vaccinating dogs against canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) A vaccine composition for vaccinating dogs comprising any one or more of (a) an agent capable of raising an immune response against Streptococcus equi sub species zooepidemicus in a dog, (b) an agent capable of raising an immune response against Mycoplasma cynos in a dog, and (c) an agent capable of raising an immune response against a Chlamydophila in a dog.
US09023365B2	Recombinant baculovirus vaccine A recombinant transfer vector capable of expressing a foreign gene fused to a viral gene under the control of dual promoters and a recombinant baculovirus, and methods for production thereof, as well as pharmaceuticals comprising the recombinant baculovirus as an active ingredient.
US09023358B2	Antibodies that bind to IL-23 The present invention provides an antibody that binds to the p19 subunit of human IL-23 and is characterized as having high affinity, selective, and neutralizing properties. The antibody is useful in the treatment or prevention of an autoimmune or inflammatory condition selected from the group consisting of consisting of multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel diseases, ankylosing spondylitis, graft-versus-host disease, lupus and metabolic syndrome. The antibody is also useful in the treatment of cancer.
US09023354B2	Combination therapy with MDM2 and EFGR inhibitors Provided is a method of treating a proliferative disease, condition, or disorder in a subject by administering a combination of an inhibitor of p53 and MDM2 binding and an EGFR inhibitor. Various embodiments of the disclosed methods provide a synergistic anti-proliferative or anti-apoptotic effect compared to administration of one agent alone.
US09023353B2	Anti-(+)—methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies The present invention encompasses compositions and methods for effectively treating at least one symptom or sign of methamphetamine use, or for slowing the rate of (+) methamphetamine entry into the brain of a subject. The method comprises administering an effective amount of an anti-(+) methamphetamine antibody to a subject.
US09023351B2	Anti-mesothelin antibodies and uses thereof The present invention provides recombinant antigen-binding regions and antibodies and functional fragments containing such antigen-binding regions that are specific for the membrane-anchored, 4O.kDa mesothelin polypeptide, which is overexpressed in several tumors, such as pancreatic and ovarian tumors, mesothelioma and lung cancer cells. These antibodies, accordingly, can be used to treat these and other disorders and conditions. Antibodies of the invention also can be used in the diagnostics field, as well as for further investigating the role of mesothelin in the progression of disorders associated with cancer. The invention also provides nucleic acid sequences encoding the foregoing antibodies, vectors containing the same, pharmaceutical compositions and kits with instructions for use.
US09023343B2	Phosphorylation-inhibiting agent or dephosphorylating agent for PTEN Provided is a preventive, progression inhibitor or remedy for a disease one of the causes of which is the activation of the P13K/AKT signaling pathway or vice versa. A phosphorylation-inhibiting and/or dephosphorylating agent, which has an effect of inhibiting the phosphorylation at least at one of the phosphorylation sites of PTEN protein selected from the group consisting of T382, T383 and S380 and/or an effect of dephosphorylating the same, is prepared. Alternatively, a phosphorylation-inhibiting or dephosphorylating agent for PTEN is screened by a method comprising a step for confirming an ability of a test substance to inhibit the phosphorylation at least at one of the phosphorylation sites of PTEN protein selected from the group consisting of T382, T383 and S380 or a dephosphorylation ability thereof. Then, a substance having an effect opposite to the inhibition of PTEN phosphorylation or dephosphorylation thereof, e.g., an antibody against the phosphorylation-inhibiting or dephosphorylating agent for PTEN obtained above, is also obtained.
US09023341B2	Amphiphilic chitosan nanogel as an injectable delivery system for stem cell therapy The present invention relates to a novel injectable delivery system for stem cell therapy, which comprises a thermo-sensitive amphiphlic chitosan nanogel. Therefore, the invention provides a method for repairing a tissue damage of a subject using the amphiphlic chitosan nanogel served as a carrier for delivering the stem cells to the damaged tissue. This invention also provides a method for sustaining the growth of stem cells using the amphiphlic chitosan nanogel served as a niche or scaffold.
US09023340B2	Wnt inhibitors for human stem cell differentiation Methods and small molecule compounds for stem cell differentiation and treatment of animals with diseases are provided. One example of a class of compounds that may be used is represented by the compound of Formula I and II: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein A, X, Q, R1, R2, R3, R4 are as described herein.
US09023339B2	Biocontrol of nematodes A method for controlling nematodes in or on a plant, a plant part, and/or a locus for plant growth is provided, the method comprising applying to a plant, plant part, or locus for plant growth in need of protection from said nematodes an effective amount of Bacillus pumilus, a mutant of Bacillus pumilus, or at least one metabolite of Bacillus pumilus. In particular, the Bacillus pumilus strain may be strain QST2808.
US09023337B2	Method for treating deficiency in hematopoiesis Methods for enhancing or stimulating hematopoiesis including the step of administering Interleukin-12 (IL-12) to yield hematopoietic recovery in a mammal in need. Preferred methods include the step of administering IL-12 as an adjuvant therapy to alleviate the hematopoietic toxicities associated with one or more treatment regimens used to combat a disease state. Other methods include administering IL-12 to ameliorate various hematopoietic deficiencies. Still other methods are directed to uses of IL-12 for in-vivo proliferation of hematopoietic repopulating cells, hematopoietic progenitor cells and hematopoietic stem cells. Other disclosed methods are directed to uses of IL-12 for bone marrow preservation or recovery.
US09023334B2	Composition for making up the lips A cosmetic composition in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion includes a fatty phase and an aqueous phase, the fatty phase of which includes at least one hydrocarbon oil, at least one first copolymer of ethylene and of propylene and at least one second copolymer of styrene and of at least one olefin other than styrene. A cosmetic method for caring for or making up skin or the lips, and the topical application to the lips of this composition are also disclosed.
US09023333B2	Method of using shaped articles to apply a scaffold-forming agent to an external skin and/or hair surface of a human or an animal The invention relates to the use of a shaped article containing at least one skeleton-forming agent, proteins being excepted, optionally one or more active substances and also optionally one or more auxiliary substances for the purpose of external application, to a process for producing the stated shaped articles, and also to novel shaped articles.
US09023328B2	W/O emulsion with emulsifying silicone elastomer and volatile linear alkane Composition particularly useful for caring for and/or making up keratin materials, in particular the skin, in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion containing water and: (i) at least one or more, in particular C7-C14, volatile linear alkane(s), and (ii) at least one emulsifying silicone elastomer.
US09023320B2	Method of producing a composition, composition and its use The invention relates to a method of producing a composition comprising hyperpolarised 13C-pyruvate, the composition and its use as an imaging agent for MR imaging.
US09023318B2	Compounds with matrix-metalloproteinase inhibitory activity and imaging agents thereof Novel compounds and pharmaceutical compositions having MMP inhibitory activity are disclosed, which have been found to be particularly useful in the prevention, treatment and diagnostic imaging of diseases associated with an unpaired activity of MMP, amongst others MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9 and/or MMP-13 to name a few. The compounds of the present invention are useful for the prevention, the treatment and the in vivo diagnostic imaging of a range of disease states (inflammatory, malignant and degenerative diseases) where specific matrix metalloproteinases are known to be involved.
US09023313B2	System and method for parallel solution extraction of one or more metal values from metal-bearing materials The present disclosure relates to a process and system for recovery of one or more metal values using solution extraction techniques and to a system for metal value recovery. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a first solution extraction circuit and a second solution extraction circuit. A first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first and second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solution is provided to the first circuit. The first circuit produces a first rich electrolyte solution, which can be forwarded to primary metal value recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which is forwarded to secondary metal value recovery. The second circuit produces a second rich electrolyte solution, which is also forwarded to primary metal value recovery. The first and second solution extraction circuits have independent organic phases and each circuit can operate independently of the other circuit.
US09023310B1	Aqueous process for recovering sulfur from hydrogen sulfide-bearing gas A process for recovering sulfur from a hydrogen sulfide-bearing gas utilizes an aqueous reaction medium, a temperature of about 110-150° C., and a high enough pressure to maintain the aqueous reaction medium in a liquid state. The process reduces material and equipment costs and addresses the environmental disadvantages associated with known processes that rely on high boiling point organic solvents.
US09023309B1	Process of conversion sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur by using direct reduction and oxidation catalysts in Claus units Processes are for the conversion of the sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur through different catalytic stages after the reaction furnace of the Claus unit with air or oxygen. The steps are: 1—Conventional Claus thermal or catalytic stage; 2—Oxygen Scavenger catalytic stage to capture excess oxygen from the reaction furnace and to perform Claus reaction; a Selective Reduction stage that converts SO2 to elemental sulfur; and 4—Selective Oxidation stage that converts H2S to elemental sulfur. The tail gas flows to the incineration and stack and to the incineration plus caustic scrubber for achieving zero emissions.
US09023308B2	Facile synthesis of graphene, graphene derivatives and abrasive nanoparticles and their various uses, including as tribologically-beneficial lubricant additives Methods of ex situ synthesis of graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, other graphene derivative structures and nanoparticles useful as polishing agents are disclosed. Compositions and methods for polishing, hardening, protecting, adding longevity to, and lubricating moving and stationary parts in devices and systems, including, but not limited to, engines, turbos, turbines, tracks, races, wheels, bearings, gear systems, armor, heat shields, and other physical and mechanical systems employing machined interacting hard surfaces through the use of nano-polishing agents formed in situ from lubricating compositions and, in some cases, ex situ and their various uses are also disclosed.
US09023306B2	Ultratough single crystal boron-doped diamond The invention relates to a single crystal boron doped CVD diamond that has a toughness of at least about 22 MPa m1/2. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing single crystal boron doped CVD diamond. The growth rate of the diamond can be from about 20-100 μm/h.
US09023305B2	Strontium-82/rubidium-82 generator, method for producing a rubidium-82 comprising diagnostic agent, said diagnostic agent and its use in medicine The invention relates to a strontium-82/rubidium-82 generator, comprising a column filled with a cationic exchanger loaded with strontium-82, and having an inlet and an outlet, and a liquid medium, wherein parts of the column, inlet and outlet coming into contact with the liquid medium are iron-free, preferably metal-free, to a method for producing rubidium-82, and to the obtained diagnostic agent.
US09023298B2	High temperature platformer An apparatus for reforming a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The apparatus involves changing the design of reformers and associated equipment to allow for increasing the processing temperatures in the reformers and heaters. The reformers are operated under different conditions to utilize advantages in the equilibriums, but require modifications to prevent increasing thermal cracking and to prevent increases in coking.
US09023292B2	Blood sampling device comprising at least one filter Disclosed herein is a device for sampling blood by capillarity for separating a plasma phase of the blood from the cell phase. The device is a strip and includes a filter having a membrane with no clumping agents, a prefilter for spreading blood over the surface of the membrane; and an absorbent paper downstream from the filter. The membrane is dimensioned to cover only a part of the surface of the prefilter and the migration of blood by capillarity within the prefilter takes place essentially lengthwise relative to the strip before blood comes into contact with the membrane.
US09023289B2	System and method for production of high purity silicon solids and solids therefrom Systems and methods and resulting compositions of matter including silicon solids from a mixture of silicon and water. The mixture is collected at a collection stage from at least one wafer abrasion process performed on a silicon surface having an impurity concentration ≦0.1 ppb and extracting one portion of the water from the mixture using at least one dryer stage to form a dry cake. The dry cake includes at least 99.99% silicon by weight excluding water and non-silicon species, where a concentration of water in the dry cake is between 0.05% and 1% by weight, and where a concentration of non-silicon species in the dry cake is between 0.05% and 1% by weight.
US09023287B2	Production method and production device for polyvinyl alcohol resins Provided is a method and an apparatus for producing a polyvinyl alcohol that can reduce energy consumption without deterioration in quality of the product polyvinyl alcohol. First, one or more vinyl esters are polymerized or a vinyl ester and other copolymerizable monomers are copolymerized to give a polyvinyl ester. Then, a raw saponification solution containing the polyvinyl ester and an organic solvent is fed through a channel 1 and a saponification catalyst-containing solution is introduced into the center of the channel. They are then mixed with static mixers 2 and the mixture 4 is subjected to saponification reaction, as it is placed on a belt 3.
US09023286B2	MTO regenerator multi-pass grids A process and device for the regeneration of catalyst is presented. The device includes a series of grids within a regeneration vessel, where each grid includes small openings for the passage of gas, and larger openings for the passage of catalyst. The grids span horizontally across the vessel, and are spaced vertically apart to create a flow of catalyst down through the regenerator.
US09023282B2	Automatic analyzer To be adapted to various types of latex reagents for detecting scattered light and thereby measuring agglutination reactions with high sensitivity while sufficiently ensuring integration time. To be adapted to various types of latex particles of different particle sizes, a plurality of light receivers are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the direction of cell movement by rotation of a cell disk. To ensure sufficient integration time, the angle between the optical axis of the irradiation light and each of a plurality of optical axes of scattered light viewed from above the cell is made equal to or less than 17.7° including a mounting error.
US09023281B2	Submersible chemical indicator apparatuses for use in aquatic-environment monitoring/measuring systems Chemical indicator apparatuses containing one or more chemical indicators for use in monitoring the quality of water in an aquatic environment. The apparatuses are designed and configured to be submersible in the water that is being monitored. In some embodiments, each apparatus includes a plurality of immobilized-dye-based chemical indicators that undergo a physical change as levels of one or more constituents of the water change. Such indicators can be read by one or more suitable optical readers. These and other embodiments are designed and configured to be movable by a corresponding monitoring/measuring apparatus, for example, via a magnetically coupled drive. Also disclosed are a variety of features that can be used to provide a chemical indicator apparatus with additional functionalities.
US09023275B2	Shale shakers and separators with real time monitoring of operation and screens, killing of living things in fluids, and heater apparatus for heating fluids Separators and shakers are disclosed with real time monitoring of screen condition; killing apparatus for killing living things in fluid flowing from a separator or shaker; and/or heating apparatus for heating material fed to or flowing from a separator or shaker. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
US09023271B2	Thin film of copper—nickel—molybdenum alloy and method for manufacturing the same A Cu—Ni—Mo alloy thin film, including Ni as a solution element and Mo as a diffusion barrier element. Ni and Mo are co-doped with Cu. The enthalpy of mixing between Mo and Cu is +19 kJ/mol, and the enthalpy of mixing between Mo and Ni is −7 kJ/mol. The atomic fraction of Mo/Ni is within the range of 0.06-0.20 or the weight faction of Mo/Ni within the range of 0.10-0.33. The total amount of Ni and Mo additions is within the range of 0.14-1.02 at. % or wt. %. A method for manufacturing the alloy thin film is also provided.
US09023267B2	Floating core for glass insert molding method and apparatuses therefrom A tool (1000) includes a mold defining a cavity (1002). The cavity can be for receiving a glass layer (402). A floating core insert (1001) can be placed in the cavity to apply a preloading force against a first major face of the glass layer, preclude an overmolding operation on the first major face, and allow overmolding only on minor faces of the glass layer when polymeric material (1100) is injected into runners (1018,1019,1020) of the tool.
US09023266B2	Semiconductor molding chamber A system and method for a semiconductor molding chamber is disclosed. An embodiment comprises a top molding portion and a bottom molding portion that form a cavity between them into which a semiconductor wafer is placed. The semiconductor molding chamber has a first set of vacuum tubes which hold and fix the position of the semiconductor wafer and a second set of vacuum tubes which evacuate the cavity of extraneous ambient gasses. The encapsulant may then be placed over the semiconductor wafer in order to encapsulate the semiconductor wafer.
US09023265B1	Systems, tools, and methods for forming corrugated structures and apparatuses including corrugated structures Tools for forming a corrugated structure from a pliable blank include a plurality of forming blocks that laterally move relative to each other, a compaction mechanism configured to selectively conform the pliable blank to the forming blocks, and a block translating mechanism configured to reconfigure the tool from a pre-formed configuration to a post-formed configuration, in which the forming blocks are positioned closer together than when the tool is in the pre-formed configuration. Associated systems, methods, and apparatuses also are disclosed herein.
US09023258B2	Spray drying vancomycin A method and formulation for preparing spray dried vancomycin. In various embodiment, the formulation includes vancomycin HCl (10-20%) and one or more of the following PEG (0-5%), mannitol (0-5%), ethanol (0-10%), and a citrate buffer. Spray dried vancomycin has favorable reconstitution times and water content.
US09023257B2	Hydrophilicity alteration system and method A system/method allowing hydrophilicity alteration of a polymeric material (PM) is disclosed. The PM hydrophilicity alteration changes the PM characteristics by decreasing the PM refractive index, increasing the PM electrical conductivity, and increasing the PM weight. The system/method incorporates a laser radiation source that generates tightly focused laser pulses within a three-dimensional portion of the PM to affect these changes in PM properties. The system/method may be applied to the formation of customized intraocular lenses comprising material (PLM) wherein the lens created using the system/method is surgically positioned within the eye of the patient. The implanted lens refractive index may then be optionally altered in situ with laser pulses to change the optical properties of the implanted lens and thus achieve optimal corrected patient vision. This system/method permits numerous in situ modifications of an implanted lens as the patient's vision changes with age.
US09023254B2	Thick film silver paste and its use in the manufacture of semiconductor devices The present invention is directed to an electroconductive silver thick film paste composition comprising Ag, a glass frit and rhodium resinate, Cr2O3 or a mixture thereof all dispersed in an organic medium. The present invention is further directed to an electrode formed from the paste composition and a semiconductor device and, in particular, a solar cell comprising such an electrode. The paste is particularly useful for forming a tabbing electrode.
US09023253B2	Conductive paste for front electrode of semiconductor device and method of manufacturing thereof The present invention provides a conductive paste characterized by a crystal-based corrosion binder being combined with a glass frit and mixed with a metallic powder and an organic carrier. Methods for preparing each components of the conductive paste are disclosed including several embodiments of prepare Pb—Te—O-based crystal corrosion binder characterized by melting temperatures in a range of 440° C. to 760° C. and substantially free of any glass softening transition upon increasing temperature. Method for preparing the conductive paste includes mixture of the components and a grinding process to ensure all particle sizes in a range of 0.1 to 5.0 microns. Method of applying the conductive paste for the formation of a front electrode of a semiconductor device is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the crystal-based corrosion binder in transforming the conductive paste to a metallic electrode with good ohmic contact with semiconductor surface.
US09023251B2	Method for making a carbon nanotube slurry The present disclosure provides a method for making carbon nanotube slurry. The method includes the following steps. First, a carbon nanotube array is provided on a substrate, the carbon nanotube array comprises a number of carbon nanotubes. Second, the carbon nanotube array is trimmed by a laser to obtain a trimmed carbon nanotube array comprising a plurality of trimmed carbon nanotubes having uniform lengths. Third, the trimmed carbon nanotube array is removed from the substrate to obtain the trimmed carbon nanotubes. Fourth, the trimmed carbon nanotubes are mixed with an inorganic binder and an organic carrier to obtain the carbon nanotube slurry.
US09023249B2	Adhesive bonding composition and method of use A polymerizable composition includes at least one monomer, a photoinitiator capable of initiating polymerization of the monomer when exposed to light, and a phosphor capable of producing light when exposed to radiation (typically X-rays). The material is particularly suitable for bonding components at ambient temperature in situations where the bond joint is not accessible to an external light source. An associated method includes: placing a polymerizable adhesive composition, including a photoinitiator and energy converting material, such as a down-converting phosphor, in contact with at least two components to be bonded to form an assembly; and, irradiating the assembly with radiation at a first wavelength, capable of conversion (down-conversion by the phosphor) to a second wavelength capable of activating the photoinitiator, to prepare items such as inkjet cartridges, wafer-to-wafer assemblies, semiconductors, integrated circuits, and the like.
US09023245B2	Method and system for producing a synthesis gas using an oxygen transport membrane based reforming system with secondary reforming A method and system for producing a synthesis gas in an oxygen transport membrane based reforming system is disclosed that carries out a primary reforming process, a secondary reforming process.
US09023239B2	Ink for organic light-emitting element and a method for producing the same An ink for an organic light-emitting element includes a first solvent, a second solvent, and a functional material. The first and second solvents have equal or similar boiling points. The first solvent is such that an imitatively formed functional layer formed by replacing the second solvent with the first solvent, in a light-emitting region of an organic light-emitting element, is thicker at both end portions than at a central portion and the top surfaces of the end portions are positioned higher than the top surface of the central portion. The second solvent is such that an imitatively formed functional layer formed by replacing the first solvent with the second solvent, in a light-emitting region of an organic light-emitting element, is thicker at a central portion than at both end portions and the top surface of the central portion is positioned higher than the top surfaces of the end portions.
US09023236B2	Process for preparing concentrated alkali metal hypochlorite solutions The present invention relates to a process for preparing concentrated alkali metal hypochlorite solutions. One subject of the invention is more particularly a process for preparing concentrated bleach which may have a chlorine content of greater than 100 chlorometric degrees, and that has a low content of chlorates.
US09023234B2	Aqueous heat treatment liquid composition An aqueous heat treatment liquid composition exhibiting a favorable rust resistance with a high cooling capability and a high uneven-cooling resistance is provided. The aqueous heat treatment liquid composition contains a hyperbranched polyglycerol. A mass average absolute molecular weight of the aqueous heat treatment liquid composition is preferably in a range of 5,000 to 500,000. When the aqueous heat treatment liquid composition is used for quenching of a metallic component, the aqueous heat treatment liquid composition can exhibit a favorable rust resistance with a high cooling capability and a high uneven-cooling resistance.
US09023231B2	Non ozone depleting and low global warming potential refrigerants for low temperature refrigeration Non ozone depleting and non flammable refrigerant compositions with GWPs less than 2,000 ITH which replace R404A, R507, HCFC22 and CFC502 in refrigeration systems.
US09023230B1	Surfactant-free synthesis of magnetic polypropylene nanocomposites The present invention relates facile method to synthesize magnetic PNCs with highly dispersed and narrow size distributed NPs. The PNCs have highly thermal stability and unique electrical and dielectric properties.
US09023229B2	Etching method and devices produced using the etching method A double ITO structure, containing sequential layers of indium tin oxide (ITO), silicon dioxide (SiO2) (which may include a dopant material) and ITO, is selectively protected by a patterned photo-resist mask. The sequential layers are etched together in a single etching step using an etchant composition which is an acidic solution containing a transition metal chloride and hydrochloric acid (HCl). Thus, the double ITO structure is etched using a substantially fluoride-free etchant composition.
US09023225B2	Pattern forming method A pattern forming method includes forming a pattern forming material film on a substrate as an etching target film, the pattern forming material film having an exposing section that has porosity upon exposure and a non-exposing section, patterning and exposing the pattern forming material film for the exposing section to have the porosity, selectively infiltrating a filling material into voids of the exposing section to reinforce the exposing section, and removing the non-exposing section of the pattern forming material film by dry etching to form a predetermined pattern.
US09023224B2	Method of forming a spacer patterning mask The present disclosure pertains to a method of forming a spacer patterning mask. The method entails: providing a substrate; depositing, on the substrate, an interface layer, a core film and a first hard mask; patterning the core film and the first hard mask to form strips; depositing a spacer patterning layer to cover the core film and the first hard mask in the intermediate pattern; planarizing the spacer patterning layer by using the first hard mask in the intermediate pattern as a stop layer; etching the planarized spacer patterning layer; dry etching the second hard mask to expose the partially-etched spacer patterning layer; dry etching the exposed spacer patterning layer to form a spacer pattern; and removing the remaining first hard mask and second hard mask and the core film to obtain the final spacer patterning mask.
US09023221B2	Method of forming multi-layer graphene A method of forming a multi-layer graphene includes forming a stack of a graphitizing metal catalyst layer and graphene by repeatedly performing a cycle of first forming the graphitizing metal catalyst layer on a substrate, and then forming the graphene on the graphitizing metal catalyst layer, and removing the graphitizing metal catalyst layer.
US09023217B2	Etch patterning of nanostructure transparent conductors A patterned transparent conductor including a conductive layer coated on a substrate is described. More specifically, the transparent conductor can be patterned by screen-printing an acidic etchant formulation on the conductive layer. A screen-printable etchant formulation is also disclosed.
US09023216B2	Device for turbulence reduction Apparatus is disclosed for substantially reducing the momentum, velocity, or both of a first liquid that is flowing into a second liquid. The device allows one to substantially reduce or even eliminate large-scale turbulent eddies that could otherwise be produced by liquid flowing into or within a vessel, for example in a clarifier. Suitably-sized and positioned plates and baffles induce changes of flow direction in a limited volume. By the time the fluid leaves this volume, the fluid velocity is low, and turbulence is nearly or entirely eliminated. Several of the devices may be placed at different inputs within a single clarifier, and thus increase efficiency further.
US09023215B2	Low energy system and method of desalinating seawater A low energy water treatment system and method is provided. The system has at least one electrodialysis device that produces partially treated water and a brine byproduct, a softener, and at least one electrodeionization device. The partially treated water stream can be softened by the softener to reduce the likelihood of scale formation and to reduce energy consumption in the electrodeionization device, which produces water having target properties. At least a portion of the energy used by the electrodeionization device can be generated by concentration differences between the brine and seawater streams introduced into compartments thereof. The brine stream can also be used to regenerate the softener.
US09023212B2	Device and method for separating magnetic or magnetizable particles from a liquid A device (10) is provided for separating magnetic or magnetizable particles from a liquid by using a magnetic field. The device includes a head piece (3) with one or more magnetizable bars (4) which is/are permanently or detachably connected with the head piece (3), as well as one or more permanent magnets (1) whose relative position with respect to the head piece can be changed by a predeterminable movement of the magnet(s) or/and by a predeterminable movement of the head piece.
US09023209B2	Systems and methods for converting gaseous byproducts of wastewater treatment into energy A method for removing methane from biogas is described. The method includes: (i) receiving biogas including methane and other components into a first tank; (ii) receiving water into the first tank; (iii) contacting the biogas with the water inside the first tank; (iv) dispensing methane gas from an outlet of the first tank; and (v) producing from the tank an effluent stream that includes other components of the biogas.
US09023207B2	Spiral wound carbon membrane and preparation method thereof Disclosed is a spiral wound carbon membrane and preparation method thereof. The spiral wound carbon membrane is composed of one or more integral and windable membrane layers composed of a porous support and carbon materials containing fillers filled in the surface, pores and gaps thereof. The spiral wound carbon membrane has a developed ultramicropore porous structure with superior mechanical strength and toughness, and can be directly used to separate a gas mixture with different molecular sizes or liquid mixture.
US09023204B2	Purifier for removing hydrogen fluoride from electrolytic solution The present invention is a purification system for removing hydrogen fluoride and water from an electrolytic solution for lithium-ion secondary batteries in which [1] a purifier for removing hydrogen fluoride containing a hydrogen fluoride adsorbent selected from among carbonate hydrotalcites and calcined hydrotalcites and [2] a purifier for removing water containing an adsorbent for trapping water are connected in this order from upstream to downstream.
US09023201B2	Filter plate assembly for filter A filter (20) configured to separate the solid components and the liquid components from a slurry. The filter (20) includes a plurality of filter plate assemblies (46) that cooperate to define a plurality of filter chambers (70), each defining a perimeter (96) having an open section (98) when the filter plates (68) are in a closed position relative to one another. Each filter plate assembly (46) includes a closure (104) configured to close the open section. Preferably, the closures (104) are movable to an open position to permit a particulate cake to be removed from the filter chambers (70) without separating the filter plates (68).
US09023200B2	Rotary-drum type magnetic separator A rotary-drum type magnetic separator includes a rotary drum on which a plurality of magnets are disposed, and separates an unnecessary material contained in used coolant. The magnetic separator includes a pair of partition portions that are provided below both end portions of the rotary drum and partition a flow passage, in which the used coolant flows, into a flow passage that is formed near the middle portion of the rotary drum and flow passages that are formed near both end portions of the rotary drum; and openings that are formed at lower portions of the flow passages partitioned by the partition portions. The partition portions function as filters preventing the unnecessary material from moving to the flow passages, which are formed near both end portions of the rotary drum, from the flow passage that is formed near the middle portion of the rotary drum.
US09023192B2	Delayed coking process utilizing adsorbent materials A delayed coking process includes: a. introducing a fresh hydrocarbon feedstock containing undesirable sulfur and/or nitrogen compounds for preheating into the lower portion of a coking unit product fractionator; b. introducing at least a portion of an intermediate fraction derived from the fractionator and at least one adsorbent material that selectively adsorbs sulfur- and/or nitrogen-containing compounds into a mixing zone to form an adsorbent slurry stream; c. discharging a bottoms fraction from the fractionator; d. adding all or a portion of the slurry stream to the bottoms fraction to form a mixed coking unit feedstream; e. heating the mixed feedstream in the coking unit furnace to a predetermined coking temperature; and f. passing the heated mixed feedstream to a drum of the delayed coking to produce a delayed coking product stream while depositing the adsorbent material having adsorbed sulfur and/or nitrogen compounds with the coke in the coking drum.
US09023190B2	Lubricant composition for an internal combustion engine and method for lubricating an internal combustion engine A lubricating oil composition for an internal combustion engine contains: a base oil including a component (A) of a polyalphaolefin having a kinematic viscosity at 100 degrees C. of 5.5 mm2/s or less, a CCS viscosity at −35 degrees C. of 3000 mPa·s or less and a NOACK of 12 mass % or less and a component (B) of a mineral oil having a viscosity index of 120 or more; and polyisobutylene having a mass average molecular weight of 500,000 or more. A content of the composition (A) is 25 mass % or more of a total amount of a lubricating oil.
US09023187B2	Turbo titanium coating technology for broad application A method for electroplating titanium alloy coating into plastic and carbon foam comprises the steps of activating the given specimen, deposition of electroless nickel and electroplating process of titanium alloy to the surface of the specimen. The electroplating process of electroplating titanium alloy coating includes a direct current method and a pulse plating method. The direct current method characterized by lager sized grains and the pulse plating method characterized by smaller sized grains. The advantages of proposed electroplating processes are: a) low cost, b) very broad applications and c) relatively low number of the process steps. Unique combination of physical, mechanical and chemical properties makes the electroplating methods of titanium coating an attractive technology for medicine, biotechnology, sports, defense, aeronautic, and auto industries.
US09023185B2	Low scale potential water treatment An electrochemical treating device having low scale potential is disclosed. The device has a variety of configurations directed to the layering of the anionic exchange and cationic exchange. The treatment device can also comprise unevenly sized ion exchange resin beads and/or have at least one compartment that provides a dominating resistance that results in a uniform current distribution throughout the apparatus.
US09023175B2	Carbon/carbon film adhesive A film adhesive for bonding adjacent composite structures.
US09023174B2	Balloon catheter having a shaft with a variable stiffness inner tubular member A catheter having an elongated shaft and a balloon on a distal shaft section, the elongated shaft comprising an outer tubular member, and an inner tubular member which has a bonded portion along which an outer surface of the inner tubular member is bonded to an inner surface of the outer tubular member. The inner tubular member has a proximal portion proximal to the bonded portion, and a distal portion distal to the bonded portion with higher axial compression stiffness and column strength than the proximal portion thereof. The catheter has improved trackability, axial collapse resistance, pushability, and crossability, for improved ability to position the balloon at a desired location in a patient's body lumen.
US09023173B2	Method of processing translucent rigid substrate laminate, and process of manufacturing plate-shaped product employing the method Provided is a method of processing a translucent rigid substrate laminate, whereby it becomes possible to maintain peeling properties and good appearance of the translucent rigid substrate laminate during the processing of the translucent rigid substrate laminate even when a process such as transportation and storage is included in the method. The method of processing a translucent rigid substrate laminate comprises a step 1 for producing a translucent rigid substrate laminate in which at least two translucent rigid substrates are bonded to each other with a photocurable adhering agent; a step 2 for maintaining the translucent rigid substrate laminate, which has been produced in step 1 or which has been subjected to a shape processing subsequent to step 1, under predetermined temperature management conditions and transporting and/or storing the translucent rigid substrate laminate while maintaining the translucent rigid substrate laminate under the above-mentioned conditions; and a step 3 for peeling the translucent rigid substrate laminate which has been subjected to the shape processing or has not been subjected to the shape processing subsequent to step 2.
US09023172B2	Method of manufacturing laminate A method of manufacturing a laminate including a substrate, a support, and a release layer, the method including a preliminary treatment process of increasing temperatures of the support carried into a reaction chamber and the inside of the reaction chamber by a plasma treatment, and a release layer forming process of supplying a source gas serving as the release layer into the reaction chamber after the preliminary treatment process to form the release layer on the support.
US09023171B2	Method for manufacturing display panel A manufacturing method of a display panel comprises applying a paste including a sealing material to a substrate by using a nozzle, the nozzle being moved along a display region on the substrate from a start position located in a vicinity of the display region to an end position, so as to surround the display region. In the applying, the paste is applied such that a center line of the paste in an end region is substantially parallel to and separate from a center line of the paste in a start region, and a distance of separation between the center line of the paste in the end region and the center line of the paste in the start region is less than a width of the paste in a region other than the start region and the end region.
US09023169B2	Functional laminate The invention refers to a method for manufacturing such a functional laminate, the method comprising the following steps: providing at least one patchwork layer; stacking the patchwork layer with at least one other layer in order to obtain a stack of layers, wherein at least one proximate layer directly adjacent to the patchwork layer comprises at least one zone comprising a first material or a second material; laminating the stack of layers together by heat and/or pressure and/or gluing.
US09023167B2	Process for applying a powder coating A process for coating a substrate comprising the sequential steps of (a) providing a transfer sheet provided with a printed powder coating, (b) applying the transfer sheet onto the substrate with the powder coating in contact with the substrate, (c) removing the transfer sheet from the powder coating and (d) curing the powder coating on the substrate.
US09023166B2	Method of transferring graphene A method of transferring graphene is provided. A method of transferring graphene in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include forming a graphene layer by composing graphene and a base layer, depositing a self-assembled monolayer on the graphene layer, and separating a combination layer comprising the self-assembled monolayer and the graphene layer from the base layer.
US09023164B2	Sealant dispenser and a method of sealing a display panel using the same In a sealant dispenser and a method of sealing a display panel using the sealant dispenser, the sealant dispenser includes a tracking part, a nozzle part and a body. The tracking part tracks a tracking line on a base substrate, the base substrate is divided into a display area and a non-display area. The nozzle part is spaced apart from the tracking part, and injects a sealant from an end portion of the nozzle part and forms a seal line on the base substrate at a same time the tracking part tracks the tracking line. The tracking part and the nozzle part are mounted on the body.
US09023159B2	Steel for heat treatment A steel for heat treatment, which exhibits high strength and high toughness even when the heat treatment (such as quenching and tempering) of the steel is conducted under conventional conditions in an after stage. The steel for heat treatment contains C: 0.10 to 0.70 mass %, Mn: 0.1 to 3.0 mass %, Al: 0.005 to 2.0 mass %, P: 0.050 mass % or less, S: 0.50 mass % or less, O: 0.0030 mass or less, N: 0.0200 mass % or less, and one or more selected from the group consisting of Ti: 0.30 mass % or less and Nb: 0.30 mass or less with the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and has a TH value of 1.0 or above as calculated according to the formula: ({Ti}/48+{Nb}/93) 104 and grain diameters of 10 μm or below. {Ti} and {Nb} refer respectively to the contents of Ti and Nb in precipitates of 5 to 100 nm in size as determined about their respective extraction residues.
US09023157B2	Drive system for a cleaning head disposed in a tank When, according to the invention, constructing a drive system for rotating a cleaning head in a tank and allowing the system to comprise a hysteresis coupling having two magnetic parts, one being present inside the liquid space (4) and the other outside the liquid space, respectively, a completely liquid-tight separation between the housing (2) and a gear (14) may be ensured. The magnetic part (8, 18) of the hysteresis coupling may be formed by electromagnets, and with a displaceable (13) position of one part relative to the other part (11, 19), the coupling may be adjusted with respect to the transferred torque and/or speed.
US09023154B2	Cleaning method, cleaning apparatus, and liquid ejecting apparatus In the printer, after ink is discharged from nozzle openings by making a closed space area, formed by bringing a cap into contact with a recording head, enter into a negative pressure state due to negative pressure accumulated in a discharge flow path by driving a pump, when making the negative pressure state of the closed space area be subjected to a pressure change in a direction of coming to an atmospheric pressure state, after the air flows into the closed space area by making a second opening and closing valve provided at an inflow flow path which makes the closed space area and an aerial space communicate with each other be in an opened state, the inflow of the air into the closed space area through the inflow flow path is stopped in a state where negative pressure remains in the closed space area.
US09023153B2	Windshield wiper control system A windshield wiper control system includes a movable element configured to move in a first direction and an opposing second direction and one or more actuation devices configured to cause the movable element to move in the first direction. The windshield wiper control system also includes a rotatable cam configured to cause the movable element to move in the opposing second direction when the rotatable cam contacts a stationary surface as the rotatable cam rotates about a cam axis and a wiper mechanism configured to move in the first and second directions and pivot in an arc motion responsive to the rotation of the rotatable cam. The wiper mechanism is further configured to cause the one or more windshield wipers to move across a surface of a windshield in a more linear motion than the arc motion of the wiper mechanism.
US09023150B2	Acid-soluble cement compositions comprising cement kiln dust and/or a natural pozzolan and methods of use The present invention relates to acid-soluble cement compositions that comprise cement kiln dust (“CKD”) and/or a natural pozzolan and associated methods of use. An embodiment includes a method of cementing comprising: placing an acid-soluble cement composition in a subterranean formation, wherein the acid-soluble cement composition comprises a hydraulic cement, a component selected from the group consisting of CKD, pumicite, and a combination thereof, and water; allowing the acid-soluble cement composition to set; and contacting the set acid-soluble cement composition with an acid to dissolve the set acid-soluble cement composition.
US09023146B2	Oxidizing agents on pigments Hydrophilic self-cleaning coating compositions and methods to make and use the compositions are disclosed. The compositions include a pigment material made up of an inorganic pigment attached or linked to at least one oxidizing agent. In some embodiments, the oxidizing agent is an organic molecule covalently or non-covalently attached to the inorganic pigment. In some embodiments, the oxidizing agent is linked to the inorganic pigment by a linker moiety.
US09023145B2	Aluminum phosphate or polyphosphate compositions Slurry composition comprising amorphous aluminum phosphate, polyphosphate orthophosphate, metaphosphate and/or combination thereof and a dispersant are described. In certain embodiments, the polyphosphate orthophosphate and/or metaphosphate concentration is about 40 to about 70 weight % and the dispersant concentration is less than about 3.5 weight % based on the total weight of the slurry. In one embodiment, the composition is useful in paints, varnishes, printing inks, papers and plastics. The compositions can be used as a substitute for titanium dioxide in various applications.
US09023142B2	Polypeptide solution, artificial polypeptide fiber production method and polypeptide purification method using same A polypeptide solution of the present invention is a polypeptide solution in which a polypeptide derived from natural spider silk proteins is dissolved in a solvent. The solvent contains at least one selected from the following (i)-(iii): (i) DMSO; (ii) DMSO with an inorganic salt; and (iii) DMF with an inorganic salt. Further, in the present invention, an artificial polypeptide fiber is obtained by: using the polypeptide solution as a dope solution; and extruding the dope solution from a spinneret into a desolvation bath so as to eliminate the solvent from the dope solution and form a fiber to produce an undrawn yarn. Moreover, in the present invention, a polypeptide is purified by subjecting the polypeptide solution to heat treatment and thereafter removing an undissolved substance therefrom. Thus, the present invention provides the polypeptide solution whose solute has high solubility and solvent itself is low cost, and that allows dissolution at high temperatures and has high safety: a method for producing an artificial polypeptide fiber: and a method for purifying a polypeptide.
US09023140B2	Ink jet ink set and ink jet recording system An ink jet ink set, at least has a cyan ink, a magenta ink, and a yellow ink, in which the cyan ink contains at least either one of C.I. Acid Blue 9 or C.I. Direct Blue 199, the magenta ink contains at least either one of C.I. Acid Red 249 or C.I. Reactive Red 141, the yellow ink contains at least either one of C.I. Direct Yellow 86 or C.I. Direct Yellow 132, and the cyan ink, the magenta ink, and the yellow ink all contain an alkylene oxide adduct of acetylene glycol having 12 or more carbon atoms in the main chain, acetylene glycol having 10 or more carbon atoms in the main chain, and polyoxy alkylene alkyl ether.
US09023138B2	Compound having xanthene skeleton, coloring composition, ink for ink jet recording and ink jet recording method There is provided a compound represented by the following Formula (3): wherein in Formula (3), R201, R202 and R203 each independently represent a monovalent substituent, n201 and n202 each independently represent a number of 0 to 4, and n203 represents a number of 0 to 4, when n201, n202 and n203 each represent a number of 2 or more, a plurality of R201's, R202's and R203's may be the same or different, M represents a hydrogen atom or a counter cation, and M's may be the same or different, and a coloring composition containing the compound.
US09023137B2	Electroless deposition of platinum on copper Embodiments of the current invention describe a method of plating platinum selectively on a copper film using a self-initiated electroless process. In particular, platinum films are plated onto very thin copper films having a thickness of less than 300 angstroms. The electroless plating solution and the resulting structure are also described. This process has applications in the semiconductor processing of logic devices, memory devices, and photovoltaic devices.
US09023136B2	Method and apparatus for monitoring a refrigeration-cycle system A monitoring system for monitoring operation of a refrigerant-cycle system is disclosed. A first temperature sensor measures a first temperature of air at a first location downstream of an evaporator. A second temperature sensor measures a second temperature of air a second location upstream of the evaporator. A processing system determines a temperature drop across the evaporator based on the first temperature, the second temperature, and a humidity of air. The processing system that determines whether airflow through the evaporator is restricted based on the temperature drop across the evaporator.
US09023133B2	Method of pumping gas A vacuum pumping arrangement is described for pumping a gas stream containing hydrogen or other hydrogen-containing gas. The arrangement comprises a pumping mechanism for receiving the gas stream and exhausting a pumped gas stream at a sub-atmospheric pressure, and, downstream from the pumping mechanism, an ionic conducting membrane having one side exposed to the pumped gas stream and another side exposed to oxygen or other source of oxygen. In one example, the membrane is permeable to hydrogen, which permeates across the membrane to react with oxygen adsorbed on the other surface of the membrane. In another example, the membrane is permeable to oxygen anions, which permeate across the membrane to react with hydrogen within the gas stream.
US09023129B2	Hydrometalurgical process and apparatus for recovering metals from waste material The invention is directed to a process and apparatus for recovering metals from bottom ash from incineration plants, such as municipal waste incineration plants. The process includes directing a feed containing ash into an oxidizing unit, wherein at least part of the metals is oxidized in the presence of one or more acids and at least one oxygen donor, thus producing a stream comprising metal ions. From this stream the metals of interest are selected and converted into metallic form.
US09023128B2	Methods of producing nanoparticle reinforced metal matrix nanocomposites from master nanocomposites Methods of forming metal matrix nanocomposites are provided. The methods include the steps of introducing a master metal matrix nanocomposite into a molten metal at a temperature above the melting temperature of the master metal matrix nanocomposite, allowing at least a portion of the master metal matrix nanocomposite to mix with the molten metal and, then, solidifying the molten metal to provide a second metal matrix nanocomposite.
US09023126B2	Additive for treating resulphurized steel A cored wire for introducing additive into a bath of liquid steel, of the type comprising a metal sheath surrounding said additive, characterized in that said additive predominantly comprises calcium silicate.A process for manufacturing a resulfurized steel, characterized in that it comprises a step of introducing, into the bath of liquid steel, such a cored wire.
US09023118B2	Azo dyes The present invention relates to new azo dyes, a process for their preparation, and their use for dyeing or printing fibrous materials, to produce materials with brownish shades.
US09023116B2	Associative thickener comprising acid monomer, associative monomer and nonionic monomer As associative thickener obtainable by free radical polymerization, the preparation thereof and the use thereof in paper coating slips are described. The associative thickener is formed from (a) acid monomers selected from ethylenically unsaturated C3- to C8-carboxylic acids, (b) associative monomers of the general formula H2C═CR1—COO-(EO)n—(PO)m—R2, in which R1 is hydrogen or methyl, n is a number of at least two, m is a number from zero to 50, EO is an ethylene oxide group, PO is a propylene oxide group and R2 is a C8-C30-alkyl group or a C8-C30-alkaryl group, and (c) nonionic, copolymerizable monomers differing from a) and b), the reaction product having been reacted, after the polymerization, with initiators forming nonionic radicals.
US09023114B2	Resorbable pouches for implantable medical devices Biodegradable and resorbable polymer pouches are described for use with cardiac rhythm mamagent devices (CRMs) and other implantable medical devices (IMDs), i.e., a pouch, covering, or other receptacle capable of encasing, surrounding and/or holding the CRM or other IMD for the purpose of securing it in position, inhibiting or reducing bacterial growth, providing pain relief and/or inhibiting scarring or fibrosis on or around the CRM or other IMD. Optionally, the biodegradable and resorbable pouches of the invention include one or more drugs in the polymer matrix to provide prophylactic effects and alleviate side effects or complications associated with the surgery or implantation of the CRM or other IMD.
US09023110B2	Elbow joint prosthesis and method for implantation A modular elbow prosthesis is disclosed, as well as a surgical approach and implantation technique, for using the prosthesis. The system is the first and only to allow for a, Biomechanically Anatomical, Nonconstrained, Compartmental (BANC) Elbow Arthroplasty. The modularity of the system allows it to be implanted as an unicompartmental or partial elbow replacement or a total elbow replacement. The modular elbow prosthesis for partial elbow replacement includes a cylindrical medial humeral component, a polyethylene ring thereon, and a semicircular medial ulnar component which mates with the polyethylene ring. Additionally, for total elbow replacement, the modular elbow prosthesis also includes a circular lateral humeral component, a polyethylene ring thereon, a semicircular lateral ulnar component, and a radial component. Implantation of the prosthesis is through a minimally invasive medial surgical approach with the aid of precision biomechanical guides. The application is well suited for canines, other quadrupeds, and people.
US09023109B2	Implant for transforaminal intracorporeal fusion The invention relates to an implant for the transforaminal intracorporeal fusion of lumbar vertebral column segments. At least some sections of the surface areas that are in direct contact with the spinal column are provided with an anti-dislocation mechanism (1) while an attachment part (4) for a positioning instrument (10) is provided in or on the implant and holes (6) or hollow spaces are disposed in the implant for filling purposes. According to one embodiment of the invention, the attachment part is configured as a revolute joint. In a further embodiment, the implant member has the shape of a sickle, the curvature of which is oriented ventrally and the interior of which is oriented dorsally. The attachment part is located at one end of the sickle while the opposite end of the sickle has a beak-type, tapering shape (5). At least one filling hole is provided between the sickle walls.
US09023102B2	Reimplantable heart valve prosthesis A medical device used in cardiac surgery for replacement of diseased heart valves in humans. A heart valve prosthesis comprising a housing 1 having a projection 3 along its whole perimeter 2, an occluder 4 which restricts the blood backflow (I), and a cuff 5 made of fabric and having a mounting surface 6which comes into contact with cardiac tissues (II), and an outer surface 7 which comes into contact with the blood flow. Inside the cuff 5 are located a stent 8 forming an opening 9 for installation of the prosthesis housing 1, a supporting element 10 and a retaining element 11 which fix the projection 3 of the housing 1 within the stent 8 of the cuff 5 forming a quick-dismountable junction of the housing 1 with the cuff 5.
US09023101B2	Device for delivery of medical devices to a cardiac valve A catheter device for transvascular delivery of a medical device to a cardiac valve region of a patient comprises an elongate sheath with a first lumen, a distal end for positioning at a heart valve, a second lumen that extends parallel to or in the sheath, and an expandable embolic protection filter. The filter is arranged to extend from an orifice of the second lumen and, in the expanded state, covers ostia of the side branch vessels in the aortic arch.
US09023098B2	Dual valve prosthesis for transcatheter valve implantation A dual valve prosthesis having a self-expanding anchoring frame with first and second prosthetic valve assemblies attached to the anchoring frame is disclosed. Each of the first and second prosthetic valve assemblies includes a balloon-expandable stent structure with a prosthetic valve secured therein. In a disclosed method, the first and second prosthetic valve assemblies include prosthetic mitral and aortic valves, respectively, and the dual heart valve prosthesis is configured to replace both the native mitral and aortic valves of the heart in a single transcatheter heart valve implantation procedure.
US09023097B2	Device and method for establishing an artificial arterio-venous fistula A shunt rivet for implantation in the aorta and inferior vena cava to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a method of treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
US09023096B2	Catheter handle and methods of operating A delivery system having an improved handle allowing operation of the delivery system with one hand while maintaining accuracy in delivery and deployment of a prosthesis in a body lumen. The delivery system includes a sheath and a handle. The handle includes a slide shaft having a threaded outer surface, and a hub assembly coupled to the sheath. The hub assembly includes an inner slider having a thread tooth pivot support, a thread tooth pivotably mounted to the thread tooth pivot support, a distal sleeve having a thread tooth press member pressing on the thread tooth, and a proximal sleeve. Motion of the distal sleeve relative to the inner slider pivots the thread tooth on the thread tooth pivot support to engage and disengage the hub assembly with the threaded outer surface. The distal sleeve is rotatably coupled to the proximal sleeve, and the proximal sleeve is prevented from rotating to provide a stable grip to allow operation of the catheter with one hand.
US09023088B2	Fixation device with magnesium core A fixation device comprises a biodegradable inner core extending along a longitudinal axis from a distal tip to a proximal end in combination with a sleeve surrounding the core along a portion of a length thereof and comprising a thermoplastic polymer formed of a material which softens and expands into surrounding bone tissue when activated by an energy source.
US09023087B2	Percutaneous modular head-to-head cross connector A modular head-to-head cross connector or construct extension system comprising a fastener element driven into a bone in a first orientation, a first U-shaped body operable to receive the fastener element and operable to receive a first rod in a first rod receiving channel, and a first compression element driven adjacent to and against the first rod in the first rod receiving channel, thereby engaging the first rod against the fastener element in a second orientation independent of the first orientation of the fastener element. The system further comprises a second U-shaped body operable to receive first compression element and operable to receive a second rod in a second rod receiving channel, and a second compression element driven adjacent to and against the second rod in the second rod receiving channel, thereby engaging the second rod against the first compression element in a third orientation independent of the second orientation.
US09023083B2	Method for soft tissue repair with free floating suture locking member A suture anchor device and method for attaching soft tissue to bone includes an anchor body and a suture locking wedge movably disposed within the anchor body. The suture locking wedge includes lateral portions which engage slots or windows in the anchor body. Tension applied to one limb of a suture causes the suture locking wedge to translate and rotate to a position which compresses the suture, thereby locking the suture in the anchor.
US09023081B2	Knotted suture end effector A suture including a knotted end effector is provided. The suture includes a body portion defining a longitudinal axis and an end effector formed from the body portion. The end effector includes first and second extensions which extend outwardly from the longitudinal axis in opposite directions when the end effector is in a permanent configuration. The extensions of the end effector extend substantially along the longitudinal axis when the end effector is in a temporary position. In embodiments, at least a portion of the end effector includes a shape memory material.
US09023076B2	Embolic filter frame having looped support strut elements An embolic frame having looped support struts. The frame configuration provides enhanced longitudinal compliance, improved sealing against a vessel wall, low profile delivery, and a short deployed length. The looped support struts have a high degree of “radial” stiffness with a low degree of “longitudinal” stiffness. In the deployed state, the frame exerts a relatively high stress onto a vessel wall to maintain an effective seal, yet remains compliant in the longitudinal direction. The looped support struts elongate when tensioned and assume a compressed and essentially linear form. While constrained in this linear state by a delivery catheter, the support struts exert minimal stress onto the delivery system. The overall delivery profile and stiffness are therefore reduced. When the delivery catheter constraint is removed during deployment, the struts “snap open” and assume a looped configuration which exert a high degree of force onto the vessel wall.
US09023075B2	Devices, systems, and methods for lead delivery Devices, systems, and methods for lead delivery. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a catheter for delivering a lead within a mammalian body of the present disclosure, the catheter comprises an elongated tube comprising a wall extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a lead delivery channel within the elongated tube, the lead delivery channel defining an outlet for delivering a lead, a balloon chamber positioned at or near the distal end of the elongated tube, and at least one balloon positioned within the balloon chamber, the at least one balloon capable of inflation to reversibly anchor the elongated tube within a mammalian body when at least a portion of the elongated tube is positioned therein.
US09023069B2	Attachable clamp for use with surgical instruments An attachable clamp for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The attachable clamp comprises a body portion, a first jaw member, a second jaw member and an actuation mechanism. The body portion defines a longitudinal axis and has attachment members configured to attach to an elongate portion of a surgical instrument. Each of the first jaw member and second jaw member extends distally from the body portion. The actuation mechanism is disposed in mechanical cooperation with at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member. Actuation of the actuation mechanism moves at least one of the first and second jaw members between an approximated position and an open position with respect to the other jaw member.
US09023068B2	Compression anastomosis device and method An anastomotic device for use in the joining of a first tubular structure and a second tubular structure is provided. The anastomotic device includes a cylindrical sleeve configured and dimensioned for placement at least partially within the first tubular structure, the cylindrical sleeve defining a bore therethrough; an inverting member configured and dimensioned for placement at least partially within the second tubular structure, the inverting member defining a bore therethrough which is configured and dimensioned to selectively receive the cylindrical sleeve therein; and a constricting member selectively positionable on the inverting member and movable onto the cylindrical sleeve when the cylindrical sleeve is at least partially positioned within the bore of the inverting member.
US09023067B2	Surgical system for stoma closure in biological duct A surgical system for small-pit closure in hollow organs is provided. The surgical system is provided with a surgical device for small-pit closure in hollow organs, with the surgical device including the following components: a suture-member cartridge in which a pair of parallel tubular members that accommodate respective suture members are feedably connected to the rear ends of a pair of arrow-shaped members that latch into tissue in a hollow organ; an auxiliary shooting unit having plungers respectively provided in a pair of cylinders open at both ends; a hollow-organ-insertable unit configured of a pair of flexible air tubes; and a gas shooter that sequentially discharges compressed air or high-pressure gas into the open-ended cylinders in response to operations of a trigger, for sequentially ejecting the arrow-shaped members and driving the same into tissue in the hollow organ on both sides of a small pit site.
US09023066B2	Medical treatment device for suturing or ligating tissue A treatment device for endoscopic therapy of the present invention includes a suturing-ligating member having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, that carries out at least one of suturing and ligation of biological tissue, a stopper provided to be movable forward or backward on an proximal end side of the suturing or ligating member, and stoppable by friction on the suturing-ligating member to maintain the biological tissue in a sutured or ligated state by the suturing-ligating member, and a suturing-ligation releasing member provided movable with relative to the suturing-ligating member to release the suturing-ligation state maintained by firctional stopping between the suturing-ligating member and the stopper by moving the releasing member to the proximal end portion side of the suturing-ligating member.
US09023064B2	Ligator and method of operating and manufacturing same A device for discharging at least one band onto a tissue is provided. The device includes a housing; a suction assembly coupled to said housing; a dispensing assembly coupled in flow communication to said suction assembly; a discharge assembly coupled in flow communication to said dispensing assembly; and a first manual actuator coupled to said suction assembly and configured to move said suction assembly between a retracted position and an extended position wherein said suction assembly, in said retracted position, is configured to draw the tissue into said discharge assembly.
US09023063B2	Implantable access port device having a safety cap A system for attaching an access port to bodily tissue includes an access port assembly and including an access port having a generally central axis. The access port assembly further includes an attachment mechanism structured to enable the access port to be attached, for example, to an abdominal muscle of a patient. The system includes a safety cap which lies substantially flush against the anchor base to provide no space for movement of the anchors. The safety cap prevents the anchors from deploying prematurely.
US09023059B2	Ventilation device and insertion system therefor A ventilation device includes a hollow body having a main portion, at least one distal member coupled to a distal end of the main portion and at least one proximal member coupled to a proximal end of the main portion. The at least one distal member is formed of a shape memory material. The hollow body includes a deployed state for maintaining an opening in an anatomical structure and an undeployed state. The shape memory material forms the at least one distal member into a deployed position. The shape memory material is reversibly deformed from the deployed state into the undeployed state such that at least the distal member changes in shape to an undeployed position, while the main portion of the hollow body remains unchanged.
US09023057B2	Impacting device and method An impacting device for inserting, positioning and/or removing an implant and/or performing other impacting applications. The impacting device may have a head having at least one recess. The recess may have a insertion channel and a locking chamber. In one embodiment, the insertion channel and the locking chamber may be connected by an axial channel. The recess may pass through a lateral surface of the head so that the base surface may remain cohesive or unobstructed. A guide means, such as a guide rod, may be positioned though the recess so that the head may be moveable on the guide means and not disengage the guide means. A shaft having a handle may be attached to the head to assist a surgeon in moving the head on the guide means.
US09023056B2	Apparatus for targeting and forming drill channels in the tibia An apparatus for targeting and forming drill channels in the tibia in the area of a knee joint during reconstruction of an anterior cruciate ligament, having a handle, which includes a drill sleeve for configuring a first target point on the tibia and an arm extending beyond the distal end of the drill sleeve for determining a second target point on the tibial plateau. To provide an apparatus for targeting and forming drill channels in the tibia that is adaptable to the patient's individual anatomical idiosyncrasies, it is proposed that at least one portion of the arm should be configured as elastically reshapable.
US09023055B2	Surgical instrument and surgical instrument system A surgical instrument for attachment to a cutting block having a cutting slot defining a cutting plane is described. The surgical instrument comprises a dual purpose indicator (2) member. The indicator member is configured to (i) allow visualization of a first plane and (ii) to indicate a predetermined distance from a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. The surgical instrument also comprises an attachment member (14,16,18,20) for attaching the surgical instrument to the cutting slot in either of two mutually perpendicular orientations such that either the first plane or the second plane is parallel to the cutting plane. The surgical instrument can therefore be used both to visualize a plane of a cut and to indicate a distance from the plane of a cut, depending on the orientation of the attachment member in the cutting slot. This allows inventory to be reduced because the surgical instrument can replace two prior art instruments. The surgical instrument may form part of a system with one or more cutting blocks.
US09023054B2	Surgical resection guide A surgical resection guide comprising: a housing (36); a stylus arm (38) extending through the housing (36) arranged such that when the housing (36) is coupled to the side of a bone, a tip of the stylus arm (38) is arranged to contact an end of a bone; and a linear adjustment mechanism. The linear adjustment mechanism comprises: a shaft (30) at least partially received within a bore extending through the housing (36) such that the shaft (30) can slide along its longitudinal axis relative to the housing (36), the shaft (30) incorporating a shaft tooth or groove (50); and a dial (44) rotatably coupled to the housing (36) and incorporating a helical dial groove or rib (48) defining a longitudinal axis offset from the longitudinal axis of the shaft (30). The shaft tooth or groove (50) engages the dial groove or rib (48) such that rotating the dial (44) relative to the housing (36) causes the shaft tooth or groove (50) to slide along the dial groove or rib (48) causing the shaft (30) to slide within the bore along its longitudinal axis. The housing (36) and the stylus arm (38) can rotate about the shaft (30) without causing the shaft (30) to slide within its bore along its longitudinal axis. A method of adjusting the surgical resection guide is also disclosed.
US09023053B2	Instrumentation for knee resection A system for performing a resection of a selected portion of an anatomy with a resection instrument. The system includes a first member, a first movement defining portion defined by the first member, a second member, and a second movement defining portion of the second member. The first member is fixable to the selected portion of the anatomy. The second member is configured to cooperate with the first member. The first movement defining portion and the second movement defining portion are operable to allow the second member to be moveable relative to the first member from a first position to a second position. The resection instrument is positionable relative to the second member in the first position and in the second position to form a selected resection of the selected portion of the anatomy.
US09023051B2	Navigation and positioning systems and guide instruments for joint repair A system and associated instruments for locating, and accurately and controllably delivering, a device to an area sufficiently near a bone defect using anatomical landmarks is provided. The instruments allow the surgeon to navigate to the area around the bone defect quickly and easily, while also facilitating proper insertion of the device. In some embodiments, the defect is located on a femur. Guide instruments having a plurality of device portals are also provided for use as standalone instruments or as accessories to the system. In addition, a protective guide sleeve is provided for the insertion of small diameter devices.
US09023050B2	Surgical tools for arthroplasty A patellar 3-D guidance tool includes a template. The template includes at least one contact surface for engaging a surface of the patella. The at least one contact surface substantially conforms with the surface associated with the patellar. At least one guide aperture directs movement of a surgical instrument, wherein the shape and/or position of the guide aperture is based, at least in part, on three or more anatomic reference points associated with the patellar.
US09023045B2	Bolt and tool with anti-torque features A system for fixing a wire to a surface of an external fixator having a wire adapted to extend through bony structure fastened with respect to the surface. A bolt having a shaft which comprises a threaded section, a head section and at least one clamping element is provided wherein the bolt is adapted to extend through an opening in the external fixation element with a nut, and clamps the wire to the surface. A counter torque tool is used to provide a counter torque while fastening the wire with the bolt and the nut. The bolt comprises a counter torque opening and wherein the counter torque tool comprises a section which is adapted to engage into the counter torque opening of the bolt to apply the counter torque.
US09023044B2	Electrosurgical instrument An electrosurgical instrument includes a first jaw member with a first electrode area and a second electrode area and a second jaw member, such that at least either the first jaw member or the second jaw member can be pivoted around a pivot axis in such a way that the jaw members can be approached to one another or distanced from one another, so that the first jaw member can be rotated in relation to the second jaw member around a rotation axis between a first predetermined working position and a second predetermined working position, so that in the first working position the first electrode area of the first jaw member is facing the second jaw member and so that in the second working position the second electrode area of the first jaw member is facing the second jaw member.
US09023040B2	Electrosurgical cutting devices A cutting device for tissue separation includes a cutting edge using electrical energy such as RF power that is coupled to, but thermally insulated from, a catheter in an elongated medical device. Thermal insulation between a ring-type cutting device and the catheter is provided by a gap, slots within the ring, and/or slanted slots within the ring. In one embodiment, tissue separation occurs by rotation of a ring-type electrically-powered cutting edge having internal cross-bar elements. In an alternate embodiment, tissue separation occurs by longitudinal movement of an offset electrically-powered cutting edge that is pressed against tissue by an inflatable balloon. In a further alternate embodiment, a cutting edge is coupled longitudinally to a catheter, is provided electrical energy by wired connection to the braided catheter, but is thermally isolated from the catheter.
US09023037B2	Balloon catheter apparatus for renal neuromodulation Methods and apparatus are provided for non-continuous circumferential treatment of a body lumen. Apparatus may be positioned within a body lumen of a patient and may deliver energy at a first lengthwise and angular position to create a less-than-full circumferential treatment zone at the first position. The apparatus also may deliver energy at one or more additional lengthwise and angular positions within the body lumen to create less-than-full circumferential treatment zone(s) at the one or more additional positions that are offset lengthwise and angularly from the first treatment zone. Superimposition of the first treatment zone and the one or more additional treatment zones defines a non-continuous circumferential treatment zone without formation of a continuous circumferential lesion. Various embodiments of methods and apparatus for achieving such non-continuous circumferential treatment are provided.
US09023036B2	Lasso catheter with tip electrode Medical apparatus includes a sheath having a lumen with a distal opening. A flexible probe, which is adapted for insertion through the sheath, includes an insertion shaft, an end section, which is connected to the distal end of the insertion shaft, a tip electrode extending over the tip of the end section, and proximal electrodes distributed along the end section. The probe is manipulable, within the sheath, between a retracted configuration in which the end section is contained within the lumen so that only the tip electrode protrudes through the distal opening, and an extended configuration in which the entire end section protrudes from the distal opening and assumes an arcuate shape. An energy generator applies electrical energy only to the tip electrode while the probe is in the retracted configuration and to at least the proximal electrodes while the probe is in the extended configuration.
US09023034B2	Renal ablation electrode with force-activatable conduction apparatus An electrode is provided at a distal end of a catheter and dimensioned for deployment within a renal artery. A deformable cover of the electrode incorporates a force-activatable conduction apparatus. The cover is configured to conduct electrical energy only through a region or regions of the cover subject to deformation due to contact with a wall of the target vessel. The electrical energy is sufficient to ablate perivascular renal nerves proximate the deformed region or regions of the electrode cover. The cover is configured to prevent conduction of electrical energy through the cover in the absence of a deformation force applied to the cover.
US09023033B2	Magnetically guided catheters A magnetically-guided catheter includes a tip positioning magnet in the distal electrode assembly configured to interact with externally applied magnetic fields for magnetically-guided movement. A magnetically-guided mapping catheter includes an electrically-conductive capsule in the form of a casing that includes a distal ablation surface and isolates the positioning magnet from bio-fluids to prevent corrosion. An open irrigation ablation catheter includes an isolated manifold that isolates the positioning magnet from contact with irrigation fluid to prevent corrosion.
US09023031B2	Noninvasive devices, methods, and systems for modifying tissues The invention provides improved methods for modifying collagenous tissues, particularly for treating urinary incontinence in a noninvasive manner. The methods typically include inserting a probe into a patient's urethra, transmitting electromagnetic energy from the probe to a collagneous target tissue, and cooling the tissue in the vicinity of the probe. The probe may include an expandable element at or near the distal end that is configured to expand within the patient's bladder. The expandable element may anchor the probe before or during treatment.
US09023026B2	Articulating ablation device and method An ablation device including a handle portion, a shaft and at least one cable. The shaft extends distally from the handle portion and includes an inner conductor and an outer conductor that substantially surrounds at least a portion of the inner conductor. The cable extends from the handle portion along at least a portion of the shaft. The distal tip of the inner conductor is positionable distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor. In response to movement of the at least one cable relative to the handle portion, the distal tip of the outer conductor is movable form a first position where the distal tip is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis defined by the outer conductor to at least a second position where the distal tip is disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.
US09023023B2	Nerve and soft tissue ablation device Ablation devices useful for removing nerve and soft tissue via a minimally invasive procedure to alleviate pain are provided. The device comprises a plurality of probes each comprising an interior surface defining an internal passage and an exterior surface comprising a tip. The internal passage has a filament comprising an opening configured to release a pressurized material into the interior surface of the probe so as to cool the exterior surface of the probe to a selected temperature. A plurality of introducers are provided each comprising an interior surface configured for engagement with the probe where at least one air gap is produced by the introducer and probe engagement and an exterior surface comprising a heat conductive tip where the probe tip is snap fixed with the introducer tip in a configuration for ablating nerve and/or soft tissue. Methods for ablating nerve and/or soft tissue utilizing the ablation devices are also provided.
US09023022B2	Nerve and soft tissue ablation device having release instrument Ablation devices useful for destroying nerve and soft tissue via a minimally invasive procedure to alleviate pain are provided. The device comprises a probe comprising an interior surface that defines an internal passage and an exterior surface comprising a tip. The internal passage has a filament comprising an opening configured to release a pressurized material into the interior surface of the probe so as to cool the exterior surface of the probe to a selected temperature. A release instrument is provided comprising a sheath that comprises an exterior surface and an interior surface configured for engagement with the probe. The probe tip is configured for ablating nerve and/or soft tissue by forming an ice ball and the release instrument is configured to release the probe tip from the ice ball. Methods for ablating nerve and/or soft tissue utilizing the ablation devices are also provided.
US09023021B2	Enhancing the brightness of multiple light sources in dermatologic treatment devices A dermatologic treatment device having a first light source emitting a first pulse of optical radiation beneficial to a dermatologic treatment, and a second light source emitting a second pulse of optical radiation and being optically coupled to the first light source. The second pulse enhances the brightness of at least part of the optical radiation in the first pulse upon impinging on the first light source. The dermatologic treatment device further includes a timing circuit adapted to energize the first and second light sources to at least partially overlap emission of the first and second pulses.
US09023018B2	Surgical laser system with remote control functionality Embodiments of the present invention provide a laser surgical system with a basic set of functionality which is remotely controllable to implement an advanced set of functionality. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a basic laser surgical system may be coupled to an advanced control unit such that the basic laser surgical system may be controllable by the advanced control unit to implement a broader set of functionality. By moving less frequently used functionality to an advanced unit, the basic unit may be streamlined with regards to both cost and size, and the learning curve required to utilize the basic unit may be reduced relative to a more feature-ladened unit, allowing the basic unit to be utilized in myriad situations or procedures where an “all-in-one” unit would be less than desirable.
US09023016B2	Image processor for intra-surgical optical coherence tomographic imaging of laser cataract procedures A cataract surgical system includes a laser source to generate a first set of laser pulses; a guiding optic to guide the first set of laser pulses to a cataract target region in an eye; a laser controller to generate an electronic representation of a target scan pattern, and to control the guiding optic to scan the first set of laser pulses according to a portion of the target scan pattern to create a first photo-disrupted region in the cataract target region; and a Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomographic (SD-OCT) imaging system to generate an image of a portion of the first photo-disrupted region. The laser controller can generate an electronic representation of a modified scan pattern in relation to the image generated by the SD-OCT imaging system, and control the guiding optic to scan a second set of laser pulses according the modified scan pattern.
US09023015B2	Laparoscopic instruments, attachable end effectors and methods relating to same There is provided a method of attaching an end effector to a surgical instrument having a center rod with a distal tip. The method includes providing an end effector having a base and a coupler defining a pocket and movably mounted within the base. The end effector is moved over the center rod such that the distal tip of the center rod is seated within the pocket of the coupler. There is also disclosed an end effector including a base having a slot, a coupler movably mounted within the base and defining a pocket for receipt of a moving member of a surgical instrument and an operative member movably mounted on the base and connected to the coupler.
US09023013B2	Catheter kit for a urinary catheter A urinary catheter kit is provided. The catheter kit includes a catheter with a flared end and a package provided with interior protrusions for cooperating with the flared end of the catheter. The largest outer diameter of the flared end of the catheter is slightly larger than the smallest diameter of the package at the protrusions. Thereby, the protrusions will function as a backstop for the catheter. The rigidity of the catheter at the flared end is selected so that—depending on the angle of the flared end—the flared end will be able to flip over if it is subjected to a force over a predetermined level. Thereby the catheter will be able to be entered back into the package.
US09023012B2	Systems and methods for treating a tissue site with reduced pressure involving a reduced-pressure interface having a multi-lumen conduit for contacting a manifold Systems and methods for a reduced-pressure interface for connecting a multi-lumen conduit to a distribution manifold. The interface includes a housing having a flange portion and a cavity wall portion. The cavity wall portion forms a cavity having a tissue-facing cavity opening. The interface further includes an attachment device, a conduit port, and a multi-lumen conduit. The attachment device is coupled to a tissue-facing side of the flange portion for coupling the housing to a sealing member. The conduit includes a distal end and a proximal whereby the distal end extends through a conduit aperture and past the cavity wall portion into the cavity. The conduit further includes a primary lumen and a plurality of sensing lumens. The primary lumen and the plurality of sensing lumens extend from the proximal end of the conduit to the distal end. The conduit is adapted to contact the distribution manifold.
US09023011B2	Medical device A medical device including a shaft having an elongated inner member and an elongated tubular reinforcing member disposed over at least a portion of the inner member. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the outer surface of the inner member is spaced from the inner surface of the reinforcing member, defining a space substantially free of any other structures of the device. In some embodiments, the shaft can include a tip structure disposed on a distal portion of the inner member. In some such embodiments, the reinforcing member has a distal end, and the tip structure is disposed on the distal portion of the inner member adjacent the distal end of the reinforcing member. Additionally, in some embodiments, the reinforcing member can include a plurality of apertures defined therein, for example, to enhance the flexibility or other such characteristics of all or portions of the reinforcing member.
US09023010B2	Infusion treatment agents, catheters, filter devices, and occlusion devices, and use thereof Embodiments include an infusion-occlusion system having a delivery catheter, a guide catheter adapted to receive the delivery catheter, and a guidewire with an occlusion device adapted to be received within the guide catheter. The guide catheter of the catheter kit may be provided with an occlusion device at the distal end of the guide catheter. The delivery catheter may have an accessory lumen, coaxial or co-linear lumen, a supporting mandrel, or an occlusion device at its distal end. Moreover, according to some embodiments, occlusion devices may be a single material or a composite balloon having an inner liner and an outer layer of different materials, a high compliance low pressure balloon, or a filter device that restricts particles from passing through but does not restrict fluid, such as blood. An inflation device with a large volume and low volume syringe can be used to inflate the balloon.
US09023006B2	Wearing article with bonded gasket elastic The present invention aims to provide a wearing article adapted to prevent unintentional displacement of a crotch region relative to front and rear waist regions by elastics attached to the crotch region. A diaper includes front and rear waist members, a crotch member by the intermediary of which the front and rear waist members are connected with each other. The rear waist member is formed with a waist fit section and an appendix section. Of the crotch member, front and rear ends including front and rear end flaps are bonded to the front and rear waist members, respectively, to form front and rear bonded regions. Both side flaps are provided on respective inner surfaces thereof with gasket elastics attached thereto. Each of the gasket elastic overlaps at one end with a part of the front waist elastic and overlaps at the other end with a part of the appendix section elastic. Furthermore, the one end overlaps with the front bonded region and the other end overlaps with the rear bonded regions.
US09023005B2	Disposable absorbent article having a barrier A disposable absorbent article having at least one barrier at least one barrier extending along at least a longitudinal side of the crotch portion having a proximal end being connected to the remains of the article and a distal end forming a longitudinally extending free edge. At least one of the front and rear portion have a side portion extending transversely outwardly of the proximal end of the barrier to a side portion end for fastening to the other of the front and rear portion, so as to form a closed position of the article defining a leg opening. A connecting member connects the barrier with the side portion, and extends between a first connection where the connection member is connected to the barrier and a second connection where the connection member is connected to the side portion, such that when the side portion is subject to a traction force, the traction force will be at least partially transferred to the barrier via the connecting member.
US09023003B1	Neonatal absorbency pad and related methods The invention is directed to a planar pad manufactured from three layers, each layer made from materials of differing properties. A contact layer being safe for a neonatal infant's skin is the top layer. The middle layer is an absorption layer positioned immediately below the contact layer. The absorption layer is of a two-part construction having a first half and a corresponding second half which abuts the first half. The absorption layer is operable for dispersing and containing fluids within the pad. The bottom layer is a waterproof barrier layer which is posited directly below the absorbency layer, preferably constructed of flashspun high-density polyethylene, and is also a two part construction. An internal pull tab maintains the pad in a single assembly. Upon removing the pull tab, the pad assembly splits into two separate assembly halves.
US09023002B2	Reduced-pressure interfaces, systems, and methods employing a Coanda device Systems, devices, and methods for treating a wound on a patient involve a reduced-pressure interface having an interface body that facilitates the delivery of reduced pressure to the wound and also a Coanda device that develops an airflow over a wound dressing. The airflow developed by the Coanda device enhances evaporation of liquids from the dressing. Other systems, methods, and devices are presented herein.
US09022998B2	Blower instrument, apparatus and methods of using A surgical blower for providing a directed stream to clear a surgical site, that can be used in multiple different use modes. In one use mode, the surgical blower is handheld by a user during operation. In another mode, a distal end portion of the blower is fixed to a foot of a stabilizer instrument and the handle of the blower is handheld. In another mode, a distal end portion of the blower is fixed to a foot of a stabilizer instrument and the handle of the blower is fixed to a stationary object such as a sternal retractor. In another mode, the distal end of the blower is free and the handle of the blower is fixed to a stationary object. An apparatus including a blower and a stabilizer is provided. Methods of using the blower as well as the apparatus are also provided.
US09022996B2	Insulin pump and method for controlling a user interface of an insulin pump An insulin pump comprises a pump device, a control for the pump device, a memory, an operating element for operating the insulin pump and a method for controlling a user interface of the insulin pump are disclosed. The control is designed and programmed such that options for the user of the insulin pump are displayed by the user interface as a function of a user-specific preference profile stored in the memory and as a function of a current time and are provided for selection by using the operating element. The insulin pump can be designed in an auto-adaptive fashion, such that the control continuously updates the user-specific preference profile based on analyzing operating inputs of the user. Embodiments of the invention allow a large range of functions and simple operation, even in the case of miniaturized pumps.
US09022993B2	Drive assembly for a drug delivery device and drug delivery device A drive assembly for a drug delivery device is presented having a housing with a proximal end and a distal end, a drive member, and a piston rod. A longitudinal axis extends between the proximal end and the distal end and the piston rod is axially moveable relative to the housing. The piston rod has a guide track and the drive member has a guide piece disposed and movable in the guide track. The guide track is configured with at least one section which is oblique relative to the longitudinal axis and defines a displacement for dispensing a single pre-set dose of medication during a relative movement between the guide piece and the piston rod when the guide piece cooperates with the oblique section between a distal final area of the oblique section and a proximal final area of the oblique section.
US09022992B2	Drug delivery device A drug delivery device comprises a housing and a piston rod arranged in the housing. The piston rod is adapted to be moved along an axial direction to dispense a fluid. A drive member arranged in the housing is operatively coupled to the piston rod and adapted to set up a dose of fluid for dispense in response to a first movement. The drive member is also adapted to move the piston rod to dispense the dose in response to a second movement. The drug delivery device also comprises a pre-dispensing drive member operatively coupled to the drive member and the housing and adapted to move at least the drive member by a pre-dispensing distance between its first and second movement.
US09022990B2	Needle safety shield A needle safety shield 10 for use with a syringe 10 having a barrel 14, a needle and a plunger rod 16. The safety shield 10 has a first tube 22. A second tube 26 is arranged for sliding movement within the first tube 22. A pin 46 is connected to one of the first and second tubes 22, 26. An activation ring 32 has a stop 72. A drive spring 34 biases the activation ring 32 in a proximal direction to place the stop 72 in engagement with the pin 46 to retain the first and second tubes 22, 26 in a retracted configuration. The movement of the plunger rod 16 to engage the activation ring 32 compresses the drive spring 34, moving the activation ring 32 distally, and moving the stop 72 out of engagement with the pin 46, allowing the drive spring 34 to move the first and second tubes 22, 26 into an extended configuration.
US09022988B1	System and method for controlling a self-injector device A cartridge-based computer controlled self-injection device automatically regulates time and dosage administered to a patient. Cartridges can be electronically tagged so the injection device can determine the content, volume, expiration date, and physician prescribed dosage timetable. Authentication verifies the device and ensures the proper patient is using the device with the appropriate therapeutic injectant. Authentication further provides information controlling device operation including expiration dates and clock synchronization. Therapeutic injectant administration statistics, such as date and time of administration of a therapeutic injectant are stored and provide to a health care provider for monitoring. Patients can be notified of nearing or missed administrations.
US09022983B2	Infusion pump An infusion pump includes a pump body for holding a roller clamp 7, and a roller movement mechanism 3 for moving a roller 72 of the roller clamp 7 and operating in coordination with manipulation of a door lock mechanism. When the door lock mechanism is in an unlocked state, an infusion tube T is blocked by the roller clamp 72. This configuration reliably prevents free flow even if a door is not closed completely or if the door is accidentally left unlocked. After the finish of infusion treatment, the infusion tube T is blocked by the roller clamp 7 at the moment when the door lock mechanism is unlocked before the opening of the door. This configuration avoids a trouble of removing the infusion tube T from the infusion pump while a user forgets to block the infusion tube by the roller clamp 7.
US09022980B2	Medical injector simulation device An apparatus includes a simulated medicament delivery device and an electronic circuit system coupled to the simulated medicament delivery device. The electronic circuit system is configured to output an electronic output associated with a use of the simulated medicament delivery device.
US09022976B2	Push-coil steering mechanism A handle assembly is provided for use in navigating a deformable shaft within a body. The assembly includes a first guide member defining first and second linear channels and a second guide member configured for rotation relative to the first guide member. First and second connectors are disposed within, and movable within, the first and second linear channels along first and second parallel axes, respectively, and are configured for coupling to first and second steering wires, respectively. The assembly includes means, such as a flexible coupling connected to the second guide member and the connectors, for translating rotation of the second guide member into linear movement of the first connector in a first axial direction and linear movement of the second connector in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction such that the first and second steering wires move in opposite directions.
US09022975B2	Airless, non-clogging tip assembly and device The invention described herein is a device for dripping a tissue sealant and/or adhesive that comprises a) first and second barrels or syringes that contain first and second biocomponents that are disposed between proximal and distal ends; b) a plunger in each barrel and c) a drip tip comprising i) a support having distal and proximal ends and at least two fluid passageways from the distal to the proximal end that are in fluid communication with one of the barrels of the dispensing device on the proximal end; and ii) an endcap that fits over the support having at least two flexible hinges. The present invention is also directed to an assembly for mixing and drip dispensing two reactive biologic components as tissue sealant and/or hemostatic agent and to methods for delivering biologic components to achieve hemostasis and/or tissue sealant by drip dispensing from the device described above.
US09022973B2	Integrated intra-dermal delivery, diagnostic and communication system In one embodiment, an IDDC system utilizes an intelligent therapeutic agent delivery system comprised of one, but more likely an array of “cells” containing therapeutic agent(s) and/or diagnostic agents(s); an integrated bio-sensing system designed to sample and analyze biological materials using multiple sensors that include both hardware and software components. The software component involves biomedical signal processing to analyze complex liquid mixtures and a microcontrollers) acts as interface to the biosensors, to the therapeutic delivery elements, and to a communications system(s) for the purpose of controlling the amount of therapeutic agent to deliver and also to provide information in a useful form to interested parties on the progress of therapy and compliance thereto. The synergistic effect of combining the above describe elements is expected to dramatically improve patient compliance with prescribed therapy, quality and timeliness of care provided by physicians, and at the same time reduce the cost of providing effective healthcare to IDDC system users, thereby improving profitability for Managed Care organizations and pharmaceutical companies utilizing the system.
US09022972B2	Medicine delivery device having detachable pressure sensing unit A fluid medicament delivery device includes a patient attachment unit and a separate indicator unit. The patient attachment unit includes a housing and a fluid channel located therein, wherein at least a portion of the fluid channel includes a flexible member substantially coterminous with the housing. The separate indicator unit is adapted to be detachably coupled to the housing of the patient attachment unit and includes a first sensing element for contacting the flexible member when the indicator unit is coupled to the housing to sense a flexure of the flexible member.
US09022970B2	Ophthalmic injection device including dosage control device An injection device includes a dispensing chamber, a plunger, a controller, a temperature control device, and a memory device. The dispensing chamber has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a cavity for receiving a quantity of a substance. The plunger is engaged with the inner surface of the dispensing chamber, is capable of sliding in the cavity of the dispensing chamber, and is fluidly sealed to the inner surface of the dispensing chamber. The controller controls the operation of the injection device. The temperature control device at least partially surrounds the dispensing chamber. The memory device has a parameter stored on it. The controller uses the parameter from the memory device to operate the injection device.
US09022967B2	Implant device, tool, and methods relating to treatment of paranasal sinuses An implant device is configured to be implanted in a fistula to fluidly connect the lacrimal apparatus and a paranasal sinus. A surgical tool has an implant the implant device mounted on a carrier. Various methods involve a fistula between the lacrimal apparatus and a paranasal sinus. A kit includes an entry device for use to form a fistula and an implant tool for use to implant an implant device following formation of a fistula.
US09022965B2	Knee orthosis, and method for controlling a knee orthosis A knee orthosis and a method for controlling a knee orthosis including a thigh structure having a fastening structure to be fixed to a thigh, a lower leg structure which is pivotally coupled to the thigh rail using a joint mechanism and has a fastening structure to be fixed to a lower leg as well as a foot piece for supporting a foot, and an actuator device between the thigh structure and the lower leg structure. The fastening points of the actuator on the thigh structure and lower leg structure and the center of rotation of the joint mechanism form a triangle. The fastening points are arranged on the structures such that the connecting line between a fastening point and the center of rotation in an angular position of the knee in which the lower leg is bent at an angle ranging from 0° to 90° relative to the thigh.
US09022960B2	Oral care cleaning and treating device A device for directing a liquid onto a plurality of surfaces of the oral cavity, the device including a handle, a neck, and a head, where the head includes a cleaning component including a chamber for maintaining the liquid proximate the surfaces, where the chamber is defined by front and rear sealing membranes, inner side walls and a base inner wall, and where the inner side walls each include a plurality of openings, the device further including a first manifold and a second manifold, and a first port and a second port for conveying liquid.
US09022959B2	Oral care systems An oral care system that provides a beneficial effect to an oral cavity of a mammal by using a liquid effective for providing the beneficial effect, where the system includes means for directing the liquid onto a plurality of surfaces of the oral cavity, means for providing the liquid to the means for directing the liquid onto the surfaces of the oral cavity, means for providing reciprocation of the liquid over the plurality of surfaces under conditions effective to provide the beneficial effect; and a reservoir for containing the liquid.
US09022957B2	Foot rest, method for the manufacture thereof, device including the foot rest, and therapeutic method using the same A foot rest including: a foot receptacle, the foot receptacle including a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portion intersects the second portion; a cross-member disposed on a first side of the first portion; and a bucket connector disposed on the first side of the first portion of the foot receptacle, wherein the cross-member is proximate an end of the first portion and the bucket connector is distal to the end of the first portion.
US09022956B2	Trunk supporting exoskeleton and method of use An exoskeleton (100) includes two torque generators (116, 118), two thigh links (104,106), and a supporting trunk (112) rotatably coupled to the thigh links (104, 106). When a wearer bends forward in the sagittal plane such that the supporting trunk (112) extends beyond a predetermined angle A with respect to vertical, at least one of the torque generators (116, 118) imposes a resisting torque between the supporting trunk (112) and a corresponding thigh link (104, 106), thus imposing a force onto a wearer's trunk and thighs to aid in supporting the wearer in a bent position. The exoskeleton (100) may include an active or passive means (116, 134) for actuating the torque generators (116, 118). When the supporting trunk (112) does not extend beyond the predetermined angle A, the torque generators (116, 118) do not impose resisting torques between the supporting trunk (112) and the thigh links (104, 106) during the entire range of motion of the thigh links (104, 106), thus enabling a wearer to walk, run, and sit without constraint while in a substantially upright position.
US09022954B2	Device for measuring real-time pressure exerted by a support surface on a perineal artery Provided are methods and devices for measuring real-time pressures on the perineum of a user positioned on a surface. In an embodiment the surface is a bicycle seat and the real-time measurement is a pressure map of the pressure distribution during a bicycle ride. The methods relate to connecting a pressure sensor to the perineum region of the user, positioning the user on the surface, wherein the pressure sensor is positioned between the perineum and the surface, and obtaining output from the pressure sensor while the user is positioned on the surface, such as during a bicycle ride. The devices relate to a plurality of pressure sensors capable of being connected to the perineum region and a microcontroller containing a drive circuit and chip for analog-to-digital conversion and storage. One use of the methods and devices are to assess risk of erectile dysfunction for bicycle riders.
US09022953B2	Lancet analyte sensors and methods of manufacturing In some aspects, an analyte sensor is provided for obtaining and detecting an analyte concentration level in a bio-fluid sample. The analyte sensor has a sensor body including a semiconductor material, an active region coupled to the sensor body, and a lancet provided on the analyte sensor. The conductor may include a fiber having a core of a conductive material and a semiconductor cladding surrounding the core. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US09022952B2	Body fluid sampling device Body fluid sampling device comprising a skin-piercing element having a fluid pathway for receiving body fluid, at least a portion of said fluid pathway is open to the environment and further comprising a fluid receiving means being spaced from said fluid pathway so that fluid in said pathway will not contact the fluid receiving means initially. Said fluid receiving means may have a test zone for performing an analytical reaction. Fluid from said channel is contacted with said fluid receiving means either by bringing the fluid receiving means and the fluid into mechanical contact or by electrically transporting fluid from the channel onto the fluid receiving means.
US09022947B2	Respiration impedance measuring device and respiration impedance display method Continuous measurement of breathing impedance with extremely high precision is enabled by executing noise elimination. A loudspeaker applies an air vibration pressure by an oscillation wave to an oral cavity, the oscillation wave being obtained by frequency-cuffing so executed that the oscillation wave has only the frequency component that is left after the culling is executed from a plurality of different frequencies and being generated by a pulse signal for pulse drive with pulses made positive and negative separately in correspondence to the time of exhalation and the time of inhalation. A pressure inside the oral cavity is detected and a breathing flow is detected, and a signal obtained by the detection is Fourier-transformed to obtain a spectrum. Analysis of the spectrum is performed to obtain breathing impedance.
US09022944B2	Electronic sphygmomanometer An electronic sphygmomanometer includes a cuff, a tank that stores a prescribed amount of fluid, a pressure adjusting unit that adjusts pressurization of the cuff or the tank by supplying or discharging the fluid, a pressure detector that detects a pressure in the cuff or a pressure in the tank based on pressure information output from a pressure sensor, a blood pressure calculating unit that calculates a blood pressure value based on a change in the pressure in the cuff detected by the pressure detector, an abnormality detector, and a first channel through to the pressure adjusting unit and the pressure detector and that has one of the tank and the cuff selectively connected thereto. The abnormality detector detects whether the pressure sensor is abnormal in a state where the tank is connected to the first channel and the fluid is supplied to the tank.
US09022943B2	Method for detecting vascular sclerosis A method for detecting vascular sclerosis is revealed. Firstly set a cuff on a human hand. Then inflate the cuff and later deflate the cuff. Next measure a pressure of the cuff and generate a pressure sensing signal. Process the pressure sensing signal to generate a processed signal and convert the processed signal. Then calculate a systolic pressure and a diastolic pressure according to the converted processed signal and also obtain a vasodilation constant. Thus a hardening of blood vessels is detected according to the vasodilation constant.
US09022939B2	Microbubble generating technique for phase aberration correction Method and system for ultrasound imaging of body tissue in which a focused ultrasound (FUS) transducer (20) is oriented relative to the body such that ultrasonic waves generated by the FUS transducer (20) are directed toward the tissue being imaged. The FUS transducer (20) is operated to cause the formation of microbubbles (28) in the tissue and an ultrasound image of the tissue with the microbubbles (28) is acquired. Phase aberration in the acquired ultrasound image may be corrected, if necessary, using each microbubble (28) as a point source or point-like scatterer. Microbubble (28) formation can therefore be obtained in a non-invasive manner since FUS-induced microbubble (28) formation does not require the insertion of interventional tools into the body.
US09022934B2	Rotary transformer and associated devices, systems, and methods for rotational intravascular ultrasound Rotational intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. The present disclosure is particularly directed to rotary transformers incorporating flex circuits that are suitable for use in rotational IVUS systems. In one embodiment, a rotary transformer for a rotational IVUS device includes: a rotational component and a stationary component. At least one of the rotational and stationary components includes a core formed of a magnetically conductive material and a flex circuit coupled to the core. In some instances, the flex circuit is coupled to the core such that a coil portion of the flex circuit is received within a recess of the core and an extension of the flex circuit extending from the coil portion extends through an opening of the core.
US09022933B2	Apparatus and method for reconstructing an image with reduced motion artifacts A computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon and representing a set of instructions that when executed by a computer causes the computer to calculate a mapping function that provides a location of each sub-volume of an imaging volume as a function of time from ultrasound data and determine a respective acquisition window for each sub-volume of the imaging volume from the mapping function. The instructions also cause the computer to reconstruct an image of the imaging volume substantially free of motion artifacts from imaging data acquired from the imaging volume.
US09022932B2	Method and apparatus for measuring glucose in body fluids using sub-dermal body tissue impedance measurements A method and an apparatus for measuring glucose level in the body fluid of a subject, typically blood glucose level, by measuring impedance of a body tissue, with two pairs of electrodes, two electrodes for injecting current into a body tissue and two electrodes for detecting the ensuing voltage of the body tissue. The body tissue is typically a sub-dermal or sub-cutaneous tissue. The measured impedance of the body tissue is used to correlate with directly determined glucose levels to determine the glucose level from the measured impedance. It is thus possible to determine body fluid glucose levels in a reliable and reproducible manner.
US09022928B2	Wound protector including balloon within incision A surgical access device is disclosed herein. The surgical access device includes a housing adapted for insertion into an incision in tissue and at least one inflatable portion disposed on the housing. The housing defines a proximal end and a distal end and has a lumen extending therethrough for the reception of a surgical access portal. The at least one inflatable portion has a deflated state and an inflated state and the housing is insertable into the incision in tissue when the at least one inflatable portion is in the deflated state. The housing is adapted to form a substantially fluid tight seal with the incision in tissue and with a surgical access portal inserted therethrough when the at least one inflatable portion is in the inflated state.
US09022927B2	Surgical access method and assembly including sleeve and port A surgical access assembly includes a sleeve and a port. The sleeve is adapted for insertion within tissue to access an underlying tissue site. The sleeve defines a first passage therethrough. The first passage has a first diameter. The port defines one or more second passages extending therethrough. The port is adapted for insertion within the first passage of the sleeve in a substantially sealed relationship therewith. The one or more second passages are adapted for a substantially sealed reception of a surgical object therethrough. The one or more second passages have one or more second diameters. The port is selectively removably positionable within the first passage of the sleeve. The first diameter is greater than the one or more second diameters.
US09022925B2	Massage apparatus having a sleeve with a lubrication well A massage apparatus having a vibrator device engaged to a flexible hollow sleeve that defines a lubrication well for receiving and dispensing a lubricant is disclosed. The lubrication well includes a peripheral wall that defines a well portion configured to receive the lubricant and a protrusion that extends outwardly from the well portion for stimulating the clitoral area of a female individual while facilitating the dispensation of the lubricant from the well portion to that same area.
US09022919B2	Vaginal insert device having a support portion with plurality of struts A vaginal insert device including a support portion, a stabilizing portion, a removal device, and at least one fluid passageway extending though the support portion is disclosed. The vaginal insert relaxes in the vagina to deliver outward compression force against the bladder neck via the anterior vaginal wall to assist prevention of urinary stress incontinence. The substantially cylindrical support portion has a distal end, a proximal end, and a hollow interior section with a plurality of struts extending from the distal end to the proximal end. Desirably, the plurality of struts helically curve as the plurality of struts extend from the distal end to the proximal end. The largest circumference of the support portion has an insertion diameter when the plurality of struts are twisted together and an in-use diameter wherein the plurality of struts are extended outward into a convex position larger than the insertion diameter.
US09022917B2	Magnetic spacer systems, devices, components and methods for bone conduction hearing aids Various embodiments of systems, devices, components, and methods are disclosed for magnetic spacers configured for use in conjunction with bone conduction hearing aids and corresponding magnetic implants. According to some embodiments, the magnetic spacers are configured to vary the amount and/or orientation or direction of magnetic coupling force provided thereby.
US09022916B2	Transseptal cannula, tip, delivery system, and method A cannula assembly, further comprising a cannula body for directing blood from the heart of a patient, having distal and proximal ends and a lumen therebetween. A tip coupled to the distal end of the body, the tip having an opening. A pump for drawing blood into the cannula assembly and dispensing the blood from the cannula assembly and into the patient circulatory system. The lumen of the cannula body further comprises a first inner diameter at the proximal end and a second inner diameter at the distal end, the first inner diameter being larger than the second inner diameter. A tapered portion defined as a decrease in inner diameter from the first inner diameter to the second inner diameter between the proximal and distal ends, the tapered portion configured to prevent cavitation of the blood within the cannula.
US09022914B2	Laser accelerator driven particle brachytherapy devices, systems, and methods A laser accelerator driven electronic brachytherapy system, device, and method for particle based treatment of a tumor or other human diseases and conditions.
US09022911B2	Fitness board An exercise or fitness board having a deck adjustably attached to a base to adjust the angle of incline of the deck relative to the base, and a plurality of straps attached to the deck for the user to grasp for balance and exercise. The deck and/or base contains various contours, scallops, cutouts, and the like to facilitate comfortable and varied positioning of the body. A rail and/or channel may be placed on the underside and along the perimeter of the board to facilitate grip. A pad or mat may be placed on top of the board and/or base for comfort, stability, and protection.
US09022905B2	Exercise extensions and system Exercise devices that can be worn on the hand or foot utilizing resistance from the air to perform the exercises. The exercise device comprises a fitting member and a resistance member connected to the fitting member. The fitting member is configured to be worn on a limb, such as the hand or foot so that the user does not have to hold anything during the exercise. Additional weights can be added to the exercise device, but the overall apparatus remains small and relatively lightweight so that it may be easily carried in luggage and used on the go.
US09022902B2	Method and system for determining clutch assembly vent time for transmission shift control A method and transmission control unit configured to improve shift event performance in a vehicle with an automatic transmission by determining a vent time for release of a clutch assembly in a transmission of a vehicle. The vehicle must be stopped and a gear selector in the vehicle must be set to a drive condition. If these conditions are met, the clutch assembly is vented. The vent time from when venting begins to when a turbine (or input shift) speed of the transmission rises is tracked. Once the turbine speed of the transmission rises, the clutch assembly is reapplied. The clutch assembly vent time is set based on the tracked vent time.
US09022899B2	Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle Control apparatus for hybrid vehicles are described which reduce the heat generated by a clutch and improve the response of the hybrid vehicle when an operator requests a high degree of acceleration while starting the engine and the transmission is required to perform a shift-down. In one embodiment, when the engine is required to start while the transmission is required to perform a shift-down action, the control apparatus holds a hydraulic pressure of a releasing side clutch of the transmission at a predetermined lowest stand-by value preventing a slipping action of the releasing side clutch, while a clutch K0 between the motor and engine is placed in a slipping state, and reduces the hydraulic pressure of the releasing side clutch from the lowest stand-by value in the slipping state of the clutch K0 after the clutch K0 is placed in the fully engaged state.
US09022895B2	Multi-ratio transmission A multi-stage transmission with eight forward and one reverse gear, including input and output shafts, planetary gearsets, gear stages, shift elements and shafts. Input shaft couples the carrier of gearset (P1) and, via clutch (15), can couple shaft (5) that couples the ring and sun gears respectively of gearsets (P2, P3). The ring gear of gearset (P1) couples shaft (6), which couples the sun gear of gearset (P2). Shaft (3) couples the sun gear of gearset (P1), can couple the housing via brake (03), and can couple shaft (8), which couples the ring gear of gearset (P3). The carrier of gearset (P2) couples shaft (4), which can couple the output shaft (2) via gear stage (S1) and clutch (24). The carrier of gearset (P3) couples shaft (7), which couples gear stage (S2), which couples the output shaft. A clutch (46, 56 or 45) can engage to block gearset (P2).
US09022894B2	Automatic transmission assembly A transmission includes gearsets each including rotating members, a support held against rotation, brake servos located in the support, brakes each actuated by one of the brake servos for producing a connection between the support and a respective gearset member, a housing, clutch servos located in the housing, and clutches each actuated by one of the clutch servos for producing a drive connection between the housing and a respective gearset member.
US09022891B2	Triple clutch multi-speed transmission A transmission is disclosed having a planetary gear set with three input torque-transmitting mechanisms, such as friction clutches, to achieve torque flow through the planetary gear set to a countershaft gearing arrangement. The transmission includes an input member, an output member, a planetary gear set, an input clutch assembly having three input clutches and a countershaft gearing arrangement. The countershaft gearing arrangement is operatively connected with the planetary gear set and includes: at least three co-planar intermeshing gears, first and second countershafts, a first intermediate shaft and a second intermediate shaft concentric with the first intermediate shaft.
US09022877B2	Putting stroke training system A putting stroke training system identifies a preferred putting stroke and facilitates training for a golfer to repeat the preferred putting stroke. The training system includes a grid box with a fixed side wall and a movable side wall. The movable side wall is positionable relative to the fixed side wall into alignment with the preferred putting stroke. The training system also includes an alignment sensor attachable to a putter head. In some embodiments, the alignment sensor signals when the putter head deviates from the preferred stroke.
US09022872B2	Drive shaft coupling mechanism An in-line coupling device for a motor driven agricultural system utilizes less metal components while optimizing torque transfer. The device comprises a puck having a plurality of outwardly extending arms, a first shaft hub having outwardly extending flanges adapted to seat between a pair of the plurality of outwardly extending arms, and a second shaft hub having outwardly extending flanges adapted to seat between a pair of the outwardly extending arms.
US09022870B2	Web-based game platform with mobile device motion sensor input A distributed gaming platform is provided wherein mobile devices (e.g., a smartphone) with motion sensors are used as input controllers of a game. A cloud-based gaming rules engine manages multiple players and the content for display in the game. The game output is displayed on any web-enabled display which is physically distinct from the mobile device. Multiple players may simultaneously play the same game, or different games, in multiple geographic locations.
US09022862B2	Computer-readable storage medium having stored therein information processing program, information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method A pirate ship is displayed on a television being a stationary display device and on a terminal device being a portable display device. When the terminal device is held in a second attitude, the position and the angle of view of a first virtual camera are adjusted, and the pirate ship displayed on the television is zoomed out. When the terminal device is held in a first attitude, the position and the angle of view of the first virtual camera are adjusted and the pirate ship displayed on the television is zoomed in.
US09022857B2	Method and apparatus for managing a gaming application An embodiment of the present disclosure includes, for example, a method for receiving from a first device a request to initiate a video game with a second device, determining a location of the first device, detecting a difference between first computing resources of the first device and second computing resources of the second device, instructing the first device, the second device, or both to adjust a resource configuration to mitigate an aspect of the difference between the first computing resources and the second computing resources, and coordinating an exchange of first control information provided by the first device and second control information provided by the second device to enable a multiplayer session of the video game between the first device and the second device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09022854B2	Automated remote configuration of wagering game machines Systems and methods for providing configurations for one or more wagering game machines are described. The systems and methods receive performance data for the wagering game machine and analyze the performance data in accordance with a rule set. Based on the rule set and the performance data, new or modified configurations may be generated for one or more wagering game machines.
US09022851B2	Systems and methods for playing games of chance Systems and methods enable one or more players to play games of chance. A system includes a memory device configured to store instructions that are executable by a processor to provide a game of chance in which a plurality of house indicia is selected from a pool of house indicia. The system also includes a processor. When the processor executes the instructions, the processor is programmed to present to a player a plurality of games or game varieties of the games, and enable the player to select one of the plurality of games or game varieties. The processor is further programmed to present a first outcome or a second outcome to the player based on which game or game variety is selected and based on whether a bonus indicia is randomly selected. The bonus indicia is included within the selected house indicia.
US09022850B2	Method and apparatus for selectively indicating win probability Each play of a base game increases the likelihood of winning a bonus award. A display provides a graphical indication of the change in likelihood of winning the bonus award. In one aspect, the bonus award comprises the opportunity to play a secondary game.
US09022848B2	Blackjack games A Blackjack game has a multi-hand feature in which a player may re-use one or more cards from a first hand in additional hands. A Blackjack game may also include a bonus event. The bonus event has two or more designated bonus element, such as card hands. If one of the bonus elements is achieved as the result of play of a first Blackjack game, the bonus event is triggered. A bonus award is paid to the player if the player receives remaining required bonus elements as a result of the play of additional Blackjack games during the bonus period. The game is preferably played against a dealer at a video Blackjack machine and offers the player the opportunity for awards for each Blackjack game win and one or more additional bonus awards.
US09022846B1	110 CFM bath fan with and without light Apparatus, systems and methods of 110 (one hundred ten) CFM (cubic feet per minute) generating ventilation fans for bathrooms with grill covers and with or without lights in the grill covers. Spring clip type washers can attach the grill covers to the housings. Suspension brackets directly attached to outer side walls of the housing can support the housings. One suspension bracket can be mounted on a bottom wall of the housing and another suspension bracket of equal length can be mounted on a side wall of the housing that is oriented perpendicular to the bottom wall. Bent flanges on the suspension brackets can be on opposite ends of the respective brackets. A lens cover can cover a light box that holds light sources centrally located in the grill cover. The grill cover can include vent openings that allow incoming air to bypass the light sources that can be located inside of the light box.
US09022845B2	Roof ventilation apparatus A ventilated roof features an elongated vent having a vent opening and an elongated vent shingle supporting surface. The vent opening is in fluid communication with a slot defined by the top surface of a roof deck and communicating through the roof deck. An end cap has an end cap shingle supporting surface and is located adjacent to an end of the elongated vent. The vent and the end cap adjacent to the vent are supported in an equivalent spaced-apart relation to the top surface of the roof deck. The elongated vent shingle supporting surface, the end cap shingle supporting surface and the top surface of the roof deck provide a substantially continuous support to a shingle overlapping any two of those elements.
US09022840B2	Abrasive tool for use as a chemical mechanical planarization pad conditioner An abrasive tool including a CMP pad conditioner having a substrate including a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and a side surface extending between the first major surface and the second major, wherein a first layer of abrasive grains is attached to the first major surface and a second layer of abrasive grains is attached to the second major surface. The conditioner further includes a first sealing member extending in a peripheral direction along a portion of the side surface of the substrate.
US09022838B2	Assembly for grinding electrodes A device for processing welding electrodes with a grinding surface driven by a driving motor with a shaft, which faces the motor and runs in a housing, wherein at least one opening is provided in the housing for guiding a welding electrode for grinding in a defined position relative to the grinding wheel. The housing is releasably fixed to a motor flange for bearing the shaft, and the grinding wheel is arranged on a side of the motor flange which is remote from the motor. The motor flange is formed by a sleeve, which is adapted to be stuck onto the housing in such a way, that at least one opening extends from the circumference of the housing towards the grinding surface facing the motor.
US09022832B1	Toy sports-player figure Disclosed herein is a mini-figure that may be used with existing and standard toy block systems and also have the appearance of a sports figure. Improvements over traditional mini-figures include additional separate components in the arms and feet, an optional variation in torso shape, accessories which create visual impression of sports figures in natural use, unique markings identifiable by specific player or production, and a unique method of marketing and distribution.
US09022827B2	Wireline flotation device and method A wireline floatation device capable of reducing the weight of a wireline deployed down a well bore may include a floatation module capable of being detachably affixed to a wireline and formed at least partially of a buoyant material. A groove in the floatation module may extend longitudinally from a top face to a bottom face and laterally from an inner portion to an outer surface to receive the wireline. The groove may include a wireline receptacle portion capable of operatively housing the wireline. The floatation module may also include one or more gripping means capable of retaining the floatation module at a predetermined position on the wireline. The floatation module may further include a retaining means capable of selectively retaining the wireline within the groove. The floatation module may include a plurality of floatation modules capable of being operatively engaged to each other and detachably affixed to the wireline.
US09022826B1	Safety belt swim trainer A safety-retrieval system comprised of three components, a life jacket with reinforced tethering points, a waist belt with tethering points to be worn around a secondary person's waist, and a tethering line/leash to connect the life jacket to the waist belt.
US09022817B2	Connector terminal including limiter extending along first and second spring terminals A connector terminal includes first and second spring terminals between which a male connector terminal of a male electric connector is sandwiched. The connector terminal is formed by bending a strip-shaped plate about lines intersecting with a longitudinal line of the plate such that a width of the plate is maintained as it is. The first and second spring terminals are formed with a limiter for preventing the first and second spring terminals from being outwardly deflected.
US09022813B2	Contact housing for electrical contact units, electrical plug connector or mating connector as well as an assembled electrical conductor The invention relates to a contact housing (1) for at least two electrical contact means, in particular for an electrical plug connector or mating connector for the automotive sector, with two contact-housing modules (10, 20), with a first electrical contact means being able to be set up in a first contact-housing module (10) and a second electrical contact means in a second contact-housing module (20), the contact-housing modules (10, 20) being provided to be able to be moved towards one another and being able to be fixed to one another, in particular being able to be mutually latched with each other. Further, the invention relates to an electrical plug connector or an electrical mating connector, in particular an electrical female connector, and to an assembled electrical line, the electrical plug connector or the electrical mating connector, or the assembled electrical line having a contact housing (1) according to the invention.
US09022811B2	Connector terminal and electric connector A socket terminal includes front and rear terminals. The front terminal includes a front contact-point portion that wipes off foreign material adhered to a terminal surface of a plug terminal. The rear terminal includes a rear contact-point portion that contacts the terminal surface wiped by the front contact-point portion. The socket terminal also includes a movable portion between a circuit-board connection portion and circuit board. The movable portion cancels a reduction in impedance of at least the front terminal and rear terminal for a transmission signal flowing from the circuit-board connection portion connected to the circuit board. This can provide a socket terminal allowing the rear contact-point portion to contact the terminal surface from which foreign material has been wiped off, and allowing impedance mismatching at a terminal transmission path to be eliminated; and to provide an electric connector including the socket terminal.
US09022805B2	Cable management apparatus A cable management apparatus includes a half housing and a plurality of partitions. The half housing has a first side surface and a second side surface opposite to each other. The partitions are disposed in the half housing to divide the interior of the half housing into a plurality of compartments, and each compartment extends to the two faces of the half housing. A plurality of signal cables are respectively disposed into the compartments, so that the signal cables are able to be disposed in the electronic slots through the half housing and that the signal cables are electronically connected to the corresponding pins respectively.
US09022804B2	Waterproof plug A waterproof plug includes a cylindrical resin member and a sealing section configured to include an outer circumference section which is provided on an outer face of the resin member and an inner circumference section which is provided on an inner face of the resin member. The outer circumference section intimately contacts to an inner wall face of a cavity of a connector housing, and the inner circumference section intimately contacts to an outer circumference face of an electric wire. An outer circumference face of the resin member is brought into contact with an inner wall face of an electric wire through hole of the connector housing. The resin member has a plurality of protruded claw sections protruding toward the inner circumference section side along a circumference direction of the resin member.
US09022803B2	Connector and connector assembly The connector includes a pin contact, a housing, a sealing member, and a limitation member. The pin contact is rod-shaped and makes contact with a mating contact. The housing includes a through hole through which the pin contact extends from a top of the housing to a bottom of the housing, with parts of the pin contact protruding from both of the top of the housing and the bottom of the housing. The sealing member seals the space between through hole and the pin contact. The limitation member applies a reaction force against a force experienced by the pin contact through a contact of the mating contact, so as to limit inclination of the pin contact.
US09022802B2	Terminal module A terminal module is applied in an electrical connector having an insulating body, and includes first terminals, a first fixing bracket, second terminals, and a second fixing bracket. The first terminals and the second terminals are arranged parallel to each other along the same direction. The first fixing bracket is configured to fix the first terminals and the second fixing bracket is configured to fix the second terminals. The first fixing bracket is provided with a positioning hole extending along the arrangement direction of the first terminals. Furthermore, a positioning portion protrudes from the second fixing bracket in the direction towards the first fixing bracket, and corresponds to the positioning hole.Therefore, the first fixing bracket and the second fixing bracket are inserted into each other through the insertion of the positioning portion into the positioning hole, and are further received in the insulating body of the electrical connector.
US09022801B2	Electric connector An electric connector includes at least one connector terminal into which a male connector terminal of a male electric connector is inserted, and a housing including a terminal storage room in which the connector terminal is housed. The housing includes a support supporting the connector terminal at at least one of an outer surface and a bottom of the connector terminal when the male connector terminal is inserted into the terminal storage room for preventing the connector terminal from inclining.
US09022800B2	Electrical connector with heat-dissipation feauter thereof An electrical connector includes an insulator base having a rear retaining portion and a front tongue portion, a first terminal module with a plurality of first terminals thereof, a second terminal module with a plurality of second terminals thereof and interlocked with the first terminal module, and a shielding shell retained to the insulator base. A heat dissipation metal plate is embedded in the insulator base, and the heat dissipation metal plate provides a contact ear extending out of the insulator base and contacting with the shielding shell for heat dissipating.
US09022799B2	Coaxial radiofrequency connector The invention relates to a coaxial connector with a female and a male connector part. The two connector parts each have an inner ventilation channel which extends in the longitudinal direction of the connector and which opens out into at least one outwardly extending, stepped (when viewed in the longitudinal section) ventilation channel.
US09022798B2	Connector A connector comprises: a connector housing that has a lock arm that locks a mated corresponding housing in a corresponding housing mating chamber, an arm operation part that can displace the lock arm to a position that releases the lock by an operation, a wire extraction part that is positioned in the release operation direction of the arm operation part and guides wires that are guided to the outside, a cover attachment part provided on the wire extraction part; and a wire cover that has a housing attachment part that is inserted into the peripheral side of the wire extraction part of the connector housing and mated to the cover attachment part and an arm excessive displacement prevention part that restricts excessive displacement of the lock arm.
US09022795B2	Plug arrangement for connecting electrical conductors with an electrical assembly A connector arrangement for connecting the bare ends of a plurality of insulated conductors to a horizontal row of first contacts arranged on an electrical device, respectively, including a main housing having a side portion containing a chamber in which the electrical device is mounted, a connector housing pivotally connected with the main housing for pivotal movement about a vertical pivot axis between engaged and disengaged positions, the connector housing supporting a horizontal row of conductor contacts arranged to engage the first contacts when the contact housing is in the engaged position, and a manually-operable locking arrangement for locking the connector housing in the engaged position. The locking arrangement includes a locking projection fixed to the main housing, a catch member movably connected with the connector housing, and an actuating member for displacing the catch member between locked and unlocked positions relative to the locking projection.
US09022786B2	Flight crew training system A method is present for flight crew training. Flight crew interactions are recorded during a lesson to form recorded flight crew interactions. Flight deck displays occurring during the lesson are recorded to form recorded flight deck displays. A flight training video is formed from the recorded flight crew interactions and the recorded flight deck displays.
US09022784B2	Dental bridges and superstructures, and methods for manufacturing thereof The present disclosure provides a dental bridge intermediary structure (20) comprising a superstructure (200) and a connection piece (210), as well as connection piece for a dental bridge intermediary structure (20). A method for producing a dental bridge superstructure (200) is also provided.
US09022782B2	Dental positioning stent, and manufacturing method, using method and components for the same A dental positioning stent for drilling an implant hole and a manufacturing method, a using method and components for the same are provided. The manufacturing method includes: slicing a tooth mold and a false tooth model along a preset slice plane; fixing two markers in the preset slice plane on two sides of the false tooth model respectively; covering the markers and the false tooth model with a shaping agent to form a positioning stent; putting the positioning stent on the teeth in a mouth to perform tomography imaging to acquire a slice image of the preset slice plane; mounting a positioning aid having a positioning hole in the positioning stent according to the slice image pasted up on the tooth mold to guide an initial drill. A dental positioning stent for tomography imaging, and a manufacturing method, a using method, and components thereof are provided.
US09022779B2	Multi-gas burner head with sucked or blown air The finding concerns a multi-gas burner head with sucked or blown air, from which the mixture of fuel gas and comburent air comes out and the combustion occurs. Such a head is made from a metallic sheet in which there is at least one row of aligned slits (2), substantially rectangular-shaped; such a sheet is folded so as to have a series of flat flaps (3) in succession, each of the slits being arranged so as to be closed like a “sandwich” between two flat portions of the sheet, once the flaps of the structure are mutually compressed. The gas mixture is intended to pass from the bottom (5) of the flaps and then through the slits and finally to come out at two side by side crests (6) of the structure where the combustion occurs.
US09022776B2	Deep grip mechanism within blow mold hanger and related methods and bottles Disclosed is a mold hanger for supporting a bottle mold in a blow molding station, the mold hanger comprising a piston and piston sleeve fully contained within the mold hanger configured to push a moveable insert into the mold. Also disclosed is a method of retrofitting an original rotatable blow molding module having multiple existing blow molding stations, each existing mold hanger defining an existing outer envelope. The disclosed method may include providing an improved mold hanger substantially contained within the respective existing outer envelope and including low-profile drive mechanisms configured opposably to drive moveable inserts into the mold. Further disclosed is a method of manufacturing a blow molded bottle with a deep pinch grip, the method including providing within a mold hanger a drive mechanism to drive a moveable insert into the mold. A bottle made by such methods is also disclosed.
US09022774B2	Method and apparatus for forming unit portions of frozen food materials An apparatus for forming pressed food products can utilize up to 98% chicken breast meat in high profit margin products. Breast meat is marinated and then extruded into a slab which is then frozen and shaped into a plank. The plank is sliced into unit portions which are then pressed into shaped portions with a preferred, or other, press. One preferred press linearly reciprocates unit portions into the press. This or another preferred press imparts three dimension exterior shape to the pressed food products.
US09022773B2	Compensating mold plunger for integrated circuit manufacture A device and method for manufacturing integrated circuit packaging using a mold plunger with position compensation in a manufacturing setting. In an embodiment, a compensating mold plunger, which may be used during the manufacture of an integrated circuit package, engages a die set on a carrier and within a bushing. This may be done to inject a mold compound on top of the die/carrier. If the bushing that is housing the die/carrier tandem is misaligned with the plunger in any lateral direction, the amount of pressure may be compromised. A compensating mold plunger includes a flexible portion that allows for the head of the plunger to properly engage the die/carrier despite any possible misalignments. Further, different die/carrier combinations may also be used with a compensating mold plunger because the pressure and force applied may be uniform inside a bushing despite the contents of the bushing.
US09022770B2	Web-based design tools for three-dimensional printing Three-dimensional fabrication resources are improved by adding networking capabilities to three-dimensional printers and providing a variety of tools for networked use of three-dimensional printers. Web-based servers or the like can provide a single point of access for remote users to manage access to distributed content on one hand, and to manage use of distributed fabrication resources on the other.
US09022769B2	Multiple-zone liquefier assembly for extrusion-based additive manufacturing systems A liquefier assembly for use in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, and a method for building a three-dimensional model with the extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, where the liquefier assembly includes a liquefier tube having multiple, independently heatable zones along a longitudinal length of the liquefier tube.
US09022767B2	Mold thickness adjusting apparatus of injection molding machine An injection molding machine is provided with an automatic mold thickness adjusting apparatus. The amount of compensation of the position of a rear platen that is adjusted at the time of installation of a mold is determined by calculating the thermal expansion of the mold that is expected to occur at the completion of a rise in temperature based on the difference in temperature between the mold temperature at the time of mold thickness adjustment and the mold temperature at the time of injection molding. Then, the rear platen is moved to the compensated position thus determined.
US09022763B2	Press furnace for a denture or partial denture The invention relates to a press furnace for a denture or partial denture, having a combustion chamber in which a press mold, in particular a muffle, having a press channel for the introduction of a ram can be positioned, and a drive for driving the ram, wherein, in order to improve the drive of the press furnace, the drive provided is an electromagnet, the magnetic armature or magnetic coil of which drives the ram.
US09022762B2	Orthosis modification tool An apparatus is provided for mounting to a support for modifying an ankle-foot orthosis. The apparatus comprises a tooling device having a plurality of holes spaced over an outer surface of the tooling device. The tooling device includes a first portion having a longitudinal axis, and a second portion integral with the first portion and having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first portion. The second portion of the tooling device defines an opening for receiving the support. A peg is configured to be inserted into one of more holes of the tooling device. The peg comprises a body portion and a post depending from the body portion and configured to be received in the holes in the outer surface of the tooling device. In one embodiment, the body portion of the peg has a convex outer surface.
US09022751B2	Advection fan and an impeller thereof An impeller includes a metal base plate, a shaft and a plurality of plastic blades. The metal base plate includes a shaft-coupling portion, a peripheral portion, and first and second surfaces. The first surface faces away from the second surface in a first direction, and the second surface faces away from the first surface in a second direction. The metal base plate is flat between the shaft-coupling portion and the peripheral portion. The first surface has a permanent magnet. The shaft has a fixing end coupled with the shaft-coupling portion, as well as a free end extending axially in the first direction. Each plastic blade has a coupling portion coupled with the peripheral portion, as well as an air-driving portion axially extending in the second direction. The impeller may be rotatably coupled with a driving module. The driving module is installed in a fan frame to form an advection fan.
US09022750B2	Alternative methods to generate high pressure by iteration in a high-pressure multichamber A multichamber pressure-increasing device is comprised of a plurality of chambers disposed in series one inside the other, wherein the innermost chamber is configured so as to place objects or samples therein to subject them to ultra-high pressures. An external hydraulic pump pumps fluid into the outermost chamber while a plurality of elemental hydraulic motor pump systems (EHMPS) are mounted in each chamber for increasing the pressure from one chamber to the next one disposed more to the interior of the device through an iterative process, each EHMPS consisting of two cylinder-piston assemblies operatively joined together in such a way that both pistons extend or retract simultaneously within their respective cylinders, the motor part driving the pump part as pressurized fluid admitted into the motor cylinder is subsequently discharged so fluid admitted into the pumping part cylinder is compressed therein and impelled at a higher pressure into the succeeding chamber.
US09022749B2	Swing drive controlling system for construction machine The system includes: a variable displacement hydraulic pump supplying pressure oil to a hydraulic actuator; a pressure detector detecting a pump discharge pressure from the hydraulic pump; a control valve controlling a supply of the pressure oil to the hydraulic actuator; a controller controlling a pump displacement of the hydraulic pump; a hydraulic motor rotating an upper structure of the construction machine; a swing relief valve defining a relief pressure of the hydraulic motor; and a control lever switching a control valve for the hydraulic motor. The controller includes: an adjuster that, when a pump discharge pressure detected by the pressure detector exceeds a first set value, conducts an adjustment to reduce the pump displacement; and a canceller that cancels the adjustment when the pump discharge pressure falls below a second set value. The second set value is equal to or larger than the first set value.
US09022746B2	Shuttling by-pass compressor apparatus A compressor apparatus having a first compressor head for generating a first gas flow and a second compressor head for generating a second gas flow with a shuttling by-pass component in fluid flow communication between the first and second compressor heads for allowing the output of a portion of either the first gas flow or the second gas flow to be diverted to the other compressor head. The shuttling by-pass component allows a portion of the first gas flow to be diverted from the first compressor head to the second compressor head during an exhaust stroke of the first compressor head, while also allowing a portion of the second gas flow to be diverted from the second compressor head to the first compressor head during an exhaust stroke of the second compressor head in alternating sequence such that a more steady output of gas flow may be attained.
US09022740B2	Wind turbine rotor blade lightning discharger and wind turbine generator equipped with the same By means of a simple structure, lightning resistance is improved without increasing the level of fluid noise due to a lightning discharge member provided on a surface of a wind turbine blade. A wind turbine rotor blade lightning discharger, in which a diverter strip serving as a lightning discharge member protrudes from a surface of a wind turbine blade that extends in a radial direction from a rotor head supported in a freely rotatable manner, includes a noise suppressing structure that suppresses the generation of a Karman vortex, which causes noise, on the downstream side of the diverter strip with respect to an airflow that flows at the surface of the wind turbine blade during rotation of the wind turbine rotor blade.
US09022735B2	Turbomachine component and method of connecting cooling circuits of a turbomachine component A turbomachine component is provided and includes a turbine blade, which is rotatable about a rotor of a turbine for power generation operations and a platform with which the turbine blade is to be assembled. The turbine blade is formed to define a main circuit having an appendage. The platform is formed to define a platform circuit, and a substantially radially extendible pathway configured to be coupled to the appendage and to the platform circuit.
US09022734B2	Case structure and fan frame fixing module A case structure includes a first housing and a fan frame fixing module. The fan frame fixing module includes a fan frame, a positioning part and an auxiliary part. The positioning part is disposed on the first housing. The auxiliary part is disposed on the first housing. The fan frame urges against the first housing and the positioning part, and the auxiliary part urges against the fan frame so that the fan frame is fixed on the first housing.
US09022732B2	Concrete volute pump A centrifugal pump is provided capable of pumping liquid volume flow rates of at least 20 m3/sec. The pump includes a centrifugal impeller rotatable about an axis and operable to direct a liquid towards a concrete volute arranged around the impeller. The pump further includes fixed fin-like elements arranged between the impeller and the volute. The elements form a discontinuous barrier around the impeller and are effective to reduce uneven radial thrusts exerted by the water on the centrifugal impeller, while limiting the water flow rate in a simple and economic manner.
US09022726B2	Thermally loaded, cooled component A thermally loaded, cooled component thermally coupled to a cooling system configured to receive a gaseous cooling introduced in a forced manner from outside that flows through the cooling system so as to absorb and transport heat away from the component as a result of thermal contact with the component. The component includes at least one Helmholtz resonator configured to improve thermal contact between the cooling medium and the component.
US09022724B2	Anti-vibration serial fan structure An anti-vibration serial fan structure includes a first frame having a first assembling side and a second frame having a second assembling for connecting to the first assembling side. The first assembling side is provided with at least one mounting post or mounting hole and at least one male or female connector. The second assembling side is correspondingly provided with at least one mounting hole or mounting post and at least one female or male connector. The male connector has a certain degree of elasticity, so that the engaged male and female connectors provide a vibration-absorbing effect to save additional cushioning elements, enabling the serial fan structure to have lowered assembling cost and minimized defects in assembling.
US09022723B2	System for drawing solid feed into and/or out of a solid feed pump A system includes a solid feed pump. The solid feed pump includes a housing, a rotor disposed in the housing, a curved passage disposed between the rotor and the housing, a solid feed inlet coupled to the curved passage, a solid feed outlet coupled to the curved passage, and a rotatable sleeve configured to rotate to actively draw solid feed into the solid feed inlet or out of the solid feed outlet.
US09022716B2	Work conveying system A work conveying system sequentially conveys a workpiece to multiple working apparatuses and includes a rail track disposed along the multiple working apparatuses and multiple conveyor robots disposed on the rail track and movable on the rail track independently. In addition, a delivery control unit controls the multiple conveyor robots for delivering the workpiece between adjacent conveyor robots. Any one of the multiple conveyor robots can be controlled for isolated individual movement on the rail track between adjacent working apparatuses to sequentially deliver the workpiece.
US09022713B2	Rotatable and tiltable receiving table for a mid-size or big bale stack wagon An improved rearward-hinged and forward-hinged, rotatable and tiltable receiving table for a agricultural bale transport vehicle that selectively tilts and rotates a layer of bales resting thereupon 90 degrees relative to a preceding bale layer on the transport vehicle to criss-cross tie a load of bales (a plurality of layers of bales) together in a load stack offloaded from the transport vehicle to the field for later pickup and movement or deposit in a bale storage area. Preferably, the bale transport vehicle is a mid-size or big bale stack wagon having a Mil-Stak® bale loader previously installed or concurrently being installed. The invention enables the lifting, tilting, rotating, and depositing of one mid-size or big bale or a plurality of mid-size or big bales from a rearward-hinged and forward-hinged bale receiving table of the bale transport vehicle onto a rear-hinged stack load table for consolation into a load with other layers of bales for transport from the field. The invention allows selective 90 degree rotation of a layer of bales relative to a preceding layer of bales of the bale stack on the rear-hinged stack load table.
US09022711B2	Vibration-isolating screw A vibration-isolating screw is disclosed. The vibration-isolating screw includes a screw head and a screw tail portion. The screw head includes a first screw body, a first magnetic element, a second screw body, a second magnetic element, a third screw body and a third magnetic element. The first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are mounted on the first screw body and the second screw body, respectively. The third screw body is mounted between the first screw body and the second screw body. The third magnetic element comprises a first end and a second end and is mounted on the third screw body. The first end and the first magnetic element are adjacent and mutual repulsion. The second end and the second magnetic element are adjacent and mutual repulsion. The screw tail portion is connected with the second screw body.
US09022710B2	Anti-seizing nut Provided is a nut into which a bolt (10) including a male-threaded portion with a male-threaded external diameter d and a male-threaded core diameter d1 is screwed, wherein a bolt insertion side end of a female-threaded portion (21) formed in a nut body (20) is provided with an incompletely threaded female portion (22) that is formed by one to three pitches so that an internal diameter dimension D is larger than (d+d1)/2 and is smaller than the male-threaded external diameter d. Accordingly, even when the bolt is screwed into the nut in the inclination direction, the bolt may be rotated about a contact surface with respect to the incompletely threaded female portion (22), and hence seizing may be prevented.
US09022705B2	Electrical power tools An electrical power tool may include a base capable of contacting the work-piece, a tool main body detachably attached to the base, and an elevating mechanism that is capable of changing a relative position of the tool main body to the base. The elevating mechanism includes a male elevating member that is releasably integrated with the tool main body, a female elevating member that is attached to the base and is capable of relatively raising and lowering the male elevating member, and an integrating mechanism that is capable of releasably integrating the male elevating member with the tool main body. The tool main body is capable of being removed from the base while the male elevating member is left in the base when the male elevating member is released from the tool main body by operating the integrating mechanism.
US09022704B1	Micrometer case mouth chamfer tool A case mouth chamfer tool utilizes an easily adjustable cutter holder member. The adjustable cutter holder member slides in a dovetail, is adjusted by advancing and retreating a screw, and is held in place by a set screw. The case mouth chamfer tool may be fixed to a micrometer dial threadedly engaging a barrel. A case adapter bearing is fixed to the barrel. The case mouth chamfer tool is adjusted to cut an inside chamfer and the micrometer dial is rotated to adjust the position of the case mouth chamfer tool with respect to the case adapter bearing to precisely adjust the amount of material cut from the case. The case adapter bearing is easily changed to chamfer different cases.
US09022702B2	Dust collecting attachment It is an object of the invention to provide a technique that contributes to rationalization of dust collection, in a dust collecting attachment for use on a power tool.Dust collecting attachments 250, 350 are used on a power tool 201 having a tool body 203, a tool bit 209 which can be coupled to a front end region of the tool body 203, and an auxiliary handle 208 attached to the tool body 203. The dust collecting attachments 250, 350 include dust collecting members 251, 351, respectively, which can be attached to the auxiliary handle 208 in such a manner as to surround the front end region of the tool body 203 around a longitudinal axis of the front end region in order to collect dust generated during operation by the power tool 201, and a connecting hose 273 for connecting the dust collecting members 251, 351 to a dust collector.
US09022700B2	Cutting insert and cutting tool A cutting insert is provided with a plurality of cutting portions formed at the intersection portion of each end surface and a peripheral surface. Each cutting portion includes first and second cutting edges. First corners and second corners which differ in their internal angles are alternately formed in each end surface. An internal angle of the first corner is smaller than an internal angle of the second corner. Each first cutting edge has a portion extending to approach the median plane as a distance from a corresponding first corner increases. A first side surface portion extending on the peripheral surface from each first cutting edge forms an insert internal obtuse angle, and a second side surface portion extending on the peripheral surface from each second cutting edge forms an insert internal acute angle.
US09022698B2	Natural analog system for reducing permeability of ground A method of chemically and physically treating unconsolidated soils, over burden, fill and certain waste materials (the “ground”), or partly consolidated materials that can be excavated and broken up by normal earth moving and soil mixing equipment. This treatment results in the reduction of permeability in the ground, and as a result permits the prevention or control of contaminant migration from a site containing ground wastes of various types, thereby isolating these wastes.
US09022695B2	Apparatus and system for securing a hollow pile in the ground There is provided an apparatus for securing a hollow pile in the ground. The pile has a wall with an inner surface. The apparatus is positionable within the pile. The apparatus includes a housing having an interior and a plurality of apertures. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions slidably extending through the apertures of the housing. The protrusions are moveable outwards from the housing for selectively deforming portions of the wall of the pile and creating anchor knobs in the pile upon pressurized hydraulic fluid being applied to the interior of the housing. The apparatus includes a plurality of support members extending outwardly from the housing. The support members are shaped to selectively abut and support the inner surface of the wall of the pile when the anchor knobs are being formed.
US09022694B2	System and apparatus for repairing a foundation A foundation repair system comprising a starter pile, a cable, a stop, and at least one piling segment. The starter pile includes an elongate housing and a base with an opening therethrough. The cable extends from the elongate housing, through the base and through the piling segments. The piling segments include a first portion with a first cross-sectional area and a second portion with a second-smaller cross-sectional area, the second portion of one piling segment resting atop the first portion of the lower piling segment.
US09022692B2	System for underwater compressed fluid energy storage and method of deploying same A system and method for underwater compressed fluid energy storage include a compressed fluid storage system that comprises a fluid containment vessel positioned on a floor of a body of water, wherein the fluid containment vessel comprises sediment positioned therein to ballast the vessel on the floor.
US09022689B2	Pumpable mine ventilation structure A pumpable mine ventilation stopping wall structure comprised of a pumpable bag having spaced walls of generally parallel nonporous and flexible sheets with the sheets retained in spaced relationship with spaced flexible cross ties. The perimeter of the spaced walls are closed off with a permeable mesh having a mesh size which will permit restricted flow of cementitious grout therethrough for sealing the wall structure to surrounding rough mine faces. The bag is provided with at least one grout fill port for filling the bag by pumping cementitious grout into the bag.
US09022687B2	Systems and methods for creating gravel bars A system and method for creating sand bars or gravel bars in fresh water includes the use of a hopper to mix pressurized water and gavel to create slurry. The slurry is discharged by a worker in the water so as to make a gravel bar or other structure to help restore wild life. A new hopper 100 may comprise a top box section 120, the top box section having an upper end attached to a grate system 110, a pair of lateral spill shields 115 and a rear spill shield 117; and the top box section may have a lower end attached to a funnel assembly 130; the funnel assembly may comprise a top section 132 and a constrained lower section 135, the constrained lower section may comprise a plurality of inside angled lower edges 137 all terminating within a section of an angled hopper pipe 140.
US09022682B2	Active material wire actuators having reinforced structural connectors An assembly for and method of reinforcing interconnection between an active material wire actuator, such as a shape memory alloy wire, and structure, includes the generation and engagement of an enlarged formation affixed to or integrally formed with the actuator.
US09022679B2	Touch-free applicator A unitary hand-held, single-use liquid dispenser and applicator is disclosed. A squeezable handle also serves as a reservoir for liquid. A non-forming thermoplastic film seals liquid within the reservoir. Novel weaknesses in the film can be broken on demand to create an opening for liquid to freely flow onto an absorbent pad. A user can thus dispense and apply the liquid without ever touching the liquid or the surface with his hands.
US09022676B2	Writing utensil with two handles for writing with both hands simultaneously A symmetric rigid writing device comprises two arms and a writing utensil. The writing utensil is permanently attached to the arms. The arms and the writing utensil are made of rigid materials. The arms are symmetric and the writing utensil is positioned at the center between the arms. Each of the arms is shaped like a curved pole. At least one end of each arm is attached to the writing utensil. The user may grasp the writing device by the arms with both hands and execute a writing action.
US09022673B2	Device support and trigger apparatus A device support and trigger apparatus includes a handle, a frame member attached to the handle, a cage member, and a triggering assembly including a trigger section and an actuation section. The cage member rigidly or pivotally connected to the frame member accommodates a device. The cage member can be rigidly positioned in an upright position or can be pivotally rotated to position the device in an upright position or an inverted position. The trigger section is pulled using one hand to allow the actuation section to contact and actuate an activation button of the device positioned in the upright position in front of the handle. A push rod assembly of the device support and trigger apparatus is pushed using one hand to push the trigger section to allow the actuation section to contact and actuate the activation button of the device positioned in the inverted position above the handle.
US09022666B2	Optical communication connectors with modules movable in a mating direction An optical communication connector having a connector housing that includes opposite mating and loading sides and a housing cavity that extends therebetween. The optical communication connector also includes an optical module that is positioned within the housing cavity and a biasing element that is positioned between the optical module and the loading side in the housing cavity. The biasing element has a module end, a back end, and a resilient spring portion that extends between the module and back ends. The spring portion includes an elongated body having a plurality of flexible bend segments that wrap back-and-forth within a spring plane. The spring portion is compressible between first and second states during a mating operation between the optical module and an optical connector.
US09022661B2	Cylindrical roller bearing A guide piece projects from an outside surface of a cage bar of a cage so as to make sliding contact with a raceway surface of an outer ring. As the cage rotates, the guide piece operates to guide the rotation of the cage while removing an excess grease on the raceway surface and transferring the excess grease to axially opposite ends of the outer ring. The guide piece is formed with a through-hole extending from an inner periphery of the cage to an edge of the guide piece for supplying the lubricant from the inner periphery side of the cage to the raceway surface.
US09022658B2	Journal bearing pad for turbine A hydrodynamic journal pad bearing is provided having several pads circumferentially distributed around the rotor of a large steam turbine with each pad mounted onto a platform separating the pad from a cylindrical cage in turn connected to the floor of a hall housing the turbine and having an interface between at least one of the several pads and the platform on which the at least one of the several pads is mounted is formed such as to include at least two areas with different curvatures to increase the stiffness of the interface in the event of a relative movement between the pad and the platform.
US09022652B2	Transmission-geometry electrochemical cell for in-situ scattering and spectroscopy investigations The present invention relates to a test chamber that can be used to perform a variety of X-ray and neutron spectroscopy experiments including powder diffraction, small-angle scattering, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and pair distribution functions, such chamber comprising a first electrode with an X-ray transparent window; a second electrode with an X-ray transparent window; a plurality of insulating gaskets providing a hermetic seal around the sample and preventing contact between said first and second electrodes; and an insulating housing into which the first electrode is secured.
US09022644B1	Micromachined thermistor and temperature measurement circuitry, and method of manufacturing and operating same The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to a temperature sensing apparatus comprising a micromachined thermistor configured to output voltage and/or current signals which are/is correlated to an ambient temperature. The micromachined thermistor includes a micromachined thermistor structure suspended over and released from the substrate, wherein the micromachined thermistor structure includes a temperature dependent characteristic (e.g., resistance to an electrical current), and electrical contacts connected to the micromachined thermistor structure, wherein the electrical contacts are adapted to conduct the voltage and/or current signals. The apparatus, in one aspect, includes measurement circuitry, to generate data which is representative of the ambient temperature using the electrical resistance of the micromachined thermistor structure.
US09022643B2	Analog electronic timepiece with fast-setting hands Disclosed is an analog electronic timepiece including a first pointer which rotates freely with respect to a dial, a driving control unit which controls rotation of the first pointer, and an operation unit which receives an input operation performed by a user. In the analog electronic timepiece, the driving control unit includes an intermittent fast forwarding unit which performs a fast forwarding operation with temporary stops, where the rotation of the first pointer is stopped for a predetermined time period every time the first pointer is rotated by being fast forward for a predetermined number of steps according to a predetermined starting operation performed on the operation unit, the predetermined number of steps being 2 or more steps.
US09022641B2	Fluid agitation apparatus for reducing temperature fluctuation and thermostatic apparatus Provided are a fluid agitation apparatus using a structure which is simple in shape and short in a fluid passage direction without a movable part so as to produce a sufficient effect from the viewpoint of reducing temperature fluctuation, and a thermostatic apparatus using the fluid agitation apparatus. The fluid agitation apparatus is installed in a fluid passage and includes, in an order from an upstream side thereof: a dividing part for dividing a flow of a fluid into a plurality of flows; a circumvolving part for circumvolving the fluid about an axis in a flow direction of the fluid; and an accelerating part for increasing a flow rate of the fluid.
US09022640B2	Stirring apparatus for reducing vortexes This invention is directed to a stirring apparatus comprising: a plurality of blades having between a 5° to 180° twist along the length of their axis attached perpendicularly to a shaft so that a downward fluid flow is created when the shaft is rotated by a rotary drive; and, a plurality of standards attached to the plurality of blades separating the plurality of blades and arranged parallel to the shaft and rotated between 0° and 25° relative to a plane defined by the blades and the standards so that an inward fluid flow is created when the shaft is rotated and a bottom blade connected to the standards.
US09022638B2	Mixing and kneading machine for continual compounding and method of implementing continual compounding by means of a mixing and kneading machine A mixing and kneading machine (1) for continual compounding comprises a screw shaft (3) rotating in a casing (2) and simultaneously moving axially translationally. To sustainably enhance the efficiency of the machine as regards its material thruput per unit of time the screw shaft (3) comprises at least four groups of radial screw vanes (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) evenly distributed circumferentially, each group consisting of a plurality of screw vanes in axial sequence. The outer diameter (Da) of the screw shaft ranges from 400 to 800 millimeters. The rotary speed of the screw shaft (3) ranges from 30 to 80 rpm. A mixing and kneading machine (1) engineered as such is particularly suitable for compounding an anodic mass in the production of electrodes—anodes—for the aluminum industry.
US09022632B2	LED package and a backlight unit unit comprising said LED package A light emitting diode (LED) package includes: a main body mounted on a substrate; a light emitting diode that is mounted in the main body and emits light; and a lead frame exposed to allow the main body to be selectively top-mounted or side-mounted. A backlight unit includes: a light guide plate configured to allow a light source to proceed to a liquid crystal panel; a light emitting diode (LED) mounted in a main body mounted on a substrate and generating a light source; and an LED package having a lead frame exposed to allow the main body to be selectively top-mounted or side-mounted, and being mounted on the light guide plate.
US09022631B2	Flexible light pipe A flexible light assembly includes a plurality of light guides that may be operably connected to one or more LED light sources. The light guides may include smooth surfaces that internally reflect light except at selected areas having irregular surface features that permit the escape of light to provide illuminated letters, numbers, designs, or the like. The light guides and LED light source may be disposed within a flexible housing.
US09022629B2	Light emitting diode automobile lamp An LED automobile lamp includes a light source, a light guiding plate and a lens. The light guiding plate is adjacent to the light source. The lens is spaced from the light source and the light guiding plate. The light guiding plate includes a top surface which includes a horizontal section and an inclined section extending upward from one end of the horizontal section. Light generated by the light source enters the light guiding plate and is regulated to a preset luminance shape with cut-off lines at a top thereof by the horizontal section and the inclined section of the top surface of the light guiding plate. Light from the light guiding plate radiates out via the lens. A prism plate assembly is located between the lens and the light guiding plate for aligning the light from the light guiding plate to the lens.
US09022628B2	Compact, high efficiency, high power solid state light source using a single solid state light-emitting device A compact, high-efficiency, high-power, solid state light source, comprising a high-power solid state light-emitting device, a light guide having a proximal light-receiving end proximate the light-emitting device and a distal light-transmitting end spaced farther from the light-emitting device, and a mechanical light guide fixing device coupled to the light guide near its proximal end, to hold the proximal end of the light guide in position near the light-emitting device.
US09022626B2	Signal assemblies providing uniform illumination through light source location and spacing control A signal assembly is provided that includes a chamber defined by isotropically luminant back and side surfaces, and a front surface having a lens and a diffuser. The signal assembly also includes LED light sources having a beam angle ≧70° coupled to the back surface. The back and front surfaces are separated by a depth, and each source is located at a spacing from the other sources ≦the depth divided by a predetermined factor. The predetermined factor may be set to approximately 2.5 or 2.0 when the divergence angle of the diffuser is ≧20° or ≧30°, respectively. The signal assembly and its components can be configured to operate as a vehicular signal lamp.
US09022622B2	Lighting and ventilating apparatus and method Some embodiments of the present invention provide a combination lighting and ventilating apparatus for installation in a structure. The apparatus can include a main housing having a first aperture that defines a ventilating inlet and a lighting outlet, a lamp housing recessed within the main housing, having first and second apertures spaced a distance from one another, and having a portion that extends outside of the main housing, and a lamp recessed within the lamp housing and the main housing. In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a fan positioned to draw air into and through the first aperture of the lamp housing, around the lamp, and through the second aperture of the lamp housing. In another aspect of the invention, a method of lighting and ventilating a room using a combination lighting and ventilating apparatus is provided.
US09022621B2	Luminaires and luminaire mounting structures A luminaire having a housing defining one or more unthreaded mounting holes therein, a connector having a head and a shaft, the connector shaft located at least partially in one of the one or more mounting holes, the connector shaft comprised of a pliable material, a circuit board mounted to the housing by the connector head, the circuit board populated with one or more LEDs, and a lens resting against and spaced form the circuit board by the connector head.
US09022618B2	Aspherical LED lens and light emitting device including the same Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an aspherical light emitting diode (LED) lens and a light emitting device including the same. The aspherical LED lens includes a light exit plane concavely depressed near a central axis, a light entrance plane including a conical plane having a vertex located on the central axis, and a plurality of protrusions arranged on a portion of a side surface of the light exit plane. The aspherical LED lens has a radially symmetrical structure with respect to the central axis.
US09022614B2	Inflatable lamp assembly The present invention discloses an inflatable lamp assembly a bladder and a light emitting apparatus that assembled together. The bladder includes a first bag portion, a second bag portion connected with an opening of the first bag portion, an air nozzle disposed on the firs bag portion, and a flange disposed at the opening of the second bag portion. The first bag portion and the second bag portion are co-formed an inflatable cell which is capable of being inflated and deflated by the air nozzle. The light emitting apparatus is received in a recess defined between the second bag portion and flange. As such, the light emitting apparatus can be firmly clamped in the recess when the inflatable cell is filled with air.
US09022612B2	LED module A light emitting diode (“LED”) module with improved thermal characteristics is provided. The module includes an LED, a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a lower insulator, an upper insulator, a lower contact, upper contacts, and a heat sink. Preferably, the heat sink comprises an outer housing and a contact ring. The LED and the heat sink are attached to the first circuit board via solder. In addition to serving as a substrate for the LED, the first circuit board (which contains a plurality of thermally conductive layers connected by vias) facilitates the transfer of heat away from the LED to the heat sink. The module also has improved mechanical and electrical properties, including redundant electrical connections, stable mechanical connections, and a shock-absorbing lower contact. The lower insulator can also be configured to prevent misalignment of the power source with the lower contact when the module is used in a flashlight or other lighting device.
US09022611B2	Display device and method for fabricating the same A display device includes a display member that displays an image, and a window member arranged on an upper surface of the display member. The window member includes a base member and a color layer, and the color layer is arranged on a lower surface of the base member and partially overlaps the display member. A part of the window member overlaps the display member, and the part of the window member receives a portion of the image from the display member as a received image and transmits the portion of the image therethrough as a transmitted image.
US09022610B2	Lighting apparatus with adjustable light beam The present invention is a lighting apparatus with adjustable light beam which includes an outer reflector, an inner optical element, a light source assembly, and a transparent mounting member. The light source assembly is movable between an upper position in which the light source is positioned close to the inner optical element lower end so that a majority of light from the light source exits the lighting apparatus directly via the inner optical element to attain a wide floodlight and a lower position in which the light source is positioned close to the outer reflector lower end so that in comparison with the upper position, a decreasing amount of light exits the lighting apparatus directly via the inner optical element, and an increasing amount of light exits the lighting apparatus via reflection from the outer reflector to attain a narrow beam.
US09022609B2	Luminaire power switch A novel means for reducing the maintenance costs of cobra head lighting fixtures is presented, comprised of a new housing with a hinge at one end that allows the upper half of the housing to be lifted up for easy access to the lamp and ballast. There is a contact pressure switch in the enclosure which is opened electrically when the upper housing is lifted so that power to the entire enclosure is cut for the safety of the installer. The combination of the switch and the liftable upper housing reduces the steps necessary to do a bulb replacement.
US09022606B2	Virtual surface indirect radiating luminaire A luminaire is provided, that includes a housing and a plurality of solid state light sources connected thereto. The housing has a top side, two lateral sides, a protrusion in the top side, and two light source mounting surfaces. The top side is diffusely reflecting and has opposing lateral edges and a center. The lateral sides are specularly reflecting and extend generally downward from the opposing lateral edges of the top side. Each has a respective bottom edge. The light source mounting surfaces extend laterally inward from the respective bottom edges. The plurality of solid state light sources is disposed along the pair of light source mounting surfaces proximate the pair of specularly reflecting lateral sides. These emit light, which travels upward to the top side and is also specuarly reflected by the lateral sides toward the top side. The top side diffusely reflects the light out of the luminaire.
US09022604B2	Illuminated ATM surround A low profile illuminated ATM surround is provided. The surround is used with ATMs which are mounted through a wall. The surround is attached to the wall, providing a broad illuminated advertising area around the ATM while maintaining a very low profile, allowing the surround to be used in locations where minimal space is available.
US09022603B1	Systems, methods, and devices for sealing LED light sources in a light module A light module includes circuit board with a top and bottom side. Multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) are positioned along the top side of the circuit board. A bottom side of a gas permeable layer of material having top and bottom sides is adhered to at least a portion of the top side of the circuit board. A pair of elongated double-sided adhesive strips are coupled to the top side of the gas-permeable material near opposing ends of the circuit board. An optical lenses is positioned over each of the LEDs. A cover panel is then positioned over the circuit board, the first layer of material, the adhesive strips and at least a portion of each optic and adhered to top side of each of the elongated adhesive strips. Each lens includes an optical cavity and a recessed area adjacent the optical cavity for receiving a reflector therein.
US09022598B2	Compact light mixing illuminator, utilizing the fourier transform of patterned solid-state surface light emitting arrays One embodiment of the invention is directed to a light mixing illuminator for illuminating an object, comprising an array of light emitting elements wherein at least some of the elements emit light of different wavelengths. An optical device is employed that focuses the light from the elements to a Fourier plane of the device, wherein the light emitting elements are arranged so that at least the zero spatial frequency components of light of the different wavelengths from the elements substantially overlap in a region at the Fourier plane. An objective is used to project the region onto the object. A mask is used that selectively blocks some of spatial frequency components of light from the elements without blocking the zero spatial frequency components of light from reaching the object.
US09022597B2	Line light irradiation device and manufacturing method thereof The present invention includes: a casing having a bottom wall part and a pair of side wall parts extending upward from this bottom wall part; a rod-shaped lens provided above an LED substrate and along a longitudinal direction inside the casing; and a fixing mechanism for fixing the lens to the pair of side wall parts. The fixing mechanism includes: upwardly facing surfaces longitudinally extending along an inner surface of the side wall parts; downwardly facing surfaces longitudinally extending along side peripheral surfaces of the lens; a concave groove longitudinally extending above the upwardly facing surface on the inner surface of each of the side wall parts; and elastic bodies fitting into the concave grooves to be in contact with the side peripheral surfaces of the lens in a state that the downwardly facing surfaces are in contact with the upwardly facing surfaces.
US09022594B2	Lighted lid for beverage container A lid for a beverage container or travel mug is provided that has one or more visual indicators to identify the location of the pour spout opening of the container or mug in low light conditions.
US09022592B2	Computer with integrated light A computer system is described herein. An embodiment of the computer system comprises a first portion comprising a keyboard and a second portion comprising a display. A light source is affixed to the computer, wherein the light source is maintainable in at least a first position and a second position. When the light source is in the first position, light emitted by the light source illuminates the keyboard, and when the light source is in the second position, light emitted by the light source illuminates a spatial region occupied by a user of the computer.
US09022590B2	Luminous keyboard device A luminous keyboard device includes plural keys, a light-emitting element, and a light guide plate. By the light guide plate, a light beam emitted by the light-emitting element is guided to the plural keys. The light guide plate includes plural elongated slots and a light-absorbing part. The plural elongated slots are located near a lateral edge of the light guide plate. After the light beam transferred within the light guide plate is transmitted through the elongated slots and departed from the light guide plate, the fraction of the light beam introduced into the lateral edge of the light guide plate is reduced. The light-absorbing part is located at the lateral edge of the light guide plate for absorbing the portion of the light beam which is introduced into the lateral edge of the light guide plate. Consequently, the lateral light leakage of the light guide plate can be avoided.
US09022589B2	Simulated sunlight irradiation apparatus A simulated sunlight irradiation apparatus (100) has transmittance adjustment members (13a and 13b) provided above an irradiation surface of a light guide plate (10) and in the vicinity of either incident face of the light guide plate (10) on which simulated sunlight is incident. The transmittance adjustment members (13a and 13b) adjust the transmittance of light in a portion of a wavelength band of simulated sunlight that is emitted from the irradiation surface of the light guide plate (10), thus bringing about improvement in spectral coincidence of the simulated sunlight. This provides a simulated sunlight irradiation apparatus that can radiate simulated sunlight with high spectral coincidence.
US09022587B2	Vehicle mirror device In a vehicle door mirror device, when a fitting recess portion and a fitting protrusion portion fit, a gap is formed between an orthogonal face and an opposing face due to a fitting recess portion and a fitting protrusion portion contacting along case rotating direction. Accordingly, even when the fitting protrusion portion wears and external shape becomes smaller, the fitting recess portion and the fitting protrusion portion are contacted and fitted until the gap disappears. The gap is set larger than a gap between a visor and a stay. Therefore, the fitting recess portion and the fitting protrusion portion contact along the case rotating direction even when the visor contacts the stay, due to presence of the gap. Accordingly, even when the visor contacting the stay is taken as useful life indicator of the device, rattling of the visor against the stay can be suppressed at this stage.
US09022585B2	Plastic lens The disclosure includes producing a plastic lens with an antireflection film at a lower cost. The plastic lens is configured to include a plastic base material; and an antireflection film having an electrically conductive layer that is formed in contact with a surface of the plastic base material and that has colorless transparency, and an antireflection film main body that contains a metal oxide, formed on the electrically conductive layer.
US09022581B2	Projection display system with two reflecting mirrors A projection display system includes a projection display unit and a member in a form of one of a windable screen, a white board and a notice board. The projection display unit projects an image light onto a projection plane of the member to display an image thereon. The projection display unit includes a light source, an image display element, a lighting optical system irradiating a beam of light from the light source on the image display element, and a projection optical system projecting the image light from the image display element toward the member. The projection optical system includes, in order toward the member from the image display element, a front lens group, and a reflecting mirror shaped to be axial-asymmetrical with respect to the optical axis.
US09022579B2	Circuit and method for lighting high pressure discharge lamp It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting circuit for and a lighting method of a high-pressure discharge lamp whereby remarkable reduction in illuminance maintaining rate can be avoided by reducing variation in inter-electrode distance in the beginning of usage without modulating a lighting frequency. The object can be achieved by a lighting circuit configured to light a high-pressure discharge lamp by supplying an alternating lamp current, which includes at least one pulse current superimposed on the former half of each half period of a base lamp current and at least two pulse currents and superimposed on the latter half of each half period, to the high-pressure discharge lamp.
US09022574B2	Display device Provided is a projection type display device that has dust-proof and coolable optical components. According to an aspect of the present invention, the display device includes a case, a dust-proof structure that has a plurality of walls surrounding a plurality of optical components to prevent dust, and which is located in the case, and suction ports (7b and 7b′) formed in the case and configured to suck cooling air along one wall of the dust-proof structure to cool the optical components. The suction ports are separated into first suction port (7b) and second suction port (7b′) with a position of one wall set as a reference. First suction port (7b) is located to blow the cooling air to the dust-proof structure, while second suction port (7b′) is located to prevent direct blowing of the cooling air to the dust-proof structure. An area of first suction port (7b) is smaller than that of second suction port (7b′).
US09022572B2	Projection apparatus, computer readable storage medium and control method of projection apparatus A projection apparatus includes a time-sharing light emitting device, a display device, a projection optical system, an illuminance sensor and a lighting determination unit. The time-sharing light emitting device successively emits color lights one by one. The display device modulates the color lights to form an image. The projection optical system projects the image. The illuminance sensor converts illuminance of the color lights into an electric signal which is an output of the illuminance sensor. The lighting determination unit compares the output with a first threshold value, and operates the time-sharing light emitting device in response to the output being more than the first threshold value, and stops the time-sharing light emitting device in response to the output being equal to or less than the first threshold value.
US09022564B2	Display apparatus The present application relates to a display apparatus comprising: a display portion which displays a first image and a second image different from the first image to create a stereoscopic image; a separator which separates the first and second images from each other; and an adjuster which adjusts a shape of the separator. The separator includes a barrier portion which blocks image light emitted from the display portion. The barrier portion includes a contour portion which defines a shape of at least one opening that allows transmission of the image light. The contour portion includes a first contour and a second contour facing the first contour. The first and second contours define a continuous opening region inclined at a predetermined angle from a vertical line. At least one of the first and second contours forms protrusions which periodically protrude toward the opening region. Shapes of the protrusions are heterogeneous.
US09022552B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus with a configurable supporting member A liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising: a liquid ejecting unit which ejects a liquid onto a medium that is transported in a transport direction; a suction mechanism for sucking the medium; a medium supporting portion in which two or more suction pores for applying a suction force of the suction mechanism to the medium are provided so as to be lined up in a width direction; and a supporting member which is configured separately from the medium supporting portion, which includes rib forming portions which form ribs that can support the medium, and which is disposed on the medium supporting portion such that the rib forming portions extend in the transport direction between two of the suction pores which are lined up in the width direction.
US09022551B2	Transportation device and recording apparatus A transportation device includes a transportation unit that transports a transportation target material, a supporting surface that supports the transported transportation target material, a first suction hole that opens in the supporting surface in order to suck the transportation target material which is supported by the supporting surface, a light transmission portion that is exposed in the supporting surface and through which light is permitted to pass, a detector that has a light irradiator capable of irradiating the transportation target material which is supported by the supporting surface with light through the light transmission portion and detects a transportation amount of the transportation target material based on reflected light of the light with which the light irradiator has irradiated the transportation target material, and a second suction hole that opens in the supporting surface at least one of the positions adjacent to the light transmission portion.
US09022545B2	Printing apparatus for irradiating UV light on ink ejected on medium and printing method for irradiating UV light on ink ejected on medium A printing apparatus having a head unit that ejects a yellow UV curable-type ink onto a medium, an irradiating section that irradiates the UV light, and a controller that works as follows: when the first mode is set, control is carried out so that, after the UV light with the first energy is irradiated on the UV curable-type ink ejected onto each unit area of the medium, the UV light with the second energy higher than the first energy is irradiated; when the second mode is set for printing an image with a glossiness higher than that of the image printed according to the first mode, control is carried out so that the UV light with an energy higher than that of the first energy is irradiated on the UV curable-type ink ejected on unit area of the medium.
US09022544B2	Ink jet recording method and recorded matter An ink jet recording method according to an aspect of this invention includes discharging an ink composition containing a metallic pigment to a recording medium using a recording head, and then recording a metallic image in a recording region of the recording medium, in which particles of the metallic pigment have a plate shape and have a coating layer on the surface, the average particle diameter in the ink composition is 0.5 μm or more and 2 μm or less, the total film thickness including the coating layer is 10 nm or more and 50 nm or less, and the average number of the laminated metallic pigment particles in the metallic image is 3 or more and 30 or less.
US09022543B2	Print method, print apparatus and printed upon medium A print method, print apparatus and printed medium include forming a black portion of an image from two inks. The first ink (62) includes first carbon black pigment units (66) and a first binder (68). The first carbon black pigment units (66) have a median dibutylphthalate absortion (DBP) of at least 95 cc/100 g. The first ink (62) has a first ratio of the first carbon black pigment units to the first binder. The second ink (64) includes second carbon black pigment units and a second binder. The second ink has a second ratio of the second carbon black pigment units to the second binder less than the first ratio. The first ink and the second ink together have a median total weight per unit area of at least 70 percent of an absorptive capacity of the print medium and overlap one another, wherein the second ink is at least 54 percent of the total weight per unit area.
US09022532B1	Piezoelectric element, piezoelectric actuator, piezoelectric sensor, hard disk drive, and ink-jet printer device The displacement as an actuator or the sensitivity as a sensor of a piezoelectric element can be increased and, in addition, the electric power consumption can be reduced by providing a thin film of potassium-sodium niobate, which is a perovskite type compound represented by a general formula ABO3, as a piezoelectric layer, wherein a crystal orientation of a crystal structure of potassium-sodium niobate has in-plane fourfold symmetry as a whole piezoelectric layer, where a first axis of rotational symmetry is a thickness direction of the piezoelectric layer.
US09022528B2	Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting head includes a head chip that ejects ink from a liquid ejecting surface. An inlet is disposed on the side opposite to the liquid ejecting surface. The liquid ejecting head includes an upstream flow path member, a downstream flow path member with an accommodating space that accommodates the head chip, a wiring member that is connected to a piezoelectric actuator in the head chip, and a wiring substrate. A first insertion hole, into which the wiring member is inserted, is disposed in the wiring substrate, a second insertion hole that is open to the accommodating space and the wiring substrate side for the wiring member to be inserted is formed in the downstream flow path member, and the wiring member is inserted into the first insertion hole and the second insertion hole to be bonded to the upstream flow path member side of the wiring substrate.
US09022523B2	Inkjet recording apparatus having a first and second cover Among a plurality of recording heads in a non-recording area, a leading end of a second recording head closer to a recording area is situated further forward than the that of another recording head, and a second cover which is provided in a position close to the leading end of the second recording head houses a second cleaning unit which is in contact with the second recording head.
US09022520B2	Printhead stiffening In general, in an aspect, an apparatus includes a body having a hollow ink refill chamber, a plate on a side of the body, the plate having a series of posts separating a series of hollow channels adjacent to the hollow ink refill chamber in the body.
US09022518B2	Recording apparatus There is provided a recording apparatus including a support stage which supports a recording medium, a recording processing section which includes a recording unit for performing recording on the supported recording medium and is bridged so as to cross over the support stage in an X-axis direction, a Y-axis moving section which moves the recording processing section in a Y-axis direction with respect to the support stage, and a collision detection section which detects collision between a foreign matter and the recording processing section, in which the recording processing section includes projecting sections projecting in the X-axis direction with respect to the support stage, and side collision detection sections are respectively arranged on front and rear sides of the respective projecting sections.
US09022517B2	Recording device Proper recording is performed whether a device is tilted or not while a cost increase is suppressed. A recording device includes a recording head which performs recording on a medium, a carriage which is moved in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, a guide which guides the carriage in the first direction and the second direction, a drive motor which drives the carriage, and a controller which executes a reciprocation load detection mode where a driving load on the drive motor due to a tilt of the recording device in a movement of the carriage in the first direction is detected and a driving load on the drive motor due to the tilt of the recording device in a movement of the carriage in the second direction is detected.
US09022516B2	Fluid ejecting apparatus A fluid ejecting apparatus includes a pair of guide rails that movably supports a carriage and an abnormal portion detecting sensor that has a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion for receiving a light beam emitted from the light emitting portion, in which the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are mounted on the carriage via a sensor mounting member.
US09022515B2	Method and apparatus for measuring response to actuation of electro-mechanical transducer in print head assembly for inkjet printing system A measurement device for measuring a response to actuation of an electro-mechanical transducer in a print head assembly for an inkjet printing system includes a sensing circuit and a measurement circuit. The sensing circuit provides a path to system ground for the transducer. The transducer is associated with an ink chamber in the print head assembly. The transducer is configured to transfer energy to contents of the chamber in response to an actuation of the transducer in conjunction with electronics controller and waveform amplifier modules of the printing system. The measurement circuit monitors a ground signal at a transducer-side of the sensing circuit and a reference signal at a system ground-side of the sensing circuit. The measurement circuit generates a difference signal indicative of a difference between the ground and reference signals. Various embodiments of methods for measuring the response and additional embodiments of devices are provided.
US09022513B2	Recording apparatus, maintenance method and recording method of recording apparatus A recording apparatus including: a medium support tray capable of supporting a recording medium; a moving mechanism moving the medium support tray; a recording head capable of recording on the recording medium which is transported by moving the medium support tray; a protective member of the recording head; an instruction receiving section which receives an instruction of a maintenance start of the protective member; and a controller which controls the moving mechanism so as to retract the medium support tray from a set position in which the recording medium is set on the medium support tray when the instruction receiving section receives the instruction of the maintenance start.
US09022512B2	Method for adjusting the processing position of at least one processing device not clamping a product web to be processed A method for adjusting the processing position of at least one processing device not clamping a product web to be processed within the context of longitudinal register control in a processing machine includes arranging the at least one processing device in a web section which is delimited by two clamping points. The method further includes applying an actuating variable for adjusting the processing position to the at least one processing device within the context of feedforward control, and calculating the actuating variable for adjusting the processing position on the basis of a register deviation expected from a control action of a tensile force control device for controlling the tensile force in the web section.
US09022510B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus includes a transporting device that transports a recording medium, a recording head that ejects fluid to the recording medium, a first supporting surface that supports the recording medium at a position opposed to the recording head, a heating device that has a second supporting surface that supports the recording medium at an upstream side of a transport direction more than the recording head along with heating the recording medium on the second supporting surface, a floating detection device that detects floating of the recording medium with respect to at least one of the first supporting surface and the second supporting surface, and a control device that controls a heating state of the recording medium on the second supporting surface, based on the detection result of the floating detection device.
US09022509B2	Image recording apparatus, image recording method, program, and program recording medium for preventing moisture infiltration to a recording medium An image recording apparatus forms an image on a recording medium including a liquid accommodation layer by landing a liquid to the liquid accommodation layer of the recording medium. The image recording apparatus includes a first unit that performs pre-processing of landing the liquid containing a material with absorbability lower than that of the liquid accommodation layer to an edge of an image formation region at which the image is scheduled to be formed; and a second unit that forms the image at the image formation region of the recording medium after the first unit performs the pre-processing.
US09022507B2	Transport device and image formation apparatus A transport device that includes a PF motor (that drives a PF roller which transports roll paper) and an intermediate motor (that drives an intermediate roller disposed on the upstream side of the PF roller), sets a slack removal force when transporting the roll paper so that the force applied to the paper in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the roll paper is larger as paper width of the roll paper is narrower, sets a slack removal torque as a torque to be outputted from the intermediate motor in accordance with the set slack removal force, and controls the driving of the intermediate motor to output the set slack removal torque. This makes it possible to cause the tension of the roll paper to be uniform regardless of the paper width so as to transport the roll paper precisely.
US09022504B2	Method and device for achieving color development on a print medium by ink jet printing An ink jet printing method includes the steps of: shooting an ink containing a color material in a penetrant by ink jet method to a surface of a print medium; and supplying only a penetrant containing no color material at a position on the print medium corresponding to a position at which the ink has been shot to diffuse the supplied penetrant in the print medium in order to control distribution of the color material supplied in the print medium as the ink is shot at the print medium.
US09022503B2	Printing apparatus A printing apparatus includes a head and a control section. The head ejects an imaging liquid for forming an image and an auxiliary liquid for assisting the formation of the image by the imaging liquid with respect to a printing medium. The control section controls the head so that the imaging liquid and the auxiliary liquid are ejected with respect to the printing medium. Further, if there is a first region in which the imaging liquid and the auxiliary liquid are ejected, and a second region which is peeled after the image is formed in the first region in a region of the printing medium, the control section controls the head so that ejection of the auxiliary liquid is not executed with respect to the second region.
US09022499B2	Printing apparatus The nozzle failure determination result of discharge failure detection does not consider the heater state of a nozzle, so even a nozzle failure caused by nozzle clogging or the like is determined as a failure. The heater state of an abnormal nozzle can be determined only after driving once, causing a nozzle to be damaged unwantedly. This invention has been made to solve this problem. Whether a nozzle failure has occurred is determined based on the results of both a discharge failure detection operation and heater resistance measurement operation. Detection can be achieved quickly by performing heater resistance measurement during the quiescent period in the discharge failure detection operation. When the discharge failure detection operation is executed after heater resistance measurement, driving of an abnormal nozzle and an unwanted damage to a nozzle can be prevented.
US09022495B1	Refrigerator with rotatable shelves A refrigerator is provided with rotatable shelves for easy food/item access and cleaning. In one embodiment a stationary or fixed shelf includes a rotatable disk mounted on a bearing retainer having bearings therein for manual, three hundred sixty degree (360°) rotation as desired. In another embodiment a quarter-round pivotable shelf is attached to a stanchion to enable the shelf to be manually pivoted ninety degrees (90°) for withdrawing and returning the shelf to the refrigerator food storage compartment as needed.
US09022494B2	Refrigerator with stepped liner to hide seam between liner and false wall A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with refrigerator components housed in a space adjacent the top of the fresh food compartment between a false ceiling and the top wall of the compartment. The top wall includes a stepped portion formed in the liner forming the compartment. The stepped portion is positioned near the top and front of the compartment, and it includes a section that is lower than the remainder of the top wall. The stepped portion includes a rear facing face in the interior of the compartment, and the false ceiling is positioned between the rear facing face and the back wall. The ceiling extends horizontal from the rear wall before angling upward to abut the face of the stepped portion. The false ceiling may also contain apertures to provide access to the components housed between the ceiling and the top wall.
US09022491B2	Table top dishwasher A table top dishwasher comprises (a) a tub (10) for accommodating articles to be cleaned; (b) a water-tight hood (12) arranged over said tub (10), said hood comprising a fixed hood portion (14), an access opening (42), and a rotatable door (16) which is connected to the fixed hood portion so as to be rotatable between a raised opened position in which it exposes the access opening to provide access to the tub and a lowered closed position in which it closes the access opening and forms part of the water-tight hood; and (c) a gasket (44) which is attached to the fixed hood portion (14) or to the rotatable door (16) along an edge region of the access opening, wherein the fixed hood portion (14)or the rotatable door (16), respectively, comprises a plurality of mounting projections (46), and wherein the gasket comprises a plurality of apertures (54) in which the mounting projections are held by snap-fit connection.
US09022486B2	Vehicle brake device In a vehicle brake device, when a brake pedal is depressed normally, high regeneration efficiency and high fuel efficiency can be achieved by positively utilizing the regenerative braking force, and early applying of basic hydraulic braking force can be achieved when the brake pedal is suddenly depressed. The vehicle brake device includes an operation force transmitting mechanism on a connecting member between the brake pedal and the master cylinder piston and having first and second rods and a spring member biasing the first and second rods in a direction separating both rods from each other. The operation force transmitting mechanism includes an inner space between both rods and a communication passage allowing communication of the inner space with the exterior. The communication passage restricts the outflow of fluid in the inner space upon an emergency brake pedal depression and allows the outflow thereof upon non-emergency brake pedal depression.
US09022485B2	Wheel bearing assembly having a centering device for vehicles A wheel bearing assembly with a centering device that includes a wheel hub arranged rotatably on an axle body about an axis of rotation. The assembly further includes a centering unit fixed to the wheel hub, wherein the centering unit has a centering portion, and wherein the distance of the centering portion to the axis of rotation is smaller than the distance of the outer periphery of the wheel hub to the axis of rotation.
US09022484B2	Material handling system for mining machine A mining machine for cutting material from a mine wall includes a cutting head that is movable to engage the mine wall, a vacuum duct positioned proximate the cutting head and including an inlet for receiving the material that is cut from the mine wall, and a sizer for reducing the size of material that passes into the vacuum duct, the sizer being positioned proximate the inlet.
US09022482B2	Stretching structure of a tension member for a chair An engagement protrusion (20) extending in the front/back direction of a frame body (13) is provided on one of the opposing surfaces of a notch (16) in the frame body (13) and a fitting member (17) opposite said notch; similarly, an engagement recess (13h) in which the engagement protrusion (20) fits is provided on the other of said surfaces. By means of the moment of the fitting member (17) resulting from the tension of a tension member (14), the engagement protrusion (20) and the engagement recess (13h) are prevented from separating.
US09022479B2	Seat mechanism with easy-entry feature An adjustment mechanism is provided and may include an upper housing plate and a lower housing plate. The adjustment mechanism may also include a recliner mechanism movable between an unlocked state permitting relative rotation between the upper housing plate and the lower housing plate and a locked state preventing relative rotation between the upper housing plate and the lower housing plate. A locking mechanism may selectively permit rotation of one of the upper housing plate and lower housing plate relative to the other of the upper housing plate and the lower housing plate when the recliner mechanism is in the locked state by permitting the recliner mechanism to rotate with the one of the upper housing plate and lower housing plate when in the locked state.
US09022475B2	Compliant shell for vehicle seat A vehicle seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back extending upwardly from the seat bottom. The seat back includes a backrest and a headrest.
US09022473B2	Rocker recliner mechanism with changeable features A rocker-type seating unit that includes a base for providing vertical support, a seat support, and a backrest support. The seating unit adjusts between an upright position and a reclined position. The seating unit includes a support frame, a seat assembly, and a rocker mechanism. The support frame includes lower crossbeams coupled to the base, and a traverse plate fixedly attached to and extends upward from the lower crossbeams. The seat assembly includes a seat frame for carrying the seat support over the support frame, seat-mounting plates fixedly attached to and extend downward from the seat frame, and an upper crossbeam that spans and couples the seat-mounting plates. The rocker mechanism is connected to the upper crossbeam on one end and connected to the traverse plate on another end. The interconnection of rocker mechanism enables a controlled, fore-and-aft sway of the seat assembly with respect to the support frame.
US09022468B2	Interactive sitting system The present invention introduces an interactive sitting system that measures and analyzes the forces exerted on a human body during contact with other objects such as a seat to provide a feedback for the user to assess the risk of such forces on the spine and the skin to avoid complications of abnormal or prolonged sitting.
US09022466B2	Armrest assembly An armrest assembly may include a base member, an armrest member, a mechanism and a biasing member. The armrest member may be linearly movable relative to the base member between a first position and a second position. The mechanism may be associated with the armrest member and may be movable between an engaged configuration restricting linear movement of the armrest member relative to the base member and a disengaged configuration allowing linear movement of the armrest member relative to the base member. The biasing member may bias the armrest member in a linear direction from the second position toward the first position.
US09022461B2	High stiffness waterproof roof panel pad for vehicle and manufacturing method thereof A high stiffness waterproof roof panel pad for a vehicle, which is configured by stacking and laminating a waterproof reinforcing layer coated with PE layers on both surfaces of a urethane foam pad, thereby reinforcing the stiffness of a vehicle body panel, preventing the pad from becoming wet due to dew condensation and thus increasing noise and vibration reduction effects and having a waterproof function. Additionally, a method of manufacturing the waterproof roof panel pad includes preparing a hard urethane foam pad, preparing a waterproof reinforcing layer of which both surfaces are coated with PE layers, stacking the waterproof reinforcing layer on both surfaces of the urethane foam pad, laminating the PE layer in contact with the urethane foam pad and integrally forming the urethane foam pad and the waterproof reinforcing layer, and performing a cutting operation according to a shape and a size of a roof panel.
US09022457B2	Protective device for onboard electrical equipment A protective device for an onboard electronic equipment includes a vehicle body reinforcing member that is arranged around the electronic equipment, and of which each end is fastened to an onboard fixed member, and in which force required to unfasten one end is less than force required to unfasten the other end, and a protective member that is mounted to a facing surface of the electronic equipment that faces the vehicle body reinforcing member such that, when the electronic equipment moves to the vehicle body reinforcing member side due to receiving force from a side of a vehicle body, the protective member will contact the vehicle body reinforcing member before the electronic equipment does.
US09022452B2	Vehicle and a hinge assembly for a storage compartment of the vehicle A hinge assembly for a storage compartment includes a first component and a second component coupled to the first component. The second component is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the first component. A damper device includes a housing assembly supported by the first component and a finger attached to the second component such that the finger is movable with the second component between the first and second positions. The finger and the housing assembly are spaced from each other when the second component is in the first position, and the finger slidingly engages the housing assembly as the second component moves to the second position such that frictional engagement between the finger and the housing assembly dampens movement of the second component relative to the first component.
US09022449B2	Straddle-type vehicle seat and straddle-type vehicle A straddle-type vehicle seat includes: a saddle-type seat main body which is provided above a vehicle body in one of a three-wheel straddle-type vehicle and a four-wheel straddle-type vehicle and which is straddled by a driver; and an angle adjustment mechanism which adjusts an angle of the saddle-type seat main body with respect to the vehicle body in accordance with a signal from a detection unit that detects a traveling state of the straddle-type vehicle when the straddle-type vehicle is turning.
US09022448B2	Inner lining part An inner lining part for the interior of a motor vehicle, wherein the inner lining part has a carrier part, which comprises a curvature section, with a curvature running along a longitudinal direction of the carrier part. The curvature section includes a carrier part groove running in the longitudinal direction. A decorative layer overlies a first surface of the carrier part and forms a visible face of the inner lining part. The decorative layer covers the carrier part groove, thereby forming a decorative layer groove on the visible face of the inner lining part. Recesses in one or more portions of the carrier part at the carrier part groove receive folds or thickenings of the decorative layer to thereby permit the visible face of the decorative layer at the decorative layer groove to match the curvature of the curvature section at carrier side regions located adjacent the groove.
US09022447B2	Vehicle interior trim part, in particular inside door lining The present invention relates to a vehicle interior trim part with a first part and a second part which is fastened thereto, wherein the first and the second part have different coefficients of length expansion with respect to at least one influencing variable.
US09022445B1	Telescoping grab handle for pickup trucks and the like A telescoping grab handle mounted on the side wall of the cargo box, adjacent the tailgate, in a pickup truck. The device has only one moving part which allows the telescoping grab handle to be easily raised vertically and locked into the extended position or easily lowered to the retracted or stowed position while standing on the ground outside the cargo box. The telescoping grab handle mounted on the side wall of the cargo box also overcomes many disadvantages of tailgate mounted grab handles which interfere with cargo handling and are rendered inoperable if the tailgate is damaged. The telescoping grab handle mounted on the side wall of the cargo box may be added as an aftermarket accessory, but the internal components of the device could also be incorporated directly into the side wall of the cargo box by the auto manufacturer during initial manufacture of the vehicle.
US09022442B2	Transfer device comprising a gripper A gripper (42) for gripping an object (14), intended for a transfer device includes two jaws (64, 66). Each of the jaws includes: a recess (92), and a first clamping portion (94) and a second locking portion (96). The first clamping portion (94) of each jaw (64, 66) of the gripper (42) includes a supporting surface and, when the gripper (42) is closed around an object (14) occupying a predetermined reference position, the supporting surface is intended to engage with a portion of a bearing surface of a radial collar of the object.
US09022434B2	Latch for securing a compute node in a component storage rack A latch selectively secures a compute node enclosure into a chassis bay. The latch comprises a frame securable to a proximal end of the compute node enclosure. A handle is pivotally secured to the frame intermediate a proximal end of the handle and a distal end of the handle so that the handle can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position. A proximal end of a pawl is pivotally coupled at to the distal end of the handle, wherein the pawl includes a landing at a distal end of the pawl and a latch key intermediate proximal and distal ends of the pawl. Movement of the handle positions the pawl into engagement with a slot in chassis bay to assist installation and removal of the compute node enclosure.
US09022430B2	Temporary utility service apparatus A utility service apparatus having at least one utility segment with a conduit system having an elongated body. A coupling structure is positioned at both ends. The coupling structure at one end is attachable to the coupling structure at the other end. A plurality of utility service components extend through the elongated body. Coupling a first end of a first utility segment with the second end of another utility segment assembly operably connects each of the plurality of utility service components to another utility segment assembly. Some of the segment assemblies include a unit head positioned along the elongated body. The unit head has a plurality of utility service ports coupled to the utility service components. Service implements can be attached thereto.
US09022426B2	Steering device A steering device includes: a steering shaft; an inner jacket; a column jacket that includes an outer jacket that covers the inner jacket from outside, and supports the steering shaft; a movable bracket that is fixed to the inner jacket; a fixation bracket that has a retention portion, and is fixed to a vehicle body; and a press contact/release portion that brings a first plate-shaped region and a second plate-shaped region into press contact with each other along the plate thickness direction to press the first plate-shaped region and the second plate-shaped region against the retention portion, and releases the first plate-shaped region and the second plate-shaped region from a state of being in press contact with each other and a state of being pressed against the retention portion.
US09022425B1	Inverted pendulum control type moving body An inverted pendulum control type moving body includes: a first driving portion capable of driving in all directions on a movement plane; a frame portion rotatably supporting the first driving portion; a second driving portion rotatable about the rotation center of the first driving portion via a link portion; a first restriction portion restricting rotation of the link portion in a first direction about the rotation center; a second restriction portion restricting rotation of the link portion in a second direction about the rotation center; and a supporting portion supporting the frame portion in an uncontrolled state. An operation portion operates: a first operation which separates the supporting portion from the movement plane and increases a distance between the first and second restriction portions; and a second operation which brings the supporting portion into contact with the movement plane and reduces the distance between the first and second restriction portions.
US09022421B2	Inflatable restraint deployment ramp An inflatable restraint assembly includes a vehicle pillar and a pillar trim component that is attached to the vehicle pillar, with the pillar trim component having an upper end. A curtain airbag module having an inflatable curtain portion is disposed in a stowed configuration prior to deployment and moves to a deployed configuration subsequent to deployment. A guide ramp is disposed between the inflatable curtain portion of the curtain airbag module and the upper end of the pillar trim component. A headliner having an outboard portion is sandwiched between the guide ramp and the upper end of the pillar trim component prior to deployment of the inflatable curtain portion of the curtain airbag module. The outboard portion of the headliner defines a reduced thickness section.
US09022419B2	Safety device for vehicle Safety device for vehicle, adapted to be arranged facing an airbag, comprising a chute channel delimiting a recess adapted to receive the airbag, said chute channel being formed by a reinforcing member, a first flap, and a first net. The first lap and a first reinforcing portion are overmolded onto the first net, which defines a hinge allowing the first flap to move relative to the first reinforcing portion. The device further comprises a second reinforcing portion overmolded onto the first net, and said first net defines a second hinge allowing the first reinforcing portion to pivot relative to the second reinforcing portion so that the first reinforcing portion is folded back onto the second reinforcing portion to form a transverse wall of the chute channel. Method for manufacturing such a safety device.
US09022418B2	Interior trim component for motor vehicle, adapted for covering an airbag The present invention relates to an interior trim component for a motor vehicle, in particular a dashboard, adapted for covering an airbag. The trim component is adapted to break along a main weakening line during deployment of the airbag, said trim component comprising an inside area relative to the main weakening line which defines a flap intended to extend over the airbag. The trim component comprises a notched element comprising a plurality of disjoint notches following one another along the main weakening line and having a generally concave shape relative to the inside area.
US09022417B2	Single side curtain airbag for vehicles Airbag inflator system includes an inflatable airbag, e.g., a side curtain airbag, a housing, a gas generating system arranged apart from the housing for generating gas, and a conduit leading from the gas generating system to the housing to provide gas to the housing, e.g., to a lateral end of the housing. A filter may be arranged between the gas generating system and the housing, possibly in the conduit. A nozzle may be arranged between the gas generating system and an interior of the airbag, which nozzle is varied as a function of temperature. The housing may be movably arranged relative to a fixed base and mounted to vary its relation to the base as a function of temperature, e.g., via elastic or deformable supports which support the housing on the base.
US09022415B2	Cover for airbag device, and airbag device A cover for an airbag device, which includes: a cover portion configured to cover an airbag in a folded state; a hollow insertion portion configured to be inserted into an attachment hole on the vehicle; a locking portion inserted into the attachment hole together with the insertion portion and locked at the vehicle; and a connecting portion provided inside the insertion portion and connecting inner surfaces of the insertion portion with each other so as to reinforce the insertion portion. The cover portion, the insertion portion, the locking portion, and the connecting portion are integrally formed, and the connecting portion is present at least at a position closer to a distal end side of the insertion portion in an insertion direction than the position of the attachment hole when the locking portion is locked.
US09022414B2	Portable storefront vendor cart A portable, collapsible vending cart which can be used to vend disparate items in a variety of environments. The cart is adaptable to accommodate vendors of a wide variety of products, and provides an apparatus which is in compliance with most state regulations for vending carts. The cart is adapted to fit within the “security space” of a storefront, the space between a pull down security gate and the display window/entry point of the storefront. A locking mechanism extending from the vending cart is designed for secure locking engagement within the security space using infrastructure associated with the standard security gate.
US09022410B2	Ski binding device for fastening a mountaineering boot on a downhill ski A ski binding device for fastening a boot on a ski is described. The device includes a toepiece and a heelpiece fixed to the ski and structured to selectively retain the boot. The heelpiece includes a turret and a hooking projecting appendix (“HPA”) that juts out from the turret towards the toepiece while remaining substantially parallel to a first reference axis. The turret having a lower casing which is fixed on a fastening base of the toepiece and a titlable upper casing resting hingedly connected thereto to the lower casing. The HPA protrudes from the titlable upper casing while remaining substantially parallel to the first reference axis, and the heelpiece includes a programmed-release locking means structured to lock and retain the upper casing until the titling torque transmitted to the upper casing exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
US09022408B2	System for transporting an over-sized load An improved system for transporting an over-sized load is described herein. In one embodiment, the system can comprise a center support, a plurality of swing arms, and a dolly. The center support can comprise a beam. The swing arms can be mounted to the left side and the right side of the beam. The dolly can be mounted to each of the swing arms.
US09022406B2	Infant scooter A vehicle for infants includes a footboard, a front and rear chassis support fixed to it, wherein each chassis support supports at least one wheel, a steering bar which is connected to the front chassis support, and gripping at the upper portion of the steering bar. The vehicle furthermore includes a seat which is preferably fixed to the steering bar. The invention furthermore relates to a vehicle for infants with two front wheels and at least one, preferably two, rear wheels, wherein the vehicle includes a seat which is preferably fixed to a steering bar of the vehicle, and wherein the vehicle includes gripping at the steering bar which, however, does not function as handle bar, and wherein at least the front chassis support of the vehicle includes a steering mechanism which permits to steer the vehicle by ways of shifting of weight.
US09022402B1	Compact rear suspension damper-spring assembly A vehicle wheel suspension system that achieves increased width in the passenger and/or luggage compartment is provided. The suspension system utilizes a (i) a wheel support member that is positioned between the inner and outer tire planes; (ii) a plurality of linkage arms rotatably coupled to the wheel support member; (iii) a nonlinearly-shaped damper-spring support member that is attached to either an upper or lower linkage arm (iv) a damper-spring mounting platform that is positioned above, and at least partially overlaps, the tire, and that is rotatably attached to the nonlinearly-shaped damper-spring support member; and (v) a damper-spring assembly mounted to the damper-spring mounting platform and coupled to a vehicle body structure.
US09022399B2	Vehicle cab suspension device A device for suspending the cab of a vehicle includes a U-shaped main torsion bar (5) and a main actuator (3). The U-shaped main torsion bar (5) is positioned more or less along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
US09022398B1	Paddle skate A skateboard element that includes an elongate deck extending from a nose portion to a narrowed portion, and from the narrowed portion to a central portion, and from the central portion to a tail portion. The nose portion is a radiused nose portion that forms a convex curve and the narrowed portion is formed of two opposed recessed areas.
US09022397B1	Adapter system for walker An adapter system can be used on a walker having a walker tube attached to a walker telescoping tube. The adapter system has an attachment assembly that is configured to connect the adapter system to the walker telescoping tube. A bracket assembly is connected to the attachment assembly. The bracket assembly is configured in a first mode of operation to provide an armrest support above the walker telescoping tube and in a second mode of operation to be located away from the walker telescoping tube. A brake assembly is attached to a bracket assembly. The brake assembly is configured to enable movement of a brake adjustment screw to stop or slow movement of the walker and also act as a means of controlling the distance between the brake handle and the vertical hand handle.
US09022392B2	Chuck and semiconductor process using the same An apparatus of semiconductor process including a chuck and a vacuum source is provided. The chuck has a plurality of holes for holding a semiconductor substrate, and the vacuum source is used for providing vacuum suction through the holes to make the semiconductor substrate be subjected to varied suction intensities according to a warpage level thereof.
US09022388B2	Sheet stacking system and method of controlling the same, and storage medium The sheet stacking system discharges a sheet to one of a first stacking apparatus including a first stacking tray and a second stacking tray, and a second stacking apparatus including a third stacking tray, executes one of a first discharging method and a second discharging method, the first discharging method for moving, after a sheet is discharged to the first stacking tray by executing a job, the sheet which has been discharged to the first stacking tray to the second sheet stacking tray and discharging a sheet to the first stacking tray of the first stacking apparatus by executing the job, and the second discharging method for, after a sheet is discharged to the first stacking tray by executing the job, discharging a sheet to the third stacking tray of the second stacking apparatus by executing the job.
US09022387B2	Print-medium storing unit, print-medium storing apparatus and image forming apparatus employing the same A print-medium storing unit, a print-medium storing apparatus including the same, and an image forming apparatus including the same which are provided in a power transmission mechanism, print-medium storing apparatus which is installed on a discharge path of a print-medium in an image forming apparatus, includes a plurality of storing units which is arranged with multi-layers, and a controller which controls to drive a feeding unit of another storing unit arranged between the storing unit through which the print-medium is to be discharged and the image forming apparatus, by a driving source of the storing unit through which the print-medium is to be discharged.
US09022386B2	Medium conveying apparatus, image forming apparatus, medium conveying system, and medium conveying method A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveying status detecting unit configured to determine a conveyance status of a medium based on a driving torque of a driving unit, wherein the conveying unit is configured to convey the medium at a reference speed, the reference speed being faster than the upstream conveying unit at least when the medium is conveyed from the upstream conveying unit, and the reference speed being slower than the downstream conveying unit at least when the medium is conveyed to the downstream conveying unit, and wherein the conveyance status of the medium is detected by the comparison of a prescribed reference torque to the driving torque of the driving unit at least when the medium is conveyed between the upstream conveying unit and the conveying unit or when the medium is conveyed between the conveying unit and the downstream conveying unit.
US09022383B2	Paper sheet stacking and recycling device and paper sheet processing apparatus having same A paper sheet stacking and recycling device (5) and a paper sheet processing apparatus having same. The device comprises: a paper sheet conveying and stacking mechanism (51), located in front of a paper sheet discharging port and used for conveying the discharged paper sheets to a preset position one by one and stacking; a paper sheet discharging mechanism, located at the front end of the paper sheet conveying and stacking mechanism and used for discharging the stacked paper sheets in stack; and a paper sheet recycling mechanism (52), located at the front end of a paper sheet storage container (23) and used for recycling the stacked paper sheets in stack. A paper sheet processing apparatus having the foregoing device is capable of avoiding secondary separation of single paper sheets and more deflection after the paper sheets pass through a device for tilt correction and the like, so as to reduce the occurrence probability of faults such as blocking.
US09022382B2	Sheet feed device and image forming apparatus including the same A sheet feed device includes a feed unit and a sheet loading cassette. The feed unit includes a separation conveyance portion that is composed of a feed member and a separation member, a separation holder that supports the separation member and is swingable, and a pressing member that presses the separation holder. The sheet loading cassette includes a grip portion, a pressure release member that, in conjunction with an operation of drawing out the sheet loading cassette, comes into contact with the pressing member, an operation lever that is provided at the grip portion. In a state where the sheet loading cassette is inserted in the apparatus main body, the operation lever is gripped together with the grip portion, and thus the pressure release member slides to come into contact with the pressing member, so that the pressing member is released from the separation holder.
US09022380B2	Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus A sheet feeding roller 101 which feeds a sheet S stacked on a sheet supporting plate 110 capable of being lifted and lowered is swingably supported at a swing end of a sheet feeding roller supporting arm 104 which is arranged swingably in an up-and-down direction and a roller biasing member applies a force to the sheet feeding roller supporting arm in a direction that the sheet feeding roller is pressed to sheets S stacked on a sheet stack tray. A swing fulcrum 104a is arranged in a range between a tangential line of the sheet feeding roller at the upstreammost pressing position against the sheet feeding direction and a tangential line of the sheet feeding roller at the downstreammost pressing position out of pressing positions where the sheet feeding roller is pressed to the sheets as being varied in accordance with a sheet stacking state of the sheets.
US09022376B2	Reconfigurable clamping system A reconfigurable clamping system is disclosed. An example clamping system for securing a workpiece comprises a retention assembly and an inflatable bladder. The retention assembly comprises a plurality of links, each pair of adjacent links having a pivotal connection to enable the retention assembly to be configured to the general shape of a workpiece, and each pair of adjacent links having a locking mechanism to selectively lock an angular relationship between the pair. The inflatable bladder is coupled between the retention assembly and the workpiece and is to apply a clamping force to the workpiece.
US09022374B1	Rocking jaw gripper for restraining tubulars A rocking jaw gripper for restraining tubulars including an arm with a rocking jaw gripper rocker jaw, a rocking jaw gripper frame connected with the arm, a locking pin connecting the rocking jaw gripper frame to the chain cylinder, a hinge pin connecting the rocking jaw gripper frame to the arm and a plate jaw fastener retaining the rocker jaw body between the top plate and the bottom plate by engaging the tail hole of the rocker jaw body. When the rocking jaw gripper is engaged, it acts to restrain the movement of a tubular during make-up and break-out.
US09022371B2	Automated storage accessories Kit of improved accessories suitable for automated storage structures (20) comprising an automatic clamping system adapted to lock in position workpieces stored during transport on a truck, plant conveyor or any other vehicle and supporting elements (11) for the workpieces stored each formed by bending of iron wire according to the workpiece profile.
US09022369B2	Reverse coil head coils and innersprings A reverse coil head coil and innerspring has a generally cylindrical and helical wire form coil body and opposing coil ends which terminate on opposite sides of a reference plane that passes through the coil body. The reverse coil head coils are interconnected in a matrix to form an innerspring wherein only one terminal end of each coil is located at a perimeter of the innerspring. Variations in the number and pitch of helical turns of the coil body are also disclosed.
US09022364B2	Evaporative system for removing water from an aircraft lavatory and or galley floor A system for removing gray water from a lavatory or galley area has a container positioned in a floor of the lavatory or the galley. A conduit is provided in flow communication with the container. The conduit is coupled to a ventilation device configured to generate an air flow in the conduit to evaporate the gray water collected in the container.
US09022360B2	Manual misting fan There is disclosed a non-electric portable manually operated misting fan assembly which is formed by a handle for allowing the user to grasp and manipulate the fan assembly, the handle formed by a container adapted to function as a reservoir for a supply of fluid and having an upper end which includes a pump assembly including a pump head extending upwardly therefrom for pumping fluid from the handle container through a fluid nozzle located in the pump head. The fan means are fixedly mounted on the handle and positioned above the pump head, the fan means bounded by an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being accurately formed over the pump head in order to allow the user to position his finger on the pump head to manipulate the pump in order to eject a fluid from the fluid reservoir incident to the fanning procedure.
US09022357B2	Aerial roller spacer apparatus and associated methods thereof An aerial roller spacer apparatus and related methods thereto are provided. The aerial roller spacer apparatus includes a spacer body. At least one saddle is formed on the spacer body. A spacer arm is connected to the spacer body at a first end, wherein the spacer arm extends away from the spacer body. A roller assembly is positioned proximate to a second end of the spacer arm, wherein the roller assembly has two rotatable roller halves that are removably engagable with one another with at least one fastener. A messenger groove is formed between the two rotatable roller halves.
US09022355B1	Hydraulic jack attachment A hydraulic jack attachment for quickly and safely jacking up high clearance objects in an efficient manner. The hydraulic jack attachment generally includes a base support adapted to be positioned underneath an object to be lifted. The base support includes a footing which includes one or more wheels to aid in repositioning the base support. A linkage tube is interlocked with a lifting member and positioned within the base support. A hydraulic jack may be placed into a lower end of the base support via an access opening. When the hydraulic jack is lifted, it will force the linkage tube and lifting tube upwards. A lifting head positioned on the upper end of the lifting tube will press against and force the object upwardly to jack the object up.
US09022353B2	Ball valve A ball valve which can suppress the increasing of processing labor time and reliably prevent simultaneous rotation of a ball seat and a ball when the ball is rotated by handle manipulation is provided. The valve body 2 is formed of a hard material such as stainless steel, the ball seat is formed of a relatively soft material such as a fluorine resin, and a protrusion 18 is formed on a ball seat support surface 13 of the valve body 2 made of a hard material so as to bite into the ball seat 4.
US09022352B2	Hard seal plug valve The invention provides a hard seal plug valve, comprising a valve body, wherein a tapered plug is arranged in the valve body, a bonnet is arranged at an upper part of the valve body, a drive valve rod penetrates the bonnet, an elastic hold-down mechanism is sheathed on the drive valve rod and arranged on a plug bearing seat, the plug bearing seat is connected with the tapered plug, and the plug bearing seat is held down when the elastic hold-down mechanism extends; and the hard seal plug valve characterized in that a telescopic mechanism is sheathed on the drive valve rod, the plug bearing seat is pushed upward when the telescopic mechanism extends, a valve rod bearing seat is arranged at the bottom of the drive valve rod, ends of the valve rod bearing seat pass through a planetary reduction mechanism, and the tapered plug is connected with the planetary reduction mechanism and rotates with the drive valve rod by the planetary reduction mechanism. In the invention, the tapered plug can reliably float and rotate under any circumstances. The drive torque of the plug valve is at least 7 times less than that of a general plug valve, therefore, when a motor is used, a general valve requires 2 minutes from opening to closing, and the valve of the invention only requires 3.8 seconds.
US09022349B2	Solenoid valve having air tap structure A solenoid valve includes a plunger, an actuating device, and an air tap assembly. The plunger is connected to the actuating device. The air tap assembly is secured to the actuating device and has a cavity. The air tap assembly includes a main body, and first and second tubes. The first tube protrudes from the main body and defines a first through hole. The main body defines a second through hole communicated with the first through hole and the cavity. The second tube defines a third through hole. The main body defines a fourth through hole extended from the third through hole and a fifth through hole extended from the fourth through hole to the cavity. The fifth and second through holes are parallel. The plunger head is used to seal the second and fifth through holes.
US09022345B2	Valve A valve provided for the blocking or controlled establishment of a volume flow of a working fluid in a flow path of a technical device that transmits and/or stores energy, in particular in a control device for a hydraulic drive, an associated method of manufacture of the valve, and an apparatus with the valve. The valve includes first, second, and third valve openings, a moveable shut-off body moveable between an open-position and a close-position, a guide which guides the shut-off body between the open-position and the close position, and a retainer which exerts a retaining force on the shut-off body in the close-position. The guide has three guide parts. The first and third guide parts enclose the shut-off body and the second guide part includes a plurality of pins in a parallel orientation to the direction of movement of the shut-off body.
US09022337B2	Apparatus and methods for securing products Apparatus for securing products are provided. Each of a pair of elongate retaining members is pivotally secured at a first end of a base. Each of a pair of carriages is movable along a corresponding one of the retaining members and fixable to the corresponding one of the retaining members at a plurality of locations. Each carriage has a clip for capturing a projecting portion of the product. A stop member engages a portion of the product spaced apart from the projecting portions captured by the clips. The stop member is movable toward the clips in a single degree of freedom and is fixable to the base at a plurality of locations along the degree of freedom. Methods of securing a product using the apparatus are provided.
US09022331B2	Suction device A suction device includes an elastic base and a release structure connected operably to the elastic base. The elastic base has a peripheral portion for to hermetically contacting a contact surface and defining a vacuum chamber therebetween when a predetermined external force is applied on the elastic base, thereby mounting the elastic base on the contact surface. The release structure has a projection protruding outwardly and partially from the elastic base when an applied force on the elastic base is greater than the predetermined external force and retracting inwardly within the elastic base so as to be disposed in the vacuum chamber when the elastic base is mounted on the contact surface such that a distance between a protruding end of the projection and the contact surface is greater than zero.
US09022329B2	Cable tray and organizer A cable organizing device which mounts to an underside of a desk or to a wall, such that cables from computers and other equipment can be quickly and easily wrapped around the device, thus taking up the slack in each of the cables and keeping them off of the floor. The cable organizing device includes a plurality of loop hooks on each side, spaced apart such that individual cables can be wrapped around and between the loop hooks in a variety of ways. The device is designed to be easy and inexpensive to manufacture, yet sturdy and versatile in use. The cable organizing device can handle any type of wire or cable material, and the cables can be connected at both ends before being wrapped onto the cable organizing device. A mounting aid is included with the cable organizing device, thus making it easy for a person to install.
US09022327B2	Cable management system A device for managing cables for an information handling system may include a rigid but flexible body defining multiple cable retaining regions. Each of the multiple cable retaining regions may include a first portion shaped and sized to receive and retain a first type of cable having a first cross-sectional geometry, and a second portion shaped and sized to receive and retain a second type of cable having a second cross-sectional geometry different than the first cross-sectional geometry.
US09022322B2	Remotely-controlled emergency aerial vehicle Devices, systems and methods for utilizing a remotely-controlled aerial vehicle for emergency situations are disclosed. In an aspect of the present disclosure, a remotely-controlled aerial vehicle consisting of a rotor with interchangeably attached blades, a camera, an antenna for transmitting data, and rescue equipment which may be used to assist an endangered person on location is disclosed. In another aspect, the aerial vehicle further comprises a light source to assist in the use of the device at night, a pressure gun to assist in the delivery of rope or other materials in mountain side situations, an explosive device dropping mechanism, and a cable hoist.
US09022318B2	Hydraulic drive, hydraulic supply device, airplane with a hydraulic supply device and method for configuring a hydraulic supply device A hydraulic drive for an aircraft includes: a gear, a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump, wherein the gear is installed in a gear housing and wherein the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump in each case are installed in a pump housing that is affixed to the gear housing, or the two together are installed in a pump housing that is affixed to the gear housing; a hydraulic supply device including a first and a second hydraulic system for operating actuators of the aircraft; and a monitoring and drive device, with the hydraulic supply device including a first hydraulic drive for coupling the latter to a first engine, and a second hydraulic drive for coupling the latter to a second engine, wherein each hydraulic drive includes: a gear drive shaft for coupling the respective hydraulic drive to an engine output shaft of the respective associated engine; two hydraulic pumps that are coupled to a gear output shaft, in each case with a connection device for connecting the hydraulic pump to the pressure line and to the suction line of a hydraulic system; an aircraft comprising such a hydraulic supply device; as well as a method for configuring a hydraulic supply device.
US09022316B2	System and method for failsafe operation of aircraft ground movement system A failsafe system and method for ensuring the safe operation of an aircraft with a ground movement system to drive the aircraft independently on the ground is provided. The system includes at least one aircraft nose or main drive wheel powered by an onboard wheel driver responsive to sensed aircraft and ground movement system operating parameters to continue operation in response to parameters within normal limits or to prevent continued operation if sensed parameters are outside normal limits and indicate continued operation to be unsafe. The onboard wheel driver includes a locking assembly responsive automatically or manually to signals indicating sensed parameters to lock the onboard wheel driver in an activated or an inactivated condition, depending on whether operation of the ground movement system can be continued safely.
US09022314B1	Torsionally stiff rotorcraft control apparatus and method A rotor system of a reactive drive rotary wing maintains rigidity and stiffness and resists slack and backlash by mounting swashplate actuators to a flange rigidly secured to the mast, and may be monolithic therewith. A mast tilt actuator and a mast pivot may secure to the mast flange, with vibration suppressors. A shroud may provide a sealed fluid path for airflow therethrough encircling portions of the rotor hub and restricting airflow between the rotor hub and shroud. A rotor cavity, in fluid communication with blade ducts (hollow portions of the blade spars), and either or both contoured to reduce pressure losses, may assist in temperature control, and may feed into tip jets on the blades.
US09022313B2	Rotor unloading apparatus and method A method and apparatus for enabling high speed flight in a rotorcraft are disclosed. The method may include executing a flight with a rotorcraft. The flight may include a first portion and second portion ordered sequentially. During the first portion, the rotorcraft may be flown with the rotor exclusively in autorotation. Once sufficient airspeed is obtained, the flight may transition to the second portion. Wherein, substantially all of the weight of the rotorcraft may be supported by one or more fixed wing surfaces of the rotorcraft. Thus, during the second portion, the rotor may be completely unloaded. To keep the rotor stable by turning, the rotor may be powered during the second portion by an engine of the rotorcraft by way of a prerotation system.
US09022303B2	Fuel injection valve and method for co-injecting a liquid and a gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine A fuel injection valve co-injects a liquid and a gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A solid needle regulates the injection of liquid and gaseous fuels from a cavity in the fuel injection valve into the combustion chamber when the needle is lifted to its open position. In preferred embodiments, liquid fuel is metered and pressurized in an intensifier's cylinder provided within the valve body and the liquid fuel is delivered through a restricted flow passage into the cavity where it mixes with the gaseous fuel. The restricted flow passage can be formed by a small passage formed in the valve body or an annular passage between the needle and the valve body.
US09022300B2	Vertical rising sprinkler apparatus with stabilized base unit A watering device for watering bushes, grass, etc., which has a base unit connected to a substantially vertical riser which is connected to a sprinkler head, wherein the base unit can also have a receiving unit which holds a substantially vertical riser and a plurality stabilizing units, wherein the plurality of stabilizing units are adapted to be inserted in the ground, and wherein the stabilizing units are removable from the receiving unit.
US09022298B2	Radiant heat reflector and heat converter A system may include a tube through which hot fluid is transported from one end to another, wherein the tube radiates heat energy and transfers heat energy to surrounding air by convection. The system may also include a reflector that reflects the radiated heat and a hood that captures the heat energy from the surrounding air through convection, wherein the hood radiates the captured heat energy. The reflector may include a bi-involute curved surface.
US09022296B2	High temperature high pressure tag An identification tag, comprising a rigid carrier comprising a cavity therein, a bead arranged within the cavity, wherein the bead includes an electronics module configured to receive and transmit signals, a protective fluid-like fill material disposed in the cavity such that it surrounds the bead, and one or more openings extending into the identification tag that can be used to couple the tag to a downhole tool or provide pressure equalization across the tag.
US09022292B1	Invisible optical label for transmitting information between computing devices Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and system for sharing information between a first computing device and a second computing device. In the described embodiments, an optical label, such as, for example a QR code, is generated on the first computing device. In embodiments, the optical label is color encoded and displayed in such a way that the optical label is not perceptible to a user. The second computing device may capture the encoded optical label and subject the captured images to a processing technique that decodes the encoded optical label.
US09022282B2	Systems and methods for implementing virtual customer replaceable unit monitors for solid ink customer replaceable units in managed print service environments A system and method are provided for implementing virtual customer replaceable unit monitors (CRUMs) for solid ink customer replaceable units (CRUs) that are used in image forming devices, particularly in managed print service environments. Molded products, including solid ink elements, are marked to aid in generally effecting identification and/or authenticity verification, and/or in specifically effecting compatibility matching in an image forming device in which the solid ink CRUs are used. One or more ultraviolet (UV) ink based two dimensional 2D barcodes are provided on a solid ink CRU for identification of the solid ink CRU by a reading mechanism in an image forming device. The use of a UV ink that is not easily visually discernible provides a level of protection against easily detecting, and attempting to copy the identifying information. The image forming process would essentially consume the virtual CRUM on the solid ink CRU in image processing.
US09022280B2	Multi-mode barcode resolution system Methods and systems for generating and resolving multi-mode barcodes comprise: inputting graphical data representing a barcode pattern into memory; translating the graphical data into barcode information according to a standard for translating a particular type of barcode pattern into barcode information; detecting the presence of multiple, distinct data items of different types in the barcode information, wherein each data item specifies an action to be taken by the scanning device; identifying a data item in the barcode information for which the scanning device is capable of taking the action specified by the data item; and performing the action specified by the data item.
US09022279B2	Method and system for locating an accessory and an application for use with a user device A method for identifying an application usable with an accessory is provided. The method includes receiving an accessory identifier associated with the accessory, identifying an application protocol associated with the accessory identifier, identifying an application that supports the application protocol, and providing information about the application to a user device. A method for identifying an accessory usable with an application is also provided. The method includes receiving information about an application, determining an application protocol associated with the application, determining an accessory that supports the application protocol, and providing information about the accessory to a user device.
US09022278B2	Printer credit management A printer credit management method is disclosed, the method includes receiving a code at a printer. From the code, a printer identifier and a credit value are discerned. It is determined if the printer identifier corresponds to a unique identifier assigned to the printer. Only upon a positive determination, a credit balance maintained by the printer is updated to include the credit value.
US09022276B2	Dual-use display tray/container Methods for manufacturing a dual use display tray/container pre-assembly and a dual use display tray/container having a plurality of auto-erectable cells. A method includes providing a primary blank having a plurality of panels and a supplementary blank having a plurality of panels. A method also includes providing only a single blank having a plurality of panels. A dual-use display tray/container includes a plurality of auto-erected cells. A dual use display tray/container also includes a plurality of removable panels and window access material to provide access to the plurality of auto-erected cells.
US09022274B2	Circular stapler with increased lumen diameter A surgical stapling device is provided having a shell assembly including an outer housing portion having areas of varying wall thicknesses. Individual staple pockets in a row of staple pockets are positioned in areas of thinner wall thicknesses. Areas of increased wall thicknesses form longitudinally extending strengthening ribs along an inner surface of the outer housing portion. The longitudinally extending strengthening ribs may be solid, indented in the wall of the outer housing portion and or bisected by a slot extending through the outer housing portion.
US09022273B1	Surgical fastener-applying apparatuses with sequential firing A surgical fastening instrument is provided. The surgical fastening instrument includes a handle portion and an elongate portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis along a length thereof. The surgical fastening instrument also includes an end effector assembly that includes an anvil and a cartridge supported adjacent a distal end of the elongate portion. Each of the anvil and the cartridge includes a tissue contacting surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. One or more independently movable pushers is configured to support one or more surgical fasteners. A thrust bar is operatively coupled to the elongate portion, wherein the thrust bar is movable over a predetermined stroke to effect sequential ejection of at least two surgical fasteners of the plurality of surgical fasteners from the cartridge.
US09022270B2	Roll-to-roll substrates transferring unit and method of processing substrates using the substrates transferring unit A flexible and continuous substrates-conveying sheet has a plurality of to be processed substrates disposed on or in it. A nondestructive transferring unit includes a plurality of first transferring rolls and a plurality of second transferring rolls. The first transferring rolls make contact with a first surface of the substrates-conveying sheet where that surface can have electrostatically-induced charge formed thereon. Each of the first transferring rolls includes a first central portion charged with a positive electric charge and a first outer portion surrounding the first central portion. The second transferring rolls make contact with the first surface of the substrates-conveying sheet. The second transferring rolls are disposed alternately with the first transferring rolls. Each of the second transferring rolls includes a second central portion charged with a negative electric charge and a second outer portion surrounding the second central portion.
US09022269B1	Modular fishing vest system A modular fishing vest system combining the load capacity of a backpack with the advantages of a fishing vest is described. The modular fishing vest system typically includes a fishing vest with a first storage module removably coupled to a back side of the vest. The first storage module can resemble a backpack. The modular fishing vest system typically further includes shoulder straps installed inside the fishing vest in order to transfer load to a user's shoulders. The shoulder straps are typically removably coupled to an inside surface of the vest. The modular fishing vest system further includes second storage modules detachably installed on a front side of the vest. The second storage modules can include a shelf pocket that opens to provide a shelf approximately horizontally disposed, on which pocket contents or other items can be supported.
US09022267B2	Holder apparatus for a portable electronic device A holder apparatus is provided for a portable electronic device, in particular in a motor vehicle. The portable electronic device is designed for bidirectional data transfer with the motor vehicle, wherein the holder apparatus has a base element which can be fixed in the motor vehicle and which has a plurality of holder elements, and at least one wall and/or cover element which is coupled to the holder elements such that it can be reversibly plug-connected. The portable electronic device can be secured in the holder apparatus in an interlocking and/or force-fitting manner by the base element and the at least one wall and/or cover element.
US09022264B2	Reconfigurable roof rack attachment assembly for a vehicle A roof rack attachment assembly for a vehicle is provided along with a method of assembling a vehicle having a roof panel capable of receiving a roof rack attachment at a predetermined attachment point is provided. The vehicle may include a roof panel defining a plurality of elongated grooves. The assembly may include a groove applique disposed within and along the length of each of the elongated grooves. The groove applique may be secured within each of the elongated grooves with a plurality of securing components placed along the length of the elongated groove. A plurality of attachment features may be coupled to the groove applique at predetermined locations, defining a predetermined attachment point for a vehicle roof rack. The roof rack assembly allows a roof rack of any style to be added, removed, or replaced at the each of the predetermined attachment points throughout the life of the vehicle.
US09022263B1	Patient transport pod and method of use A medical pod for a vehicle may include a pallet configured to be loaded and unloaded into a cargo area or other area. The pallet may include an upper surface defining a floor structure. A plurality of side walls may extend upwardly from the pallet and may be connected to a roof section to form a container. The medical pod may include a transport system located on the floor structure. A patient restraint system may be positioned within the container and may have a patient support structure that may be coupled to the transport system such that the patient restraint system is movable relative to the floor structure.
US09022260B2	Baby carrier A lightweight child carrier that can be mounted upon the front or the back of a wearer's torso with little or no need to adjust the carrier's harness. The carrier includes a main panel having generally a rectangular shape. The bottom edge of the main panel is joined to the top edge of a padded waist band and the bottom edge of a head restraining panel is joined to the top edge of the main panel. Shoulder straps are connected to the main panel and are cojoined by a chest strap that is slidably mounted upon each shoulder strap. Adjustable restraining straps are connected to the chest strap and to the head restraining panel. An auxiliary waist belt is provided that considerably expands the length of the waist band to allow the carrier to be worn by a woman during pregnancy.
US09022257B2	Spout with a valve for dispensing liquor from a bottle A pour spout has a bottle adapter for insertion into a mouth of a bottle. A housing has a chamber into which a housing inlet and a housing outlet open with the housing inlet connected to the bottle adapter for receiving beverage from the bottle. A valve carriage is movable within the chamber and has a carriage inlet in fluid communication with a carriage outlet. A resilient first tube provides a first beverage passageway between the housing inlet and the carriage inlet. A resilient second tube provides a second beverage passageway between carriage outlet and the housing outlet. The first or second tube has a valve seat that is engaged and disengaged by a plunger on the valve carriage as the valve carriage moves within the chamber. A valve actuator moves the valve carriage in response to signal from a control circuit that receives a wireless command signal.
US09022256B2	Metering device for the manually-controlled metering of a light-curing material, kit, and method Disclosed is a metering device for metering, in a manually-controlled manner, a light-curing material present in said metering device, the device comprising at least one reservoir which can be deformed at least in some sections thereof and in which said light-curing material is contained, as well as a metering arrangement for applying the light-curing material.
US09022255B1	Instant eye-sealing weapon A weapon is usable instantly seal a person's eyes when fired into a target's face. The weapon includes a container that is removably attached to a barrel of a firearm. Once removed, it can be used independently of the firearm. The weapon includes a central processing unit mounted within the container. The container holds three or more bottles, each containing one of a cyanoacrylate adhesive base, an activator to speed curing of the adhesive base, and a chemical agent to affect the target. At a minimum, the adhesive base and the activator may be ejected to form a single stream which cures or hardens within 10 seconds. Additionally, the contents of various chemical agents may also be ejected into the single stream as may be preselected by the shooter using a selector switch or a touch screen display.
US09022248B2	Portable beverage container with a permanent neoprene cover The present invention is a portable beverage container with a permanent neoprene cover. The container has a vessel, a permanent neoprene cover, a weight, a bottom cover, a protective rubber bottom and a lid. The permanent neoprene is made of neoprene wetsuit material or other closed cell foam rubber for enhanced insulation. The permanent neoprene cover has a laminated fabric cover whereon any printed image can printed upon. The permanent neoprene cover is capped by an overarching rim and a bottom rim of the bottom cover. The protective rubber bottom of the container is a self-adhered cup coaster which prevents the condensation of the liquid from permeating therethrough. The container further comprises a flathead screw which attaches the bottom cover to the weight and the bottom of the vessel. Together with the neoprene wetsuit material, protective rubber bottom, and the lid, the container is therefore a convenient insulated beverage container.
US09022246B2	Gas storage pressure vessel comprising phase changing material The present invention provides a device that minimizes or eliminates under-filling of a pressure vessel by integrating phase change material (PCM) within one or multiple component of the pressure vessel. In one particular embodiment, the inner surface of the pressure vessel comprises a PCM. During a gas-filling process, PCM reduces the rate and/or the amount of temperature increase. Reduction of the temperature increase in the pressure vessel increases the amount of gas filled during a gas-filling process.
US09022245B2	Universal support arrangement for semi-membrane tank walls Embodiments of the invention relate to support arrangements for semi-membrane tank walls and, more particularly, to a universal support assembly for tanks that experience thermal expansion and contraction. One embodiment of the invention may include a tank assembly having at least one tank wall, a support structure at least partially adjacent to the wall, and a link member coupling the tank to the support structure. The link member may be configured to accommodate relative movement between the tank and the support structure through rotation. The link member may be coupled to the tank wall by a ball and socket joint and coupled to the support structure with another ball and socket joint, allowing substantially unlimited in-plane movement of the tank wall relative to the support structure.
US09022244B2	Storage container for analytical device The present invention discloses a storage container for an analytical device, capable of easily storing and using a sensor, The storage container for an analytical device in which a sensor is stored is configured such that the storage container has a cylindrical shape, the storage container has sensor storage portions therein radially arranged about a center point so that sensors can be inserted into the sensor storage portions, the storage container has an opening formed at a top surface of one side thereof and communicated to the sensor storage portions, and the storage container has a circumferential surface in which cut portions arc formed to be communicated with the sensor storage portions and cut to he extended from the end of the other side of the storage container to the opening along a lengthwise direction, thus allowing for ease of storage and use of sensors.
US09022243B2	Vessel having a hose coupling A vessel, preferably a pressure vessel, for containing water of a high temperature in an inner space thereof, which vessel comprises at least one passage. A first hose part, around which a first coupling part provided with a clamping surface extends, and a second coupling part formed around said passage, which is provided with a bearing surface, connect to the passage in the vessel. A second hose part extends from said passage into the inner space of the vessel. The first and the second coupling part are interconnected and the first and the second hose part are provided with flanged ends, which are clamped between the bearing surface and the clamping surface in the coupled condition of the two coupling parts, with the first and the second hose part forming a substantially continuous hose.
US09022242B2	Collapsible container, assembly mechanism and method of assembling a collapsible container A collapsible container comprising at least one wall (2,102,202,302) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (A); and an assembly mechanism (6,106,206,306) associated with the wall, the assembly mechanism comprising a lever arm (8,108,208,308) pivotally connected to the wall at a first location, and a connecting member (10,110,210,310), operable to transmit force applied at the lever arm to the wall at a second location and wherein a first end (16,116,216,316) of the connecting member is operatively connected to the lever arm and a second end (18,118,218,318) of the connecting member is operatively connected to the wall at the second location. Also described is an assembly mechanism for use with such a container.
US09022238B2	Railway vehicle having front coupling cover A railway vehicle has a cover for a front coupling of the railway vehicle. The cover is formed of at least one displaceable front hatch that can be displaced by a drive between an opened and a closed end position. A displacement of the at least one front hatch is guided such that the displacement takes place along a circular segment path about a rotary axis.
US09022237B2	Extendable storage device A storage device comprising an extendable center piece slidingly-attached to one or more supports, the center piece including a slot that runs vertically through the center piece for at least a portion of a length of the center piece and providing a surface to support at least one hook, wherein the hook is disposed in the slot formed in the center piece and the hook extends through the slot and below the bottom surface of the center-piece, each hook providing an interface for hanging and storing an item within a cabinet or other suitable storage space.
US09022236B1	Rotary carousel apparatus and system A rotary carousel apparatus includes a stationary base and a central column fixed relative to the base. Rotatable first and second drive plates are positioned to rotate about a central axis of the column. At least one torque tube assembly extends between the first drive plate and at least one second drive plate and is operative for rotational movement with a rotation of the drive plates. At least one shelf is connected to the at least one torque tube assembly. A drive assembly is operatively directly or indirectly coupled to one of the first drive plate and the at least one second drive plate, such that rotation of the drive assembly causes a corresponding rotation of one of the first and second drive plates connected thereto and a rotation of the other of the first and second drive plates through the at least one torque tube assembly.
US09022235B2	Footwear hanger assembly A footwear hanger includes a suspension portion for suspending a pair of shoes having toe separators in as side-by-side relation in an upright position, and a pair of support portions connected to, and in mirror symmetrical relationship with, the suspension portion. Each support portion has a plurality of uprights together operative for jointly supporting one of the shoes. The uprights of each support portion are spaced apart from one another and include bound spaces in which the toe separators of the respective shoe are received for holding the shoe upright in the upright position.
US09022228B2	Domestic appliance filter, domestic appliance with such a filter and method for manufacturing such a filter A domestic appliance filter for use in a laundry treatment device includes a basic filter material with a hydrophobic coating for filtering out matter from a process water duct or a process air duct. The basic filter material includes a material which is resistant to temperatures of 160° C. or more and the hydrophobic coating on the basic filter material effects a surface energy of less than 35 mN/m.
US09022226B2	Zeolite separation membrane, method for producing the same, and bonding agent A separation membrane according to the present invention is characterized by having a porous tube containing an alumina as a main component and an attachment member disposed in a connection position of the porous tube, wherein the porous tube and the attachment member are bonded by a ceramic oxide-based bonding agent containing 17 to 48 wt % of SiO2, 2 to 8 wt % of Al2O3, 24 to 60 wt % of BaO, and 0.5 to 5 wt % of ZnO as essential components and containing at least one of La2O3, CaO, and SrO, and a thin zeolite layer is formed on a surface of the porous tube. The attachment member is bonded to the porous tube before the formation of the zeolite layer. Therefore, the bonding agent can have a melting temperature higher than 600° C., which is the upper heatproof temperature limit of the zeolite. Thus, the ceramic oxide material for the bonding agent can be selected from a wider range of compositions such as glass compositions (without limitations on the glass softening temperature).
US09022224B2	Fluid control manifold for membrane filtration system Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods for filtering a fluid including a filter module assembly coupled to a manifold. The manifold may include a manifold inlet in fluid communication with a source of feed liquid, an outlet in fluid communication with header of the filter module assembly, a fluid passageway in fluid communication with the manifold inlet, a source of gas, and the outlet, a second fluid passageway in fluid communication with the header and the first fluid passageway and a second manifold outlet vertically displaced from the first manifold outlet and in fluid communication between the first fluid passageway and the second fluid passageway.
US09022219B2	Suspension magnet A suspension magnet assembly (10) having a magnet (24) with an arcuate lower surface, and a collector (27) movable from adjacent the magnet (24) to a position spaced from the magnet (24) to provide for the removal of collected material (14) from the assembly (10).
US09022217B2	Carton with article protection feature A carton for containing at least one article. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels. The at least two end flaps are at least partially overlapped with respect to one another to thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton. At least one end flap of the at least two end flaps is connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels by a connecting panel. The carton further comprises an article protection feature for protecting the at least one article. The article protection feature can be positioned on the connecting panel.
US09022212B2	Elongated endoluminal device packaging system and method A package system and method are provided for storing and shipping of elongated endoluminal devices. In one aspect, the system includes a packaging tray having a first area to maintain the position of a first portion of the elongated endoluminal device and a second portion retaining an opposing portion of the elongate device. The second portion configured to hold the coupling element of the assembly and being radially spaced outward from the first portion.
US09022209B2	Cleanable conveyor-belt drive system A hygienic drive system for a belt conveyor. The drive system has a stator rigidly mounted in a housing having an outer bearing surface that is continuous with the outer surface of mounting supports and avoids hard-to-clean nooks. A rotor assembly formed by drive wheels rotatably mounted on the outer surface of the housing or by a magnetic belt wrapped around a portion of the outer surface is rotated by a rotating magnetic wave produced by the stator. The stator and rotor can form an induction motor or a synchronous motor.
US09022204B2	Manufacturing system and manufacturing method A manufacturing system includes a first conveyer apparatus, a second conveyer apparatus and a manufacturing apparatus. The first conveyer apparatus has a first conveyer unit and a first elevator unit. The first elevator unit is adapted to drive the first conveyer unit to move upward or downward between first and second positions. The second conveyer apparatus has a second conveyer unit and a second elevator unit. The second elevator unit is adapted to drive the second conveyer unit to move upward or downward between third and fourth positions. The manufacturing apparatus disposed between the first and second conveyer apparatuses has a manufacturing unit, a third conveyer unit and a fourth conveyer unit. A conveying path of the third conveyer unit passes through the manufacturing unit. The first and third positions are aligned to the third conveyer unit. The second and fourth positions are aligned to the third conveyer unit.
US09022203B2	Lug loader Embodiments provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for loading workpieces in a flow direction into the spaced apart lugs on a lugged conveyor with the workpieces oriented transverse to the flow direction. The lug loader includes an array of pairs of endless conveyors configured to convey workpieces toward a lugged conveyor. The first and second endless conveyors of each pair are spaced laterally apart across the flow direction and aligned substantially in the flow direction. The array can form a continuous or discontinuous transport surface. Some pairs of endless conveyors in the array may overlap one or more other pairs of endless conveyors in the array. At least one pair of endless conveyors in the array may include two or more endless conveyors that are independently driven at different speeds and/or in different directions to de-skew a workpiece.
US09022201B1	Vertically stacked conveyor system with diversion conveyor A conveyor process and system for sorting objects having a plurality of inbound conveyors in a vertically stacked configuration and a plurality of diversion conveyors connected to the inbound conveyors for diverting objects transported on the inbound conveyors to a particular outbound conveyor.
US09022200B2	Accumulation conveyor A line accumulation conveyor includes a secondary belt rotatably mounted to a frame so as to define upper and lower surfaces caused to move in opposite directions by rotation of the secondary belt. The conveyor further includes a product conveying belt that is rotatably engaged with the secondary belt at a first position on the first surface and at a second position on the second surface therebetween in an endless manner. The product conveying belt has an upper portion that extends from the first surface in an upper plane between the first position and a looping portion of the product conveying belt and a lower portion that extends from the second surface in a lower plane between the looping portion and the second position. The upper portion of the product conveying belt defines a product accumulation path that can be elongate or shorten by rotating the secondary belt.
US09022193B2	Recirculating ball screw assembly Ball screws are described that may be incorporated into other devices such as a pulley assembly or a differential device. The ball screws include a threaded shaft defining a central longitudinal axis with a threaded nut threadedly coupled thereto to define at least one track in between them. Each track forms a continuous loop around an infield protrusion and is filled with a plurality of rolling elements filling. Each rolling element has the same radius from the central longitudinal axis such that the nut can rotate at higher speeds without the rolling elements locking up as a result of centripetal force.
US09022191B2	Hydraulic pressure control device A hydraulic pressure control device including a pump driven to generate hydraulic pressure; a first pressure regulation valve that regulates hydraulic pressure in a first passage coupled to a pump along with discharge of oil; a second pressure regulation valve that receives the hydraulic pressure in the first passage and regulates the hydraulic pressure to an engagement pressure to engage a lock-up clutch according to a first signal pressure to output the engagement pressure to a second passage that supplies the oil to an engagement chamber; and a third pressure regulation valve that receives the hydraulic pressure in the first passage or the engagement pressure output to the second passage and regulates the received pressure according to the first signal pressure or a second signal pressure that synchronizes with the first signal pressure to output the resulting pressure to a third passage that supplies the oil to the disengagement chamber.
US09022188B2	Dust seal structure for shock absorber A dust seal structure for a shock absorber includes a cylindrical base shell, in which a piston valve and a piston rod are embedded, a cap member covering one end of the base shell, an oil seal sealing the base shell, and a dust sealing member blocking dusts from being introduced at one side of the oil seal.
US09022183B2	Self-centering wet clutch or brake plate The present disclosure provides a brake disk for a brake assembly. The disk includes an annular body having an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The disk also includes friction material coupled to the body and substantially covering at least one side thereof. The friction material forms a first diameter and a second diameter, where the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter. The disk further includes a groove pattern defined in the friction material. The groove pattern includes a plurality of grooves, where each of the plurality of grooves includes an inlet defined at the first diameter and an outlet defined at the second diameter. The inlet defines a first width and the outlet defines a second width such that the first width is greater than the second width.
US09022179B2	Rotary lever disc brake caliper with rack and pinion mechanism A rotary lever disc brake actuating mechanism and a method for operating the rotary lever disc brake mechanism is provided. The mechanism includes a rotary lever which rotates a pinion to further rotate brake pad application racks. The racks are arranged to rotate toward an inboard brake pad to advance the brake pad toward a brake disc. The racks may further cooperate with lateral pins fixed to an outboard portion of the brake such that the outboard portion simultaneously advances an outboard brake pad toward the brake disc when the racks rotate. The brake mechanism may be assembled into a cartridge to be placed within an inboard portion of a brake caliper. The brake caliper may be located on a caliper mount via adjustment pins, whereby during new brake pad installation the caliper is self-centered by application of the brake, followed by securing the caliper to the adjustment pins.
US09022173B2	Grease guide A trough for use on wiping bar assembly of a rail lubrication system, wherein the wiping bar assembly includes a Manifold body and a flow passageway having an exit end at least partially defined in the manifold body. The trough includes a body having a first section and a second section extending away from the first section, wherein the first section of the body is positioned adjacent the exit end, and wherein a mat is provided within the trough.
US09022171B2	Adjustable sound-absorbing panel and assembly of adjustable sound-absorbing panels A directable sound-absorbing panel comprising a sound-absorbing panel, a fixing member which can be fixed to said sound-absorbing panel, an arm and an articulated joint between said fixing member and said arm, is described. An assembly of directable sound-absorbing panels is also described, said assembly comprising a plurality of sound-absorbing panels, a corresponding plurality of fixing members, a corresponding plurality of arms, a corresponding plurality of articulated joints between each arm and each fixing member, and a fixing bar to which at least a part of said plurality of arms is fixed.
US09022170B2	Muffler equipped with catalytic converter A muffler is capable of stably supporting the catalytic converter in a muffler box with a pair of partitions. The muffler box includes first and second box halves joined together with open surfaces thereof abutting each other, and first and second partition plates interposed between the first and second box halves and overlapping each other to separate inside of the muffler box into first and second silencing chambers and define a third silencing chamber between the first and second partition plates, one end opening of a cylindrical holding tube housing and holding the catalytic converter is connected to the exhaust inlet pipe, the pair of partition plates support the holding tube in such a way as to wrap an outer peripheral surface thereof, and another end opening of the holding tube is communicated with the exhaust outlet pipe through the first, second, and third silencing chambers in this order.
US09022169B2	Electrical power steering apparatus An electrical power steering system is configured to assist steering by transmitting, through a belt, a rotational force of a driving pulley coaxially coupled to a rotational shaft of an electrical motor to a driven pulley coaxially coupled to a rotational member of a steering apparatus. The electrical power steering system includes a belt tension adjustment mechanism for adjusting a tension of the belt. The belt tension adjustment mechanism includes: a guide surface and an engagement surface, which are formed as mating surfaces of a housing of the steering apparatus and a casing of the electrical motor so as to engage with each other; and a connector capable of relatively moving the engagement surface along the guide surface due to a connection force for connecting the housing and the casing under a state in which the guide surface and the engagement surface engage with each other. The guide surface is inclined by a predetermined amount with respect to an axial line direction of the rotational shaft.
US09022168B2	Powertrain and steering assembly layout A vehicle includes an engine assembly configured to power a vehicle. The engine assembly defines a first engine end and a second engine end opposite the first engine end. The first engine end is spaced apart from the second engine end along a first direction. The engine assembly defines a third engine end and a fourth engine end opposite the third engine end. The third engine end is spaced apart from the fourth engine end along a second direction. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The vehicle further includes a steering assembly disposed in close proximity to the engine assembly. The steering assembly includes a steering body disposed closer to the first engine end than to the second engine end.
US09022165B2	Vehicle lubrication flow control A method of controlling a fluid pump to supply lubricating fluid to a plurality of fluid requiring components in a hybrid vehicle powertrain includes selecting a component-required flow rate for each respective component using a determined operating speed and torque for that respective component. Once the each component-required flow rate is selected, the system flow rate is set to the maximum component-required flow rate of the plurality of component-required flow rates. The fluid pump is then commanded to supply fluid to each of the plurality of fluid requiring components at the system flow rate.
US09022157B2	Motorcycle A motorcycle with an ABS module disposed to make it hard to affect the layout of other components while suppressing the influence of vibration on the ABS module. A motorcycle includes rear frames joined to corresponding rear portions of the main frames and extending upwardly and rearwardly at a position below the corresponding seat frames. Front wheel braking members apply a braking force to a front wheel. An ABS module is connected to the front wheel braking means. A seat is supported on the upper portions of the seat frames. The ABS module has at least a portion disposed below the seat and between the seat frames and the rear frames as viewed from the side. The ABS module is suspended and supported by front and rear cross stays spanned between the pair of seat frames via a front elastic members and a rear elastic member.
US09022156B2	Limiter strap adjustment system for a snowmobile suspension A snowmobile rear suspension assembly has a pair of slide rails and at least one suspension arm pivotally connected thereto and adapted to be pivotally connected to a tunnel. A shock absorber is adapted to be pivotally connected between the tunnel and the slide rails. A limiter strap, adapted to extend between the tunnel and the slide rails, is substantially inextensible to limit separation therebetween. A strap holder, connected between an end of the limiter strap and the slide rails or the tunnel when the at least one suspension arm is connected to the tunnel, is moveable between a first and a second strap holder position. A position of the end of the limiter strap, relative to the slide rails or the tunnel, is different in the first strap holder position compared to the second strap holder position. A method of adjusting the limiter strap is also disclosed.
US09022145B2	Vibration detection in a drill string based on multi-positioned sensors In some example embodiments, a system includes a drill string having a drill bit. The drill string extends through at least part of a well bore. The system also includes a first vibrational sensor, positioned on the drill bit to measure, at a first location on the drill string, an amplitude of one or more of an axial vibration and a lateral vibration. The system also includes a second vibrational sensor, positioned above the drill bit and on the drill string. The second vibration sensor is to measure, at a second location on the drill string, one or more of an axial vibration and a lateral vibration. The system includes a processor unit to determine a type of vibration based on a comparison of the amplitude at the first location to the amplitude at the second location, wherein the type of vibration is at least one of bit whirl of the drill bit and a while of a bottom hole assembly that is part of the drill string.
US09022143B2	Wear indicators for drilling equipment Described herein is a wear indicator (100) for use in a drill bit or a core head. The wear indicator (100) comprises an elongate element that forms part of the drill bit. The elongate element has a plurality of numbers (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180) formed along its length, each number (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180) being formed as a void and corresponds to a level of wear in accordance with the IADC dull grading system. As the drill becomes worn, the wear indicator (100) wears at the same rate to reveal one of the numbers (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180). The numbers range from “1” to “8” where the number “1” illustrates the least wear and the number “8” indicates the most wear. When unworn, none of the numbers are visible.
US09022139B2	Gas cutting borehole drilling apparatus A drilling apparatus for drilling boreholes in an underground formation includes a tool body that can be positioned in a borehole where drilling is to take place. The apparatus further includes a gas cutting torch having a nozzle, a supply of a cutting gas connected to the gas cutting torch. In some embodiments, the gas cutting torch and supply of cutting gas may be connected by an umbilical link. The tool body may be advanced through the borehole as drilling takes place. In some embodiments, the tool body may be advanced via a tractor device that forms part of the tool body or attached to the tool body.
US09022137B2	Fastening tool A fastening tool is provided that incorporates, in an outer annular body into which a first nut is inserted to be driven to rotate, an inner annular body into which a first nut and a second nut having a pitch different from the pitch of the first nut are inserted to be driven to rotate, and that simultaneously rotates the two nuts and fastens the nuts to a bolt. A flange shaft body is driven to rotate relatively to the outer annular body and the inner annular body via a plurality of balls. The balls are held by the flange shaft body and pressed towards notches of the outer annular body and the inner annular body with urging forces of first and second urging members via holding members respectively.
US09022136B2	Apparatus and method relating to fencing An apparatus and method for fencing in which a mobile apparatus has a plurality of posts held with wires passing through respective aligned holes and means to take a post at a time to an into the ground driver with the wire or wires still extending through apertures in the post.
US09022135B2	Torque-applying tool and torque controller therefor A torque applying system includes a torque applying tool having a motor and rotating output spindle, a torque sensor that measures an instantaneous torque exerted by the output spindle during a fastening cycle, and a controller operatively connected to the tool to control the tool's rotational speed during the fastening cycle. The controller is programmed to control the tool's rotational speed to be [(τF−τC)/t]/r, wherein t is a time constant of speed control, τF is a target final torque for the fastening cycle, and r is a torque rate.
US09022134B2	Fire-resistant rescue blanket A fire-resistant rescue blanket sized to underlay and wrap around a victim for protecting the victim from fire-related injuries. The fire-resistant rescue blanket includes layers of a flame-resistant material for protecting against fire injuries, a heat-reflective fabric for protecting against environmental heat conditions, and a protective fabric for protecting against fallen debris. The heat-reflective fabric is arranged along an inner surface of the flame-resistant material and contacts the victim when the victim is wrapped in the fire-resistant rescue blanket. The protective fabric is arranged on the opposing outer surface covering at least underneath the area where the victim is laying to protect the wrapped victim against debris, such as during a dragging operation. The fire-resistant rescue blanket includes a plurality of loop handles for allowing rescue personnel to carry the victim if necessary. A drag strap may also be attached to the fire-resistant rescue blanket for facilitating a dragging operation.
US09022131B2	Hydrodynamic journal bearing flow control bushing for a rotating control device A rotating control device comprises an outer housing having a bore for receiving a tubular member. An inner housing and a piston assembly are rotatably disposed within the outer housing. An annular sealing assembly is disposed between the piston assembly and the inner housing so that axial movement of the piston assembly moves the annular sealing assembly into sealing engagement with the inner housing and the tubular member. A plurality of bearings is disposed between the inner housing and the outer housing. At least one of the plurality of bearings is a hydrodynamic journal bearing.
US09022130B2	Downhole valve tool and method of use A downhole isolation valve for testing the integrity of a tubular within a wellbore includes a tubular body with an axial through bore having a reduced diameter portion defining a valve seat and a ledge; an inner sleeve, with a closed end configured to seal within the valve seat, a shoulder spaced from that closed end, and a radial outlet positioned between the shoulder and the closed end; wherein in use the inner sleeve is selectively moveable within the bore at a predetermined pressure between a closed position, in which there is no flowpath through the bore, and an open position, in which the closed end is positioned beyond the valve seat to expose the radial outlet to the through bore beyond the valve seat and provide a flowpath through the bore of the outer tubular body.
US09022129B2	Tracking geologic object and detecting geologic anomalies in exploration seismic data volume A method and system are described for identifying a geologic object through cross sections of a geologic data volume. The method includes obtaining a geologic data volume having a set of cross sections. Then, two or more cross sections are selected and a transformation vector is estimated between the cross sections. Based on the transformation vector, a geologic object is identified within the geologic data volume.
US09022127B2	Riser system comprising pressure control means The present invention regards a riser system comprising at least one riser extending from a subsea wellhead to a surface vessel, tension means for keeping the at least one riser tensioned, which tension means are connected to the vessel, a upper workover riser package (UWRP) located at the upper section of the riser and arranged to seal off the riser passage.According to the invention the UWRP is located below the connection point of the tension means to the vessel, giving the UWRP a position stationary relative a seabed, and that the UWRP comprises an interface adapted for the connection of different kinds of workover equipment. The invention also regards a method for inserting tools into a riser.
US09022124B2	Well intervention A method of well intervention in a subsea well having a wellhead on the sea floor includes extending an intervention hose downwardly through the sea from a hose drum installed on a vessel on the sea surface into the well through a subsea intervention stack installed on the wellhead. The intervention hose is exposed directly to the ambient sea between the vessel and the top of the subsea intervention stack. In a method of well intervention, an intervention hose extends from a hose drum and into a well. The hose is driven out of the well without the use of an injector by pulling the hose out of the well with the hose drum. In a method of well intervention, an intervention hose extends from a hose drum towards a wellhead, with the hose being guided downward from the drum towards the wellhead by a guiding sheave.
US09022119B2	Steam distribution apparatus and method for enhanced oil recovery of viscous oil Methods and apparatus for enhanced and improved viscous oil recovery are disclosed. A horizontal well is drilled through the viscous oil formation. A specially designed tubing string includes outlets that deliver steam more uniformly into the entire horizontal extent of the well borehole. Heat from the steam mobilizes and lowers the viscosity of the heavy crude wherein the crude is then produced to the surface via conventional lift arrangements.
US09022117B2	Section mill and method for abandoning a wellbore A method for milling a tubular cemented in a wellbore includes deploying a bottomhole assembly (BHA) into the wellbore through the tubular, the BHA comprising a window mill; and extending arms of the window mill and radially cutting through the tubular, thereby forming a window through the tubular, wherein a body portion of each window mill arm engages and stabilizes from an inner surface of the tubular after a blade portion of each window mill arm cuts through the tubular.
US09022116B2	Shaped charge tubing cutter A shaped charge pipe cutter is constructed with the cutter explosive material packed intimately around an axially elongated void space that is continued through a heavy wall boss portion of the upper thrust disc. The boss wall is continued to within a critical initiation distance of a half-cuter junction plane. An explosive detonator is positioned along the void space axis proximate of the outer plane of the upper thrust disc. Geometric configurations of the charge thrust disc and end-plate concentrate the detonation energy at the critical initiation zone.
US09022115B2	Method and apparatus for wellbore perforation A method for wellbore perforation in which a section of the wellbore to be perforated is isolated and purged of wellbore fluid to provide a clear path for laser beam transmittal. A laser beam emitter in the purged wellbore section transmits a laser beam pulse from the laser beam emitter to a target area of a sidewall and formation lithology of the purged wellbore section, thereby altering a mechanical property of a material of the sidewall and formation lithology and producing material debris. A liquid jet pulse of a liquid is transmitted immediately following termination of the laser beam pulse to the target area, thereby removing the material debris from the target area. This cycle is then repeated until the desired perforation depth has been achieved.
US09022112B2	Chelant based system and polylactide resin for acid diversion Compositions and methods for treating a subterranean formation including forming a fluid comprising chelant and polylactide resin fiber; and introducing the fluid to a subterranean formation, wherein the temperature of the formation is about 300° F. or warmer. Compositions and methods for treating a subterranean formation including forming a fluid comprising viscoelastic surfactant, trisodium hydroxyethylethylenediamine-triacetate and polylactide resin fiber; and introducing the fluid to a subterranean formation, wherein the temperature of the formation is about 300° F. or warmer.

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