Document | Document Title |
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US09156957B2 |
Puncture-healing thermoplastic resin carbon-fiber-reinforced composites
A composite comprising a combination of a self-healing polymer matrix and a carbon fiber reinforcement is described. In one embodiment, the matrix is a polybutadiene graft copolymer matrix, such as polybutadiene graft copolymer comprising poly(butadiene)-graft-poly(methyl acrylate-co-acrylonitrile). A method of fabricating the composite is also described, comprising the steps of manufacturing a pre-impregnated unidirectional carbon fiber preform by wetting a plurality of carbon fibers with a solution, the solution comprising a self-healing polymer and a solvent, and curing the preform. A method of repairing a structure made from the composite of the invention is described. A novel prepreg material used to manufacture the composite of the invention is described. |
US09156954B2 |
Emulsion polymerisation method
The invention relates to a method for the production of silicone in water emulsions by emulsion polymerization. The emulsion contains particles of an organopolysiloxane polymer having an average particle diameter of less than 1 μm. The method comprises: —combining a silanol end-blocked organosiloxane starting polymer, water, and a surfactant; said starting polymer having a viscosity of at least 2 Pa·s preferably at least 2.5 Pa·s preferably at least 3.5 Pa·s preferably at least 4 Pa·s and up to 150 Pa·s; —emulsifying the starting polymer by agitating or shearing the ingredients; —polymerizing the starting polymer to form a longer chain silanol end-blocked organopolysiloxane polymer; wherein at least a portion of said polymerizing step is performed at a temperature of less than or equal to 16° C. preferably less than or equal to 15° C. |
US09156953B2 |
Polyglycolic acid resin composition and molded article therefrom
To provide polyglycolic acid resin compositions having excellent moldability, and high barrier properties and transparency after molding, and molded articles therefrom. According to the present invention, a polylactic acid having a mass average molecular weight Mw of 100000 to 1000000 is added to a polyglycolic acid having a mass average molecular weight Mw of 100000 to 1000000 in a content of the polylactic acid of 5 to 30% by mass, and the mixture is melt-kneaded under, for example, a temperature condition of 230 to 270° C., thereby obtaining a resin composition having a temperature-lowering crystallization peak temperature Tc, measured by differential scanning calorimetry, of 3 to 18° C. lower than that of a polyglycolic acid only. |
US09156952B2 |
Chemical modification of lignin and lignin derivatives
A method for producing a trans-esterified hydroxypropyl lignin (HPL) is provided in one example embodiment and includes precipitating a lignin, dissolving the precipitated lignin in a solution, adding a reagent to the solution, adjusting the pH of the solution, allowing reactions in the solution to occur for a predetermined amount of time, precipitating the solution to produce a precipitate, and washing, filtering, and drying the precipitate to produce the trans-esterified HPL. In one example, a thermoplastic may be added to produce a trans-esterified HPL/thermoplastic blend. |
US09156948B2 |
Iron(II) containing complex and condensation reaction catalysts, methods for preparing the catalysts, and compositions containing the catalysts
A composition is capable of curing via condensation reaction. The composition uses a new condensation reaction catalyst. The new condensation reaction catalyst is used to replace conventional tin catalysts. The composition can react to form a gum, gel, rubber, or resin. |
US09156938B2 |
Compositions, methods, and systems comprising fluorous-soluble polymers
The present invention generally relates to compositions, methods, and systems comprising polymers that are fluorous-soluble and/or organize at interfaces between a fluorous phase and a non-fluorous phase. In some embodiments, emulsions or films are provided comprising a polymer. The polymers, emulsions, and films can be used in many applications, including for determining, treating, and/or imaging a condition and/or disease in a subject. The polymer may also be incorporated into various optoelectronic device such as photovoltaic cells, organic light-emitting diodes, organic field effect transistors, or the like. In some embodiments, the polymers comprise pi-conjugated backbones, and in some cases, are highly emissive. |
US09156935B2 |
Polyurethanes made using zinc catalysts
Polyisocyanate-based polymers are formed by curing a reaction mixture containing at least one polyisocyanate and at least one isocyanate-reactive compound having at least two isocyanate-reactive groups in the presence of a zinc catalyst that contains at least one zinc atom associated with a polydentate ligand that contains at least one nitrogen-containing complexing site. |
US09156930B2 |
Film for use in film capacitors, and film capacitors
Provided is a film for a film capacitor in which electrical insulation, and especially electrical properties at high temperatures are improved while a high dielectric constant of a vinylidene fluoride resin is maintained. The film for a film capacitor includes a tetrafluoroethylene resin (a1) that includes a vinylidene fluoride unit and a tetrafluoroethylene unit in the vinylidene fluoride unit/tetrafluoroethylene unit ratio (mol %) of 0/100 to 49/51 as a film-forming resin (A). |
US09156929B2 |
Bis(2-indenyl) metallocene complex
The invention relates to a metallocene complex according to the following formula (1) wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are a substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched, hydrocarbyl group comprising 1 to 30 carbon atoms; M is titanium, zirconium, or hafnium and X1 and X2 are the same and are halogen or a hydrocarbyl group comprising 1 to 20 carbon atoms. |
US09156928B2 |
Alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer, and composition, thickener, coating material for paper, coated paper, adhesive and film containing the same
An object of the invention is to provide a novel alkyl-modified PVA capable of exerting superior thickening properties while maintaining high water solubility, and also capable of having high water resistance in a state being hardened without using an especial crosslinking agent. In addition, another object is to provide a composition, a thickener, a coating material for papers, a coated paper, an adhesive and a film containing the alkyl-modified PVA. Provided is an alkyl-modified vinyl alcohol polymer containing (a) a monomer unit represented by the following general formula (I): wherein, R1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 8 to 29 carbon atoms; and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and has a viscosity average degree of polymerization of no less than 200 and no greater than 5,000, a degree of saponification of no less than 20 mol % and no greater than 99.99 mol %, and a content of the monomer unit (a) of no less than 0.05 mol % and no greater than 5 mol %. |
US09156927B2 |
Catalyst component for olefin polymerization reaction and catalyst comprising same
A catalyst component for olefin polymerization comprising magnesium, titanium, halogen and electron donor, wherein the electron donor is selected from at least one of the diol diester compounds, when the diol diester comprised contains a certain amount of isomer with Fischer projection formula as shown in Formula (II), the activity and stereospecificity of the catalyst are greatly improved, especially in the production of polymers with high melt index, the isotactic index of the obtained polymers is improved substantially. |
US09156926B2 |
Peroxide curable fluoroelastomers containing modifiers and iodine or bromine endgroups
Provided are curable fluoroelastomers. Further provided are methods of making the curable elastomers, curable fluoroelastomer compositions and methods of making them and shaped articles made from the curable fluoroelastomer compositions. |
US09156922B2 |
Modified catalyst supports
A process for preparing a supported catalyst system comprising the following steps: a. titanating a silica-containing catalyst support having a specific surface area of from 150 m2/g to 800 m2/g, preferably 280 to 600 m2/g, with at least one vaporized titanium compound of the general formula selected from RnTi(OR′)m and (RO)nTi(OR′)m, wherein R and R′ are the same or different and are selected from hydrocarbyl groups containing from 1 to 12 carbon and halogens, and wherein n is 0 to 4, m is 0 to 4 and m+n equals 4, to form a titanated silica-containing catalyst support having at least 0.1 wt % of Ti based on the weight of the titanated silica-containing catalyst support, b. treating the support with a catalyst activating agent, preferably an alumoxane. c. treating the titanated support with at least one metallocene during or after step (b). |
US09156918B2 |
Treatment of cellulose esters
Ionic liquids and cellulose ester compositions and processes for producing ionic liquids and cellulose esters. Cellulose esters can be produced by esterifying cellulose in a reaction medium comprising one or more ionic liquids. Cellulose esters prepared via the methods of the present invention can be contacted with at least one bleaching agent to produce bleached cellulose esters having a ΔE value of less than 30. |
US09156916B2 |
Modulation of T helper cell-mediated immune responses
Provided herein are methods for modulating one or more of a T-helper cell or monocyte lineage cell-mediated immune response in a subject, the method comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound which binds to surface membrane immunoglobulin D (smIgD). Also provided are methods of diagnosis of one or more of a T-helper cell or monocyte lineage cell-mediated immune disease, and compositions and kits for use in such methods. |
US09156912B2 |
Immunological reconstitution promoter or prophylactic agent for infections each of which maintains graft-versus-tumor effect
The object of the invention is to provide an immunological reconstitution promoter or a prophylactic agent for infections for use in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation therapy for tumors. The promoter or prophylactic agent enables the amelioration of delayed immune reconstitution or the prevention of infection following transplantation, while maintaining the GVT effect of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Specifically, in a transplant patient in whom immune reconstitution is delayed, such reconstitution can be promoted by administering, at an early stage following transplantation, a substance capable of depleting CD4+ cells. Early completion of infection management in the patient and improvement in the survival rate are anticipated as a result. In addition, the risk of complications associated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is reduced, enabling more widespread use of this therapy. |
US09156907B2 |
Diagnostic antibody assay
Diagnostic assays for the diagnosis of amyloidosis, in particular, Alzheimer's disease, and related aspects. In particular, monoclonal antibodies and an antibody assay are provided. |
US09156899B2 |
Modified animal erythropoietin polypeptides and their uses
Modified animal erythropoietin polypeptides and uses thereof are provided. |
US09156895B2 |
AXMI218, AXMI219, AXMI220, AXMI226, AXMI227, AXMI228, AXMI229, AXMI230 and AXMI231 delta-endotoxin genes and methods for their use
Compositions and methods for conferring lepidoptericidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for the Axmi226 toxin polypeptide are provided. The Axmi226 coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated Axmi226 toxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the Axmi226 polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:19 and 20, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4, as well as variants and fragments thereof. |
US09156893B2 |
Antimicrobial bacteria strains and uses thereof
The present invention provides novel antimicrobial bacteria strains and uses thereof to prepare novel antimicrobial agents. Also provided are the novel antimicrobial agents. |
US09156888B2 |
Antibody molecules
The present invention provides murine monoclonal antibody molecules that bind to Merkel cell carcinoma virus (MCV) polypeptides. |
US09156886B2 |
Cyclosporin analogues for preventing or treating hepatitis C infection
The present invention relates to cyclosporin analogues having antiviral activity against HCV and useful in the treatment of HCV infections. More particularly, the invention relates to novel cyclosporin analogue compounds, compositions containing such compounds and methods for using the same, as well as processes for making such compounds. |
US09156884B2 |
Inhibitors of beta integrin-G protein alpha subunit binding interactions
Provided herein are compounds that inhibit a binding interaction between a β integrin and a G protein subunit, as well as compositions, e.g., pharmaceutical compositions, comprising the same, and related kits. In some embodiments, the compound is an antibody or antibody analog, and, in other embodiments, the compound is a peptide or peptide analog. Also provided are methods of using the compounds, including methods of treating or preventing a medical condition, such as stroke, heart attack, cancer, or inflammation. |
US09156879B1 |
Chromatography media
The present invention provides, in part, a chromatographic restricted access media comprising aminopropyl groups derivatized with polysuccinamide that is derivatized with 1-ethylpropylamine and denatured human serum albumin. Methods of purifying polypeptides and complexes thereof are also provided. |
US09156873B2 |
Modified 5′ diphosphate nucleosides and oligomeric compounds prepared therefrom
Provided herein are modified 5′ diphosphate nucleosides and oligomeric compounds prepared therefrom. More particularly, modified 5′ diphosphate nucleosides are provided that can be further modified at the 2′ and 5′ positions. In some embodiments, the oligomeric compounds provided herein are expected to hybridize to a portion of a target RNA resulting in loss of normal function of the target RNA. The oligomeric compounds are also expected to be useful as primers and probes in diagnostic applications. |
US09156870B2 |
Phosphorescent emitters
Compounds including a ligand with a dibenzo-fused 5-membered ring substituent are provided. In particular, the compounds may be iridium complexes including imidazole coordinated to the dibenzo-substituted ligand. The dibenzo-fused 5-membered ring moiety of the ligand may be twisted or minimally twisted out of plane with respect to the rest of the ligand structure. The compound may be used in organic light emitting devices, particularly as emitting dopants in blue devices. Devices comprising the compounds may demonstrate improved stability while maintaining excellent color. |
US09156869B2 |
Ruthenium complex for dye-sensitized solar cell
A ruthenium complex for a dye-sensitized solar cell includes a chemical formula represented by Formula (I): RuL1L2L3 (I) where L1 represents a monodentate ligand; L2 represents a tridentate ligand of and L3 represents a bidentate ligand of where R1 to R27 have meaning as defined in the specification. |
US09156865B2 |
System for delivering therapeutic agents into living cells and cells nuclei
The present invention relates to a novel delivery system for delivering therapeutic agents into living cells, and more particularly, to novel chemical moieties that are designed capable of targeting and/or penetrating cells or other targets of interest and further capable of binding therapeutic agents to be delivered to these cells, and to delivery systems containing same. |
US09156863B2 |
Branched siloxanes and methods for synthesis
The present invention describes branched and functionalized siloxanes and methods for making such compounds. The compounds have a variety of uses. One preferred application is as novel planarizing material for lithography, in which case functionalized branched siloxane, such as an epoxy-modified branched siloxane is particularly useful. |
US09156862B2 |
Silylated azulenyl nitrone spin traps as chromotropic superoxide detectors
Silylated nitrones and methods of detecting and/or superoxide using silylated nitrones are disclosed herein. |
US09156860B2 |
Boron-containing small molecules
This invention provides novel compounds, methods of using the compounds, and pharmaceutical formulations comprising the compounds. |
US09156858B2 |
Boronic acid derivatives and therapeutic uses thereof
Disclosed herein are antimicrobial compounds compositions, pharmaceutical compositions, the use and preparation thereof. Some embodiments relate to boronic acid derivatives and their use as therapeutic agents. |
US09156857B2 |
Diethylzinc composition, method for heat stabilization, and compound for heat stabilization
[Object]To improve heat stability of diethylzinc which is used for a catalyst of polymerizing, an organic synthetic reaction reagent and a raw materials for providing a zinc film by MOCVD. And to offer the diethylzinc composition being superior in heat stability, even if it handles for a long term a metal zinc particle does not precipitate.[Means for Solving Problem]Use a diethylzinc composition added a compound which has particular carbon-carbon double bond to a diethylzinc. |
US09156856B2 |
Apoptosis-inducing agents for the treatment of cancer and immune and autoimmune diseases
Disclosed are compounds which inhibit the activity of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, compositions containing the compounds and methods of treating diseases during which is expressed anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. |
US09156852B2 |
Thieno[3,2-D]pyrimidine derivatives having inhibitory activity for protein kinases
Provided are a thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivative of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof having inhibitory activity for protein kinase, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising same for prevention and treatment of abnormal cell growth diseases. |
US09156851B2 |
Photocurable dianhydro-hexane-hexol derivative, manufacturing method thereof, and photocurable composition including same
Provided herein is a photocurable dianhydrohexanehexol derivative, a method preparing the same, and a composition including the same, for example, to a photocurable compound derived from environmentally friendly biomass, the compound having a structure where a 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPM) functional group prepared by reacting a biomass derived dianhydrohexanehexol (1,4:3,6-dianhydro-d-hexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol, DHH) compound under an optimal reaction condition is combined, a preparing method thereof, and a photocurable composition comprising the photocurable compound. |
US09156846B2 |
Inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase
Disclosed herein is a solid oral formulation comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (A) formulated for release of the compound in the intestine, wherein the compound of Formula (A) has the structure: |
US09156841B2 |
Crystalline forms of pemetrexed diacid and processes for the preparation thereof
Provided are crystalline forms of N-[4-[2-(2-amino-4,7-dihydro-4-oxo-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-5-yl)ethyl]benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid, pemetrexed diacid, and processes for the preparation thereof. |
US09156839B2 |
Fused bicyclic sulfamoyl derivatives and the use thereof as medicaments for the treatment of hepatitis B
Inhibitors of HBV replication of Formula (I) including stereochemically isomeric forms, and salts, hydrates, solvates thereof, wherein A-E, R1, R2, R3 and R5, have the meaning as defined herein. The present invention also relates to processes for preparing said compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use, alone or in combination with other HBV inhibitors, in HBV therapy. |
US09156838B2 |
Fused heterocyclic compound
This fused heterocyclic compound represented in formula (1) has excellent effectiveness in pest control. In the formula, A1 represents —NR4—, etc.; A2 represents a nitrogen atom, etc.; R1 represents an ethyl group, a cyclopropyl group, or a cyclopropylmethyl group; R2 represents —S(O)mR6 or —C(R7)(CF3)2; R4 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group optionally having one or more halogen atoms; R6 represents a C1-C6 haloalkyl group; R7 represents a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom, and m and n each represents 0, 1 or 2. |
US09156834B2 |
Derivatives of heteroarylsulfonamides, their preparation and their application in human therapy
The present invention concerns derivatives of heteroarylsulfonamides, notably as blockers of Kv potassium channels, and more particularly of channels Kv1.5, Kv4.3 or Kv11.1, their application in clinical therapy and their preparation methods. These compounds correspond to the following general formula (I): where R1 represents one or more substituents of the phenyl core X such as: hydrogen, halogen, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, linear or branched C1-C4 alkyl, or linear or branched C1-C4 alkoxy, A represents oxygen or sulphur, B represents nitrogen when n=1 or 2 and D represents —C(═O)—, or B represents CH when n=0 and D represents —CH2O— or when n=1 and D represents —O—, R2 represents a hydrogen, a methyl, a fluorine or chlorine atom or a methoxy, HetAr represents a pyridyl or quinolyl group, possibly substituted by a group such as a linear or branched C1-C4 alkyl, a linear or branched C1-C4 alkoxy, a halogen, or a trifluoromethyl, and to their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. |
US09156833B2 |
Bitopic muscarinic agonists and antagonists and methods of synthesis and use thereof
The present invention is directed to the following compound: The compound is associated with activity of a muscarinic receptor (e.g., one or more of M1, M2, M3, M4, M5). |
US09156831B2 |
Chemical compounds
The invention concerns compounds of Formula (I) or pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1 and R2 have any of the meanings defined hereinbefore in the description; processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of cell proliferative disorders. |
US09156829B2 |
Cycloalkyl and heterocycloalkyl compounds as orexin receptor antagonists
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein L, X, Ra, Rb, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the specification, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in therapy. |
US09156823B2 |
Antiviral compounds
The invention is related to anti-viral compounds, compositions containing such compounds, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such compounds, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds. |
US09156821B2 |
Large substituent, non-phenolic opioids and methods of use thereof
8-Substituted-2,6-methano-3-benzazocines of general structure are useful as analgesics, anti-diarrheal agents, anticonvulsants, antitussives and anti-addiction medications. |
US09156820B2 |
Polycyclic heteroaryl substituted triazoles useful as axl inhibitors
Polycyclic heteroaryl substituted triazoles and pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds are disclosed as being useful in inhibiting the activity of the receptor protein tyrosine kinase Axl. Methods of using the compounds in treating diseases or conditions associated with Axl activity are also disclosed. |
US09156814B2 |
Imaging beta-amyloid peptides and inhibition of beta-amyloid peptide aggregation
The present invention relates to methods of detecting and monitoring aggregation of beta-amyloid peptides which are associated with neurodegenerative diseases as well as treating and/or preventing the neurodegenerative diseases by using carbazole-based fluorophores. In particular, the present invention provides methods for labeling and imaging the beta-amyloid (Aβ) peptides, oligomers, and fibrils in vitro and/or in vivo, as well as treating and/or preventing Alzheimer's disease by using the carbazole-based fluorophores of the present invention. |
US09156810B2 |
Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
Disclosed herein is a method comprising administering a compound to a mammal suffering from an inflammatory bowel disease for the treatment of said disease, said compound having a structure according to Formula I wherein X, Y, B, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and n have the meanings found herein. |
US09156799B2 |
Isotopically enriched arylsulfonamide CCR3 antagonists
Provided herein are isotopically enriched arylsulfonamides, for example, of Formula I, that are useful for modulating CCR3 activity, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided herein are methods of their use for treating, preventing, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a CCR3-mediated disease, disorder, or condition. |
US09156797B2 |
Benzimidazole derivatives as PI3 kinase inhibitors
This invention relates to the use of benzimidazole derivatives for the modulation, notably the inhibition of the activity or function of the phosphoinositide 3′ OH kinase family (hereinafter PI3 kinases), suitably, PI3Kα, PI3Kδ, PI3Kβ, and/or PI3Kγ. Suitably, the present invention relates to the use of benzimidazoles in the treatment of one or more disease states selected from: autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, allergy, asthma, pancreatitis, multiorgan failure, kidney diseases, platelet aggregation, cancer, sperm motility, transplantation rejection, graft rejection and lung injuries. More suitably, the present invention relates to PI3Kβ selective benzimidazoles compounds for treating cancer. |
US09156794B2 |
Imidazole compounds that modulate HSP90 activity
Compounds of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula (I) and methods of inhibiting Hsp90 in a cell, treating or preventing a proliferation disorder in a mammal and treating cancer in a mammal comprising administering a compound of formula (I) to a patient or a cell. Variable R5 is an optionally substituted heteroaryl; an optionally substituted 6 to 14-membered aryl; a bicyclic 9-member heterocycle optionally substituted at any substitutable nitrogen or carbon atoms; or a substituent R18, defined herein. Ring A is an aryl or a heteroaryl optionally further substituted with one or more substituents in addition to R3. Substituent R3 is defined herein. |
US09156793B2 |
Method for preparation of medetomidine with chloroacetone
The invention discloses a method for the preparation of medetomidine starting from 1-bromo 2,3-dimethylbenzene and chloroacetone. |
US09156792B2 |
Retinamide and uses thereof
Retinoic acid metabolism blocking agents (RAMBAs). The RAMBAs may be used for treatment of cancer, including breast and prostate cancers. Methods for preparing novel retinamide RAMBAs. The methods include reacting RAMBAs with terminal polar carboxylic acid group with a variety of amines in the presence of suitable coupling reagents. The retinamide RAMBAs are potent inhibitors of the growth of prostate and breast cancer cells and may be useful for the treatment of these diseases in humans. |
US09156788B2 |
TRPV3 modulators
Disclosed herein are modulators of TRPV3 of formula (I) wherein G1, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, G2, Z1, Ra, Rb, u, and p are as defined in the specification. Compositions comprising such compounds and methods for treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions are also presented. |
US09156787B2 |
Pro-neurogenic compounds
This invention relates generally to stimulating neurogenesis (e.g., post-natal neurogenesis, e.g., post-natal hippocampal neurogenesis) and protection from neuron cell death. |
US09156784B2 |
Herbicidal sulfinimidoyl- and sulfonimidoyl benzoyl derivatives
The invention relates to sulfmimidoyl- and sulfonimidoylbenzoyl derivatives of the general formula (I). In said formula (I), R, R′, X, W and Z represent radicals such as hydrogen, organic radicals such as alkyl, and other radicals such as halogens. Q represents a cyclohexandionyl-, pyrazolyl-oder isoxazolyl radical. |
US09156782B2 |
Process for the preparation of methionine
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of D,L-methionine, in which carbon dioxide is fed to an aqueous potassium methioninate solution obtained by hydrolysis of 5-(2-methylmercaptoethyl)hydantoin, in order to precipitate out crude methionine, which is separated off and purified, where, for the purposes of purification, an aqueous solution of the separated-off crude methionine is prepared and subjected to a recrystallization, characterized in that the solution from which the recrystallization takes place contains potassium ions and also a crystallization additive, where the crystallization additive is a nonionic or anionic surfactant, or a mixture of different nonionic or anionic surfactants, and that the recrystallization takes place by introducing a 60 to 110° C.-hot methionine solution into a 35 to 80° C.-warm methionine suspension, the temperature of which is lower than that of the introduced solution, the temperature of the methionine suspension being maintained between 35 and 80° C. during the addition. |
US09156780B2 |
Sulfonic acid group-containing diamine compound and method for producing the same
The present invention provides a novel sulfonic acid group-containing diamine compound represented by formula (1) below, and a method for producing the same. This compound has a fluorene skeleton with sulfonic acid groups or derivatives thereof. In this compound, a substituent having an amino group is bonded to each of carbon atoms at the 2-position and the 7-position in the skeleton, and no substituent is bonded to a carbon atom at the 9-position in the skeleton. A in formula (1) denotes an optionally-substituted divalent aliphatic group (having a carbon number of 10 or less) or an optionally-substituted divalent aromatic group (having the number of rings of 4 or less), for example. |
US09156775B2 |
Substituted 1,3-thiazoles as heat shock transcription factor 1 activators
The present invention relates to 1,3-thiazole compounds, methods for their discovery, and their research and therapeutic uses, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, chelates, non-covalent complexes, prodrugs, mixtures (including both R and S enantiomeric forms and racemic mixtures thereof), and pharmaceutical Formulations thereof. |
US09156773B2 |
Alicyclic dicarboxylic acid ester compound and manufacturing method thereof
The alicyclic dicarboxylic acid ester compound of the present invention is represented by the following formula (1): wherein R each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. |
US09156771B2 |
Process for the preparation of enolate salts of 4-fluoro-2-hydroxymethylene-3 oxo-butyrates
Enolate salts of 4-fluoro-2-hydroxymethylene-3-oxobutyrates of formula wherein R1 is C1-10 alkyl, R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen or fluorine, M is an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and n is 1 or 2, are prepared from enolate salts of the corresponding 4-fluoro-3-oxobutyrates and carbon monoxide. The enolate salts of formula I can be alkylated or acylated to obtain the corresponding enol ethers and esters. The 4-fluoro-3-oxobutyrate starting material can be prepared from 1,1-difluoroethyl methyl ethers by SbF5-catalyzed fluoromethane elimination followed by halogen exchange with lithium chloride, reacting the thus obtained fluoroacetyl chloride with ketene and quenching with the appropriate alcohol R1—OH. |
US09156768B2 |
Isolation of acrylic acid by means of a distillation column having a side offtake
The present process separates acrylic acid from a composition containing acrylic acid and at least one accompanying product. The process first involves contacting the composition with an aqueous liquid stream to give a liquid solution of acrylic acid, accompanying product, and water. The water then forms an azeotrope with an entrainer, which is added to the solution. Distillation then separates the solution into an overhead product containing the azeotrope and a bottom product containing acrylic acid and accompanying product. The overhead product is separated into water and entrainer and the bottom product is separated in a distillation column into acrylic acid and accompanying product. The process provides a way to remove high- and low-boiling products with a small number of distillation columns. |
US09156766B2 |
Production of adipic acid and derivatives from carbohydrate-containing materials
The present invention generally relates to processes for the chemocatalytic conversion of a glucose source to an adipic acid product. The present invention includes processes for the conversion of glucose to an adipic acid product via glucaric acid or derivatives thereof. The present invention also includes processes comprising catalytic oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid or derivative thereof and processes comprising the catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of glucaric acid or derivatives thereof to an adipic acid product. The present invention also includes products produced from adipic acid product and processes for the production thereof from such adipic acid product. |
US09156764B2 |
Process for making ethylene and acetic acid
A process comprising catalytically converting ethane to ethylene and acetic acid in the presence of oxygen at a temperature of 450° C. or less in the gas phase wherein the catalyst has the empirical formula MoVaNbbTecZdOn. |
US09156761B2 |
Process for preparing polyether polyols
The present invention relates to a process for preparing polyetherols by catalytic ring-opening polymerization, wherein at least one nitrogen-containing cyclic precatalyst compound is used. |
US09156759B2 |
Process for isolating crystallized 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol (TMCD) particles utilizing pressure filtration
A method for isolating 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol (TMCD) solids from an isolated feed slurry formed in a TMCD process comprising TMCD, a liquid phase, and impurities by (a) treating the isolated feed slurry in a product isolation zone to produce an isolated TMCD product wet cake, a mother liquor, and impurities; wherein the product isolation zone can comprise at least one rotary pressure drum filter. |
US09156758B2 |
Perfluoroalkylation of carbonyl compounds
The present invention provides a process for producing a compound comprising a perfluorinated alkyl group moiety from a carbonyl compound. Typically, the process includes contacting a carbonyl compound with a silane compound in the presence of a fluorohydrogenate ionic liquid under conditions sufficient to produce a compound comprising a perfluorinated alkyl group. The silane compound includes a perfluoroalkyl group. |
US09156757B2 |
Process for the oxidation of hydrocarbons
A method for oxidizing hydrocarbons, in particular saturated hydrocarbons, for producing peroxides, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes and/or diacids is described. Also described, is a method for oxidizing a cycloaliphatic saturated hydrocarbon using molecular oxygen for producing ketones/alcohols, and more precisely for oxidizing cyclohexane into cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone using molecular oxygen. |
US09156753B2 |
Method for removing moisture from fluorine-containing compounds
The present invention provides a method for removing moisture from fluorine-containing compounds, the method comprising bringing a fluorine-containing compound contaminated with moisture into contact with an aqueous solution containing a metal salt. The method of the present invention can continuously and efficiently remove moisture from various fluorine-containing compounds, such as hydrofluoroolefins. In addition, the method produces less waste, etc., and is an industrially advantageous moisture removal method. |
US09156749B2 |
Styrene removal in paraxylene recovery process
The invention relates to removal of styrene from hydrocarbon mixtures, and more particularly, removal of styrene from hydrocarbon mixtures containing higher than equilibrium paraxylene concentrations. |
US09156748B2 |
Process for conversion of paraffinic feedstocks obtained from the biomass of middle distillate bases employing at least one IZM-2 zeolite-based catalyst
The invention relates to a process for conversion of a paraffinic feedstock that has a number of carbon atoms of between 9 and 25, whereby said paraffinic feedstock is produced starting from renewable resources, employing a catalyst that comprises at least one hydrogenating-dehydrogenating metal that is selected from the group that is formed by the metals of group VIB and group VIII of the periodic table, taken by themselves or in a mixture, and a substrate that comprises at least one IZM-2 zeolite and at least one binder, with said process being carried out at a temperature of between 150 and 500° C., at a pressure of between 0.1 MPa and 15 MPa, at an hourly volumetric flow rate of between 0.1 and 10 h−1, and in the presence of a total quantity of hydrogen mixed with the feedstock such that the hydrogen/feedstock ratio is between 70 and 2,000 Nm3/m3 of feedstock. |
US09156747B2 |
Alkylation process using phosphonium-based ionic liquids
A process for making an alkylate is presented. The process includes mixing an isoparaffin stream with an olefin stream in an alkylation reactor. The alkylation reactor includes a catalyst for performing the reaction. The catalyst is an ionic liquid that is a quaternary phosphonium based ionic liquid, and the reaction is performed at or near ambient temperatures. |
US09156745B2 |
Fertilizer granules having polymeric coating with organic carbonate
A controlled release fertilizer composition and methods to produce the controlled release fertilizer composition. The controlled release fertilizer composition includes a fertilizer core that is coated with a polymeric layer, such as polyurethane, that includes an organic carbonate additive. |
US09156740B2 |
Ceramic boron-containing doping paste and methods therefor
A ceramic boron-containing dopant paste is disclosed. The ceramic boron-containing dopant paste further comprising a set of solvents, a set of ceramic particles dispersed in the set of solvents, a set of boron compound particles dispersed in the set of solvents, a set of binder molecules dissolved in the set of solvents. Wherein, the ceramic boron-containing dopant paste has a shear thinning power law index n between about 0.01 and about 1. |
US09156739B2 |
Dielectric ceramic composition and an electronic device thereof
A multilayer ceramic composition showing good characteristics, even when electric intensity on dielectric layers is high and a stacked number of a multilayer ceramic capacitor is increased, and an electronic device thereof. Said composition comprises: a perovskite compound ABO3, and with respect to 100 moles of said compound, 0.6 or more to 1.4 or less moles of Ra2O3 in which Ra is at least one of Dy, Gd and Tb, 0.2 or more to 0.7 or less moles of Rb2O3 in which Rb is at least one of Ho and Y, and 0.2 or more to 0.7 or less moles of Rc2O3 in which Rc is at least one of Yb and Lu, in terms of each oxide, 0.6 or more to 1.6 or less moles of Mg oxide in terms of Mg, and 0.6 or more to less than 1.2 moles of Si included compound in terms of Si. |
US09156735B2 |
Hermetic sealing of glass plates
Durable hermetic seals between two inorganic substrates are produced using a high-intensity electromagnetic energy source, such as laser, to heat and seal enamel layers with controlled absorption of high-intensity energy source. Durable hermetic seals incorporating electrical feedthroughs are also produced. |
US09156734B2 |
Method for manufacturing fluorescent powder substrate and liquid crystal module using fluorescent powder substrate
A method for manufacturing fluorescent powder substrate includes (1) providing a fluorescent powder and glass panels of which one forms a through hole; (2) mixing the fluorescent powder in deionized water solvent to form a slurry; (3) applying the slurry to form a fluorescent powder layer on one glass panel; (4) laying flat a loop of low melting point glass powder on the glass panel on which the fluorescent powder layer is formed; (5) laminating the other glass panel on the glass panel; (6) burning the laminated glass panels at a temperature of 400-550° C. to completely combust organic substance therebetween and to have the low melting point glass powder bonding the glass panels together; (7) evacuating interior between the glass panels through the through hole; and (8) sealing the through hole to form a fluorescent powder substrate. |
US09156733B2 |
Rare earth ions doped alkali metal silicate luminescent glass and the preparation method thereof
A preparation method of rare earth ions doped alkaline earth metal silicate luminescent glass is provided. The steps involve: step 1, mixing the source compounds of cerium, terbium and alkaline earth metals and putting the mixture into solvent to get a mixed solution; step 2, impregnating the nanometer pores glass with the mixed solution obtained in step 1; step 3: calcining the impregnated nanometer pores glass obtained in step 2 in a reducing atmosphere, cooling to room temperature, then obtaining the cerium and terbium co-doped alkaline earth metal silicate luminescent glass. Besides, the rare earth ions doped alkaline earth metal silicate luminescent glass prepared with aforesaid method is also provided. In the prepared luminescent glass, cerium ions can transmit absorbed energy to terbium ions under the excitation of UV light due to the co-doping of cerium ions. As a result, the said luminescent glass has higher luminous intensity than the glass only doped with terbium. |
US09156732B2 |
Method for strengthening housing and housing made by same
A method for strengthening a housing comprises the following steps: providing a housing being made of colored glaze and having an initial temperature of about 480° C. to about 550° C.; and spraying the surface of the housing using a spray solution containing potassium nitrate, potassium silicate, diatomite, and water to create an exterior layer on the surface. The exterior layer contains K+ ions, and the concentration of the K+ ions gradually decreases from a maximum value in the area of the outside surface of the exterior layer to zero in the area of the inside of the housing. |
US09156726B2 |
Toughened glass substrate and process for producing same
Provided is a tempered glass substrate formed by a float method, comprising a bottom surface and a top surface, wherein a compression stress value of the bottom surface is larger than a compression stress value of the top surface. |
US09156724B2 |
Ion exchangeable glass with high crack initiation threshold
Alkali aluminosilicate glasses that are resistant to damage due to sharp impact and capable of fast ion exchange are provided. The glasses comprise at least 4 mol % P2O5 and, when ion exchanged, have a Vickers indentation crack initiation load of at least about 7 kgf. |
US09156723B2 |
Glass substrate
The glass substrate of the present invention includes, in terms of mass %: 58.5-69.5% SiO2, 2.5-9.9% Al2O3, 0-2.5% Li2O, 0%≦Na2O<6%, 0%≦K2O<6%, 0% |
US09156719B2 |
Glass container with internally threaded neck
The present invention relates to a glass container with a cylindrical neck (1) suitable for plugging the container by means of a stopper inserted in said neck, said neck (1) comprises an internal thread (6) allowing for reversible plugging and unplugging of the container by screwing and unscrewing said stopper, wherein the internal thread (6) of the neck consists of at least two independent thread turns (7) allowing unplugging and plugging of the container by screwing and respectively unscrewing the stopper by rotating it over an angle of less than 180°. |
US09156718B2 |
Wastewater treatment system
A system for treating a fluid in a container. The system includes an included airlift tube and active air input into the tube. The air is supplied by a pump that is external to the tank and sized in accordance with the size of the tank. The system is arranged to promote the generation of suspended growth bacteria. The bacteria are provided by an air supply that is diffused in the tube wherein the air carries naturally occurring bacterial spores. The airlift tube includes one or more inlet ports located below an air diffuser. The tube may be located on the floor of the tank, suspended from the ceiling of the tank or arranged to float within the tank. A plurality of tubes may be used together to treat fluids in containers larger than standard septic tanks. A pH neutralizing device may form part of the system. |
US09156717B2 |
Radial pipe reactor
An arrangement for addition of chlorine dioxide to flowing water in a pipeline is provided. The reactants are reacted in a reaction chamber located in the flow of water and the chlorine dioxide is passed from the reaction chamber directly into the flowing water. |
US09156715B2 |
Apparatus for treating liquids with wave energy from an electrical arc
An apparatus for treating a liquid includes: (a) a pump volute or hydrocyclone head having an inlet and a throat having an outlet and a central axis, (b) a tank connected to the outlet of the throat, the tank has a maximum inner diameter that is larger than an inner diameter of the outlet of the throat, and (c) a wave energy source having a first electrode within the pump volute or hydrocyclone head that extends through the outlet of the throat along the central axis, and a second electrode within the tank that is spaced apart and axially aligned with first electrode along the central axis. The liquid is supplied to the inlet of the pump volute or hydrocyclone head, and is irradiated with one or more wave energies produced by the wave energy source. |
US09156714B2 |
Energy generation system and related uses thereof
A self contained energy generating system that comprises a galvanic battery and a power distribution system. The energy generating system is used to purify water by using a reverse osmosis device that draws in a source of water and transfers electrolytes to the galvanic battery. Upon contact with the electrolyte, the galvanic battery produces energy by an oxidation-reduction reaction of the cathode and anode and transfers energy to the power distribution system, which in turn provides power to the osmosis device. Additionally, the system includes a hydrogen fuel cell to increase the amount of energy generated and a power storage device for storing excess energy generated. The system also includes a controller which is configured to regulate the overall operation of the system. |
US09156713B2 |
Manually operated continuous flow type drinking water disinfector using concentrated solar radiation
The present invention of manually operated continuous flow type concentrated solar drinking water disinfector improves the effectiveness and productivity of disinfection of drinking water for individual families or small communities, without using conventional fossil fuel derived heat or electricity or solar photovoltaic electricity, by clarifying the feed water with alum, aerating it manually, preheating it in solar water preheater and then while flowing as a thin stream exposing it directly to solar radiation without an intervening glass or plastic container material, with solar radiation incident on top side of pre-heater section and on top side of solar UV section intensified with mirrors and while the disinfector unit which is mounted on a trolley, is manually oriented towards the sun intermittently. |
US09156712B2 |
Thermal desalination
A thermal desalination process comprising: introducing a feed solution into a thermal separation unit, distilling the feed solution in the thermal separation unit to produce a distillate stream and a residual stream having a higher solute concentration than the feed solution, contacting a portion of the residual stream from the thermal separation unit with one side of a selectively permeable membrane, contacting the opposite side of the selectively permeable membrane with a portion of the feed solution, such that water flows across the membrane to dilute the residual stream by direct osmosis, and introducing at least a portion of the diluted residual stream into the thermal separation unit. |
US09156709B2 |
Multi-rotator magnetic resonator embodying sacred geometry
A magnetic resonator is provided which has a support structure and a plurality of roller assemblies mounted thereto for rotation about respective axes of rotation which are generally parallel one to another. Drive means are coupled to the roller assemblies to rotate each of the roller assemblies about its respective axis of rotation relative to the support structure. Each roller assembly houses a plurality of magnets disposed along respective axes of the roller assemblies. The plurality of magnets are grouped in a plurality of first and second arrangements with a first arrangement being interspersed between a pair of second arrangements. At least one of the first and second arrangements incorporates a pattern or shape based on sacred geometry. |
US09156705B2 |
Production of polycrystalline silicon by the thermal decomposition of dichlorosilane in a fluidized bed reactor
Processes for producing polycrystalline silicon by thermal decomposition of dichlorosilane are disclosed. The processes generally involve thermal decomposition of dichlorosilane in a fluidized bed reactor operated at reaction conditions that result in a high rate of productivity relative to conventional production processes. |
US09156704B2 |
Reactor and method for production of silicon
Reactor for producing silicon by chemical vapor deposition, the reactor comprising a reactor body that forms a container, at least one inlet for a silicon-bearing gas, at least one outlet, and at least one heating device as a part of or operatively arranged to the reactor, distinctive in that at least one main part of the reactor, which part is exposed for silicon-bearing gas and which part is heated for deposition of silicon on said part, is produced from silicon. Method for operation of the reactor. |
US09156703B2 |
System and method for producing carbon dioxide
A system for producing carbon dioxide including a collection subsystem configured to collect a process gas, the process gas including a hydrocarbon, a combustion subsystem configured to combust the hydrocarbon in the process gas and output a gaseous combustion effluent, wherein the gaseous combustion effluent includes carbon dioxide and water, and a separation subsystem configured to separate the carbon dioxide from the gaseous combustion effluent. |
US09156699B2 |
Method for producing graphene, and graphene
A technique for forming graphene which solves problems involved in formation of graphene by a thermal CVD method and a resin carbonization method that a high temperature is used and the treatment time is long and can form graphene at a lower temperature in a shorter time is provided. The above problems are solved by performing hydrogen plasma treatment on a copper foil substrate having an organic substance applied thereon by use of a surface wave microwave plasma treatment device and forming graphene on the copper foil substrate by the hydrogen plasma treatment. |
US09156696B2 |
Process and method for the efficient preparation of fullerynes
The preparation of novel fullerynes which are fullerenes (e.g. C60, C70, C80, etc.) that contain one or more alkyne functionalities and may contain additional functional groups such as hydroxyls, halogens, esters, haloesters, phenyl, oligo(ethylene glycol)s, perfluorinated alkyl chains, and the like. Two desired preparation routes are disclosed. The first one is the Fischer esterification in desired solvents using a special designed reactor in contrast to the heretofore initial Steglich reaction that results in side reactions and low yields. The second one uses acetylide Grignard reagents that have reduced nucleophilicity and higher stability in contrast to the use of heretofore initial lithium organyls or other Grignard reagents that would add to C60 with possible multi-additions in an uncontrollable manner. |
US09156695B2 |
Method for fabricating carbon allotropes
A method of fabricating a carbon allotrope is disclosed. The method includes forming an intermediate carbon template from a carbon feedstock; and creating a pressure and temperature in the carbon template suitable for fabrication of the carbon allotrope from the intermediate carbon template. The pressure and temperature may be created from a shockwave resulting from collapse of a bubble formed during a bubble cavitation process. |
US09156693B2 |
Synthesis of lithium-metal-phosphates under hydrothermal conditions
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of compounds of general formula (I) Lia-bM1bQ1-cM2cPd-eM3eOx (l), wherein Q has the oxidation state +2 and M1, M2, M3,a, b, c, d, e and x are: Q: Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, M1: Na, K, Rb and/or Cs, M2: Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, Co, Ni, Cr, V, Fe, Mn, wherein Q and M2 are different from each other,M3: Si, S, F a: 0.8-1.9, b: 0-0.3, c: 0-0.9, d: 0.8-1.9, e: 0-0.5, x: 1.0-8, depending on the amount and oxidation state of Li, M1, M2, P, M3, wherein compounds of general formula (I) are neutrally charged, comprising the following steps (A) providing a mixture comprising at least one lithium-comprising compound, at least one Q-comprising compound, in which Q has at least partially an oxidation state higher than +2, and at least one M1-comprising compound, if present, and/or at least one M2-comprising compound, if present, and/or least one M3-comprising compound, if present, and at least one reducing agent which is oxidized to at least one compound comprising at least one phosphorous atom in oxidation state +5, and (B) heating the mixture obtained in step (A) at a temperature of 100 to 500° C. and at an autogeneous pressure to reduce Q to oxidation state +2 and to obtain a compound of general formula (I). |
US09156689B2 |
Process for reforming hydrocarbons
A process and plant for the production of synthesis gas by a series arrangement of heat exchange reforming and autothermal reforming stages, in which the heat required for the reforming reactions in the heat exchange reforming stage is provided by hot effluent synthesis gas from the autothermal reforming stage. The invention optimizes the operation and control of an arrangement of heat exchange reforming and autothermal reforming stages and involves the introduction of an additional waste heat boiler. |
US09156680B2 |
Packages and methods for packaging
A three-dimensional printing technique can be used to form a microphone package. The microphone package can include a housing having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A first electrical lead can be formed on an outer surface on the first side of the housing. A second electrical lead can be formed on an outer surface on the second side of the housing. The first electrical lead and the second electrical lead may be electrically shorted to one another. Further, vertical and horizontal conductors can be monolithically integrated within the housing. |
US09156673B2 |
Packaging to reduce stress on microelectromechanical systems
One example includes an integrated circuit including at least one electrical interconnects disposed on an elongate are extending away from a main portion of the integrated circuit and a microelectromechanical layer including an oscillating portion, the microelectromechanical layer coupled to the main portion of the integrated circuit. |
US09156672B2 |
Liquid dispensing system having a portable handheld activator
The system includes a spout and a portable handheld activator insertable around the spout. The spout includes a valve member made of a magnetically-conductive material. The valve member is movable between a closed position and an opened position so as to close or open a fluid passage inside the spout. The spout also includes a core plate made of a magnetically-conductive material. The activator includes a housing made of a magnetically-conductive material, and at least one coil located into the housing to selectively generate an electromagnetic field capable of moving the valve member to the opened position against a spring force biasing the valve member into the closed position. In use, the spout and the activator are configured and disposed so that the electromagnetic field, using only a relatively small amount of electrical energy, creates a substantially uninterrupted toric magnetic circuit for actuating the valve member. |
US09156671B2 |
Liquid dispenser for a cooler
A cooler having a fountain type dispenser that includes a cooler body, a cooler lid and a liquid pump mechanism that is designed to dispense liquid from the cavity of the cooler body. The cooler lid includes at least one pump opening through a body of the cooler lid, the liquid pump mechanism includes a top portion and a bottom portion, an electric pump and a power supply designed to power said electric pump. The electric pump is designed to draw liquid into the bottom portion and to the top portion when the electric pump is activated. |
US09156665B2 |
Pulling tool
A pulling tool is provided with a rotatable drum having a cable wound thereon. A motor is drivingly connected to the rotatable drum and the rotatable drum and motor are disposed within a unique housing structure. The rotatable drum is driven by a planetary gear system that is disposed within the rotatable drum to provide a compact assembly. A belt and pulley system is provided for delivering torque from the motor to the planetary gear system. The rotatable drum is provided with a two-piece stepped construction that allows the planetary gear system to be assembled within the drum and allows for the initial wraps of a cable around the smaller diameter portion of the stepped drum. |
US09156663B2 |
Device and method for ascertaining and monitoring an assembled counterweight on a crane
A device for detecting and monitoring an assembled counterweight on a crane includes a turntable steelwork construction comprising a counterweight cylinder; a sensor which is arranged in the region of a connection between the counterweight cylinder and the turntable steelwork construction; and a computational unit (8), wherein the sensor is connected to the computational unit, and the computational unit comprises a logic which determines a weight of a counterweight which can be connected to the turntable steelwork construction from data which are captured by the sensor and transmitted to the computational unit. |
US09156661B1 |
Grip device for holding and carrying a vise
A device for holding and carrying a vise includes a block, a handle rigidly coupled to the block, and an engagement element on the block which is configured to be engaged by a vise so as to form an engagement assembly, which in response to the vise being clamped onto the device, prevents the block from slipping from the vise. |
US09156659B2 |
Elevator shaft door frame including elevator control
An elevator shaft closure, which separates an elevator shaft of a building from a story of the building, has a door frame. An elevator control arrangement is arranged in a chamber of the door frame, wherein the elevator control arrangement includes an elevator control unit and at least one electronic power unit for operation of an elevator motor. |
US09156655B2 |
Mining elevator traction cable connecting apparatus and measuring method therefor
A mining elevator traction cable connecting apparatus and a measuring method therefor, for use in a mining elevator serving a deep-mine. The apparatus includes an industrial personal computer (IPC), a signal collector connected to the IPC, multiple symmetrically arranged cable rings for use in connecting to one end of a traction cable, and a traction cable tension adjusting apparatus connected to the multiple of cable rings. Arranged within the traction cable tension adjusting apparatus are a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, and a plurality of draw wire displacement sensors for use in monitoring the relative displacement between each hydraulic cylinder plunger and a corresponding hydraulic cylinder body. The draw wire displacement sensors and an oil pressure sensor connected to a hydraulic pipeline are connected to the IPC via the signal collector, forming a traction cable tension and degree of adjustment measuring system. |
US09156654B2 |
Elevator monitoring device
An elevator monitoring device enables positional relationship of elevator cars to be grasped. The elevator monitoring device includes a receiving section which receives position information of each car, and an indication control section which causes a plurality of car-present-floor symbols representing floors corresponding to positions of the cars to be indicated in line in the order corresponding to the positional relationship of the cars and causes car symbols representing the cars to be indicated by being correlated to the car-present-floor symbols. The indication control section compresses indication areas assigned to inter-floor floors corresponding to positions of the cars between the plurality of car-present-floor symbols, in the arrangement direction of the plurality of car-present-floor symbols compared to the case where a plurality of symbols representing each of the inter-floor floors corresponding to positions of the cars are indicated in line. |
US09156653B2 |
Controlling access to floors within a building via elevators
The present invention relates to a method of controlling access to floor within a building via elevator. The method includes receiving a passenger input indicating a desired destination floor a passenger seeks to travel to in an elevator, accessing a stored database containing data about which floors passengers are allowed to access via elevator when coming from the floor of the passenger input, determining if access is allowed based upon the desired destination floor and the data, and controlling operation of the elevator to deliver the passenger to the desired destination floor if access is allowed. |
US09156652B1 |
Speedy winch adapter
A winch adapter including a unitary body having both a primary and a smaller secondary casing. A pair of levers, with handles, are pivotally attached to the secondary casing. A lug disposed on each lever opposite the handle is inserted through a hole in the primary casing and is maintained therein by tension from an associated elastic band against each lever, but the handle on each lever can be depressed to pull the lugs from their respective holes. The outer casing can then be inserted over a winch nipple with its own pair of holes, at which time, the handles would be released, causing the lugs to be inserted through holes on both the primary casing and the winch nipple. An air gun can then be used with the secondary casing and a drive on the secondary casing, allowing the air gun to rotate the winch adapter and the winch. |
US09156651B2 |
Tubing reel assembly for coiled tubing systems
A tubing reel assembly including a drive assembly, a swivel assembly, a reel, and a stand. The drive assembly includes a drive assembly adapter that connects the reel and the drive assembly, a drive assembly mount that connects the drive assembly and the stand, and a rotational power source. The swivel assembly includes a swivel assembly adapter that connects the reel and the swivel assembly, a swivel assembly mount that connects the swivel assembly and the stand, a bearing, and a hydraulic swivel. The reel includes recessed hubs that allow the overall width of the tubing reel assembly to be reduced, and the recessed hubs are used for connecting the drive assembly to the reel and the swivel assembly to the reel. |
US09156648B2 |
Elastic thread supply device
An elastic thread supply device including a tension controller configured to control the stress acting upon an elastic thread drawn from an elastic thread package, and a drive roll configured to supply the elastic thread dispensed from the tension controller to a processing line. The drive roll operates at a supply velocity slower than a conveyance velocity of a web, and increases or decreases the supply velocity depending on the fluctuation in the conveyance velocity. |
US09156644B2 |
Printing apparatus and control method thereof
A printing apparatus according to one aspect of this invention automatically discharges, of sheets remaining on a conveyance path when a sheet being conveyed jams, dischargeable sheets to one of a plurality of sheet retraction units. At this time, the printing apparatus detects the stacked state of sheets discharged to the sheet retraction unit. When the printing apparatus detects that the sheet retraction unit has become a predetermined state, it changes the discharge destination of sheets to be conveyed to the sheet retraction unit, thereby controlling not to further discharge a sheet to that sheet retraction unit. According to this control, when retracting sheets remaining on the conveyance path upon occurrence of a jam in the printing apparatus, occurrence of a new jam can be prevented. |
US09156641B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method for controlling sheets fed from a detachable sheet feeding unit using detected sheet intervals
Detachable sheet feeding units are connected to an image forming apparatus. A transmitting unit transmits a feeding instruction via a signal line to a sheet feeding unit that is to perform sheet feeding. A first sheet detector, which is placed in the sheet feeding unit, detects a sheet that has been fed from the sheet feeding unit. A second sheet detector is provided downstream of the first sheet detector in terms of the sheet conveyance direction. If the feeding instruction is transmitted and a plurality of sheets are fed from the sheet feeding unit, an image formation controller determines whether to cause the image forming operation to continue or stop based upon whether a sheet-to-sheet interval of a plurality of sheets has been detected by the second sheet detector in a state in which the result of detection by the first sheet detector indicates presence of a sheet. |
US09156639B1 |
Sheet conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus
A sheet conveying apparatus includes a conveying guide configured to guide a sheet which is conveyed by a conveying roller and a driven roller, a pressing spring configured to press the driven roller toward the conveying roller, a holding portion configured to be provided to be rotated about a shaft center of the driven roller and to receive a pressing force of the pressing spring, and a supporting portion configured to support the driven roller in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction to abut on or be separated from the conveying roller. The holding portion includes a facing portion which is disposed to face the conveying guide. The facing portion is separated from the conveying guide in a state where the driven roller abuts on the conveying roller. The facing portion abuts on the conveying guide when the driven roller is separated from the conveying roller. |
US09156636B2 |
Sheet-supply tray device with upper sheet supply tray having leading-end stopper
A sheet-supply tray device for use with an image recording apparatus, includes a lower sheet-supply tray and an upper sheet-supply tray. The upper sheet-supply tray includes a main body, a leading-end stopper, a trailing-end stopper and a side-end stopper. The main body includes a support surface that supports a recording sheet. The leading-end stopper is fixed on the main body and stops a leading end of the recording sheet. The trailing-end stopper includes a trailing-end contact surface having a trailing-end protrusion extending over an upper surface of a trailing-end portion of the recording sheet toward the leading-end stopper. The trailing-end contact surface contacts a trailing end of the recording sheet. The side-end stopper includes a side-end contact surface that contacts a side end of the recording sheet. The side-end contact surface has at least one side-end protrusion extending over an upper surface of a side-end portion of the recording sheet. |
US09156635B2 |
Image forming device having conveying unit
An image forming device includes a housing; a sheet tray; an image-forming unit; a conveying unit; and a switching mechanism. The sheet tray is detachably housed in the housing. The image-forming unit is configured to form an image on a sheet conveyed from the sheet tray. The conveying unit includes a first roller and a second roller configured to nip and convey the sheet on which the image is formed by the image-forming unit to the image-forming unit. The switching mechanism is disposed between the sheet tray and the conveying unit and configured to bring the first roller and the second roller to be in peripheral contact with each other in conjunction with a loading operation of the sheet tray into the housing and separate the first roller and the second roller in conjunction with an unloading operation of the sheet tray from the housing. |
US09156633B2 |
Manipulator for flat objects
A manipulator for flat objects has a robot arm having an outer end, a support on the outer end, and a magazine holding a stack of the flat objects carried on the support. A grab is movable on the support adjacent the magazine between a pickup position facing the stack and engageable with an uppermost flat object of the stack of flat objects in the magazine so as to pull the uppermost flat object off the stack and a transfer position offset from the stack with the picked-up flat object turned away from the magazine. |
US09156632B2 |
Conveying apparatus
To provide a conveying apparatus that includes: a fixed section; a movable section movable with respect to the fixed section; and a pair of linear motors each located so as to be partially included in the fixed section and the movable section. Each linear motor includes a primary magnetic pole section and a secondary magnetic pole section, and these pole sections are arranged to face each other so as to enable the movable section to move with respect to the fixed section. The movable section includes a movable body capable of conveying a conveyed object, and one of the magnetic pole sections of each linear motor. Each linear motor is located at each of opposite ends of the movable body in a width direction that is orthogonal to a moving direction, and the fixed section includes the other of the magnetic pole sections. |
US09156627B2 |
Clutch/brake unit for an accumulating conveyor
A clutch/brake unit for an accumulating conveyor for driving and for braking at least one roller which is provided for transporting a unit load on a roller path of the accumulating conveyor. The clutch/brake unit is driven continuously during operation via an endless drive traction mechanism on a driving roller and is configured, in an engaged operating state, for transmitting the rotational movement of the driving roller about an axis to a driven roller and, in a braking operating state, for slowing down the driven roller on a housing of the clutch/brake unit. The driven roller is connected to the roller via the endless traction mechanism. A compression spring displaces the driven roller along the axis in the direction of the housing in order to shift the clutch/brake unit into its braking operating state. A piston/cylinder unit integrated in the clutch/brake unit displaces the driven roller along the axis in the direction of the driving roller in order to shift the clutch/brake unit into its engaged operating state. |
US09156622B1 |
Sweep conveyor for removal of grain and other materials from bins
A sweep conveyor extends along a bin floor between a sump pivot about which the conveyor rotates, and an outer end adjacent the bin wall. During the conveyor's orbit about the floor, flights at the conveyor bottom sweep across the floor toward the sump pivot, whereby bin material in front of the conveyor is swept into a sump. The conveyor is preferably made in modular sections connected end-to-end, whereby different sections are combined to construct conveyors having different lengths and capabilities. Some sections are preferably hinged together, allowing different sections to adopt different inclinations as they travel about a non-level floor. The flights are preferably provided on a belted chain riding on sprockets at opposite ends of the conveyor, and the chain is not supported by idler sprockets along its length, allowing the chain (and its flights) to sag under gravity so the flights ride along the bin floor. |
US09156621B2 |
Face conveyor for extraction plants and trough element for said face conveyor
A face conveyor includes a continuous conveyor formed by a conveyor chain with entrainment plates that are connected to chain links and which, when conveying, circulates in an outward run and a return run, each of which are guided in trough portions by trough elements, which are arranged in a row. Guides provided on each trough element include a first guide on a working face side and a second guide at a spacing from a goaf side. The first guide on the working face side is secured on the trough element between the outward run and the return run. The outward run and the return run extend in a laterally offset manner with respect to each other, and the trough portion guiding the entrainment plates in the outward run is open on the working face side. |
US09156618B2 |
Plastic, modular and self-engaging bristle brush
The present disclosure relates to a plastic, modular and self-engaging bristle brush (2), comprising a set of runners (6) including a pair of opposing guiding and self-centering ends projecting from the perimeter of the brush (2), said runners (6) being distributed such that the ends of runners (6) of contiguous brushes (2) can be fitted together by overlapping one another, and in that said runners (6) include at their guiding and self-centering ends articulated attachment means (7) for the articulated attachment of contiguous brushes (2) for self-engagement, turning the set of multiple brushes (2) into a cutting mat (1) which in turn forms an endless conveyor belt, said articulated attachment means in turn being provided with articulating drive shafts (8) that can engage drive elements (9) housed in multiple positions of a support table (5). |
US09156617B2 |
Portable belt conveyor system
A belt conveyor system for creating an overland material transport assembly on a ground surface comprises a frame configured for transportation over the ground surface, a plurality of pivotally connected conveyor belt support sections, a head pulley assembly mounted to the first end of the frame, a tail pulley assembly mounted to one of the conveyor belt support sections, and a conveyor belt. The frame includes first and second elongate rails, each of which have a first support surface and a second support surface spaced from the first support surface. The plurality of pivotally connected conveyor belt support sections are supportable on the frame in a transport configuration wherein the plurality of support sections are accordion-folded relative to one another and are generally perpendicular to the first and second elongate rails. The plurality of pivotally connected conveyor belt support sections are movable to a material transport configuration wherein the plurality of support sections are unfolded to be generally parallel to the first and second rails. The belt conveyor is carried by the head pulley assembly, the plurality of conveyor belt support sections and the tail pulley assembly. |
US09156614B2 |
Loading/unloading apparatus
A loading/unloading apparatus includes a cage configured to accommodate an electric appliance stored or to be stored in one of storage compartments provided within a cubicle; and a hoist configured to vertically move and hang the cage. The hoist includes a boom arranged on the cubicle to extend above the storage compartments and a hoisting winch attached to the boom. The cage includes a frame body provided with a seat for supporting the electric appliance, and a connector unit connected to the hoisting winch. |
US09156609B2 |
Large subsea package deployment methods and devices
According to one or more embodiments disclosed herein is a method of transporting equipment between sea-surface and seafloor by providing a structure with equipment mounted thereon. The equipment may be liquid storage tanks, pumps, compressors, separators, metering systems, energy sources, communication systems, buoyancy tanks, and the like. The structure is used for disposal and installation in a subsea environment by changing the volume of buoyancy material within at least one buoyancy tank. |
US09156608B1 |
Protector for a discharge sump of a storage bin
A sump protector is a multi-tiered structure placed over a discharge sump at the bottom of a storage bin to enhance the flow of materials to the discharge sump while reducing discharge sump blockage. An upper segment includes a bracket for breaking apart clumped materials in the storage bin encountered by materials falling or flowing onto the sump protector from above. A lower segment situated below the upper segment is preferably securable to the floor of a storage bin. The sump protector includes several apertures that can limit the size of materials able to enter the sump protector (and reach the discharge sump). Even if some of the apertures become clogged, other apertures are available to allow materials to continue to flow to the discharge sump. A bottom panel of the lower segment may lack apertures so as to limit the forces exerted on a discharge sump control gate. |
US09156605B2 |
Container for shipping fragile products and method for making the same
A container for transporting glass sheets includes a bottom structure, a back wall and first and second side walls coupled to the back wall, all three walls extending upwardly from the bottom structure. The container also includes a back support structure coupled to the back wall that is configured to constrain a plurality of glass sheets. The back support structure includes at least one back support member that extends in a substantially vertical direction and includes at least one offset member that includes a first/second side defining a first/second length extending inwardly a first/second distance from the back support member. The second length is greater than the first length. The back support structure also includes at least one foam rail coupled to a foam rail support member. The foam rail support member is coupled to the offset member. |
US09156602B1 |
Actuators for dispensers for texture material
Stored material is dispensed in a spray by defining a chamber and arranging the stored material and pressurized material within the chamber. A conduit passageway is arranged such that a conduit inlet is arranged within the chamber and a conduit outlet is arranged outside of the chamber. An adjustment system comprising an actuator member and first and second adjustment members is provided. The actuator member is arranged to define at least a portion of the conduit passageway. The first and second adjustment members are supported on the actuator member such that the conduit outlet is defined by a first surface of the first adjustment member and a second surface of the second adjustment member. Moving the first and second adjustment members relative to each other alters a cross-sectional area of the conduit outlet and thereby varies a flow of stored material along the conduit passageway at the conduit outlet. |
US09156599B2 |
Method of producing an enforced delimited element and such an element
Method of producing an enforced composite surface delimited element such as a wall, ceiling or roof includes: connecting profile elements, preferably of metal and having a length within the interval 200-250 cm, a width within the interval 15-35 cm, and a depth within the interval 18-40 cm, side by side constituting cell modules having passing through cell elements; adding a substance or a material to the modules to bring completing properties to the construction element; and providing the cell modules with an inner and/or outer completely covering layer at the same time adding strength to the surface delimited element. The surface delimited element includes a series of cell modules constituting of profile elements forming intermediate cells, wherein each cell module has a width of at least 30 cm, a depth of at least 18 cm and the cell modules are internally. |
US09156598B2 |
Packaging structure for containers for pharmaceutical use
Packaging structure for containers (3, 3′) for pharmaceutical use, comprising a tray (1) having an open side for introducing and extracting a support plane (2) of the containers (3, 3′), and a closing element (5) of the open side of the tray (1), said support plane (2) having a spatial prefixed distribution of seats (6) in which said containers (3, 3′) can be precisely positioned without mutual contact, whereby the structure comprises diversification means of the engaging configuration between said support plane (2) and said tray (1) in order to maintain unchanged the points inside the tray (1) in which an end (3a, 3a1) of the containers (3, 3′) is placed, with the variation of the height of the containers (3, 3′) associated from time to time to the support plane (2). |
US09156594B2 |
Closure for a nutrient medium container
The invention relates to closure, in particular for a nutrient medium container, wherein a lower part can be covered by an upper part, wherein the lower part and the upper part can be locked against each other by means of at least one locking receptacle and at least one locking part by rotating the lower part and the upper part about a longitudinal axis, and wherein the locking receptacle has a receptacle groove that is covered by a shoulder and that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, in which receptacle groove the locking part engages, wherein the shoulder has at least one ramp surface extending at an angle from the longitudinal axis on the outer face of the shoulder facing away from the receptacle groove. |
US09156593B2 |
Closure arrangements for recloseable pouches; recloseable pouches; and, methods
Reclosable zipper arrangements for bags such as thermoplastic bags are described. The reclosable zipper arrangements are configured to advantageously provide a clicking sensory indicator, in the form of a tactile and/or audible indication of sealing, as zipper closure occurs. Package arrangements using the closure arrangements are described. Also, methods of assembly and use are described. |
US09156578B2 |
Reinforced polygonal containers and blanks for making the same
A blank of sheet material for forming a polygonal container is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two opposing end panels each extending from an end edge of the bottom panel, two opposing outer side panels each extending from a side edge of the bottom panel, and an inner side panel extending from each top edge of one outer side panel of the two outer side panels. Each inner side panel includes a central portion, a corner portion extending from each side of the central portion, an inner end portion extending from each side of one of the corner portions, and a plurality of elongated relief cutouts. One elongated relief cutout of the plurality of elongated relief cutouts is defined between each corner portion and the central portion and between each inner end portion and an adjacent corner portion. |
US09156573B2 |
Packaging apparatuses and methods
A forming station comprises first and second forming die members. A closing station comprises first and second closing die members. A lift operatively couples at least three of the members together such that operation of the lift moves the three members together. The closing station is located downstream of the loading station and is for closing a pocket in a first web of packaging material with a second web of packaging material. The second web of packaging material is oriented in the closing station so as to engage with the first web of packaging material and fold a foldable flap downwardly with respect to a conveyor as the conveyor moves from upstream to downstream. |
US09156572B2 |
Sealing device and method for sealing a container bowl with a heat sealing film
A sealing device for sealing container bowls with a heat sealing film has several sealing heads each correlated with one container receptacle. The sealing heads are movable in a sealing stroke direction relative to the container receptacles that are connected fixedly to each other. The sealing heads are forced with pretension into a rest position by spring elements in the sealing stroke direction against a stop, each sealing head having one stop associated therewith. For simultaneous sealing of the heat sealing film onto the several container bowls, a spring support, on which the spring elements are jointly secured, is moved together with the sealing heads so far in the sealing stroke direction relative to the container receptacles that the sealing heads upon impacting on the container receptacles correlated therewith, with interposition of the container bowls and the heat sealing film, are lifted off their stops against the pretension. |
US09156566B2 |
Securing plate and longitudinal handling member for a one-piece aircraft propulsion unit
The invention relates to a securing plate (1) for removably securing a one-piece propulsion unit (17) to a wing of an aircraft, characterised in that it includes first connection means (4, 5, 8, 13, 14) for securing the plate to the wing, second connection means (24) for securing the one-piece propulsion unit to the plate and third connection means (7) for securing a pair of longitudinal handling members (22) to the plate. The invention also relates to a specific longitudinal member and to an installation including a one-piece propulsion unit secured in the plate. |
US09156565B2 |
Methods for perching
An airborne wind turbine system including an aerial vehicle having a fuselage, an electrically conductive tether having a first end secured to the aerial wing and a second end secured to a platform, a rotatable drum positioned on the platform onto which the tether is wrapped when the aerial vehicle is reeled in, a perch panel extending from the platform, first and second extensions extending from opposite sides of the perch panel, a peg positioned on the fuselage, first and second hooks extending from the aerial vehicle on opposite sides of the peg, wherein when the aerial vehicle is perched on the perch panel, the peg is in contact with the perch panel, the first hook is positioned over the first extension, and the second hook is positioned over the second extension. |
US09156561B2 |
System and method for preventing objects from entering the intake of a jet engine
A system for preventing objects from entering the intake of a jet engine including a deflector mounted to the turbine shaft and including a de-icing device to minimize collection of ice on the deflector. The deflector includes a sensor in one embodiment for measuring object strikes so that comprehensive impact data may be obtained to generate an impact report so that measures can be taken to minimize object impacts. |
US09156556B2 |
Method and device for using hot air to de-ice the leading edges of a jet aircraft
A de-icing device includes a hot air circuit including an inlet for hot air bled from an engine, and a duct connecting the inlet to an outlet of the circuit which opens towards the leading edge. The device also includes electrical heating means associated with the duct, and control means for controlling the heating means connected to detection means that detect the temperature of the hot air downstream of the heating means and are able to activate these if the detected temperature of the bled air is below a value corresponding to a minimum temperature required for de-icing, increased by a predetermined margin. The range of temperatures of the hot air supplied to the leading edge is lowered overall, whereas the minimum de-icing temperature is assured. Composite materials can be used near the leading edge without being damaged. |
US09156546B2 |
Active-inceptor tactile-cueing hands-off rate-limit
The system contains the active inceptor having mobility in a first direction. A feedback mechanism is in communication with the active inceptor. The mechanism provides a variable level of force to the active inceptor in the first direction. A programmable device communicates with the feedback mechanism. The programmable device controls the level of force provided to the active inceptor from the feedback mechanism. The programmable device is capable of recognizing and distinguishing between regimes wherein the operator is physically engaging the inceptor (“hands-on” state) and when the operator is “hands-off” the inceptor. The programmable device limits the maximum rate of displacement of an active inceptor to a specified safe and effective value regardless of changes in forces applied by the variable force feel feedback mechanism. The limit on rate of change of active inceptor position is varied based on the recognized “hands-on” or “hands-off” state and the type of tactile cue to satisfy otherwise conflicting requirements for failure robustness and effective tactile cueing during highly dynamic operations. |
US09156537B1 |
Watercraft propulsion system and propulsion machine controlling method
A watercraft propulsion system includes a normal watercraft operating unit, a joy stick watercraft operating unit, a control unit, a control mode switching unit, and a detection unit. The normal watercraft operating unit includes throttle levers and a steering wheel. The throttle levers are used to adjust outputs of at least two propulsion machines mounted to a hull. The steering wheel is used to adjust rudder turning angles of the at least two propulsion machines. The joy stick watercraft operating unit includes a joy stick. The joy stick is used to move the hull in at least each of front, rear, left, and right directions. The control unit is configured and programmed to control the outputs and the rudder turning angles of the at least two propulsion machines in a normal mode in accordance with an operation of the normal watercraft operating unit or a joy stick mode in accordance with an operation of the joy stick watercraft operating unit. The control mode switching unit is configured to output a control mode switching instruction to the control unit when the control mode switching unit has received a switching operation of the control mode. |
US09156536B1 |
Marine propulsion system with efficient engine speed delta
A system and method is provided for efficiently changing controlled engine speed of a marine internal combustion engine in a marine propulsion system for propelling a marine vessel. The system responds to the operator changing the operator-selected engine speed, from a first-selected engine speed to a second-selected engine speed, by predicting throttle position needed to provide the second-selected engine speed, and providing a feed forward signal moving the throttle to the predicted throttle position, without waiting for a slower responding PID controller and/or overshoot thereof, and concomitant instability or oscillation, and then uses the engine speed control system including any PID controller to maintain engine speed at the second-selected engine speed. |
US09156529B2 |
Method of making a lithographic printing plate
A method of making a lithographic printing plate including the steps of a) image-wise exposing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a light or heat sensitive coating on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and b) processing the precursor consecutively with a first solution and a second solution thereby removing the coating from the support in the non-printing areas. The first and second solutions are provided by a cascade system such that the second solution overflows into the first solution and the first solution overflows into a container to be further treated as waste, and the second solution is regenerated by adding a replenishing solution or a mixture of replenishing solutions at a rate of at least 5 ml/m2 of treated precursor and at most 30 ml/m2 of treated precursor. |
US09156528B2 |
Height adjustable cargo rack apparatus and tower for wakeboard boats
A height adjustable cargo rack apparatus and tower and for wakeboard boats and the like, the apparatus including: a tower base rigidly attached to a boat gunwale, vertical supports extending from the tower base and pivotally operable; a pivotally adjustable cargo rack apparatus supported by the vertical supports; and, a height adjustable upper tower section which is pivotally supported by the vertical supports and which adjustably supports the cargo rack apparatus. The multiplicity of adjustable and pivotal features work in conjunction with each other to maximize the unique functionality of the instant apparatus. |
US09156525B2 |
Front derailleur
A front derailleur is attachable to a bicycle with a frame in which a fixing bore is provided. The front derailleur basically includes a base member, a chain guide and a link mechanism. The base member has an attaching bore for attaching the base member to a fixing bore of a frame by a fastening member. The chain guide configured to guide a chain. The link mechanism movably couples the chain guide to the base member. The base member is disposed with respect to the chain guide such that at least a part of the attaching bore is disposed in front of the chain guide and above the chain guide while the front derailleur is in a state in which the base member is attached to the frame. |
US09156524B2 |
Derailleur
A derailleur comprises a base member, a movable member, a link member, and a biasing mechanism. The movable member is configured to be movable with respect to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position. The link member is configured to movably couple the movable member to the base member. The biasing mechanism is configured to bias the link member such that the movable member is disposed at one of the retracted position and the extended position. The biasing mechanism comprises a biasing member and an intermediate member. The biasing member has a first end portion. The intermediate member is separately provided from the movable member and the link member so as to transmit biasing force of the biasing member from the first end portion to one of the movable member and the link member through the intermediate member. |
US09156522B2 |
Hydraulic brake mechanism
A hydraulic brake mechanism is described including a housing. A master cylinder assembly is disposed within the housing, and the master cylinder assembly includes a fluid chamber. The fluid chamber includes a first chamber portion having a first diameter and a second chamber portion having a second diameter, with the first diameter greater than the second diameter. The fluid chamber includes a transition region between the first and second chamber portions. The mechanism includes a piston assembly having a piston disposed within the fluid chamber. A first seal is configured to sealingly engage between the first chamber portion and the piston, and a second seal is configured to sealingly engage between the second chamber portion and the piston. The mechanism includes an outlet port extending from the fluid chamber from or adjacent the transition region. |
US09156520B2 |
Control assembly for a bicycle shock absorber
A control assembly for controlling a component, such as a bicycle shock absorber including a first actuator carried by the shock absorber. The first actuator has a fulcrum body supported in the shock absorber and a control arm displacing the fulcrum body. The first actuator pivots on the fulcrum body to operatively control a first characteristic of the shock absorber. |
US09156518B2 |
Cable operating mechanism
A cable operating mechanism is basically provided with a fixed member, a wire takeup member, a wire pulling member and a movement transmission member. The wire takeup member is movably mounted with respect to the fixed member about a first pivot axis to move between a plurality of predetermined wire positions. The wire takeup member includes a wire attachment part. The wire pulling member is movably mounted with respect to the fixed member. The movement transmission member is pivotally mounted with respect to the fixed member about a second pivot axis that is offset from the first pivot axis. The movement transmission member is operatively coupled to the wire pulling member and the wire takeup member such that a movement of the wire pulling member is transmitted to the wire takeup member via the movement transmission member. |
US09156515B2 |
Fuel tank for motorcycle, and motorcycle including same
An intake structure for a motorcycle provides an intake air flow passage in a fuel tank arranged at an upper portion of a vehicle body. Left and right upper tank members are provided at an upper portion of a vehicle body. The upper tank portions are each provided with a recessed portion that is opened upward and inward. A tank wall, having an L-shaped cross section, extends rearward and subsequently downward. An upper opening of the recessed portion is covered with a lid member, and thereby, the recessed portion effectively functions as an air-supply passage leading to an interior portion of an air cleaners. |
US09156514B2 |
Adjustment device for adjusting the position of a windscreen
An adjustment device for adjusting a windscreen of a vehicle, in particular of a motorcycle, is provided. A windscreen holder is connectable to the windscreen. A carrier structure is fastenable on the vehicle. A slider crank is connected to the carrier structure in a pivotable manner about a first pivot axis and to the windscreen holder in a pivotable manner about a second pivot axis. A linear guide is provided, wherein the windscreen holder is guided by a pivot bearing arrangement in a linearly movable manner in a longitudinal direction of the linear guide and is pivotable about a third pivot axis. The first pivot axis, the second pivot axis and the third pivot axis are oriented parallel to one another. |
US09156513B2 |
Front cowl stay attachment structure for saddle-ride type vehicle
A front cowl stay is enabled to be attached to the vehicle body side without making its structure complicated while sufficiently ensuring the capacity of a member such as an air cleaner and the like disposed in the peripheries of a head pipe and the front portion of main frames and desired to ensure its capacity. |
US09156509B2 |
Door transportation method in vehicle body assembly line and door transportation device in vehicle body assembly line
A door transportation method in a vehicle body assembly line, in which the vehicle body is placed and transported on a vehicle body transportation carriage of a floor conveyer, and thereby components are assembled to the vehicle body, includes: placing and transporting the door, which is detached from the vehicle body, on a door placing section arranged on a base stand of the vehicle body transportation carriage. |
US09156505B2 |
Structure for joining center pillar and roof side rail
An upper end joint portion which has increased rigidity by being bent in a rectangular wave shape and is joined to a roof side rail reinforcement is formed at an upper end portion of a center pillar reinforcement. Then, in the roof side rail reinforcement, longitudinal beads and extending in a direction orthogonal to a vehicle front-back direction are formed further on only the rear side in the vehicle front-back direction than a front-side end edge in the vehicle front-back direction in the upper end joint portion in the upper side in a vehicle up-and-down direction of a joint portion to the center pillar reinforcement. |
US09156504B2 |
Vehicle underbody structure for vehicle
A rear frame (11) includes: a first inclined part (11A) having a rearward rising incline, a trailing arm attachment part (11B) extending horizontally at the rear side of the first inclined part (11A), and a second inclined part (11C) having a rearward rising incline at the rear side of the trailing arm attachment part (11B). An upward-convex first protrusion (41), in which at least a portion of the front end section of a trailing arm (21) is accommodated, is formed in the trailing arm attachment part (11B), a downward-convex second protrusion (42) is formed in the front section of the first inclined part (11A), and the first protrusion (41) and the second protrusion (42) are disposed so as to mutually overlap in the vehicle width direction. |
US09156502B2 |
Vehicle bonnet safety assembly
A vehicle bonnet safety assembly, the vehicle comprising: a bonnet; a windscreen; a chassis, to which the bonnet is hingedly joined by means of actuators; the assembly further comprises: an elongated guide fixedly mounted, and supported along its length, on the bottom side of the bonnet; a sliding member provided inside the elongated guide to slide along the length of the elongated guide until it engages a stop coupled to the elongated guide; whereas the sliding member is mounted in the elongated guide such that it is prevented from sliding out and sliding back the elongated guide thereby creating a field of visibility on the road for a driver when the bonnet flips over the windscreen. |
US09156500B2 |
Bowtie shaped roof bow
A roof bow for a vehicle is provided that has a “bow-tie” shape including a central portion flanked by two triangular portions. The triangular portions are joined to right and left roof brackets that are, in turn, joined to right and left roof rails. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled from extruded tubular parts. The bow-tie roof bow may be assembled in a clamshell structure including an upper shell and a lower shell that are joined together by welding. The roof bow may be formed in one piece as a sheet metal stamping having side portions that are wider than the central portion. |
US09156498B2 |
Road finishing machine with mobile control panel
A road finishing machine includes a control panel that can be moved between end positions on the left and right sides of the road finishing machine in a control platform. The control panel comprises a bearing roller fixed by means of a thrust bearing, and the bearing roller is engaged with a fixed bearing rail provided at the control platform. |
US09156497B2 |
Driver assistance system and method for authorizing an autonomous or piloted garage parking
A driver assistance system for authorizing an autonomous, piloted parking of a vehicle into and out of a target standing surface includes a sensor system detecting measuring values during at least one drive of the vehicle from a first position in a vicinity and outside of the target standing surface to a second position inside the target standing surface and from the second position back to the first position, an analysis device determining based on the detected measuring values, properties of the vehicle and the capability of control-, regulation- and sensor-devices of the vehicle for an autonomous and piloted parking into and out of a parking space, whether the vehicle is capable of an to autonomous or piloted parking into the target standing surface and out of the target standing surface; and a memory device, wherein the driver assistance system is constructed to store an authorization data set for the autonomous or piloted parking into and out of the target standing surface in the memory device when the analysis device determines that the vehicle is capable to autonomous or piloted parking into the target standing surface and out of the target standing surface. |
US09156496B2 |
Vehicle maneuvering aids
A vehicle 1 towing a trailer 4 is fitted with three video cameras 5, 6, 7 fitted to the rear of the vehicle and on each door mirror. A view from any camera can be presented to the driver on a display 11. A predicted trailer path, calculated in a computing unit 10, is also presented to the driver on the display 11 as guide lines overlaid on the camera view. The computing unit 10 is also configured to calculate a hitch angle by tracking the position of a trailer-mounted marker in the camera view. |
US09156495B2 |
Driving support device and driving support system
A driving support device for a first trailer coupling vehicle including a first trailer and a first towing vehicle includes: a leading vehicle driving status obtaining device for obtaining a driving status of a second trailer coupling vehicle; a first towing vehicle driving status obtaining device for successively obtaining a driving status of the first towing vehicle; a first trailer driving status obtaining device for successively obtaining a driving status of the first trailer; and a support device for supporting a driver of the first trailer coupling vehicle so as to bring the driving status of the first towing vehicle and the driving status of the first trailer closer to the driving status of a second towing vehicle and the driving status of a second trailer, respectively, when the first trailer coupling vehicle changes in direction. |
US09156490B2 |
Steering column for vehicle
Disclosed is a steering column for a vehicle. According to the present invention, an actuating member and a fixed member can be smoothly coupled to each other without causing a catching feeling during a tilting operation of a steering column and noise generated when the actuating member and the fixed member are coupled to each other can be prevented. Further, the actuating member can be prevented from deviating from a coupling range of the fixed member when the adjusting lever is released or fastened for a tilting operation, increasing a safety of a tilting operation of the steering column. |
US09156489B2 |
Sliding sleeve blank and motor vehicle steering spindle assembly having a sliding sleeve made from the blank
A sliding sleeve blank for producing a sliding sleeve for a steering spindle shaft of a motor vehicle steering spindle and the motor vehicle steering spindle assembly are provided. The sliding sleeve blank has a cylindrical form and has a section on one end, which has a collar, from which winged webs extending away radially extend in the direction of the second end. The sliding sleeve blank is a cold impact extrusion component, which, at the section has a preliminary toothing system extending over one part of the length of the section. |
US09156483B2 |
System and method for changing when a vehicle enters a vehicle yard
A method includes, responsive to a determination that a first vehicle system to be received in a vehicle yard is longer than a length of a receiving route of the vehicle yard that is designated for receiving the first vehicle system, processing a first movement plan to generate a revised movement plan. The first movement plan governs movement of the first vehicle system and one or more second vehicle systems in a transportation network that includes the vehicle yard. The revised movement plan is generated based at least in part on a designated time restriction for the first vehicle system to travel to and be received within the vehicle yard on the receiving route. The method also includes controlling at least one of the first vehicle system or at least one of the one or more second vehicle systems based on the revised movement plan. |
US09156482B2 |
Locator loop control system and method of using the same
A locator loop control system includes a guideway configured to define a travel path of a vehicle. The locator loop control system further includes a locator loop located along the guideway, the locator loop configured to exchange information with a vital on-board controller (VOBC) on-board the vehicle. The locator loop control system further includes a first proximity plate located along the guideway, the first proximity plate spaced a first distance along the guideway from the locator loop, and a wayside controller configured to communicate with the locator loop. |
US09156479B2 |
Hydraulic switch machine for railroads
Provided is a hydraulic railroad switch machine that incorporates a lock-spring assembly, a point-detection and display system, a connector rod assembly, and a hydraulic system to overcome disadvantages associated with throw-out linkages. |
US09156476B2 |
System and method for remote control of unmanned vehicles
An open architecture control system is provided that may be used for remote and semi-autonomous operation of commercial off the shelf (COTS) and custom robotic systems, platforms, and vehicles to enable safer neutralization of explosive hazards and other services. In order to effectively deal with rapidly evolving threats and highly variable operational environments, the control system is built using an open architecture and includes a high level of interoperability. The control system interfaces with a large range of robotic systems and vehicles, autonomy software packages, perception systems, and manipulation peripherals to enable prosecution of complex missions effectively. Because the control system is open and does not constrain the end user to a single robotics system, mobile platform, or peripheral hardware and software, the control system may be used to assist with a multitude of missions beyond explosive hazard detection and clearance. |
US09156475B2 |
Actuator control apparatus
An actuator control apparatus including a by-wire control circuit, a monitor circuit, a drive determination section, and a prohibition section is provided. The by-wire control circuit electrically controls an actuator acting as a drive source of an on-board apparatus. The monitor circuit monitors whether or not the by-wire control circuit is normally operating. The monitor circuit is provided separately from the by-wire control circuit. The drive determination section determines prohibition and permission of driving the actuator. The prohibition section prohibits the actuator from being driven when the permission of driving the actuator is not determined by the drive determination section. The prohibition section also prohibits the actuator from being driven when the monitor circuit determines that the by-wire control circuit is not normally operating. |
US09156474B2 |
Jurisdiction-aware function control and configuration for motor vehicles
Apparatus for a motor vehicle comprises a location monitor for determining vehicle coordinates for an instantaneous vehicle position within a predetermined reference system. A jurisdictional map database is provided for relating a plurality of jurisdictions to corresponding ranges of coordinates in the predetermined reference system. A regulation database is provided for relating a plurality of vehicle functions to corresponding parametric limitations for respective jurisdictions. A user interface is coupled to the regulation database for configuring at least one of the parametric limitations. A controller is coupled to the location monitor, the jurisdictional map database, and the regulation database for identifying a current jurisdiction in response to the vehicle coordinates, identifying at least one vehicle function having a parametric limitation for the current jurisdiction, and modifying the action of the identified vehicle function to comply with the respective parametric limitation. |
US09156473B2 |
Multi-threshold reaction zone for autonomous vehicle navigation
Systems and methods use cameras to provide autonomous navigation features. In one implementation, a driver assist navigation system for a primary vehicle may include at least one image capture device configured to acquire a plurality of images of an area in a vicinity of the primary vehicle; a data interface; and at least one processing device. The at least processing device may be configured to: receive the plurality of images via the data interface; identify a target object within the plurality of images; monitor, via the plurality of images, a motion of the target object and a distance between the primary vehicle and the target object; determine an indicator of an intercept time between the primary vehicle and the target object based on the monitored motion and the distance between the primary vehicle and the target object; and cause a response in the primary vehicle based on a comparison of the intercept time to a plurality of predetermined intercept thresholds. |
US09156468B2 |
Control device for hybrid vehicle
Provided is a control device for a hybrid vehicle capable of attaining an assist torque generated by a clutch mechanism at an appropriate timing, upon starting the engine. Since an electronic control device outputs an engagement command for engaging a clutch (clutch mechanism) at a time preceding an (ignition) start command time for igniting an engine by a preceding-sending time, the clutch becomes engaged when the engine speed starts to increase, and the assist torque generated by the clutch mechanism can thus be obtained at an appropriate timing. Because the engine speed that was once increased upon starting the engine is not decreased, the energy that was consumed for starting the engine can be effectively used. |
US09156467B2 |
Vehicle power generating device and power generation control method
In power generation control for a vehicle, which is configured to control power generation so as to reduce an amount of fuel consumed by power generation of the internal combustion engine, the vehicle including: a generator configured to be driven by the internal combustion engine to generate electric power; and the battery to be charged by the generated electric power of the generator, the vehicle being configured to stop idling at a predetermined vehicle speed or less, a battery voltage as an inter-terminal voltage of the battery is detected, and the internal combustion engine is controlled to interrupt power generation involving fuel consumption one of when the detected battery voltage reaches a predetermined combustion power generation interruption voltage and when the detected battery voltage exceeds the predetermined combustion power generation interruption voltage. |
US09156461B2 |
Vehicle control unit
A control unit for a vehicle, which comprises an engine, a driving motor, an engaging/disengaging device, and a voltage raising device, includes a switching control unit and a voltage raising control unit controlling the voltage raising device. The switching control unit switches between a first driving mode in which the vehicle is driven by a driving force of the driving motor with the engaging/disengaging device released and a second driving mode in which the vehicle is driven by the driving force of the engine with the engaging/disengaging device engaged. In a case where a driving mode is switched from the first driving mode to the second driving mode, the switching control unit starts an engagement of the engaging/disengaging device and switches the driving mode to the second driving mode, after the voltage raising control unit starts the voltage raising control in the first driving mode. |
US09156460B2 |
Brake monitoring system for heavy vehicles
A brake monitoring system for use on a motor vehicle includes a sensor connected to each brake actuator on the motor vehicle for monitoring the position and travel of the brake actuator and for generating and transmitting a brake condition signal; a data processor carried in an axle box associated with each axle and connected to sensors associated with brakes for the axle for receiving, interpreting, storing, and upon request, transmitting the brake condition signal, wherein each data processor includes an auto-address mechanism to identify its position on the vehicle; and a master station, wherein said master station includes a display for identifying a particular vehicle brake, a quantitative indication of the travel on the brake actuator associated with the particular brake, and wherein said visual indicating devices which are indicative of said safety condition of a particular brake. |
US09156459B2 |
Vehicle brake system for a motor vehicle and method for actuating the vehicle brake system
A vehicle brake system having a hydraulically actuatable disc brake device which has an electromechanical operating device for activating a parking brake function, wherein the vehicle brake system has a hydraulic circuit with a hydraulic pressure source and also has activatable hydraulic functional elements in order to hydraulically actuate the disc brake device in accordance with a service braking action by a driver or an automatic activation, wherein the vehicle brake system also has a control device in order to actuate the electromechanical operating device in accordance with a parking braking action by the driver or an automatic activation of the parking brake function. Here, to avoid residual slippage torques, it is provided that the hydraulic circuit can be actuated by the control device such that, upon the triggering of the parking brake function through actuation of the electromechanical operating device, a hydraulic pressure is built up in the disc brake device, which hydraulic pressure is large enough to elastically deform hydraulic seal elements in the disc brake device corresponding to an elastic deformation during a service braking operation. |
US09156457B2 |
Electro-hydraulic brake system
Disclosed is an electro-hydraulic brake system including a master cylinder to generate hydraulic pressure according to pedal force applied to a brake pedal, a reservoir provided at an upper portion of the master cylinder to store oil, an intermediate pressure accumulator to store hydraulic pressure, a first motor and a first pump to suction oil through a channel connected to the reservoir and discharge the suctioned oil to the accumulator to create hydraulic pressure in the intermediate pressure accumulator in braking, a second motor and a second pump provided at an output side of the intermediate pressure accumulator to increase responsiveness in braking, two hydraulic circuits, each of the hydraulic circuits being connected to two wheels, and a flow control valve and a pressure reducing valve provided between the intermediate pressure accumulator and the two hydraulic circuits to control pressure transmitted from the intermediate pressure accumulator to a wheel cylinder installed at each of the wheels. |
US09156456B2 |
Biased double check valve for brake system
A brake system and a valve device for a brake system are provided which provide at least partial front brake actuation in the event of a failure in the front brake pneumatic supply circuit. The valve device may be configured as a biased orifice double check valve which permits compressed air flow from the front brake pneumatic supply circuit to a front brake actuator during normal brake operation, but in the event of lack of sufficient front brake pneumatic pressure permits compressed air to be supplied to the front brake actuator from a rear brake pneumatic supply circuit, as well as permitting compressed air in the front brake actuator to be ventilated back through the rear brake pneumatic supply circuit when the brake is released. |
US09156454B2 |
Control device and method for transferring brake fluid into at least one wheel brake cylinder of a brake system of a vehicle
A method for transferring brake fluid into a wheel brake cylinder of a brake system of a vehicle includes: controlling a switchover valve, via which a brake circuit having the wheel brake cylinder is connected to a main brake cylinder, into a closed state; subsequently reducing a booster force of a brake force booster, which is exerted upon an adjustable piston of the main brake cylinder; controlling a high-pressure switchover valve to a partially opened state after the reduction of the booster force of the brake force booster; and sucking in brake fluid via the partially opened, high-pressure switchover valve and pumping the brake fluid into the at least one wheel brake cylinder. |
US09156453B2 |
Saddle type vehicle
In a motorcycle including a vehicle body frame, an engine supported by the vehicle body frame, an air cleaner box arranged above of the engine, and an ABS module capable of decompressing brake pressures of front and rear wheels, the ABS module is arranged at a position above the engine, rearward of the air cleaner box, in proximity to the left inlet port and a right inlet port of the air cleaner box for sucking outside air, and in suction routes of the left inlet port and the right inlet port. Therefore, a cooling effect with respect to an ABS module to suppress a thermal influence on the ABS module can be secured. |
US09156451B2 |
Brake control system comprising tire/runway friction property estimation mapping
Systems and methods for a tire/runway friction property estimation method based on measured wheel speed, calculated acceleration, wheel reference and tire normal force estimation are disclosed. Based on the resulting estimations, a map and/or function of position for the friction properties may be formed and transmitted to external systems after an aircraft stop is completed. |
US09156448B2 |
Braking device for vehicle
A braking device for a vehicle comprises an accelerator-opening detector, a distance detector, an obstacle detector, and an ECU which is configured to perform the process of executing automatic braking when the distance detected by the distance detector is a specified distance or less during traveling of the vehicle, cancelling the automatic braking when the accelerator opening detected by the accelerator-opening detector is a specified opening or greater, and prohibiting the cancelling of the automatic braking when the front obstacle is detected by the obstacle detector while the vehicle stops or travels at a low speed which is a specified speed or less. Thereby, the braking device for a vehicle which can surely reduce the damage caused by the vehicle's collision with the front obstacle can be provided. |
US09156447B2 |
Methods and apparatus for a vehicle emergency control system
A vehicle control system defines a set of predetermined criteria relating to the motion of the vehicle and a set of vehicle actions associated with the set of predetermined criteria. The vehicle actions each specify a steering action and/or a braking action. Friction data indicative of a frictional attribute (for example, coefficient of friction) of the contact region between the vehicle and the surface is received. The predetermined criteria are modified based on the friction data. When one or more of the predetermined criteria are met, the system applies the corresponding steering and/or braking actions. |
US09156444B2 |
Method for controlling at least one means for recuperating the energy generated under braking of a motor vehicle
A method for controlling a motor vehicle equipped with wheels, brakes, a recovery device for recovering energy generated in braking, and a torque transmission chain from the wheels to the recovery device, includes acquiring a braking instruction, measuring a measured value of a dynamic characteristic of the recovery device, calculating a first intermediate setpoint with a preventive filter which filters the braking instruction so as to attenuate an amplitude of the braking instruction around a resonance frequency of the torque transmission chain, calculating a second intermediate setpoint to damp oscillations of the torque transmission chain, controlling the recovery device according to an electric motor control setpoint calculated as a function of the first and second intermediate setpoints, and controlling the brakes according to a braking setpoint calculated as a function of the braking instruction. |
US09156442B2 |
Parking mechanism for vehicle
A parking mechanism for a vehicle includes an automatic transmission, a parking gear, a parking pawl, and a parking-pawl turn member. The parking gear is fixed to a part formed by any of an output shaft of the automatic transmission and an intermediate member connected to the output shaft. The parking pawl is turnably attached to a turn shaft that is supported by a plate fastened to a transmission case by a first bolt and a second bolt. The parking-pawl turn member turns the parking pawl into engagement with the parking gear. An extending part formed by extending a support member that turnably supports the part of the automatic transmission is substituted for the plate. The extending part is fastened to the transmission case by the first bolt. |
US09156431B2 |
Structural body pillar for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle having a structural body pillar
A structural body pillar is provided for a motor vehicle having a structural component. The structural component is designed as closed hollow profile and extends in a longitudinal direction of the structural body pillar. Furthermore, the structural body pillar comprises a facing. The facing comprises an elastic material and is arranged in the direction of an outer side of the motor vehicle above the structural component. The structural component is designed unitarily and on a first side provides a support surface for a window of the motor vehicle. |
US09156430B2 |
Method and system for activating at least one triggering element for a passenger protection means
A system for activating a triggering element for a passenger protection unit includes: a high-side control circuit establishing a first connection from an energy source to the triggering element, a low-side control circuit establishing a second connection of the triggering element to ground, and a regulating device regulating a firing current for the triggering element). A firing mode is selected as a function of a connected triggering element. In a first firing mode, a first firing current having a first time characteristic is generated for an ohmic triggering element, and in a second firing mode, a second firing current having a second time characteristic is generated for an inductive triggering element. |
US09156428B2 |
Vehicle safety device
A safety device positioned between an interior trim element of a vehicle and an airbag, comprising:—a chute channel designed to accommodate the airbag, the chute channel delimiting an opening for deployment of the airbag;—a flap at least partially covering the opening when the airbag is in the uninflated state;—a hinge connection connecting the flap to the chute channel; and—a deflector connected to the chute channel and intended to be positioned facing the hinge connection, the chute channel, the flap, the hinge connection and the deflector are formed as one piece with one another. |
US09156427B2 |
Cost-effective use of one-piece woven fabric for curtain airbags
An airbag assembly may include an inflatable curtain airbag with a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The inflatable curtain may have a first chamber and a second chamber that inflates forward of the first chamber. The second chamber may have a height above the height of the first chamber so that a bottom of the second chamber is pressed downward adjacent to a door of the vehicle. A plurality of airbag assembly components may be integrally formed with a non-inflating peripheral region surrounding the first and second chambers. Such components may include a front or rear tether cut from the front or rear of the non-inflating peripheral region, a top tether cut from the top of the non-inflating peripheral region to control deployment of the second chamber, and a fabric shield cut from the top to at least partially wrap around the stowed inflatable curtain airbag. |
US09156426B1 |
Headrest-mounted vehicle airbag
A head rest is mountable on a vehicle seat back with at least one hollow support bar. The support bar is adjustable to adjust the height of the head rest relative to the seat back. An airbag is located in the head rest and a connection is provided in the hollow head rest support bar between the airbag and an airbag system component in the seatback. |
US09156417B2 |
Structure for front part of vehicle body
Disclosed is a structure for a front part of a vehicle body including a front sidemember that extends in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle; a bumper reinforcement, at least a part of which is positioned at the same height as the front sidemember in a vertical direction of the vehicle, and extends in a lateral direction of the vehicle so as to face the front sidemember; and a support portion. The end portion of the bumper reinforcement has an extension portion that extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle up to a position which overlaps a wheel when seen from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. At least a front surface of the bumper reinforcement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the extension portion have strength higher than that of other portions of the bumper reinforcement. |
US09156410B2 |
Roof-rack mechanism for automobile
A roof-rack mechanism includes one or more retaining devices attached to a track, and a lock device engaged with the track and the retaining device for detachably attaching the retaining device to the track. The retaining device includes a base member, and a bracket attached to the base member and mounted on the track. The bracket includes a recess formed between two legs for engaging with the track, and the lock device is engaged with the track and the legs of the bracket. The retaining device includes two flaps engaged onto the legs of the bracket and secured to the legs and the track with the lock device. The retaining device includes a cover pivotally attached to the base member with a coupler. |
US09156408B1 |
Active glove box door with reaction surface catcher
An active glove box system comprises an instrument panel and a glove box door. The instrument panel housing defines a door space bordered by a curb flange along top and lateral sides of the door space. The glove box door comprises a trim wall providing an outside trim surface of the door, a bladder wall sealed along an outer edge to the trim wall defining an inflatable cavity, and a reaction wall. The reaction wall defines a back surface of the door, is attached to the bladder wall, and has an outer fringe surface abutting the curb flange when the door is closed. The fringe surface and the curb flange comprise interlocking features configured to engage and disengage in a door opening direction and to provide interference against movement of the reaction wall along an inward perpendicular direction when engaged. |
US09156406B2 |
Modular rail and step system
A modular side rail and removable step system for a vehicle is disclosed. In one aspect, the kit includes first, second, and third removable steps that may be mounted to the side rail. In one aspect, the side rail main body has a channel-shape defining a longitudinal opening between an adjacent first side and an adjacent second side. A plurality of step attachment arrangements may be provided on the first side of the side rail main body to allow the first, second, and third steps to be mounted to the side rail main body in various configurations. For example the plurality of step attachment arrangements may be arranged and configured to provide attachment locations for mounting the first and third removable steps in a first step assembly configuration and for mounting the second removable step in a second step assembly configuration. |
US09156402B2 |
Wide view vehicle periphery image generation apparatus
A vehicle periphery image generation apparatus for generating a vehicle periphery image with a wide view. The apparatus includes an image acquisition unit that acquires vehicle periphery images obtained by vehicle mounted photographic cameras, a display device, a viewing point position setting unit that sets the position to a viewing point from a perpendicular upward direction, a fish-eye image generation unit for generating a fish-eye image using the periphery images and a position set by the viewing point position setting unit, a self vehicle image generation unit that generates a self vehicle image as the fish-eye image with the position set by the viewing point position setting unit, and a display image generation unit for generating an image to be displayed on the display device using the fish-eye image and the self vehicle image, wherein the position of the viewing point of the fish-eye image can be changed. |
US09156401B2 |
Running-linked sound producing device
A running-linked sound producing device produces a running-linked sound according to a running state of a vehicle. The running-linked sound producing device includes a vehicle speed estimation unit to estimate a vehicle speed of the vehicle, an accelerator command value estimation unit to estimate an accelerator command value based on a vehicle speed estimated by the vehicle speed estimation unit, and a running-linked sound generation unit that generates a running-linked sound, wherein the running-linked sound generation unit generates a running-linked sound based on a vehicle speed estimated by the vehicle speed estimation unit and an accelerator command value estimated by the accelerator command value estimation unit. |
US09156400B2 |
Steering wheel
A steering wheel has an airbag apparatus mounted on a core metal via a horn switch mechanism for activating a horn device. The horn switch mechanism includes a supporting member that is formed of an electrically conductive material, supported on the core metal, and extends rearward, a slider that is formed of an insulating resin material, is disposed outside the supporting member to be slidable with respect to the supporting member, and urged rearward by an urging member, a cap member that is formed of an insulating resin material and covers at least a rear end of each of the supporting member and the slider, and a movable side contact that is formed of an electrically conductive metal material and disposed between the cap member and the slider. The horn switch mechanism is configured to activate the horn device. |
US09156395B2 |
Low profile highly efficient vehicular LED modules and headlamps
A vehicle lighting module is provided that includes a lens having a plurality of near-field lens elements, an input surface, and an exit surface. The lighting module also includes an LED light source that directs incident light through the input surface and out of the exit surface. The plurality of lens elements is configured to transmit from the exit surface a collimated light pattern containing at least 60% of the incident light. Further, a vehicle headlamp assembly is provided that includes a plurality of vehicle lighting modules, each module comprising a lens, and an LED light source that directs incident light through the lens. The assembly further includes a case for housing the lighting modules. The lens includes a plurality of lens elements configured to transmit at least 60% of the incident light in a collimated, vehicular light pattern. |
US09156392B2 |
Adjustable support structure for vehicle cargo bed extension
This invention relates to an apparatus, system and method for adjustable support of an extension of a vehicle cargo bed. The apparatus provides a range of horizontal, vertical, diagonal and angular adjustment of a vehicle cargo bed extension deck so as to accommodate a wide variety of differently designed and dimensioned vehicles and provides other features promoting reliability and safety while minimizing unwanted vibration during use. |
US09156391B2 |
Collapsible rigid shelter for mounting on a truck bed
The present invention discloses a collapsible rigid shelter for mounting on a truck bed. The shelter includes a floor with a pair of floor extensions, a roof shell, a collapsible roof support and a plurality of rigid wall panels. In the transport configuration, the rigid wall panels overlap the floor. The shelter may be transformed to the deployed configuration by using to collapsible roof support to elevate the roof shell, sliding the floor extensions laterally away from each other, and moving the wall panels to extend between from either the floor or one of the floor extensions to the roof shell, and thereby collectively form an enclosure when the shelter is in the deployed configuration. |
US09156376B2 |
Seat slide apparatus for vehicle
A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes: a lower rail freely fixed to a vehicle floor and having a pair of first vertical wall portions, a bottom wall portion, and a pair of first flanges; an upper rail fixed to a seat having a seat cushion and a seatback, and having a pair of second vertical wall portions, a lid wall portion, and a pair of second flanges; a locking member connected to the upper rail; a memory piece placed on the bottom wall portion, engages with the upper rail due to an upward urging force by a memory piece urging member; a memory link connected to the upper rail; a lever member connected to an upper portion of the upper rail; and a stopper member fixed to the inside of the upper rail. |
US09156375B2 |
Low profile low friction vehicle seat support
An all terrain vehicle with a low profile low friction seat support is described. The vehicle includes a rail in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a seat support with a top member and a bottom member. The seat support is adapted for securing on the rail, and the seat support is adjustable in position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A lock is provided for releasably locking the seat support in a forward position, a rearward position and therebetween. A low friction support member is positioned between the top and bottom members. At least two channels are formed in the top member. One of the channels matches the shape of the support member, and the other channel matches the shape of the rail for close registration between the top member and the support member and the rails. The seat support is highly compartmentalized, sturdier, and safer for vehicle occupants. |
US09156372B1 |
Multinodal ballast and trim control system and method
A flexible and reconfigurable sport and ski watercraft power control system that not only distributes power but also wirelessly distributes power management to multiple nodes on the watercraft, typically via CAN network and typically to nodes in the helm, bow and stern areas, for driving and controlling ballast and trim motors as well as other powered subsystems that affect the operation, motion and attitude of the watercraft. |
US09156368B2 |
Method for detection of plug-in electric vehicle charging via interrogation of smart meter data
A method and application that utilizes a signal processing algorithm is provided for detecting plug-in electric vehicle charging events through interrogation of smart meter data. The method is a form of non-invasive load monitoring that allows the utility to track plug-in electric vehicle charging events in real time or over extended periods. These parameters are suitably flexible so as to accommodate diverse electric vehicle technologies and a range of electric vehicle owners' charging habits. Application of the method facilitates the integration of electric vehicles into utilities' electrical grids, protection of the utilities' assets, geographic mapping of electric vehicle owners and charging events, managed charging through communication between the utility and the vehicle or owner, managed charging through the offer of time of use rates for electric vehicle owners, and an enabling technology to accompany other Smart Grid functions such as Vehicle-to-Grid distributed energy storage. |
US09156367B2 |
Overriding delayed electric vehicle charging events
An electric vehicle charging station that supports delayed charging overrides. In one embodiment, to support delayed charging override in an electric vehicle charging station that requires authorization, after authentication is successful (e.g., the electric vehicle operator is authorized) and the electric vehicle is detected (e.g., the charging cord has been plugged into the charging port of the electric vehicle), the charging station begins a plug out timer for the electric vehicle operator to unplug the charging cord from the charging port of the electric vehicle and then begins a plug-in timer for the electric vehicle operator to plug the charging cord back into the charging port of the electric vehicle. If the electric vehicle operator does so within the periods of the timers, the charging session will not end and the delayed charging will be overridden. |
US09156366B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing energy of electric vehicle
A system and method for managing energy of an electric vehicle are provided to calculate a necessary amount of energy based on battery characteristics and a user's schedule, and control charging and discharging of the electric vehicle using power information provided by a smart grid. The system includes a cloud server configured to collect a schedule from a user and store and generate the user's schedule information, an energy management device configured to calculate necessary energy based on the received schedule information of the user, set charging information based on power network state information received from a power supplier and the calculated necessary energy, generate a charging request signal based on the set charging information, and store electric energy, and a charging unit configured to transfer the electric energy to the energy management device based on the received charging request signal. |
US09156365B2 |
Device and method for controlled exchange of energy between an electrical power network and a load
A device for controlling the exchange of energy between an electrical power network and a load includes a stationary charging station for establishing an energy connection between the electrical power network and a supply point. The charging station has an LS controller for sending and receiving control signals via a signal transmission path, and includes a SIM station installed on the load side having a SIM controller. The SIM controller sends a SIM identifier of the SIM station to the LS controller via a signal transmission path at time intervals, wherein the LS controller adds an amount of energy exchanged between the electrical power network and the load to an energy amount counter associated with the SIM identifier. The amount of energy exchanged between the electrical power network and the load via the energy connection in a time interval is below a specified measurement resolution of the energy amount counter. |
US09156363B2 |
Charging port locking device
A charging port locking device is provided that basically includes a charging port, a lock mechanism and a cover member. The cover member has an opening into which an engaging member can be inserted. The cover member covers the lock mechanism that achieves both locked and unlocked states by rotational movement of the restricting member. An end surface of the restricting member facing the cover member is configured to be longer than a width of the opening. |
US09156356B2 |
Intelligent battery disconnect
The present invention is an electronically controlled battery contactor that opens (disconnects) or closes (connects) the battery circuit from the other parts of a motor vehicle electrical system based on measured or sensed data derived from monitoring the electrical system, communicating with other on-board control units, and pre-programmed requirements specific to the vehicle operation. The primary functions are to protect the battery from excessive current drain when the vehicle is parked, protect against short circuits across the main electrical feed, and provide emergency disconnect for vehicle impact, rollover or sensed thermal events. A programmed delay function controls the opening of the contactor in conjunction with other electronic control units that may require electrical power for a period of time after vehicle shutdown. A master electrical disconnect switch is provided for manual override for servicing the vehicle or during an emergency. |
US09156352B2 |
Driving assistant system and method having warning function for risk level
A driving assistant system and method having a warning function for alerting a driver of a risk level, which synthetically determines a running speed of a vehicle, a driver's inattention, a road condition, and the like and provides a warning corresponding to a degree of risk (risk level) to the driver. In particular, a calculated data value corresponding to a degree of a driver's drowsy or careless status is compared to calculation values corresponding to a vehicle speed and the degree of risk of a road to predetermined reference values corresponding to the output values and outputs at least one warning message alerting a driver of risk levels according to the comparison result. |
US09156351B2 |
Power transfer device with low effort mode shift system
A power transfer device for a four-wheel drive vehicle includes a first shaft for transferring torque to a first driveline, a second shaft for transferring torque to a second driveline, and a transfer mechanism driving the second shaft. A mode clutch assembly drivingly connects the first shaft to the transfer mechanism and includes a clutch gear driven by the transfer mechanism and a mode sleeve. A sprocket hub associated with the transfer mechanism has external drive teeth meshed with internal drive teeth on the clutch gear with a predetermined amount of backlash therebetween. A ball cam mechanism centers the backlash and permits relative rotation between the transfer mechanism and the mode sleeve to circumvent a blocked mode shift. |
US09156342B2 |
Vehicle comprising a housing of an electric energy store, said housing being designed as a supporting structural component
A vehicle is provided having at least a front wheel, a rear wheel, an electrical machine which is configured for driving the rear and/or the front wheel, and multiple electrical storage devices which are accommodated in a storage housing. The storage housing forms a load-bearing component of a frame and/or a body of the vehicle. |
US09156338B2 |
Molding for vehicle and method for manufacturing same
An elongated molding for a vehicle, including: a main body including, a head portion arranged at a front surface side of a circumferential edge of a window pane, a leg portion protruding from a back surface of the head portion and being arranged to face an end surface of the circumferential edge of the window pane, and a foot portion protruding from a tip of the leg portion toward a center of the window pane, wherein a volume raising portion is integrally provided to at least a portion of a back surface of the head portion in a longitudinal direction thereof, wherein a thickness of the volume raising portion varies at at least some positions in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the volume raising portion is made of a resin material softer than a resin material constituting the head portion. |
US09156336B2 |
Golf cart retractable enclosure
A retractable enclosure for open sided golf carts and/or recreational vehicles. Golf cart retractable enclosures have roll-back doors which coil into housings and onto a tube within each housing for storage. The roll-back door panels are made up of sheets of flexible transparent plastic and or flexible opaque fabric material. Each roll-back door panel has an upper side edge which is received in a horizontal upper track extending from the front vertical post to the roll-back panel housing. The tubes are rotated by either electric motors and or springs in one direction to open and store the roll-back doors and rotated in an opposite direction to close the roll back doors. |
US09156335B1 |
Structural door handle attached to door structure at the door window belt
A vehicle door and handle assembly includes inner and outer panels defining an inner door cavity therebetween. A belt reinforcement is disposed within the inner door cavity and includes a generally upright body portion having an upper edge. A belt molding is partially disposed on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement. A casting bracket includes downwardly extending reinforcement members and a handle portion interconnecting opposite ends. Each reinforcement member includes upper and lower mounting features, wherein the upper mounting features are supported on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement and the lower mounting features are mounted on the body portion of the belt reinforcement. A cover substantially covers the casting bracket and is configured to align with the belt molding on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement to define an integrated belt molding at the door window belt. |
US09156333B2 |
System for the heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning of a vehicle, comprising at least one heat exchanger through which a heat-transfer fluid flows
The invention relates to a system for the heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning of a motor vehicle passenger compartment. The system includes at least one heat exchanger through which there flows a heat-transfer fluid. The system is equipped with at least one means for pumping the heat-transfer fluid at a flow rate of between 40 1/h and 200 1/h, in such a way that a temperature difference of the heat-transfer fluid between an outlet and an inlet of the heat exchanger is greater than 45° C. |
US09156332B2 |
Vehicular heating control system, method, and computer-readable storage medium
A vehicular heating control system, method, and program acquire an operation value that is a setting by an occupant and, when there is no manual operation, acquire a fuel consumption reduction amount and a fuel consumption amount and, when the fuel consumption reduction amount exceeds the fuel consumption amount and an improvement in fuel economy is expected, execute seat heater control, that is, heating by an electrothermal heater, decrease the wind force of a blower fan, and lower an engine startup threshold value. Heating by an air conditioning system and heating by the electrothermal heater are combined, so a heating effect is obtained while reducing the fuel consumption amount. |
US09156331B2 |
Air-cooled fuel cell vehicle
The cooling performance on an air-cooled fuel cell and a radiator for cooling electrical equipment is improved in an air-cooled fuel cell vehicle. The air-cooled fuel cell includes: air inlets respectively at both side portions in a vehicle width direction; and air outlets and an exhaust duct at a central portion in the vehicle width direction, the exhaust duct configured to discharge air flowing out of the air outlets to a rear side of the vehicle. Intake ducts extending toward the front portion of the vehicle are respectively connected to the air inlets. Air intake ports of the intake ducts are respectively opened at both side portions, in the vehicle width direction, of a radiator and at positions closer to the front portion of the vehicle than the radiator. |
US09156326B2 |
Gas spring piston as well as gas spring assembly, suspension system, kit and method including same
A gas spring piston (3) includes an external retention feature (254) that is capable of receivably engaging and retention on an associated structural component (1cs). The gas spring piston (204) includes an outer side wall (228), a base wall dimensioned to abuttingly engage the associated structural component (1cs), and at least one external retention feature (254) disposed along the base wall (228). A gas spring assembly (200), a suspension system, a gas spring piston kit, and a method are also included. |
US09156324B2 |
Vehicle axle suspension, and vehicle comprising such vehicle axle suspension
The invention relates to a vehicle axle suspension comprising: —a tubular axle body (3) having a longitudinal axis; —resilient suspension arms (5) which extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle on both sides of the vehicle, and which cross the axle body substantially perpendicular, each suspension arm having a curved portion (9) with a concave underside forming an axle recess in which the axle body is received, and each suspension arm being hingedly connectable at the front, viewed in the direction of travel of the vehicle, to a bearing bracket arranged on the vehicle chassis; —two intermediate members (13), each intermediate member being positioned in said axle recess between the axle body and the curved portion of one of the respective suspension arms, wherein each intermediate member has a concave underside which matches with the outer contour of the tubular axle body; —a pneumatic spring for each suspension arm which is operational between the respective suspension arm and the vehicle chassis; —a clamping assembly (17, 18, 19) associated with each suspension arm, wherein the axle body, the respective intermediate member and the suspension arm are retained solely by the clamping assembly. |
US09156322B2 |
Charge cable device
A charge cable device includes: a cable having one end detachable from a power source or another charge cable device and an electric power line for supplying electricity to a vehicle from the electric power source or another charge cable device; a charge connector on the other end of the cable detachable from a charge inlet of the vehicle; a cable connector detachable from further another charge cable device to connect between further another charge cable device and the electric power line; and a controller. When the cable connector is not attached to further another charge cable device, the controller controls to supply electricity from the one end of the cable to the charge connector. When the cable connector is attached to further another charge cable device, the controller controls an electric power supply amount of electricity to the charge connector and to further another charge cable device. |
US09156321B2 |
Adaptive magnetic coupling system
A system is disclosed comprising a tractor vehicle, at least one trailer vehicle and a skin between and in contact with the tractor and trailer vehicles. One of the tractor and trailer vehicles is disposed in a non-inverted position above the skin and the other is disposed in an inverted position below the skin. The trailer vehicle comprises one or more magnets, while the tractor vehicle comprises one or more magnets magnetically coupled to each opposing magnet on the trailer vehicle. For example, the tractor and trailer vehicles may have mutually opposing permanent magnets in one-to-one relationship. Alternatively, each permanent magnet on the trailer vehicle could be opposed by one or more electro-permanent magnets on the tractor vehicle. The magnetic coupling between the magnets on the tractor and trailer vehicles produces an attraction force. The system further comprises means for maintaining the attraction force within a range as the tractor and trailer vehicles move along a portion of the skin having a varying thickness. |
US09156318B2 |
Light tire comprising a non-radial carcass structure
A tire comprising at least one carcass-type reinforcing structure formed of at least one layer of mutually parallel reinforcing elements making an angle, with the circumferential direction, of strictly less than 75° at least in the region of maximum axial width of the tire and of strictly less than 65° at least in the equatorial plane anchored on each side of the tire to a bead, each bead extending radially outwards in the form of a sidewall, the sidewalls radially towards the outside meeting a tread, and comprising, under the tread, a crown reinforcing structure consisting of at least one layer of reinforcing elements making angles of between 10° and 60° with the circumferential direction and known as a working layer, radially on the outside of the carcass-type reinforcing structure. In sidewalls, the tire comprises at least two axially adjacent carcass reinforcing layer portions, the reinforcing elements of the said carcass reinforcing layer portions being directed on each side of a meridian plane, at least in part of the sidewalls, and the reinforcing elements of at least one working layer crossing the reinforcing elements of the carcass-type reinforcing structure at an angle greater than 40°. |
US09156316B2 |
Vehicle tire with interrupted carcass and comprising a layer of circumferential reinforcement elements
A tire comprising a reinforcing structure of the carcass type and comprising under the tread strip a crown reinforcing structure consisting of at least two layers of reinforcing elements. The carcass-type reinforcing structure is produced in the form of two half-layers extending at least from the shoulders to the beads and each having an end under the tread strip, the crown reinforcing structure comprises at least one layer of circumferential reinforcing elements which are distributed in the transverse direction with a variable pitch and the pitch between the circumferential reinforcing elements is at a minimum in the region of the layer of circumferential reinforcing elements that radially face the ends of each of the half-layers of the carcass-type reinforcing structure. |
US09156314B2 |
Pneumatic tire and method of manufacturing pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire including a cylindrical annular structure, a rubber layer that will become a tread portion provided along a circumferential direction of the annular structure, on an outer side of the annular structure, and a carcass portion including fibers covered by rubber, provided on both sides in a direction parallel to a center axis (Y-axis) of a cylindrical structure including the annular structure and the rubber layer. In a meridian cross-sectional view of the structure, an outer side of the rubber layer and the outer side of the annular structure have the same form. |
US09156311B2 |
Method of forming a frontal toothing on an inner ring of a wheel hub, upset collar and wheel hub with frontal toothing thus obtained
A method including the steps of forming an inner ring of a wheel hub, by joining a spindle and an insert ring fitted onto the spindle, on the side of a first end of the spindle; axially blocking the insert ring on the spindle by plastically deforming the first end of the spindle so as to form an upset collar therewith, which axially protrudes from the insert ring; and once the step of forming the upset collar has finished, frontally obtaining a frontal toothing; the finished collar has, in the part of the collar which axially protrudes from the ring, a predetermined geometric shape which substantially defines, in the radial section, a scalene triangle having the base facing the upset ring and the vertex opposite the base rounded in shape. |
US09156310B2 |
Controlled lubricant volume seal housing
A mechanical drive seal housing includes a lubricant reservoir to supplement the amount of available lubricant. The lubricant is used to cool a seal having two halves. The seal halves include complimentary textures configured to move and retain lubricant. A drive axle includes a stationary shaft and a wheel hub rotatably connected to the stationary shaft. A metal face seal is located at an interface between the stationary shaft and the wheel hub. A stationary seal half of the metal face seal is located in a mechanical drive seal housing which includes a lubricant reservoir to supplement the amount of available lubricant. |
US09156309B2 |
System and method for producing made-to-order designs on the surface of an extraterrestrial body
A method for producing designs involves receiving a request to create a design on the surface of an extraterrestrial body, transmitting a control signal to a device on a vehicle on the extraterrestrial body, the control signal causing the device to create the design, and receiving an image signal providing an image of the design created on the surface. A device for producing the designs includes a surface altering tool configured to rearrange material on the surface. The tool may be provided as a configurable-tread rover wheel that includes a wheel hub having radially-extending channels, and tread elements supported in the channels that are selectively articulatable under the control of a control module to form a tread pattern corresponding to a design intended to be produced. The tread elements may be selectively extended or retracted by operation of an array of solenoids controlled by the control module. |
US09156306B2 |
Lithography method for doubled pitch
Lithography method for etching very dense patterns on a substrate, based on a combination of several less dense partial patterns; a sacrificial layer is formed on a substrate and is etched according to a first partial pattern; spacers are formed on edges of elements of the sacrificial layer, the spacers defining a second partial pattern; then the sacrificial layer is removed leaving only the spacers remaining. A layer sensitive to an electron beam is subsequently deposited between the spacers to a thickness less than or equal to the height of the spacers, and this sensitive layer is exposed using an electron beam according to a third partial pattern such that there remains on the substrate a final pattern of regions lacking spacers and a sensitive layer, this pattern resulting from the combination of the second and third partial patterns and having higher density than each of the partial patterns. |
US09156301B2 |
Pop-up greeting card with confetti
An interactive electronic greeting card with pop up feature includes a three-sided pocket or cavity which houses various electronic and mechanical components and a pop up element. In a first position, the pop up element is substantially contained within the greeting card pocket or cavity. When the push button is depressed, the pop up element is ejected or “pops up” out of the greeting card pocket or cavity, revealing a greeting or other printed indicia. The push button also initiates playback of a pre-loaded digital audio file, which may be a spoken message, a sound, a song, music or other such audio recording. |
US09156300B2 |
Greeting card with scrolling scene
The greeting card of the present invention includes a sound and motor module which enable the greeting card to play audio and activate a scroll mechanism which displays a scrolling scene across a window or screen located on at least one panel of the greeting card. The scroll mechanism contains a piece of thin paper or paper-like material which is attached end-to-end, forming a loop. The material is then placed between two rotating spindles or rollers which rotate the material in a loop across the greeting card page as a moving picture, scene or message. The scroll may contain a greeting, message or simply contain artwork or a funny or entertaining scene. The information on the scroll may be coordinated with the theme of the music or audio clip. |
US09156294B2 |
Image recording apparatus and base material supply apparatus
An image recording apparatus includes an unwinder, a recorder, a take-up part, a first supporter, a surface modifying part, and a second supporter. The unwinder unwinds a base material from a roll. The recorder records an image onto a surface of the base material. The take-up part takes up the base material on which an image has been recorded by the recorder. The first supporter supports the base material that is being conveyed in a direction away from the recorder after having been unwound from the unwinder. The surface modifying part modifies a surface of the base material by energizing the surface of the base material that has passed through the first supporter. The second supporter supports the base material that is being conveyed in a direction toward the recorder after having passed through the surface modifying part. The second supporter is more distant from the unwinder than the first supporter is. The unwinder is disposed on at least one of a virtual line segment that connects the surface modifying part and the recorder and a normal to the line segment. |
US09156292B2 |
Recording apparatus
There is provided a recording apparatus including a first accommodating section, a transporting mechanism, a first path which includes a curved path portion, a second path which is extended linearly, a third path which includes a curved path portion, and a fourth path which is extended linearly, and a recording section. The transporting mechanism includes a guide surface extended linearly, which is configured to define the second path, and to guide one side end of the recording medium, and a pair of inclined feeding rollers which is configured to transport the recording medium with respect to the guide surface to bring the one side end of the recording medium to the guide surface. The recording section is arranged along the fourth path. The first accommodating section, the second path, and the fourth path are overlapped in a vertical direction. |
US09156291B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus includes a transportation section that transports a recording target medium, and a control section that controls the transportation section. The transportation section includes a drive roller that is provided so as to be contacted with a first face of the recording target medium and that applies a forwarding force piece to the first face, and an air blowing section that is provided at a position opposite the drive roller and that blows air onto a second face of the recording target medium. The air blowing section performs an adjustment of an amount of air blown from the air blowing section itself under the control of the control section. |
US09156286B2 |
Image recording device
An image recording device includes: a rotating drum configured to rotate and including a cylindrical hollow outer member having an outer peripheral surface around which a recording medium is wrapped during rotation of the rotating drum; an ejecting head facing the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum and configured to eject liquid onto the recording medium wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum; an air supply unit configured to supply gas from one side of the rotating drum to a hollow portion surrounded by the outer member of the rotating drum in an axial direction along which a rotating shaft of the rotating drum extends; and an exhaust unit configured to exhaust gas from the hollow portion to the other side of the rotating drum in the axial direction. |
US09156285B2 |
Integrated vacuum assist web transport system
A printing system for printing on a print medium is disclosed. A first linehead is disposed opposite a first side of the print medium. The first linehead defines print zones where a liquid is deposited onto the first side of the print medium. A plurality of transport rollers are disposed adjacent to the second side of the print medium. At least one transport roller is aligned with one of the one or more print zones of the first linehead. A vacuum manifold is disposed opposite the second side of the print medium. The vacuum manifold is aligned with the aligned transport roller and outputs a vacuum force that operates on the second side of the print medium to deflect the print medium causing an increase in the wrap angle of the print medium around the aligned transport roller. |
US09156283B2 |
Liquid dispersal in radiant dryers for printing systems
Systems and methods are provided for dispersing a liquid coolant in a radiant dryer. The system comprises a dryer of a printing system. The dryer includes a heating element within an interior of the dryer that is able to heat a web of printed media as the web travels through the interior. The dryer also includes a liquid dispersal unit within the interior that is able to project liquid droplets of coolant onto the web as the web travels through the interior, in order to control the temperature of the web. |
US09156282B2 |
Nail print apparatus and printing method thereof
A nail print apparatus, including: a nail placement unit on which a central area in a protruding portion of a nail of a finger or a nail of a toe is placed, the protruding portion of the nail is an area that protrudes from a distal portion of the finger or the toe and the central area includes a center of the protruding portion in a width direction of the nail; and a print head which performs printing on the nail that the central area is placed on the nail placement unit. |
US09156276B2 |
Methods for inkjet varnishing
A method for inkjet varnishing a substrate includes the steps of jetting a micro-pattern of a varnish having a viscosity of less than 30 mPa·s at 45° C. and at a shear rate of 30 s−1 to a portion of the substrate by one or more printheads having nozzles with a nozzle diameter of no more than 30 μm, and at least partially curing the micro-pattern within 500 milliseconds after jetting to provide a micro-roughness to the portion of the substrate. |
US09156270B2 |
Liquid ejecting device
A liquid ejecting head is accommodated in a first casing. A supporting section is accommodated in a second casing. The first casing is pivotally movable relative to the second casing about a predetermined axis. Pivotal movement allows the first casing to take a first position at which an ejection surface confronts the supporting section and a second position at which the ejection surface is farther away from the supporting section than at the first position. The predetermined axis is closer to a first side surface than to a second side surface, and extends in parallel with the first side surface. The second side surface is formed with: a first opening through which a first medium tray is inserted or removed; a second opening through which a first tank is inserted or removed; and a third opening through which a waste-liquid tank is inserted or removed. |
US09156268B2 |
Operating mechanism for an inkjet printer
A printer system includes a print head assembly that ejects a printing solution from a fixed position during a print period and a conveying mechanism operable to convey an operations assembly. The operations assembly executes servicing functions on the print head assembly during a non-print period. Furthermore, the print head assembly remains in the fixed position during the non-print period and the operations assembly provides support for a print medium during the print period. |
US09156266B2 |
Ink jet recorder
An ink jet recorder includes a support unit configured to support a recording medium, and a mobile unit including a plurality of containers containing inks of identical composition and a head configured to eject the ink supplied from any one of the plurality of containers. The ink jet recorder is configured to record an image on the recording medium in such a manner that the head performs main scanning by ejecting the ink while changing positions in a first direction, and the mobile unit performs sub-scanning by moving in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. |
US09156262B2 |
Fluid ejection device with two-layer tophat
In an embodiment, a fluid ejection device includes a substrate with a fluid slot, and a chamber layer over the substrate that defines a firing chamber and a fluidic channel extending through the firing chamber and in fluid communication with the slot at first and second ends. The device includes a tophat layer formed as a two-layer stack over the chamber layer, and a nozzle bore over the firing chamber that comprises a greater cavity formed in a first layer of the stack and a lesser cavity formed in a second layer of the stack, the greater cavity encompasses a larger volume than the lesser cavity. |
US09156258B2 |
Liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting apparatus, piezoelectric element and sensor
A liquid ejecting head including a piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element includes: a first electrode; an orientation control layer provided on the first electrode, the orientation control layer having a perovskite structure including Bi in an A site and Fe and Ti in a B site, and the orientation control layer being self-oriented in a (100) plane; a piezoelectric body layer provided on the orientation control layer and made of a piezoelectric material of the perovskite structure preferentially oriented in the (100) plane; and a second electrode provided on the piezoelectric body layer. |
US09156255B2 |
Movement of fluid within printhead channels
In one embodiment, an actuator connected to a printhead structure is activated with a waveform to cause vibration of the structure sufficient to move fluid within a printhead channel adjacent to the structure and not cause the fluid to eject from the channel during a nonprinting period. In another embodiment, a first pulse module applies a pulse at a printhead structure at a combination of voltage, duration, and frequency to cause shaking of printhead structure to move fluid within a printhead channel adjacent to the structure without ejecting the fluid from the channel during a nonprinting period. In another embodiment, an actuator connected to a printhead structure is activated during a nonprinting period to pulse the structure to move fluid within a printhead channel adjacent to the structure without causing the fluid to be expelled from the channel. |
US09156253B2 |
Inkjet printer, liquid ejection device, and printing method
An inkjet printer configured to print by ejecting ink based on print data, an inkjet head comprising a plurality of nozzles, the plurality of nozzles divided into a plurality of nozzle groups, each nozzle of a nozzle group configured to eject ink of a same color and type and a control device configured to control the inkjet head to print in a normal print mode and a low-temperature print mode. |
US09156252B2 |
Liquid ejection apparatus and sensor unit
A liquid ejection apparatus and a sensor unit are capable of reducing the amount of mist adhering to an optical element. The liquid ejection apparatus includes a carriage including an ejection head mounted thereon for ejecting a liquid, and a sensor unit accommodating an optical element attached to the carriage, wherein the sensor unit has a first opening and a second opening which is communicated with the first opening and forms a light path between the optical element and the medium. |
US09156250B2 |
Liquid discharging apparatus, head unit, and control method of liquid discharging apparatus
Provided is a liquid discharging apparatus which includes a modulation circuit which generates a modulation signal which is obtained by pulse-modulating a source signal, a transistor which generates an amplified modulation signal by amplifying the modulation signal, a low pass filter which generates a drive signal by smoothening the amplified modulation signal, a piezoelectric element which is displaced by receiving the drive signal, and a multilayer circuit substrate on which the modulation circuit, the transistor, and the low pass filter are mounted. Furthermore, the multilayer circuit substrate has a multilayer configuration constituted of three or more layers which include at least one layer other than two surface layers. In addition, a feedback wiring pattern through which the modulation signal, the amplified modulation signal, or the drive signal is fed back to the modulation circuit is provided in the one layer. |
US09156248B1 |
Systems and methods for implementing a release film for a cleaning unit in an image forming device using digital offset lithographic printing techniques
A system and method are provided for depositing a release layer/film on a cleaner roller in an image forming device to facilitate effective cleaning of a reimageable surface in an image forming device using a proposed variable data digital lithographic image forming architecture. A borax or other solute solution is deposited on a surface of a cleaner roller and an air knife is used to evaporate a liquid component of the solution causing the liquid to come off and a thin-film of borax or other solute to remain on the surface of the cleaner roller. The thin film layer is then dry at a point of contact with the reimageable surface to recover residual ink from the reimageable surface with the surface of the cleaner roller on top of the thin film layer. The thin film layer is re-wetted to support efficient transfer of the ink to a web. |
US09156246B2 |
Method and device for the quality inspection and testing of flat printed products
A method and a device for the quality inspection and testing of a flat print product. A print product, including at least one structural element, is initially deposited on a support element and illuminated by at least one light source. At least one image of the illuminated print product is generated using at least one image recording unit. An image is also generated of at least one structural element on the support element and a geometric object of the support element is determined from the at least one structural element of the support element. Actual values for the at least one geometric object of the support element are compared to predetermined desired values for this geometric object and the result of the comparison is used for controlling the further processing of the print product. |
US09156244B2 |
Inking unit of a printing machine
An inking system of a printing press includes an impression cylinder for guiding a printing substrate, and at least one ink-transfer roller. The ink-transfer roller includes a cylinder mandrel, on which at least one cylinder sleeve is concentrically displaceable, and bearing blocks, in which ends of the ink-transfer roller are mounted and which are independently displaceable in the radial direction of the impression cylinder. The ink-transfer roller can be set against the impression cylinder or any other ink-transfer roller, with a bearing block being detachable from one end of the ink-transfer roller and displaceable relative to the ink-transfer roller so that the cylinder sleeve can be removed via this one end. A stop device, with which the cylinder sleeve can be brought into contact, has components that are movable in the axial direction of the print roller. The movable stop device components can be decelerated via a force-providing element. |
US09156239B2 |
Method of manufacturing net edge core and a method of bonding net edge core to a substructure
A method of assembling a core stiffened structure that includes bonding a composite core to a substructure by utilizing magnetic force to create pressure between a flat surface of the composite core the substructure, and bonding a face sheet onto a surface network of the composite core. |
US09156237B2 |
Attachable elastomeric pad
According to one embodiment, a method comprises calendering an elastomeric material into an elastomeric layer having a thickness that is more uniform than the elastomeric material prior to the calendaring. After calendaring, the elastomeric layer is vulcanized to a composite shim comprising at least one reinforcement layer and at least one layer of adhesive. |
US09156236B2 |
Vacuum-powered film-applying mechanism
A vacuum-powered film-applying mechanism for applying a flexible film to a workpiece includes a bracket, a suction member, and a rotating joint. The suction member is rotatably mounted on the bracket, and defines a peripheral surface and a plurality of suction chambers therein, and by virtue of a vacuum created in the interior of the suction member, a length of flexible film is attracted and adhered. The rotating joint on the bracket communicates with the plurality of the suction chamber, through the rotating joint, air is supplied and exhausted from the plurality of suction chambers progressively, on a one by one basis, to pick up and roll the flexible film onto itself, and by supplying air to the plurality of suction chambers one by one, unrolls and releases the flexible film onto the workpiece with a low incidence of trapping air bubbles. |
US09156234B1 |
Vanishing compact
A hollow compact has a partition partitioning it into a first interior compartment sealed apart from a second interior compartment. The first compartment is charged with a first solvent, the second compartment with a second solvent. The solubility properties of the first and second solvent are chosen such that neither risks attacking and/or dissolving the compact. Conversely, the solubility properties of the first and second solvent are otherwise chosen such that the mixture of the two indeed possesses an independent set of solubility properties, whereby the mixture is indeed capable of attacking and dissolving the material of the compact. Wherein, breaching the partition allows the charges of the first and second solvents to mix and thereby form the mixture therebetween. That way, the compact might vanish by dissolving into the mixture solvent or else might more likely might dissolve into a nearly un-recognizable form of its former self. |
US09156233B2 |
Engineered waterproof flooring and wall covering planks
Waterproof engineered floor and wall planks have a wear layer and an underlayer about an extruded dust and plastic composite core. |
US09156232B2 |
Environmentally-friendly polyurethane matting and the method of production thereof
The present invention discloses an environmentally-friendly polyurethane matting and a method of production thereof. The environmentally-friendly polyurethane matting comprises a leather surface, a polyurethane middle layer and an anti-slip leather bottom layer. The present invention is applied with the polyurethane instead of silica gel. The polyurethane avoids oil seepage when the matting is used, as is therefore environmentally-friendly fire proof, and safe. The elasticity and other performance of the polyurethane are hardly changed during usage, and environmentally-friendly polyurethane matting provides comfort and enhances the tactile feeling when people standing on the matting. Further, the matting has a long service life. |
US09156226B2 |
Production apparatus of skin-fitted foam molding member, production method of skin-fitted foam molding member, and skin-fitted foam molding member
A production apparatus of a skin-fitted foam molding member includes a first mold where an internal surface of a core material is disposed to face a mold face of the first mold; a second mold disposed to open and close relative to the first mold where an external surface of a skin having a roll portion is disposed to face a mold face of the second mold; a bender for bending the roll portion to allow the roll portion to face an external surface of an end portion of the core material; a welder for forming a seal portion which prevents a leak of a foam body where the preventing operation of the leak of the foam body is implemented by welding the end portion of the core material with the roll portion; and a filler for filling the foam body. |
US09156224B2 |
Plastic bag, methods for making bags and improved pouch machine
Method and apparatus for making a plastic bag or pouch wherein a plastic web is moved in a longitudinal direction and a tape made from an elongated plastic film is fed to the web. The tape is made of a pair of elongated attachment lanes of complementary fastening elements sealed to the film to function as attachable-detachable closures. The lanes extend parallel and are spaced apart. A perforation line is formed in the film between lanes, and a flange is defined on one side of only one of said lanes. The lanes are separated and pairs of lengths are cut off said lanes. The pairs of cut off lengths are sealed on a diagonal to the moving web in different directions to form V-shaped closures with the lane having the flange on one side thereof sealed to the web by the flange only. Bags are formed from the moving web. An intermediate product is described consisting of a narrow substrate having V-shaped closures spaced longitudinally for placement on a moving web in a bag making machine. |
US09156222B2 |
Press machine and method for detecting top dead center thereof
A press machine includes a controller including a top-dead-center detector adapted to: rotate a main shaft in a predetermined direction selected from a normal rotation direction and a reverse rotation direction to place a slide at a first position displaced relative to a top dead center of the slide by a predetermined height; while outputting and counting pulses from an angle detector, rotate the main shaft in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction to move the slide to a second position located at the same height as the first position beyond the top dead center; and rotate the main shaft from the second position in the predetermined direction by an amount corresponding to a half of the counted pulses to detect the top dead center. |
US09156219B2 |
Tire vulcanizer and tire vulcanizing system
A tire vulcanizer and tire vulcanizing system improving production efficiency by shortening time for loading and unloading of tires are provided. They include: a lower mold supporting part; an upper mold supporting part; a moving device moving the upper mold supporting part horizontally; an elevator device moving the upper mold vertically; a lift device pushing up a vulcanized tire held in the lower mold; and a tire supporting part supported by the upper mold supporting part. The tire supporting part moves between a supporting position and a retreated position. The bottom side of the vulcanized tire is supported by the tire supporting part at a peripheral side closer to the outside than a pushed-up position in the supporting position. The retreated position is positioned at a peripheral side closer to the outside than the vulcanized tire. |
US09156215B2 |
Method for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses
The invention provides a method for washing, with a water-based system, reusable molds for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The water-based washing system comprises an ethoxylated silicone polyether surfactant. The water-based system of the invention can effectively wash away silicone-containing components and other components of a lens formulation left behind on the molding surfaces of a reusable mold, after removing a silicone hydrogel contact lens cast molded in the reusable mold. |
US09156211B2 |
Apparatus and method for manufacturing a load bearing fabric surface
An apparatus for forming molded edges on opposite sides of a load bearing surface including a stretching assembly integrated into a molding assembly. The stretching assembly may include localized fabric clamps that leave the center region of the fabric free (e.g. not clamped) through the process. The clamps may be arranged so that once extended to stretch the fabric, the fabric is held by the clamps in the appropriate position for molding. The fabric may be held so that opposed edges terminate in the mold cavities. The mold parts may cooperatively define two spaced apart mold cavities, and may include a mold pocket to provide space to store excess fabric. The fabric may be held against the surface of the mold cavity during the molding process, for example, using hold-down pins and special gate configurations. The molding apparatus may include an alternative stretching assembly configured to provide different amounts of stretch to different portions of the fabric blank. The alternative stretching assembly may include additional intermediate clamps. |
US09156206B2 |
Method for manufacturing joined body, and joined body
The present invention provides a joined body manufacturing method with which the resin material is accurately attached to the first base material. The method includes: an attaching step of attaching a sheet material having resin material on one main surface of a sheet base material to a first base material such that a predetermined area is covered; a forming step of forming a slit for ease of separation on the sheet material attached to the first base material in accordance with the predetermined area; and a separating step of separating part of the resin material inside the slit from the sheet base material such that the part of the resin material inside the slit remains on the predetermined area of the first base material and part of the resin material outside the slit does not remain on the first base material. |
US09156203B2 |
Method for producing an air mattress
An internal tensioning structure for use in an inflatable product fulfills the basic function of maintaining two adjacent inflatable surfaces in a desired geometric arrangement when the inflatable product is pressurized. The tensioning structure is formed by connecting a pair of plastic strips sheets via spaced-apart strands, such as strings or wires. When pulled taut, the strands provide a high tensile strength between the two opposed plastic strips. At the same time, the plastic strips facilitate a strong, long-lasting weld between the tensioning structure and the inflatable product. |
US09156200B2 |
Facility for extruding plastic sheath
An extrusion facility (10) includes an extrusion screw (12), capable of providing a heat-softened viscous plastic material, and an extrusion (14). The extrusion head includes an annular chamber (24) that is capable of receiving viscous plastic material. The viscous plastic material, provided by the extrusion screw, has, at a constant temperature, a viscosity variable from a value μi at a constant value μcst during a given period so that μcst>μi. A buffer chamber (16) between the extrusion screw (12) and the extrusion head (14) to store the viscous plastic material during the given period in order to enable the plastic material to reach the viscosity value μcst before being injected into the extrusion head (14). |
US09156199B2 |
Method for operating a hybrid drive and hybrid drive
A hybrid drive includes an electric motor coupled to a hydraulic drive having a double-acting hydraulic piston and a piston rod, and a substantially throttle-less valve for actuating the hydraulic drive, and a control unit for actuating the electric machine. To avoid unnecessary energy consumption, an actuating direction requested by the hybrid drive and a desired actuating force are determined, the valve is switched to a position such that the hydraulic drive is effective in the actuating direction, at least when the actuating force cannot be generated by the electric motor alone, the difference between the force generated by the hydraulic drive and the actuating force is determined, and the electric motor is operated such that the desired actuating force is achieved by adding the force generated by the motor to the force generated by the hydraulic drive, or subtracting the first from the latter. |
US09156196B2 |
Method of manufacturing optical elements
Provided is a method for manufacturing optical elements, the method including the following processes: a process to determine the wave-front aberration for a lens fabricated using a reference die, and then choose the integer multiple of a predetermined constant that is closest to the difference between a lens design value and the wave-front aberration for the lens fabricated using the reference die; and a process to determine the amount of aberration correction that cancels out the aforementioned integer multiple aberration, change the lens design so that either the low-order spherical aberration or the low-order astigmatism therefor becomes equal to the aberration correction, and fabricate a correction die from either a first or a second die, with the shape of the molding surface thereof changed on the basis of the changed design value. Then the die design value is decided upon, yielding a final die. |
US09156195B2 |
Clear graphic cling films
The instant invention provides a polymer composition suitable for clear graphic cling film applications, method of producing the same, articles made therefrom, and methods for making such articles. The polymer composition suitable for clear graphic cling film applications, according to the present invention, comprises: (a) a polyolefin composition selected from the group consisting of a propylene-based composition as described herein, and an ethylene-based composition as described herein, and (b) one or more alkyl phosphate-based release agent; wherein when said polyolefin composition is formed into a clear graphic cling film having a 7 (±2) mils, said clear graphic cling film has a haze of less than 4 percent, for example from 0.3 to 4 percent, measured according to ASTM-D 1003. |
US09156194B2 |
Digital 3D fabrication using multi-layered mold
A replica 3D structure is fabricated inside a multi-layered mold by patterning each mold layer to define a void/opening that matches a corresponding cross section of the structure's peripheral surface, and filling the patterned opening of each layer with a structural material (i.e., before depositing a subsequent layer of mold material). The mold material (e.g., photoresist or another dissolvable sacrificial material) is blanket deposited (e.g., by slot-die, spray coating) and then patterned using a laser or a printed mask. Each layer of modeling material (e.g., polymer, ceramic or metal, or a combination thereof) is electro-plated or otherwise deposited on the previously formed modeling material layer. High vertical resolution is achieved by utilizing relatively thin mold layers. The mold layer deposition, patterning and modeling material deposition is repeated until the replica 3D structure is entirely formed inside the multi-layered mold, and then the mold is dissolved or otherwise removed. |
US09156189B2 |
Systems and methods for high-throughput microfluidic bead production
A system for producing microbeads includes a microfluidic device defining a supply channel and a shearing channel, a microbead precursor material disposed in the supply channel, a carrier fluid disposed in the shearing channel, and a pressure distribution system fluidly connected to each of the supply channel and the shearing channel to control at least relative pressures of the microbead precursor material and the carrier fluid. The supply channel includes a check valve adapted to be subjected to a bias pressure that is sufficient to close the check valve to flow of microbead precursor material when a supply pressure of the microbead precursor material is below a threshold pressure and is open to flow of the microbead precursor material when the supply pressure of the microbead precursor material is greater than the threshold pressure. An end of the supply channel opens into the shearing channel such that the microbead precursor material is sheared into droplets by the carrier fluid flowing through the shearing channel. A pressure of the carrier fluid is less than the bias pressure. The microbead precursor material and the carrier fluid are substantially immiscible. |
US09156188B2 |
Powered saw including dust capture apparatus
A novel cutting method and apparatus includes a cutting blade adapted to consistently and easily form a desirable kerf in a concrete substrate while capturing substantially all resulting concrete dust. |
US09156185B2 |
Apparatus and operating systems for manufacturing impregnated wood
Furfurylated wood produced in a two-chamber system in which monomer/oligomer impregnation in an impregnation chamber is followed by successive stages of drying and curing. Physical properties of wood under treatment are measured, recorded and referenced into a database that accumulates wood species data relating to applied temperature and pressure profiles, physical properties and appearance of intermediate and finished samples of wood and also chemical treatment regimes, including soak time and monomer/oligomer concentrations. During drying and curing, monitoring of process parameters, including water removal and/or atmospheric conditions, are used by a controller both to control and determine a state of process completion by comparing recorded data with historically accumulated data or process set point conditions. Physical and/or chemical attributes of finally processed wood are used in an automated control loop to modify, reactively or in real time, applied treatment regimes for specific wood species and wood profiles. |
US09156182B2 |
Spring biased base with offset pivot point
A saw assembly includes a drive member, a motor, a housing, a foot, and a spring. The drive member is configured to be moved in a repeating pattern. The motor is configured to move said drive member in said repeating pattern. The housing defines an interior space in which said motor is positioned, and said housing includes a mount located in said interior space. The foot includes (i) a base defining a work piece contact surface, and (ii) an extension structure attached to said base and defining a spring arm contact surface. The spring includes (i) a spring arm positioned in contact with said spring arm contact surface, and (ii) a coiled portion supported by said mount. The housing is configured to pivot in relation to said foot about a pivot axis. |
US09156178B2 |
Slicing machine having an external carriage guide
An electrically operated slicing machine for cutting slices from product has cutting device with a circular knife mounted in a machine housing that rotates in a cutting plane (E; E′) and a substantially flat support plate having a support surface for placement of the carriage carrying the product. The carriage is guided parallel to the cutting plane via a carriage base along a slide rail rigidly connected to the machine housing. The carriage base is supported to be movable relative to the machine housing via at least two support elements that are movably accommodated within a guide space. |
US09156176B2 |
Cutting apparatus and computer readable storage medium
A cutting apparatus includes a cutter, a controller and a memory configured to store instructions. The instructions instruct the controller to execute steps including arranging patterns including peripheral lines including sequential line segments. The pattern arrangement includes arranging the patterns so that the line segments of adjacent patterns overlap each other. The instructions further include identifying the overlapping line segments, generating data representing a line including the identified overlapping line segments, designating the patterns including the overlapping line segments as a pattern group and extracting parallel line segments from the line segments forming the pattern group, grouping the extracted parallel line segments into line segments parallel to each other and denoting an identical cutting direction, determining a cutting order of the line segments composing the pattern group of the patterns including the overlapping line segments and generating a signal based on the generated data and the determined cutting order. |
US09156175B2 |
Fluid applicator for a personal-care appliance
A fluid dispensing cartridge for a personal care appliance with a fluid applicator having a baffle with a rear wall and an opposing resilient front flap. The baffle defines at least one outlet port. The resilient front flap contacts a portion of the rear wall in a first position and is spaced apart from the portion in a second position. |
US09156173B2 |
Cutting device for cutting hair
The invention relates to a cutting device (1) for cutting hair, having at least two blades (2, 3) which move back and forth relative to each other. The blades (2, 3) are provided with teeth (8, 9) which extend transversally to the direction of movement (P), and tooth gaps (25, 26) arranged therein. The teeth (8, 9) have contact surfaces (4, 5) on their facing sections which are in gliding contact with each other and which form cutting edges (34, 35) on their sides bounding the tooth gaps (25, 26) such that the back and forth movement (P) of the blades causes the tooth gaps (25, 26), cooperating with each other, to form constantly changing cutting gaps (32) in which hair becomes clamped and is finally cut. According to the invention, the free ends of teeth (9) of one blade (3) project over sections (15) of free ends of teeth (9) of other blades (2), and projections (17) extend from the projecting sections (15) of the teeth (9) on the contact surfaces (5) side. The projections (17) improve the cutting result by erecting the hairs lying flat against the skin surface (29) during the cutting process, feeding them more easily to the teeth (8, 9). |
US09156167B2 |
Determining an autonomous position of a point of interest on a lifting device
A system and method for monitoring a lifting device is disclosed. The method receives location information from a position determiner module coupled with a point of interest associated with the lifting device and determines an autonomous position of the point of interest based on the location information. The method further includes monitoring the lifting device based on the autonomous position of the point of interest. |
US09156166B2 |
Robot control device
A robot control device according to an embodiment includes: an observer receiving the angular velocity of the motor and the current command value, and estimating an angular acceleration of the link, and angular velocities of the link and the motor from a simulation model of an angular velocity control system of the motor; a first feedback unit calculating an axis torsion angular velocity from a difference between the angular velocities of the link and the motor estimated by the observer, and giving feedback to the angular velocity control system; a second feedback unit feeding back the angular acceleration of the link estimated by the observer to the angular velocity control system; and a first feedback constant calculating unit compensating an end effector load mass and increases inertia at the second feedback unit when an end effector load in the nonlinear dynamic model has low inertia. |
US09156160B2 |
Robot system, calibration method, and method for producing to-be-processed material
A robot system includes a plurality of robots, a control device, a common work table, and a calibration device. The control device is configured to control the plurality of robots. On the common work table, the plurality of robots are configured to work. Based on a position of a first robot having a calibrated coordinate relative to a position of a second robot among the plurality of robots, the calibration device is configured to calibrate a coordinate of the second robot. |
US09156152B2 |
Impact tool having counter weight that reduces vibration
An impact tool is provided with a rational structure of connecting a ring-like member and a counter weight. The impact tool has a tool body, a motor, a drive shaft, a ring-like member that is caused to swing in an axial direction of a tool bit by rotation of the drive shaft, a tool driving mechanism, that is connected to the ring-like member and caused to rectilinearly move in the axial direction of the tool bit, and a counter weight that reduces vibration caused in the tool body in the axial direction of the tool bit. The counter weight has a connecting part that comes in contact with an outer edge of the ring-like member in at least one of axial directions of the tool bit, and the counter weight is connected to the ring-like member via the connecting part. |
US09156150B2 |
Snap ring pliers
The present invention relates to a snap ring pliers. As to the entire structure of the present invention, a lock member is simply turned to control gripping members to hold or release deformation of a snap ring. The lock member is turned for a stop of a limit member to hold against the upper surface of an elastic plate to block a hook portion from moving upward, so that the elastic plate can be made with a thinner plate. The hook portion is flexibly held by teeth of a ratchet rail. A lower protrusion of the elastic plate is held by an upper protrusion of the lock member with less resistance. This enhances the lock member to be turned in a labor-saving or flexible way. |
US09156149B2 |
Tooling system and method for removing a damaged or defective bushing
A system and method to remove a bushing from a bore includes an alignment tool that fits within an inner cavity of the bushing and a cutter tool aligned by the alignment tool. The method includes forming a groove on an inner surface of the bushing with the cutter tool and guiding the cutter tool with a guide associated with the alignment tool. |
US09156146B1 |
Wrench adapter device
A wrench adapter device adapts a conventional box wrench for use with a ratchet. The device includes a housing having a top face, a bottom face, and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending between the top face and the bottom face. The perimeter wall comprising a plurality of planar faces wherein the housing is configured for insertion into a wrench such that the housing is engaged to be rotated by the wrench. A socket extends into the top face of the housing wherein the housing is configured for being engaged by insertion of a drive of a ratchet into the socket. |
US09156139B1 |
Disc spindle with flexible cap clamping
A hub for holding media during manufacturing processes, such as inspection, includes a flexible cap at an end that has a cylindrical profile for engaging with the central void in the media. The cap is expanded to retain the media, avoiding contact of the clamping mechanism with the face of the media, so that particulation is reduced and contact confined to the edges of the media's central void. An actuator draws end of the cap toward the clamp body to place the cap in a clamping state and moves the end of the cap away from the clamp body to unclamp a disc. Vacuum or pressure may be used to move the actuator to the clamping or released state by providing a piston within the hub and applying vacuum to one side of a diaphragm coupled to the piston or pressure to the other. |
US09156138B1 |
Extended bar clamp/spreader
A bar clamp/spreading tool having a first clamp member with a curved arm that ends in a pad. The first bar clamp is fastened to an elongated beam that extends into and is attached to a beam housing. The beam housing includes a cavity. A variable length external member extends from the cavity into an assembly cavity of a primary housing. The primary housing includes a channel that receives a ratcheting rod. The bar clamp/spreading tool further includes a second clamp member that receives the ratcheting rod. The second clamp member has a ratcheting actuator for causing the second clamp member to ratchet down the ratcheting rod. This configuration results in a clamp. The first clamp member can be removed, flipped around and attached to the ratcheting member to form a spreading tool. |
US09156135B1 |
Flexible sander
A flexible sanding apparatus includes a thin, relatively flat spring member and a plurality of disc-shaped members attached to a first side of the flat spring member along a length of the flat spring member. The disc-shaped members may be horizontally stacked along the length of the flat spring member with at least one disc-shaped member at least partially contacting its adjacent disc-shaped members when the flat spring member lies flat. The disc-shaped members may be individually attached to the first side of the flat spring member along at least portions of outer edges of the disc-shaped members. A sanding surface may be coupled to a second side of the flat spring member. |
US09156134B2 |
Method for preparing an abrasive sheet using an embossed substrate
An abrasive sheet having improved properties which enable precise polishing and finishing is prepared by (1) coating an abrasive material-containing slurry on a concave face of an embossed first substrate and then UV-curing or pre-drying with heat the coating layer to form an abrasive material coating layer on the embossed first substrate; (2) coating an adhesive on one side of a second substrate to form an adhesive layer thereon; (3) combining the first and second substrates such that the abrasive material coating layer is bonded to the adhesive layer to form a laminate; and (4) separating the first substrate from the laminate formed in step (3), to obtain an abrasive sheet having an embossed abrasive material coating layer. |
US09156132B2 |
Surface treatment machine
Disclosed herein is a surface treatment machine that enables the inhibition or reduction of residual abrasives that remain on a workpiece that has been surface treated. An H steel (a workpiece to be treated) 12 is conveyed by means of a conveying device 20. Blasting devices 24A, 24B are then projected abrasives on to the conveying H steel such that it is surface treated. In the downstream of the blasting devices 24A, 24B along the conveying direction, a blowing port 30A of an air blower 30 is located above a conveying path to blow gas to the upper surface 112A of the H steel 12 such that the abrasives on the H steel 12 are blown off and removed therefrom. |
US09156130B2 |
Method of adjusting profile of a polishing member used in a polishing apparatus, and polishing apparatus
The method includes the steps of measuring a surface height of a polishing member 10 at each of plural oscillation sections Z1 to Z5 which are defined in advance on the polishing member 10 along an oscillation direction of a dresser 5; calculating a difference between a current profile obtained from measured values of the surface height and a target profile of the polishing member 10; and correcting moving speeds of the dresser 5 in the plural oscillation sections Z1 to Z5 so as to eliminate the difference. |
US09156128B2 |
Burnishing method and burnishing apparatus
An object is to provide a burnishing method in which it is possible to reduce the flying height of a magnetic head by improving the smoothness of the surface of a magnetic disk while suppressing contamination of the magnetic disk due to falling-off or crushing of abrasive grains from a polishing tape.In the burnishing method, an alignment process of adjusting the position in a thickness direction of a magnetic disk 10 of an outer peripheral plate 75 installed outside an outer peripheral end 10c of at least one of the magnetic disk 10 and the magnetic disk 10 so as to make the surface of the outer peripheral plate 75 and the surface of the magnetic disk 10 become flush with each other is performed between a substrate installation process and a burnishing process. |
US09156124B2 |
Soft polishing pad for polishing a semiconductor substrate
Soft polishing pads for polishing semiconductor substrates are described. A soft polishing pad includes a molded homogeneous polishing body having a thermoset, closed cell polyurethane material with a hardness approximately in the range of 20 Shore D to 45 Shore D. |
US09156122B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring a polishing surface of a polishing pad used in polishing apparatus
A method is capable of monitoring the polishing surface of the polishing pad without removing the polishing pad from the polishing table. The method includes: conditioning the polishing surface of the polishing pad by causing a rotating dresser to oscillate on the polishing surface; measuring a height of the polishing surface when the conditioning of the polishing surface is performed; calculating a position of a measuring point of the height on a two-dimensional surface defined on the polishing surface; and repeating the measuring of the height of the polishing surface and the calculating of the position of the measuring point to create height distribution in the polishing surface. |
US09156119B2 |
Machine tool
The present invention relates to a machine tool, in particular to a lathe, comprising a machine frame 1, a first work spindle 21 which is arranged on a spindle carrier face of the machine frame 1 and is to receive a first workpiece W1, a second work spindle 22 which faces the first work spindle 21, is arranged on a spindle carrier face of the machine frame 1 and is to receive a second workpiece W2, the axis of the second work spindle 22 being aligned parallel, in particular coaxially to the axis of the first work spindle 21, and comprising two movable tool carrier slides 51 and 52, on which a respective tool-carrying tool carrier 61 and 62 is arranged. According to the invention, provided between the work spindles 21 and 22 is a tool carrier 62 which can be moved transversely to the spindle axes, is configured as a tool turret and the turret axis of which is aligned transversely to the spindle axes. |
US09156118B2 |
Method of operating a pivot drive
The present invention relates to a method for operating a pivot drive, in particular a rotary indexing unit (10), having a rotating plate (12) which can be driven by a motor to execute a rotary movement about a rotation axis (R). A sensor (24, 24′) is provided, which provides sensor data, in particular angle data, is connected to a control device (26) and serves to monitor a rotary movement of the motor (22), the rotating plate (12) and/or a rotating component of a drive train which is arranged between the motor and the rotating plate. The sensor data is compared with predefined setpoint data, which is stored in the control device (26), in order to adjust at least one parameter which characterizes or influences the rotary movement if there is a deviation between the sensor data and the setpoint data, in order to minimize the ascertained deviation. |
US09156117B2 |
Method of cutting steel for machine structural use
In the method of cutting steel for machine structural use, steel for machine structural use, in which chemical components contain, by mass %, 0.01% to 1.2% of C, 0.005% to 3.0% of Si, 0.05% to 3.0% of Mn, 0.001% to 0.2% of P, 0.001% to 0.35% of S, 0.002% to 0.035% of N and 0.05% to 1.0% of Al, in a case in which [Al%] and [N%] represent the mass % of Al and N in the steel respectively, [Al%]−(27/14)×[N%]≧0.05% is satisfied, is the other elements are included as necessary, and a balance consisting of Fe and inevitable impurities, is used, and a cutting process is carried out on the steel for machine structural use using water-insoluble cutting oil in which the amount of dissolved oxygen is 4 volume % to 16 volume %. |
US09156116B2 |
Axial machining device
The present invention provides an axial machining device comprising a tool-carrier spindle rotatable in a housing, the housing housing a transmission system causing the spindle to advance automatically relative to the housing under the effect of the tool-carrier spindle being driven in rotation, the transmission system including an advance gearwheel screwed onto the spindle, the device including a resilient return member urging the advance gearwheel in a first axial direction opposite to the advance direction of the spindle, and also including a first rolling bearing having rolling members rolling on an undulating raceway having an axial component, thereby periodically urging the advance gearwheel to move in a second direction opposite to the first, such that rotation of the spindle is accompanied by axial vibratory motion. |
US09156114B2 |
Method for manufacturing turbine nozzle having non-linear cooling conduit
A method for manufacturing a turbine nozzle having a non-linear cooling conduit is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing a turbine nozzle. The turbine nozzle includes: an airfoil, a cavity, having an inner surface, located within the airfoil, at least one endwall adjacent the airfoil, and a fillet region connecting the airfoil and the endwall. The fillet region also includes an outer surface. The method also includes: forming a non-linear cooling conduit within the fillet region and adjacent the outer surface of the fillet region of the turbine nozzle. The forming of the non-linear cooling conduit includes curved drilling through a portion of the outer surface of the fillet region of the turbine nozzle. |
US09156112B2 |
Welding solid wire and weld metal
The objective of the present invention is to provide a similar-metal-composition welding solid wire, and weld metals therefor, with which both excellent bead shape and high ultralow-temperature toughness for the weld joints can be achieved when welding 9% Ni steels together by means of a high-efficiency MIG welding method. A fixed ratio of a REM and O are included in a similar-metal-composition welding solid wire of a 9% NI steel base material, and oxygen is supplied in a trace amount in a range that does not hinder the ultralow-temperature toughness of the weld joint (1a) but that is capable of forming fine REM oxides in the weld metal (3) and of controlling the weld metal to produce an excellent bead shape. In addition, both Al and Ti are regulated and an argon gas that contains little or no carbon dioxide gas is used as the shield gas in the MIG welding method. Thus, both an excellent bead shape and high ultralow-temperature toughness for the weld joint (1a) can be achieved. |
US09156102B2 |
Pressure welding using propylene
A process and method for welding using an oxygen and propylene gas mixture is disclosed herein. Landing gear components may be welded together using this oxygen and propylene gas fuel source. For instance, an axle beam and/or a post of an aircraft may be welded using oxygen and propylene gas fuel source. |
US09156092B2 |
Centric clamping device
A clamping device (01), for use on a lathe, includes a plurality of basic clamping supports (06), which can be moved in a star-shaped formation in relation to an axis of rotation and on each of which a clamping jaw (11) for clamping workpieces can be attached. The basic clamping supports (06) can be adjusted simultaneously by means of an adjusting drive (21, 36) of the clamping device (01). At least two basic clamping supports (06) are coupled directly or indirectly to one another by an outer rocker (15). At least in the middle of the adjusting path, a limited inward displacement of a basic clamping support (06a, 06c, and 06b, 06d, respectively) leads to a swiveling of the outer rocker (15a, 15c) and an outward displacement of the other coupled basic clamping support (06b, 06d, and 06a, 06c, respectively). |
US09156090B2 |
Method of manufacturing iron-based powder
A method of manufacturing iron-based powder includes providing an iron-based molten steel manufactured through a iron making process and a steelmaking process to a tundish; and performing water atomization over the molten steel discharged through a nozzle connected to the tundish. The iron-based powder is manufactured from the molten steel refined after a molten iron tapped from a iron making process is charged into a converter without a pre-treatment process of the molten iron, thus economically providing the highly clean iron-based powder. |
US09156086B2 |
Multi-component assembly casting
Multi-component vane segment and method for forming the same. Assembly includes: positioning a pre-formed airfoil component (12) and a preformed shroud heat resistant material (18) in a mold, wherein the airfoil component (12) and the shroud heat resistant material (18) each comprises an interlocking feature (24); preheating the mold; introducing molten structural material (46) into the mold; and solidifying the molten structural material such that it interlocks the pre-formed airfoil component (12) with respect to the preformed shroud heat resistant material (18) and is effective to provide structural support for the shroud heat resistant material (18). Surfaces between the airfoil component (12) and the structural material (46), between the airfoil component (12) and the shroud heat resistant material (18), and between the shroud heat resistant material (18) and the structural material (46) are free of metallurgical bonds. |
US09156084B2 |
Process and apparatus for controlling the flows of liquid metal in a crystallizer for the continuous casting of thin flat slabs
The present invention relates to a process for controlling the distribution of liquid metal flows of in a crystallizer for the continuous casting of thin slabs. In particular, the process applies to a crystallizer comprising perimetral walls which define a containment volume for a liquid metal bath insertable through a discharger placed in the middle of the bath. The process includes arranging a plurality of electromagnetic brakes, each for generating a braking zone within said bath, and activating these electromagnetic brakes either independently or in groups according to characteristic parameters of the fluid-dynamic conditions of the liquid metal within the bath. |
US09156082B2 |
Method of continuously casting thin strip
A method of improving control of thin strip produced by continuous casting including the steps of assembling a continuous casting apparatus having a pair of counter-rotating cooling rolls, having a nip there between and at least one enclosure downstream from the nip, introducing molten metal to form a casting pool supported on the cooling rolls above the nip and counter-rotating the cooling rolls forming cast strip downwardly from the nip, guiding the strip through the at least one enclosure downstream from the nip, the at least one enclosure having gas inlets for directing oxygen-containing gas into the enclosure, and directing oxygen-containing gas having a desired amount of oxygen through the inlets into the enclosure to provide an atmosphere 0.5% and 15% oxygen with between 3 and 10% humidity to oxidize at least one surface of the strip a desired thickness of scale on the surface of the strip to provide less mill force and downstream control of the strip. |
US09156080B2 |
Casting die
A casting die applied with laser machining and carbon-film coating on a die surface is provided with multiple grooves formed spaced at a predetermined pitch by the laser machining; multiple ridges between the multiple grooves; and multiple carbon portions buried in the multiple grooves by the carbon-film coating, wherein the die surface with the ridge and the carbon portion alternately disposed is configured such that molten metal flows thereon; the grooves are 45 μm or less in opening width and 60 μm or more in depth; and the ridge has, on a top surface thereof applied with the laser machining, multiple micro-grooves for reducing a contact area with the molten metal. The casting die is aimed to balance expanding the groove width and increasing a thickness of the carbon film and to achieve suppression of the molten metal entering into the groove and exfoliation of the carbon film. |
US09156077B2 |
Method of making border wire
An apparatus is provided which makes a border wire having a rectangular cross-section. The apparatus is adapted to receive a roll of wire having a circular cross-section, straighten the wire and change the cross-section of the wire to rectangular. The reconfigured wire is then accumulated, passed through another straightener, cut to size and then bent into a rectangular configuration. Opposed ends of the piece of wire having a rectangular cross-section are welded together to complete the border wire. The apparatus has an ejector which removes the completed border wire from the apparatus. |
US09156073B2 |
Forming apparatus, shoe thereof and forming method
A forming apparatus and method for forming a sectional profile of round tubing, angled tubing or open forming stock without losing the manufacturability of conventional roll forming The forming apparatus comprises individual shoe blocks having a pass on their rotating curved faces. The shoe blocks can be moved in the circumferential direction on an endless track, and are connected to provide the same curvature radius and length as a required arc segment of a virtual large-diameter circle. |
US09156069B2 |
Apparatus and process for treating waste
Solid waste to be treated is introduced into the interior of a rotary autoclave that is downwardly inclined towards its discharge end and has a door at the discharge end. Steam is injected through said door via a plenum chamber in the door so that water and steam pass through a one-way device and then directly into the interior of the autoclave. The one-way device prevents the solid waste from entering the plenum chamber from the interior of the autoclave. The plenum chamber is defined between a region of the door and a plate secured to the door at a small spacing inwardly of the door. The outlet is defined in the plate and the one one-way device is fitted to the outlet. |
US09156068B2 |
Methods and apparatus for cleaning objects in a chamber of an optical instrument by generating reactive ions using photon radiation
An optical instrument, including a chamber, an object exposed to an interior of the chamber, a source of low-pressure gas, the gas comprising at least one of low-pressure molecular hydrogen gas, low-pressure molecular oxygen and a low-pressure noble gas, the source of low pressure gas being fluidly coupled to the chamber, a low voltage source electrically coupled between the object and a remaining portion of the instrument that is exposed to the interior of the chamber so as to maintain the object at a low voltage relative to the remaining portion, and an EUV/VUV light source adapted to direct EUV/VUV light through the low pressure gas in the chamber onto the object. In such a system, when the EUV/VUV light source is activated ions of the low-pressure gas are formed and directed to the object. The ions may be ions of Hydrogen, Oxygen or a noble gas. |
US09156067B2 |
Toothbrush steam cleaning container
Disclosed is a toothbrush storage and sanitizing container, comprising a housing having a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion comprises an interior fluid reservoir and an open interior between the reservoir and the walls of the housing for retaining the handles of at least one toothbrush. The upper portion is a removable enclosure that supports the toothbrush heads in an upstanding configuration. A nozzle device connects the reservoir to the upper portion of the housing, while a heating element within the reservoir rapidly heats and vaporizes the water therein. High pressure and high temperature steam is communicated through the nozzle ports in the upper portion of the housing to subject the toothbrush heads to a burst or continuous spray of steam for cleaning and sanitation purposes. |
US09156059B2 |
Self-lubricating surface coating composition
Self-lubricated bearings contain a substratum and a self-lubricating surface coating composition disposed thereon, wherein the self-lubricating surface coating composition further contains at least one cured thermosetting acrylate and at least one phenolic resin. The phenolic resin preferably contains a mixture of phenolic resin and polyvinyl formal resin. A self-lubricating surface coating composition is also provided, as well as several methods of making the bearings. The self-lubricated bearings of the present invention have surprisingly long service lives. |
US09156058B2 |
Method for producing a component
A method for manufacturing a component having increased thermal conductivity through layer-by-layer construction. At least one section of the component is constructed by applying a layer section having predetermined dimensions of a composite material of a metal and/or a metal alloy and particles of a highly heat-conducting material, including diamond and/or cubic boron nitride, in a predetermined area on a base layer by melting the metal or the metal alloy a heat source, in such a way that the metal and/or metal alloy form(s) within the predetermined dimensions a cohesive matrix, in which particles of the highly heat-conducting material are embedded, and then cooling. |
US09156057B2 |
Method for controlling the viscosity of a sprayable mixture
The present invention is directed to a method for controlling the viscosity of a sprayable mixture. The sprayable mixture forms a layer of a coating composition on an applied substrate and forms crosslinked network after drying and curing the layer. The dried and cured composition provides the substrate with a coating having a good appearance. |
US09156050B2 |
Fluid circulation valve assembly for fluid proportioner
A fluid circulation valve assembly comprises a valve body and first and second pressure relief valves. The valve body comprises two inlets to receive output of fluid pumps, two outlets to direct fluid from the two inlets out of the valve body, respectively, and two overpressure outlets to direct fluid from the twos out of the valve body, respectively. The first and second pressure relief valves intersect the two inlets, the two outlets and the two overpressure outlets, respectively. Each pressure relief valve comprises a spring operated overpressure valve configured to open an inlet to an overpressure outlet at an overpressure condition; and a manually operated valve having a first position configured to fluidly connect an inlet to an outlet while not affecting operation of the overpressure valve, and a second position configured to fluidly connect an inlet to an overpressure outlet while opening the overpressure valve. |
US09156049B2 |
Liquid projection apparatus
A method of producing droplets from a nozzle provided on a material layer, the method comprising the steps of supplying liquid to an inner end of an array of nozzles, the nozzles being split into M groups of one or more nozzles, generating one or more firing signals, each firing signal causing sufficient movement of a group of nozzles relative to the liquid such that liquid is projected as droplets from the outer face of the respective nozzles, generating one or more sub-firing signals associated with each group of nozzles, the one or more sub-firing signals causing movement of the group of nozzles which is insufficient to project liquid from the nozzles, the sub-firing signals of adjacent groups having a non-zero phase relationship, wherein the sub-firing signal(s) of at least one group of nozzles is independent of the firing signal(s) associated with that group. |
US09156047B2 |
Container including a depressible head assembly
A container includes a container body for receiving a liquid, a locking connector, a pump unit and a depressible head assembly. The locking connector includes a locking ring threadedly disposed on a top portion of the container body, a dosage guide ring protruding upwardly from the locking ring, and at least one dosage guide unit. The pump unit extends downwardly into the container body and is drivenable to move in a top-bottom direction so as to draw the liquid in the container body. The depressible head assembly includes a depressible head for driving the pump unit to move in the top-bottom direction, and a biasing member abutting against the depressible head and the locking connector. |
US09156046B2 |
Plural component system heater
An exemplary plural component heater assembly includes a plurality of heater modules each having a plurality of bores forming at least a first component path and a second component path, and at least one heating element receptacle configured to receive a heating element for heating the first and second component paths. |
US09156045B1 |
Dripless atomizing nozzle
A dripless atomizing nozzle may include a nozzle body having a liquid orifice in fluid communication with a liquid inlet, a gas orifice in communication with a gas inlet, and a liquid passage connecting the liquid inlet and the liquid orifice, and a piston body having a piston passage communicating with the gas inlet; the nozzle body may include a connecting portion shaped to enable the piston body to be selectively removed from and attached to the nozzle body. A piston positioned in the piston passage may include a stem and a bias element connected to move the piston and stem within the piston passage such that the presence of gas above a predetermined pressure in the piston passage overcomes a force of the bias element to displace the piston to move the tip away from the liquid orifice to open the liquid orifice. |
US09156038B2 |
Magnetic separation of electrochemical cell materials
A process and system for the separation of materials from electrochemical cells is disclosed. Electrode materials are removed from electrochemical cells and separated into constituent active materials using magnetic separation. |
US09156029B2 |
Composition having an active metal or precursor, an amine component and a non-amine containing polar additive useful in the catalytic hydroprocessing of hydrocarbons, a method of making such catalyst, and a process of using such catalyst
A composition that comprises a support material that is loaded with an active metal or metal precursor, an amine component, and a non-amine containing polar additive. The composition is useful in the hydroprocessing of hydrocarbon feedstocks. The composition is prepared by incorporating a metal solution into a support material followed by incorporating therein an amine component and a non-amine containing polar additive. |
US09156027B2 |
Exhaust gas catalyst carrier, exhaust gas catalyst employing the exhaust gas catalyst carrier, and method of manufacturing the exhaust gas catalyst carrier
An exhaust-gas catalyst carrier made of a composite of θ-alumina and a zirconia-titania solid solution, an exhaust-gas catalyst employing the exhaust-gas catalyst carrier, and a method of manufacturing the exhaust-gas catalyst carrier are provided. |
US09156024B2 |
Catalyst comprising ruthenium and silver and/or calcium for the oxidation of hydrogen chloride
Catalyst comprising ruthenium on a support for the catalytic oxidation of hydrogen chloride by means of oxygen to form chlorine, wherein the catalyst comprises from 0.01 to 10% by weight of silver and/or calcium as dopant.The support preferably consists essentially of alpha-aluminum oxide.The catalyst preferably comprises a) from 0.1 to 10% by weight of ruthenium, b) from 0.01 to 5% by weight of silver and/or from 0.01 to 5% by weight of calcium, c) from 0 to 5% by weight of one or more alkaline earth metals, d) from 0 to 5% by weight of one or more alkali metals, e) from 0 to 5% by weight of one or more rare earth metals, f) from 0 to 5% by weight of one or more further metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, palladium, platinum, iridium and rhenium, in each case based on the total weight of the catalyst. |
US09156022B2 |
Attrition resistant supports for fischer-tropsch catalyst and process for making same
The invention relates to a novel method of preparing attrition resistance spinel supports for Fischer Tropsch catalysts. The process comprises: (a) combining aluminum oxide, metal compound capable of forming spinel phase, and soluble compound of a trivalent aluminum; (b) mixing the combination resulting in (a) in a manner sufficient to form a slurry comprising the aforementioned combination; and (c) processing the mixture of (b) under conditions sufficient to form metal aluminate spinel composition. Metal aluminate spinel, for example, is formed in the last step by calcining the mixture from (b) at a temperature in the range of 700 to 1300° C., but the process is also capable, of producing attrition resistant supports (e.g., having a DI of 5 or less) at a relatively lower temperature in the range of 700 to 1050° C. The invention also produces the attrition resistance with lower metal loadings than that reported for prior attrition resistant spinel supports. |
US09156020B2 |
Carbon pyrolyzate adsorbent having utility for CO2 capture and methods of making and using the same
A particulate form carbon pyrolyzate adsorbent, having the following characteristics: (a) CO2 capacity greater than 105 cc/gram at one bar pressure and temperature of 273° Kelvin; (b) CO2 Working Capacity greater than 7.0 weight percent; (c) CO2 heats of adsorption and desorption each of which is in a range of from 10 to 50 kJ/mole; and (d) a CO2/N2 Henry's Law Separation Factor greater than 5. The carbon pyrolyzate material can be formed from a polyvinylidene chloride-based polymer or copolymer, or other suitable resin material, to provide an adsorbent that is useful for carbon dioxide capture applications, e.g., in treatment of flue gases from coal-fired power generation plants. |
US09156014B2 |
Two-component mixing container with communication passage of liquid-tight structure
Provided is a two-component mixing container in which a communication passage may be formed between a partition wall member and a second-component containing member without the need for a high processing precision and a high assembly precision. A columnar portion provided at the central portion of a second bottom wall portion of a partition wall member and a circular through hole provided in the central portion of a third bottom wall portion of a second-component containing member are fitted. A first communication passage and a second communication passage are communicated with each other, using a fitting surface formed between the columnar portion and the circular through hole. |
US09156011B2 |
Blender system having first and second vortices for improved material exchange
A blender system (1) has a container (3) for holding material to be blended. The container (3) has a first portion (2) with blade member assemblies (6, 8). The assemblies (6, 8) are rotationally driveable around axes of rotation (10, 12). The container has a second portion (4) with a guiding surface (18). A cross-section (38) of the guiding surface (18) which encloses said axes of rotation is a convexly shaped closed curve (20). The direction of the cross-sectional curve (20) is continuously varying direction along the perimeter of the guiding surface (18). |
US09156008B2 |
Cardo copolybenzimidazoles, gas separation membranes and preparation method thereof
Provided are cardo copolybenzimidazoles, a gas separation membrane using the same and a method for preparing the same. More particularly, provided are cardo copolybenzimidazoles obtained by introducing cardo groups and aromatic ether groups to a polybenzimidazole backbone, a gas separation membrane having significantly improved oxygen permeability by using the same, and a method for preparing the same. The cardo copolybenzimidazoles have improved solubility as compared to the polybenzimidazole polymers according to the related art, show excellent mechanical properties while maintaining thermal stability so as to be formed into a film shape, and provide a gas separation membrane having significantly improved gas permeability, particularly, oxygen permeability. |
US09156006B2 |
High flux thin-film composite forward osmosis and pressure-retarded osmosis membranes
One aspect of the invention relates to customized thin-film composite membranes comprising: a porous support; a selective barrier; and one or more polymeric additives dispersed in the porous support in an amount from at least about 1% and about 50% by weight of the porous support. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of fabricating a porous support comprising the steps of: preparing a polymer solution comprising a polymer, a polymeric additive, and a first liquid; contacting a surface with the polymer solution; and evaporating the liquid. Another aspect of the invention relates to the use of the thin-film composite membranes disclosed herein in osmotically driven membrane processes. |
US09156004B2 |
Fabrication of enclosed nanochannels using silica nanoparticles
In accordance with the invention, there is a method of forming a nanochannel including depositing a photosensitive film stack over a substrate and forming a pattern on the film stack using interferometric lithography. The method can further include depositing a plurality of silica nanoparticles to form a structure over the pattern and removing the pattern while retaining the structure formed by the plurality of silica nanoparticles, wherein the structure comprises an enclosed nanochannel. |
US09156002B2 |
Process for controlling the pH and level of target ions of a liquid composition
A process for simultaneously controlling the pH and level of target ions of a liquid composition, more particularly the use of Reverse Electro-Enhanced Dialysis (REED) for extraction of low-molecular, charged species generated in a reactor. Even more particularly, the invention relates to a process for simultaneous pH control and control of inhibitors in an ongoing fermentation or catalytical system, where the pH is controlled by at least one primary Reverse Electro-Enhanced Dialysis (REED) stack and the level of target ions by at least one secondary REED stack, where the primary REED is one of a Cation REED (CX-REED) or an Anion REED (AX-REED) and the secondary REED is the other of a CX-REED and an AX-REED. |
US09155999B2 |
Non-PGM catalyst for burning carbon soot, and filtration filter and exhaust gas post-processing apparatus using the same
The present invention provides a non-PGM catalyst for burning carbon soot without using a noble metal, the non-PGM catalyst comprising: a cerium-praseodymium complex oxide and an iron oxide, the cerium-praseodymium complex oxide impregnated with silver (Ag). The cerium-praseodymium complex oxide illustratively consists of 60 to 95 wt % of cerium oxide and 5 to 40 wt % of praseodymium oxide, and silver (Ag) impregnated in the complex oxide is 1.5 to 3.0 parts by weight of the total weight of the complex oxide. The iron oxide may be an oxide in a form of particles separate from the cerium-praseodymium complex oxide in which silver is impregnated, and may be 0.5 to 2 parts by weight of the total weight of the cerium praseodymium complex oxide. |
US09155998B2 |
Reactive extraction process for regeneration of amine-based solvents used for carbon dioxide capture
A method for recovery of impurities and/or degradation products and/or heat-stable salts from amine-based solvents used for capture of CO2 from gas streams. The method comprises recovering CO2 from a CO2-enriched amine-based solvent thereby producing a lean amine-based solvent, contacting and mixing together the lean amine-based solvent with a reaction composition comprising a phase-change catalyst and a diluent, thereby producing a first organic phase comprising the impurities and/or degradation products and/or heat-stable salts and a first aqueous phase comprising the lean amine-based solvent, separating the first organic phase and the first aqueous phase; and separately recovering the first organic phase and the first aqueous phase. The organic phase can be regenerated by intermixing with a NaOH solution to form an organic phase comprising therein the reaction composition and and an aqueous phase comprising the NaOH solution with the impurities and/or degradation products and/or heat-stable salts. |
US09155996B2 |
Sorbents for carbon dioxide capture
Provided herein are sorbents for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, such as from natural gas and coal-fired power plant flue gases, and uses thereof. |
US09155995B2 |
Treatment system and method for a flue gas from a combustion process
The treatment system for a flue gas from a combustion process includes a condenser, a compressor for compressing the flue gas deprived of moisture at the condenser, a NO2 scrubber column supplied with the compressed flue gas from the compressor, a liquid supply line for supplying liquid condensed at the condenser to the NO2 scrubber column, and a liquid recirculation line for recirculating liquid from the NO2 scrubber column to the condenser. |
US09155991B2 |
Carbon dioxide recovery apparatus and carbon dioxide recovery method
The present invention provides a carbon dioxide recovery apparatus capable of recovering heat energy of carbon-dioxide-containing gas which includes an absorbing tower to generate and discharge a rich liquid absorbing carbon dioxide as carbon-dioxide-containing gas is introduced and contacted to an absorbing liquid to absorb carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide release devices to discharge semi-lean liquids which have steam containing a part of carbon dioxide released by heating the rich liquid discharged from the absorbing tower, and a regeneration tower to generate a lean liquid which has steam containing remaining carbon dioxide released and separated by heating the semi-lean liquids discharged from the carbon dioxide release devices and to return the lean liquid to the absorbing tower. |
US09155989B2 |
Method and system for gas purification with first direct absorption step and second absorption step by means of membrane contactor
A method and system for purification of a pressurized gas stream, wherein the method includes in a first absorption step bringing the pressurized gas stream in direct contact with a first absorption solution absorbing at least part of the acidic gases, in the gas stream obtaining a gas liquid mixture; and separating the gas liquid mixture in a partly purified pressurized gas stream and a first rich absorption solution. In a second downstream absorption step bringing the partly purified pressurized gas in contact with a second absorption solution through a membrane contactor, obtaining a second rich absorption solution and a purified pressurized gas stream. The first absorption solution is a partially lean absorption solution. |
US09155986B2 |
Air filtration unit
An air filter system and an air filter therefore are provided for use in a building with first and second zones separated by a wall-door system having a wall with a door therein. The gap between a lower edge of the door and the floor has an air flow permitting region. An air filter is mounted to extend substantially across the air flow permitting region. In a preferred embodiment the air filter extends across a lower edge of a door and filters air that passes below the lower door edge and a portion of the floor below the lower edge. |
US09155985B2 |
Systems, devices and methods for high volume fluid filtering
Fluid filtration devices, systems and methods are disclosed. The device comprises a pump-filter hybrid system that uses rotational motion to produce pressure to drive liquid through filter elements, capturing filtrate in an isolated chamber of the device and rejecting separated solids into a second isolated chamber. The fluid filtration device, which can be configured to filter a wide variety of fluids, comprises: an influent input manifold; an impeller bowl and filter assembly configured to rotate about an axis; a barrier and routing configuration to catch and distribute filtrate; a barrier and routing configuration to catch and distribute rejected solids. |
US09155982B2 |
Poss-modified support element
A support element, comprising a netting comprising a composition comprising a polyphenylene sulfide resin and at least one polyhedral oligimeric silsequioxane additive, is provided. |
US09155981B2 |
Liquid settling systems and methods
A system and method for filtering sediment from water prior to disposal. According to some aspects, water is provided to a trough which feeds a settling pool via a port. The settling pool may comprise one or more blocks disposed in one or more corresponding channels which restricts flow of the water. In some embodiments, this restriction of flow may cause sediment to collect on a bottom of the settling pool and/or residual oil to collect on a surface of the water. The residual oil may be pumped or skimmed from the surface and the water may be pumped from the settling pool into one or more external holding tanks. The one or more blocks may then be removed from the settling pool and the sediment may be collected via a frontloader or other device accessing the sediment via an access ramp formed in the settling pool. |
US09155980B2 |
Separation medium for chromatography of various biomolecules
The present invention relates to a separation medium, comprising an inner core of a porous material provided with charged ligands, and an outer lid comprising a porous material provided with charged ligands, wherein the charge of the ligands in the inner core is opposite that of the charge of the ligands in the lid. The present invention also relates to a method for biomolecule separation comprising applying a sample to the above separation medium, wherein large molecules are prevented from entering the medium by charge repulsion from the medium and small molecules are captured in the inner core. |
US09155976B1 |
Building system toy
A building system toy preferably includes a double female connector, a male-female connector, a male connector, a right angle connector, a split male-female connector, a split opposing male-female connector, an angle connector and a double angle connector. The double female connector includes a base female connector and four female connection rings. The male-female connector includes the base female connector and four cylinders. The male connector includes a star base and four small cylinders. The right angle connector includes a base, a small cylinder, a first cylinder and a second cylinder. The split male-female connector and the split opposing male-female connector both include the base female connector, two female connection rings and two cylinders. An angle connector includes a first connection portion and a second connector portion. The double angle connector includes a first connector portion, a second connector portion and a third connector. |
US09155970B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing system
An application execution unit executes a game program. A play item acquisition processing unit generates item acquisition information by using an item ID associated with a met play requirement of a game, and a hard disk drive stores the generated item acquisition information. The play item acquisition processing unit refers to execution information stored in an execution information storing unit and generates an item acquisition table that maps an item ID to attribute information. |
US09155967B2 |
Method for implementing game, storage medium, game device, and computer
A technique is disclosed that makes it possible to prevent or suppress various problems that may occur due to character placement control when implementing a multi-player game that utilizes an augmented reality space. A basic area is set based on the relative position of each game device with respect to an AR marker, and an element area is set so that the AR marker does not lie outside the imaging range of a CCD camera module of each game device. An overlapping area of the basic area and the element area is calculated to be a placement area. The motion of an attention object is controlled so that the attention object remains within the placement area. |
US09155960B2 |
Video-game console for allied touchscreen devices
The creation of a video-game console for use with an allied touchscreen device or device plurality such as a smartphone and/or tablet is described. The allied touchscreen device may serve as the external media source for the video-game console assembly and further in modelling the input and output dynamics of said device under the ascendency of serviceable mapping systems. A series of specialty-input controllers for interaction with the present invention are also advanced by the inventor; including those designed for remote manipulation of an actionable sensor input where salient to the input dynamics of an engaged gaming title. |
US09155959B2 |
Method and system for the generation of a file of auditable records for remote and on-site electronic gaming
Methods and systems that enable reliable audits of a number of predetermined trust requirements for games by electronic means, either on-site or remote, are disclosed. A system including a gaming module to which the players interact with a security module and an audit module capable of several degrees of dispersion and/or grouping performs provision by the gaming module to the security module of digital information containing significant events occurred during the games, generation by the security module of a protected record for each of the cited significant events, storage by the security module of every protected record, generating a file of protected records, and access by the audit module to the file of protected records, independent from the games operator, to verify the correct development of the games. |
US09155951B2 |
Lacrosse training aid
According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a lacrosse training aid comprising at least one glove configured to be placed on the hand of a lacrosse player, the at least one glove comprising an integrated strap mechanism configured to couple the at least one glove to a lacrosse stick in a non-dominant configuration. |
US09155947B2 |
Variable length shaft and grip
A variable length shaft assembly comprising a shaft, a shaft adapter, a grip sleeve, an actuator screw, a grip, and a screw is disclosed herein. The grip is bonded to the grip sleeve, the shaft adapter is bonded to the shaft, and the shaft adapter comprises a keyed portion that mates with a keyed structure inside of the grip sleeve. The actuator screw comprises external threads that mate with internal threads inside the grip sleeve, and the location of the actuator screw within the grip sleeve can be adjusted with a wrench. Once the actuator screw is at a desired location within the grip sleeve, the shaft is semi-permanently fixed to the grip sleeve by releasably affixing the keyed structure of the shaft adapter to the actuator screw with the screw. The overall length of the assembly can be adjusted and fine-tuned using these structures. |
US09155943B2 |
Adjustable golf club shaft and hosel assembly
An adjustable golf club including a shaft and hosel assembly allows for dependent and independent adjustment of a golf club's face angle, loft angle, and lie angle. The adjustable shaft and hosel assembly comprises a shaft sleeve, a hosel portion, and at least one tubular adjustment piece having non-parallel upper and lower surfaces, wherein the shaft sleeve, hosel, and tubular adjustment piece each include markings that combine to form a code that correlates to a unique angular setting and is readable by an electronic device. The adjustable golf club may also comprise an audible feedback system including an indexing ring that interacts with indexing features in the tubular adjustment piece. |
US09155940B2 |
Multi-layer core golf ball
Golf balls comprising a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a center and an outer core layer that are both soft relative to a hard intermediate core layer. The Shore C hardness of the outer surface of the center is preferably greater than the Shore C hardness of the geometric center of the center. |
US09155939B2 |
Golf ball resin composition and golf ball
The present invention aims to provide a golf ball resin composition excellent in resilience and flexibility, and a golf ball having excellent properties in terms of resilience and shot feeling. The present invention relates to a golf ball resin composition, including: (A) at least one selected from the group consisting of: (a-1) a binary copolymer of an olefin and a C3-C8 α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid; (a-2) a metal ion-neutralized product of a binary copolymer of an olefin and a C3-C8 α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid; (a-3) a ternary copolymer of an olefin, a C3-C8 α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester; and (a-4) a metal ion-neutralized product of a ternary copolymer of an olefin, a C3-C8 α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester, and (B) a compound containing a hydrocarbon chain, a cationic moiety, and an anionic moiety in its molecule. |
US09155936B2 |
Golf ball
This invention pertains to a golf ball which includes a core, optionally one or more intermediate layers; and an outer cover layer. The outer cover layer and/or one or more intermediate layers includes a blend of a) about 2 to about 40 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) of an aramid polymer and b) about 60 to about 98 wt % (based on the total weight of the blend composition) of one or more additional polymer components. The blend composition has a melt flow index (MFI) from about 1 to about 80 g/10 min., a material hardness of about 30 to about 90 Shore D, and a flex modulus of about 10 to about 120 kpsi. |
US09155932B1 |
Bicycle with resistance arm exercise
A bicycle with arm resistance exercise features incorporated into a handlebar portion comprises a frame, a pair of wheels, and a pair of pedals. The bicycle utilizes crankshaft-style rotatable handle bars which enable a user to exercise their arms while riding and steering the bicycle. The rotating handlebars include a tensioning mechanism to increase the difficulty of the rotation and further increase the complexity of the exercise. |
US09155931B2 |
Strap restraint apparatus
A strap restraint for a device having adjustable straps is disclosed. In one embodiment, a strap restraint for an adjustable device is provided. The device has a strap with an end that doubles back through a length-adjustment mechanism and over the strap. The strap restraint includes an elastic band attached to the end, where the band encircles the strap, and a pair of flexible inelastic fastening elements attached to the end. The strap restraining permits the user to select the force with which the strap restraint holds the end against the strap. |
US09155929B2 |
Fire suppression compositions and methods of treating subterranean fires
A method of suppressing, reducing and/or extinguishing a subterranean fire comprising contacting the subterranean fire with a fire-suppression composition comprising a carrier agent and a flame-retardant salt. A method of treating a peat fire comprising locating one or more hot spots associated with the peat fire, preparing an aqueous solution of a fire-suppression composition comprising guar and monoammonium phosphate, wherein a ratio of guar to monoammonium phosphate is about 30:70; and contacting the peat fire with the aqueous solution. |
US09155928B2 |
Control system for fire prevention facilities
A control system for fire prevention facilities is provided, particularly for the type of facilities mounted on buildings and warehouses mounting at least one pressure group and/or one equipped fire hydrant and/or one fire extinguisher. The control system comprises at least one pressure group and at least one equipped fire hydrant with a pressure gauge provided with a LED light and communication means, via radio or wiring, as well as at least one fire extinguisher equipped with a pressure gauge provided with a LED light and communication means, via radio or wiring; a control center with, at least one computer and a database. |
US09155925B2 |
Fire service convertible suspension / seat harness
A convertible suspension/seat harness is readily converted from a suspension to a seat harness and can receive a yolk for chest harness conversion. The harness includes a waist belt portion having a pair of elongated leg straps terminating at a fastening mechanism. A pair of minor straps terminates at a mating fastening mechanism adapted to mate with corresponding fastening mechanisms of the elongated leg straps to convert the harness to a suspension harness configuration. A pair of secondary straps has a secondary mating fastening mechanism adapted to mate with corresponding fastening mechanisms of the elongated leg straps to convert the harness to a seat harness configuration. A yolk is provided for attachment to the harness to yield a chest harness configuration creating a Class III style harness. |
US09155924B1 |
Modular chemical/biological headgear system
A modular chemical/biological headgear system includes a helmet liner of a resilient shock absorbing material that conforms generally to the shape of a wearer's head, provides a cavity for removable installation of one or more modular filters in the back, and a duct to convey filtered air from the one or more modular filters to a face mask. The helmet liner may be equipped and configured with a variety of interchangeable modular components including hardened outer shells, communications modules, enhanced chemical biological filters, and the like, to meet a wide variety of operational needs. |
US09155921B2 |
Chemical protective suit
A chemical protective suit includes a head portion, a body portion, a pair of arm portions, a pair of leg portions, and a pair of foot portions. The aforementioned portions are integrated into a unitary body. The integrated portion of each two adjacent sheet fabric pieces in each of the foot portions comprises a seam line extending along peripheral edges of two adjacent sheet fabric pieces stacked on each other, with the peripheral edges opposed to each other, and a welded portion of the stacked sheet fabric pieces of a predetermined breadth extending along the seam line, with the peripheral edges and the welded portion disposed to face opposite sides of the seam line. The integrated portion of the two adjacent sheet fabric pieces in each of the foot portions is exposed to the external air. |
US09155918B2 |
Battering ram
A battering apparatus including a battering element, an air source, a sensing device, a triggering mechanism, and a battering element release mechanism. Engagement of the sensing device activates the triggering mechanism which in turn activated the battering element release mechanism. The battering element is then released, and driven by air from the air source, moved to its extended position, causing the battering head of the battering element to engage an item to be broken. |
US09155916B2 |
Cosmetic preparation and method for preparing the same
The present invention relates to the use of dedifferentiated plant cells in cosmetic preparations for protecting of stem cells against intrinsic and extrinsic stress factors, in particular for promoting proliferation of stem cells and for protecting them against apoptosis. In particular, the invention relates to the use of dedifferentiated plant cells from fruits of Malus domestica (Apple) cultivar Uttwiler Spaetlauber. Further, the invention relates to a method for cultivating of dedifferentiated plant cells, as well as to the preparation of extracts of plant cell cultures which are suitable for such applications. |
US09155915B2 |
Moisturizing retinol composition
An anti-aging composition is provided that contains high potency retinol along with anti-irritant properties. In particular, an anti-aging composition includes a base, from about 0.001% to 20.0 vol % retinol, at least one anti-irritant agent, at least one antioxidant, at least one anti-inflammatory agent, and a moisturizing complex. In one non-limiting illustration, the anti-aging composition contains about 1.0 vol % retinol, plantago lanceolata, hypericum perforatum leaf extract, phytosphingosine, leontopodium alpinum extract, glycyrriza glabra root extract, sambucus nigra flower extract, nordihydrognaiaretic acid, oleanolic acid, spiraea ulmaria flower extract, evodia rutaecarpa fruit extract, boswellia serrata extract, and additives. |
US09155911B1 |
Ion source method and apparatus used in conjunction with a charged particle cancer therapy system
As part of a charged particle cancer therapy system, a negative ion source is used to generate and accelerate an anion, such a C−, and to convert the anion to a cation, such as C6+, through use of one or more electron extraction subsystems. Initially, an electric field is pulsed across a magnetic field to generate the C− anion. Subsequent to extraction of the C− anion from a plasma region using pulsed electrodes, one or both of a hydrogen gas electron stripping system and a carbon foil electron stripping system converts the carbon anion into the cation. The resultant cation is accelerated in a synchrotron, transported along a beam-line, and targeted to a tumor resulting in ablation of the tumor. |
US09155905B2 |
Fluorescent handpiece
A handpiece can treat biological tissue using electromagnetic radiation, which can be substantially fluorescent light. The handpiece includes a source of electromagnetic radiation and a waveguide. The waveguide is adjacent the source, receives electromagnetic radiation from the source, and delivers the electromagnetic radiation to the biological tissue. The handpiece also includes a system for moving a fluorescent substance through the waveguide. The fluorescent substance includes a fluid base and a fluorescing agent and is capable of modulating at least one property of the electromagnetic radiation. A method is described for removing the fluorescing agent from the fluorescing substance and replacing it with a second, different fluorescing agent. |
US09155904B2 |
System and method for correlation of patient health information and implant device data
A system and method for correlating health related data for display. The system includes a medical device recording data and a display producing device which correlates the data and simultaneously displays different types of data or displays two sets of the same type of data along with the circumstances at which the two sets of data were recorded. Such displays aid a physician in prescribing and ascertaining the efficacy of cardiac therapies. |
US09155901B2 |
Implant charging field control through radio link
A charger that evaluates the effectiveness of the charging field generated by the charger at an implantable device. The charger includes a charging coil, a communication module, and a processor. The processor can include instructions to determine the effectiveness of the charging field based on one or several signals or communications received from the implantable device. The charger can use the determination of the effectiveness of the charging field to vary the strength of the charging field and/or to prompt the user to move the charger with respect to the implantable device. |
US09155898B2 |
Implantable medical device with multi-function single coil
A combination charging and telemetry circuit for use within an implantable device, such as a microstimulator, uses a single coil for both charging and telemetry. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, one or more capacitors are used to tune the single coil to different frequencies, wherein the coil is used for multiple purposes, e.g., for receiving power from an external source and also for the telemetry of information to and from an external source. |
US09155889B2 |
Methods and apparatus for treating glioma
A method of treating a patient suffering from a glioma. The method comprises delivering electrical energy to a glia at a margin of the glioma, thereby stimulating the glioma. |
US09155887B2 |
Relay interface for connecting an implanted medical device to an external electronics device
An interface relay system for use with a fully implantable medical devices that permits transcutaneous coupling of the implanted medical device to a consumer electronics device. In one embodiment, coupling the implanted medical device to the external electronics device provides a back-up source of power for operating the implanted medical device. In another embodiment, coupling the implanted medical device to the external electronics device allows for providing unidirectional and/or bidirectional data transfer between the devices. In one arrangement, the consumer electronics device may be connectable to a communications/data network to allow for network communication between the implantable medical device and a remote processing platform/server. |
US09155879B2 |
Virtual electrodes for high-density electrode arrays
The present embodiments are directed to implantable electrode arrays having virtual electrodes. The virtual electrodes may improve the resolution of the implantable electrode array without the burden of corresponding complexity of electronic circuitry and wiring. In a particular embodiment, a virtual electrode may include one or more passive elements to help steer current to a specific location between the active electrodes. For example, a passive element may be a metalized layer on a substrate that is adjacent to, but not directly connected to an active electrode. In certain embodiments, an active electrode may be directly coupled to a power source via a conductive connection. Beneficially, the passive elements may help to increase the overall resolution of the implantable array by providing additional stimulation points without requiring additional wiring or driver circuitry for the passive elements. |
US09155877B2 |
Lead electrode for use in an MRI-safe implantable medical device
A lead configured to be implanted into a patient's body comprises a lead body and a conductive filer positioned within the lead body and having a distal portion. An electrode is electrically coupled to the lead body and comprises a stimulation portion, a bobbin, and at least one coil of wire wound on the bobbin and electrically coupled between the stimulation portion and the distal end region to form an inductor between the distal end region and the stimulation portion. |
US09155869B2 |
Catheter having inflation and deflation lumen useful for preventing or reducing reperfusion injury
A system including a catheter and an expandable member. The catheter includes an independent inflation lumen and an separate independent deflation lumen capable of sequential inflation and deflation of an expandable member in rapid succession, such as less than five seconds. |
US09155868B2 |
Delivery catheter apparatus and methods
A catheter has a shaft that defines a delivery lumen, for example, to deliver an elongate medical device therethrough; a proximal section of the catheter includes a seal zone portion, a handle portion and a proximal port portion. A relatively thin wall section of the proximal port portion extends between the seal zone portion and a proximal edge that defines part of a perimeter of a proximal opening of the delivery lumen. The handle portion projects laterally from the seal zone portion, generally opposite the relatively thin wall section. An inflation subassembly of the catheter includes a compliant sleeve member and an inflation lumen extending from the sleeve member, proximally along the shaft, and into a connector port formed in the handle portion. The inflation lumen may be formed by fusing a section of a tube to the shaft and molding the handle portion around another section of the tube. |
US09155866B2 |
Luer securement device
A Luer securement device comprising a flexible hood that is configured to attach to the surface of a patient, the flexible hood further having a Luer adapter for receiving a catheter inserter and/or a fluid line. The Luer securement device further includes a wedge seal that is positioned within the Luer adapter and is configured to receive a base portion of a catheter during a catheterization procedure. Once the base of the catheter is seated within the wedge seal, a proper insertion depth of the catheter into the patient is achieved. |
US09155864B2 |
Multiple use blood control valve with center and circumferential slits
A system for controlling fluid flow in a catheter assembly is disclosed. The system comprises an intravenous catheter assembly with a catheter adapter. The catheter adapter comprises an inner lumen with a septum disposed within a portion of the inner lumen. The septum has a barrier capable of being deformed from a relaxed position to a biased position. The barrier further comprises a slit having a closed configuration and an opened configuration. The slit is in the closed configuration when the barrier is in the relaxed position and in the opened configuration when the barrier is in the biased position. The barrier is configured to be mechanically deformed from the relaxed position to the biased position by a septum actuator that advances against a proximal surface of the barrier without traversing the barrier. |
US09155860B2 |
Indwelling catheter with anti-clotting features
A catheter for providing a blood flow includes first and second lumen parts having a distal portion with at least one port for delivering and receiving the flow from a patient and a non-linear profile along the distal portion. |
US09155858B2 |
Liquid container for gas humidification and liquid storage device
Disclosed is a liquid container for gas humidification, which comprises a first storage chamber containing a bottom; and a second storage chamber comprising a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall connected between the top wall and the bottom wall, the second storage chamber being provided with at least one opening which is above the bottom of the first storage chamber, thereby enabling the liquid in the second storage chamber to flow into the first storage chamber in a unidirectional way. In addition, also disclosed is a liquid storage device. |
US09155857B2 |
CPAP system with heat moisture exchange (HME) and multiple channel hose
A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system provides positive airway pressure therapy. It has been recognized that users generally prefer to breathe freely rather than to fight the pressurized air when possible. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system provides positive airway pressure therapy when required, but allows the user to breathe freely with the mask on when positive airway pressure is not required. The system has a valve that moves between two positions to open and close the unassisted breathing vent and the outlet from the flow generator. |
US09155854B2 |
Tracheal tube with visualization device and integrated flushing system
The present disclosure describes systems and methods that utilize a multi-lumen tube with an integral visualization apparatus, such as a camera. The multi-lumen tracheal tube system may include a camera apparatus that is positioned to facilitate left or right bronchial intubation. In addition, the camera apparatus may be a unitary assembly that functions to hold and position the camera relative to the tube and provides an acceptable profile for comfortable intubation. The camera apparatus may include additional components, such as integral light sources and flushing or cleaning devices to remove any buildup from the camera or optical components. |
US09155846B2 |
Dosage inhaler
A dosage inhaler includes an active liquid container, which contains a liquid having an active ingredient dissolved therein, and an atomizer by which the liquid is transformed into an aerosol and can be introduced into an aerosol dome, in which there is a baffle plate and to which an inlet tube and an outlet tube are attached, and an electronic control. The atomizer can be intermittently operated by a user and the user command readout is visible to the user. The generation of the amount of aerosol inside, and below, the aerosol dome is able to be separated in time from its eventual inhalation by the user. |
US09155843B2 |
Integrated delivery device for continuous glucose sensor
Systems and methods for integrating a continuous glucose sensor, including a receiver, a medicament delivery device, and optionally a single point glucose monitor are provided. Manual integrations provide for a physical association between the devices wherein a user (for example, patient or doctor) manually selects the amount, type, and/or time of delivery. Semi-automated integration of the devices includes integrations wherein an operable connection between the integrated components aids the user (for example, patient or doctor) in selecting, inputting, calculating, or validating the amount, type, or time of medicament delivery of glucose values, for example, by transmitting data to another component and thereby reducing the amount of user input required. Automated integration between the devices includes integrations wherein an operable connection between the integrated components provides for full control of the system without required user interaction. |
US09155842B2 |
Medication delivery device and method of assembling a medication delivery device
A medication delivery device (1) comprises an indicator element (3) having indications (300) and a magnifying device located over an indication position (32). The magnifying device (4) comprises an optical system (5) with a magnifying lens (43) wherein the optical system (5) is constructed such that the optical path length between the indication position (32) and the magnifying lens (43) is enlarged. As an example, the medication delivery device (1) is a pen-type device, wherein a dose dial element (30) having a dosage scale (31) is disposed. The magnifying device (4) generates a magnified image of the dosage scale (31) so that the size of the selected dose (33) of the medical product is visible through a window (41). A method for assembling the medication delivery device (1) includes providing a medication delivery device (1) having a receptacle and mounting an element of the magnifying device (4) at the receptacle. |
US09155841B2 |
Drive mechanism for a drug delivery device
A drive mechanism for a drug delivery device having a rotationally fixed plunger rod driven by a lead screw. The lead screw engages a free lock which is coupled to a release knob. A dose setting dial cooperates with an inner cylinder using a clutch to establish the axial movement of the plunger rod during dose setting and dispensing. |
US09155838B2 |
Medicated module having a double needle guard
A medicated module (100) is attachable to a drug delivery device (102). The medicated module (100) includes a housing (104) having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end has a connector (110) configured for attachment to a drug delivery device (102). The distal end contains a shuttle (112). A first needle (114) is fixed in the housing (104) and a second needle (116) is fixed in the shuttle (112). The medicated module (100) also includes a reservoir (118) in the housing (104) comprising a medicament (12). Further, the medicated module (100) includes a guard assembly (122) positioned in the housing (104) and configured to move in an axial direction during application to an injection site. Preferably, the medicated module (100) is locked out after at least two injections of the medicament (105) contained in the drug delivery device (102). |
US09155830B2 |
Device for radiation-activated localized delivery of treatment agents
The present invention provides for a biocompatible drug delivery device for the targeted treatment of cancer that is implantable within the tumorous mass of a patient. In one embodiment, the device comprises two polarizable elements mechanically coupled by a connecting element. The device also comprises one or more cancer treatment agents. When the polarizable elements are depolarized, such as by the application of ionizing radiation, the two polarizable elements are repelled from each other and release the cancer treatment agent. In another embodiment, one or more treatment agents are expelled from a miniaturized syringe when internal pressure of the device is increased by the production of gas bubbles in response to the application of ionizing radiation. |
US09155829B2 |
Disposable single dosage sterile saline nasal spray system
Pure sodium chloride is dissolved in sterile distilled water to form a sterile pure saline solution. A hermetically sealed disposable spray container holds a single measured dosage of the solution for fully rinsing and cleansing a nasal passageway. The measured dosage is sufficient for rinsing and cleansing the nasal passage and harmless if the measured dosage mistakenly enters the lungs or sinuses or stomach of the user. |
US09155823B2 |
Determining dialysis treatment effectiveness
A method performed on a dialysis machine includes receiving a first value that represents a pre-dialysis body weight of a patient and receiving a second value that represents a volume of liquid (V) inside a body of the patient. The method also includes administering dialysis to the patient, calculating an instantaneous body weight (W) of the patient based at least in part on the first value, determining a length of time (t) for which the dialysis was administered to the patient, determining a dialyzer clearance (K) associated with the dialysis, and calculating, based at least in part on the length of time, the instantaneous body weight, the volume, and the dialyzer clearance, a urea reduction ratio (URR) associated with the dialysis. |
US09155819B2 |
Dynamic porous coating for orthopedic implant
A dynamic porous coating for an orthopedic implant, wherein the dynamic porous coating is adapted to apply an expansive force against adjacent bone so as to fill gaps between the dynamic porous coating and adjacent bone and to create an interference fit between the orthopedic implant and the adjacent bone. |
US09155816B2 |
Magnesium-based medical device and manufacturing method thereof
A magnesium-based medical device which can adjust a degree of corrosion within a wide range of period such that the device can maintain a sufficient strength only during a desired period and disappears within a desired period thereafter and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A magnesium-based medical device of the present invention is a magnesium-based medical device in which a base material is made of magnesium or a magnesium alloy, wherein a corrosion-resistant film is formed on a surface of the base material, and variation in surface hardness of the formed corrosion-resistant film in the in-plane direction is less than 21 in terms of a dispersion value of Vickers hardness. |
US09155813B2 |
Volatile material dispensing system and method of use
A dispensing system includes a refill having a reservoir for containing a volatile material. A permeable membrane is disposed over the reservoir and allows the volatile material to be released therethrough. The dispensing system also includes a housing adapted to retain the refill and a manual drive mechanism, which is in communication with the refill. Actuation of the manual drive mechanism causes the refill to rotate more than 180° about a longitudinal axis. |
US09155809B2 |
Pen sterilization device
A pen sterilization device includes a main body having a first end, a second end and a plurality of opposing sides defining a watertight reservoir for containing a sterilization agent. A pair of watertight valves are positioned along each end of the main body and function to allow ingress and egress of a pen to be cleaned. A central partition may be provided within the watertight reservoir having one or more brushes that are suspended in the sterilization agent for scrubbing a pen that is passing through the device. |
US09155808B2 |
Radiation source assembly
There is described a radiation source assembly comprising an elongate radiation source; a reactor port for receiving and reversibly securing the elongate radiation source; a top plug element for reversible connection to a proximal end of the radiation source and reversible engagement with the reactor port; the top plug element configured to be disengaged from reactor port without disengagement of the elongate radiation source from the reactor port. |
US09155805B2 |
Monoclonal antibody, and use thereof
[Theme] To provide a monoclonal antibody against human GPR87. Also, to provide a novel means for diagnosing or treating a malignant tumor.[Solution means] Monoclonal antibodies against human GPR87 are provided. The antibodies can recognize human GPR87, which is expressed on a cell membrane while retaining a three-dimensional structure, and can recognize GPR87, which is expressed in a cell endogenously with an epitope being present in an extracellular domain of full-length human GPR87. The antibodies are thus useful in biochemical analysis, etc., of GPR87, useful in immunohistological diagnosis, etc., of squamous cell carcinoma, and also potentially useful in PET diagnosis, antibodies for treatment, etc., of squamous cell carcinoma. |
US09155804B2 |
Contrast enhancement agents and method of use thereof
A contrast agent composition and a method of diagnostic imaging are provided. The composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a metal-complex comprising a ligand having structure (XXX): wherein R1, R2, R3, R7, R8, R′1, R′2, R′3, R7′ and R8′ are selected form hydrogen, a protected C1-C3 hydroxyalkyl group, or a C1-C3 alkyl group; R4, R′4 are selected from a hydrogen, a hydroxyl, a protected hydroxyl group, a protected C1-C3 hydroxyalkyl group, a C1-C3 alkyl group; n is an integer between 0 and 4; R5, R′5 are selected from a hydrogen, a protecting group comprising C1-C30 aliphatic radicals, C3-C30 cycloaliphatic radicals, C2-C30 aromatic radicals, m is an integer between 1 and 10; at least one of R7 and R′7 is acidic groups or protected acidic groups; Y comprises a protein or peptide moiety, a particle, a micelle, a liposome, an organic molecule, oligomer, polymer or a hydrophilic moiety. |
US09155795B2 |
CXCR4 receptor compounds
The invention relates generally to compounds which are allosteric modulators {e.g., positive and negative allosteric modulators, and allosteric agonists) of the G protein coupled receptor for stromal derived factor 1 (SDF-I), also known as the CXCR4 receptor. The CXCR4 receptor compounds are derived from the intracellular loops and domains of the CXCR4 receptor. The invention also relates to the use of these CXCR4 receptor compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the CXCR4 receptor compounds in the treatment of diseases and conditions associated with CXCR4 modulation such as bone marrow transplantation, chemosensitization, cancer, metastatic disease (e.g., cancer), auto-immune disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), fibrosis disease (e.g., pulmonary), AIDS infection, cardiovascular disease, uveitis, inflammatory diseases, celiac disease HIV infection and stem cell-based regenerative medicine. |
US09155793B2 |
Skin composition for external use containing ceramides
The present invention provides a ceramide lamella structure comprising a glucoside surfactant, a preparation method thereof, and a skin composition for external use containing the same. According to the skin preparation composition for external use of the present invention, phase stability is very excellent and a greater amount of ceramides can be stably formed according to the stability of ceramides using multilayered lamellar liquid crystals, thereby showing excellent skin moisturizing and skin barrier function repairing effects when applied to the skin. |
US09155791B2 |
Metallation enhancements in tumor-imaging and PDT therapy
A compound in the form of a metallized tetrapyrollic photosensitizer linked to a fluorescent dye where the photosensitizer (PS), is linked by a structure that does not have detrimental radiation emittance or absorbing characteristics, to a fluorophore, usually a cyanine dye (CD). The photosensitizer in accordance the invention is a metallized analog of porphyrins, chlorins, purpurinimides, bacterio pupurinimides, phthalocyanines, expanded porphyrins, benzoporphyrin derivatives and purpurins. The fluorophore is usually a cyanine dye with variable substituents. And, A method for determining effectiveness of PDT by comparing proportion of STAT-3 monomer with crosslinked STAT-3 dimer after PDT where the relative proportion of STAT-3 monomer to crosslinked STAT-3 directly correlates to efficacy of the PDT. |
US09155790B2 |
Methods and compositions for modulating ocular damage
Methods for modulating eye damage associated with a disease or disorder, and/or damage incident to trauma including but not limited to trauma associated with ocular surgery are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include administering an effective amount of a modulator of a migration inhibitory factor (MIF) polypeptide biological activity to a subject. Also provided are methods for modulating the severity of delaying the onset of and/or inhibiting and/or preventing the development of an ocular disease, and methods for modulating the severity of delaying the onset of and/or inhibiting and/or preventing the development of scarring and/or other consequence of wound healing incident to ocular surgery, as well as modulating the survival, function, and/or differentiation of engrafted cells that can be employed as part of tissue engineering procedures to correct structural, functional, and/or cellular defects of the eye. |
US09155789B2 |
Use of allogenic or syngenic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules as universal adjuvants for vaccines against neoplastic disease, infection and autoimmune disease
The present invention is directed to the discovery that allogenic or syngenic adjuvant stimulation can cause local inflammation which increases the antigen presentation capability of cells in the vicinity of adjuvant stimulation. By discovering this phenomenon, the present invention provides a novel method for augmenting the immunogencity of an antigen by conjointly administering an allogenic or syngenic MHC molecule (as a universal adjuvant) to trigger a local inflammatory reaction to enhance antigen presentation at the site of delivery. |
US09155787B2 |
Methods of preventing rejection of transplanted tissue by administering anti-CD40L antibody and dendritic cells loaded with type B peptide
A method is provided for preventing rejection by an immune system of a recipient subject of a tissue transplanted from a donor subject into the recipient subject without the need for long-term administration of non-specific immunosuppressive drugs. |
US09155785B2 |
Crystallized oxalate decarboxylase and methods of use
Oxalate decarboxylase crystals, including stabilized crystals, such as cross-linked crystals of oxalate decarboxylase, are disclosed. Methods to treat a disorder associated with elevated oxalate concentration using oxalate decarboxylase crystals are also disclosed. Additionally disclosed are methods of producing protein crystals. |
US09155783B2 |
Agents and methods based on the use of the EDA domain of fibronectin
This invention relates to the use of a polypeptide in the production of an immunostimulatory agent, said polypeptide comprising a sequence corresponding to the EDA domain of fibronectin, a fragment of the EDA domain which can bind to TLR4 or a variant of said EDA domain or a fragment which can bind to TLR4 and which has a homology of more than 70% with any form or natural fragment of the EDA domain. The invention also relates to the production methods and applications of said agent. |
US09155778B2 |
Tripeptides that down regulate the activity of plasma membrane transporters including sodium-D-glucose cotransporter SgIt1
A regulatory protein RS1 fragment or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the regulatory protein RS1 fragment for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition, food and/or food supplements for the amelioration, prevention and/or treatment of a metabolic disease or a secondary disorder caused by a (pathological) modification of homeostasis, wherein the RS1 fragment is characterized in comprising at least the amino acid sequence Q-C-P Glutamine-Cysteine-Proline) or derivatives thereof, is provided. Also provided is a method for the amelioration, prevention and/or treatment of a metabolic disease or a secondary disorder caused by a (pathological) modification of homeostasis comprising administering a pharmaceutically active amount of a regulatory protein RS1 fragment or a nucleic acid molecule encoding a regulatory protein RS1 fragment, wherein the RS1 fragment comprises at least the amino acid sequence Q-C-P or derivatives thereof. |
US09155777B2 |
Use of melanocortins to treat insulin sensitivity
The present invention relates to peptide ligands of the melanocortin receptors, in particular the melanocortin-4 receptor, and as such, are useful in the treatment of disorders responsive to the activation of this receptor, such as insulin resistance. |
US09155775B1 |
Process for manufacturing glatiramer acetate product
The patent provides a process of preparing a pharmaceutical preparation of glatiramer acetate and mannitol in a suitable container comprising the steps of: (i) obtaining an aqueous pharmaceutical solution of glatiramer acetate and mannitol; (ii) filtering the aqueous pharmaceutical solution at a temperature of from above 0° C. up to 17.5° C. to produce a filtrate; and (iii) filling the suitable container with the filtrate obtained after performing step (ii), so as to thereby prepare the pharmaceutical preparation of glatiramer acetate and mannitol in the suitable container. This patent further provides an aqueous pharmaceutical solution comprising 40 mg/ml glatiramer acetate and 40 mg/ml mannitol, wherein the aqueous pharmaceutical solution a) has a viscosity in the range of 2.0-3.5 cPa; or b) has an osmolality in the range of 275-325 mosmol/Kg. This patent also provides a prefilled syringe, an automated injector and a method of treatment of a human patient. |
US09155769B2 |
Flavor oils with reduced dimethyl sulfoxide content and use in oral compositions
The present invention relates to flavor oils including mint-, fruit- and spice-type flavors that are specially processed to substantially eliminate low-molecular weight sulfur compounds, in particular dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which has been found to be the main precursor of malodorous species such as dimethyl sulfide and methyl mercaptan. These malodorous species are produced via oxidation-reduction reactions involving such sulfur-containing compounds present in flavor oils. A preferred processing method is an aqueous-washing process, which has advantages of being simple, inexpensive and easy to implement while importantly avoiding the problems of typical processes including non-selective removal of desirable components and subjecting the flavor oils to extreme conditions that may destroy other components and result in undesirable changes in flavor or odor character. Other processing methods to selectively remove non-desired components include (1) distillation to remove polar low boiling point components, (2) filtration through adsorbents selective for sulfur compounds, (3) countercurrent extraction and (4) column chromatography. The processing methods may optionally be followed by reengineering to add back desired components that may have been removed or altered during the processing. The specially processed flavor oils are particularly useful in oral care compositions comprising components with chemical reducing capability such as stannous ions, which react with the sulfur-containing compounds to produce malodorous products. |
US09155768B2 |
Regimen for reducing the appearance of thinning hair
A method for reducing the appearance of thinning hair comprising the successive steps of: a) treating hair with an exfoliating shampoo composition comprising at least one chemical exfoliant; b) treating hair with a conditioner comprising at least one natural conditioning polymer and at least one natural stimulant; c) treating hair with a scalp serum comprising at least one natural extract, and salicylic acid. |
US09155766B2 |
Probiotic composition
Disclosed herein are probiotic compositions comprising a mixture of at least two probiotic bacteria, including Streptococcus salivarius K12® (BLIS K12®) and at least a Lactobacillus bacteria. The Streptococcus salivarius K12® (BLIS K12®) may comprise Streptococcus salivarius K12® (BLIS K12®) BAA1024. The Lactobacillus bacteria may be selected from those known to be suitable for oral administration, for example from those known to improve recipient health, particularly recipient oral health. |
US09155761B2 |
Method for the treatment of cancer
The invention is based on the surprising finding that treatment with a chemotherapeutic agent such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and an autophagy inducer effectively inhibit the continued growth of, and prevent the recovery following drug withdrawal, of cancer cells. In vivo, drug resistance from a failure to adequately engage in apoptotic programmed cell death leads to a recurrence of cancer and tumors can remain dormant for periods of time before re-emerging as drug resistant metastases. It has been hypothesized that autophagy (Type II cell death) may help cancer cells survive in response to growth limiting conditions, such as nutrient depletion, hypoxia, absence of growth factor, or presence of cytotoxic drug. LiCl is a known autophagy inducer and accelerates cell survival to autophagic programmed cell death. |
US09155759B2 |
Heterochain aliphatic poly-N-oxide copolymers and vaccinating agents and drugs based thereon
Heterochain aliphatic poly-N-oxide copolymers of general formula (1), where R═N, CH; x=2 or 4; y=0 or 2; n=10-1000; q=(0.1-0.9)n; z=(0.1-0.9)n, exhibit pharmacological activity, including an antioxidant effect and a therapeutic effect as a detoxicant and immunomodulating agent. The copolymer may be used as vaccinating agent also comprising an antigen and a vaccine against hepatitis A and hepatitis B, which contains a vaccine preparation comprising HVA Ag and HBsAg simultaneously or vaccine preparations against hepatitis A and against hepatitis B. The invention represents a new class of compounds that exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activity and a vaccination effect as well as increased safety in use, and is directed towards increasing manufacturability, cost efficiency and environmental safety in the production of drugs. |
US09155757B2 |
Methods and kits for treating vaginal and vulvar vestibule mucosa disorders
A method of treating a vaginal or vulvar vestibule mucosa disorder involves administering a composition comprising a hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof to the vagina, vulvar or vulvar vestibule of an individual that has the disorder to treat the disorder. The method may be used to treat vaginal atrophy or vulvar vestibulitis syndrome, among other vulvovaginal mucosa disorders. |
US09155751B2 |
Solution for tissue adhesion prevention and method for tissue adhesion prevention
The objective of the invention is to provide a solution for tissue adhesion prevention and a method for tissue adhesion prevention that are applicable to general surgery and in which covering condition during surgery is stable and convenient. The invention is the solution for tissue adhesion prevention of which the active ingredient is trehalose. Also, it contains at least one or more among antioxidants, chelates, antiseptics, hemostatics, anti-inflammatory agents, and polysaccharides, mucopolysaccharides, salts of polysaccharides and salts of mucopolysaccharides having lubricating properties. This solution for tissue adhesion prevention is provided as any form of perfusion fluid, spray fluid, solution for spray or vaporization administration, foam-like aerosol preparation, injection solution for intravenous fluids, intravenous fluid. |
US09155749B2 |
Long lasting drug formulations
The present invention is directed to long-lasting therapeutic formulations and their methods of use wherein the formulation comprises a genetically modified micro-organ that comprises a vector which comprises a nucleic acid sequence operably linked to one or more regulatory sequences, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encodes a therapeutic polypeptide, such as erythropoietin or interferon alpha. |
US09155748B2 |
Aromatic carboxylic acid derivatives for treatment and prophylaxis of gastrointestinal diseases including colon cancers
Prodrug compounds which metabolize into 5-ASA or analogs thereof, and taurine or analogs thereof, in the colon site are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of treatment using the compounds, are also disclosed. Such compounds have utility for treating or preventing gastrointestinal disorders, including colon cancer, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. |
US09155747B2 |
Isoxazolidine derivatives
Glucocorticosteroids that are derivatives of isoxazolidine are useful as anti-inflammatory and antiallergic compounds of the glucocorticosteroid series. |
US09155743B2 |
Bicyclic heterocycle compounds and their uses in therapy
The invention relates to bicyclic heterocycle compounds of formula (I): or tautomeric or stereochemically isomeric forms, N-oxides, pharmaceutically acceptable salts or the solvates thereof; wherein R1, R2, R3, A, W, U and V are as defined herein; to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds and to the use of said compounds in the treatment of diseases, e.g. cancer. |
US09155742B2 |
Chemical compounds
There is provided pyrimidinyl compounds of Formula (I), wherein: R2 is or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in therapy. |
US09155740B2 |
Compositions and methods for treatment and prevention of hyperuricemia related health consequences
Disclosed herein are methods of delaying the onset or treating diabetes that comprises administering a uric acid lowering agent. The inventors have made the remarkable discovery that elevated uric acid levels are not a corollary to insulin resistance, but rather a primary mediator of insulin resistance. Specifically exemplified are methods that involve administering to a patient susceptible to development of diabetes a composition comprising a uric acid lowering agent in a regimen that maintains serum uric acid levels below at least 5.5 mg/dl, or below at least 5.2 mg/dl. |
US09155737B2 |
Pyrido[2,3-B]pyrazin-8-substituted compounds and their use
The present invention pertains generally to the field of therapeutic compounds for treating proliferative disorders, cancer, etc., and more specifically to certain pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazin-8-substituted compounds, as described herein, which, inter alia, inhibit RAF (e.g., B-RAF) activity. The present invention also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and the use of such compounds and compositions, both in vitro and in vivo, to inhibit RAF (e.g., BRAF) activity, to inhibit receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activity, to inhibit cell proliferation, and in the treatment of diseases and disorders that are ameliorated by the inhibition of RAF, RTK, etc., proliferative disorders such as cancer (e.g., colorectal cancer, melanoma), etc. |
US09155735B2 |
Medical device coatings
The present invention relates to coatings comprising polyethylene glycol and at least one polyphenolic polymer. In particular, the polyphenolic polymer could be selected from the group consisting of tyrosine-derived polyarylates, linear polyesteramides, dihydroxybenzoate polymers, and resorcinol-derived polymers. The coating of the present invention may also include a drug, such as an antibiotic. The coatings of the present invention are suitable for use as coatings for medical devices, such as orthopedic pins or stents. |
US09155733B2 |
Use of tris-quaternary ammonium salts as pain modulating agents
Provided are tris-quaternary ammonium compounds which are modulators of nociception and pain. |
US09155730B2 |
Methods for treating non-hodgkin's lymphoma with 3-(4-amino-1-oxo-1,3-dihydroisoindol-2-yl)-piperidine-2,6-dione in combination with a second active agent
Methods of treating, preventing and/or managing cancer as well as and diseases and disorders associated with, or characterized by, undesired angiogenesis are disclosed. Specific methods encompass the administration of an immunomodulatory compound alone or in combination with a second active ingredient. The invention further relates to methods of reducing or avoiding adverse side effects associated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy or immunotherapy which comprise the administration of an immunomodulatory compound. Pharmaceutical compositions, single unit dosage forms, and kits suitable for use in methods of the invention are also disclosed. |
US09155728B2 |
Methods and materials for treating orthostatic hypotension or postural tachycardia syndrome
This document provides methods and materials related to treating orthostatic hypotension and/or postural tachycardia syndrome. For example, methods and materials for using a composition containing 3,4-diaminopyridine, 4-aminopyridine, or both to treat patients with orthostatic hypotension, postural tachycardia syndrome, or both orthostatic hypotension and postural tachycardia syndrome are provided. |
US09155726B2 |
Method of treatment using checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitors
Methods of treating cancer by administering a DNA damaging agent and a CHK1 Inhibitor on a dosing regimen are provided. |
US09155725B2 |
Adhesive skin patch and packaged product
Provided is a patch 1 containing a backing layer 2 and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 3 formed on the backing layer 2, where the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 3 contains (i) ropinirole and a metal salt produced by the reaction of a ropinirole acid adduct and a metal ion containing desalting agent in an equivalent mole or less to the acid adduct and (ii) an adhesive base free of a hydroxyl group and a carboxy group. |
US09155724B2 |
Combination methods for treatment of disease
In some aspects, the invention provides compositions and methods of use for treating a variety of diseases. In some aspect, the compositions and methods involve combined modulation of transcriptional modulators. |
US09155716B2 |
Enhanced bimatoprost ophthalmic solution
A composition comprising from 0.005% to 0.02% bimatoprost by weight and from 100 ppm to 250 ppm benzalkonium chloride, wherein said composition is an aqueous liquid which is formulated for ophthalmic administration is disclosed herein. A method which is useful in treating glaucoma or ocular hypertension related thereto is also disclosed herein. |
US09155715B2 |
Transdermal composition comprising tolterodine
A transdermal composition comprising tolterodine having improved storage stability is disclosed. The transdermal composition comprising tolterodine contains an antioxidant to stabilize tolterodine and can be stored for a long period of time. |
US09155709B1 |
Buffered hydroalcoholic povidone iodine composition and method
A composition containing two (2) essential medicaments formed in situ, hydroalcoholic povidone iodine and hydroalcoholic benzalkonium chloroiodide after mixing a stock solution and a topical reacting solution which form a safe and effective antiseptic, antimicrobial protective polymeric film after topical application to the skin. A method of preparing a composition for forming a protective polymeric film after topical application includes mixing povidone iodine in a buffer solution to form a stock solution and mixing that solution on a one to one basis with a topical reacting solution with a hydroalcoholic benzalkonium chloride with lidocaine or benzocaine solution. A related method of treating injured or diseased skin is also disclosed. |
US09155704B1 |
More palatable, bioequivalent pharmaceutical composition of carprofen
The present invention relates to a more palatable pharmaceutical composition comprising carprofen and at least one flavoring agent, and more particularly pertains to a more palatable and more voluntarily consumed pharmaceutically active dosage of carprofen, made available in the form of an orally administered tablet that is easy to swallow, with the same dissolution profile and bioequivalence of less palatable carprofen compositions, such as those compositions without a flavoring agent, and used for the indication of relieving clinical symptoms of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and postoperative surgery in mammals, by reduced prostaglandin production via inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2. Also included are analytical methods for in vitro dissolution testing of this unique composition to demonstrate bioequivalence to less palatable non-flavored and chewable compositions. |
US09155701B2 |
Delivery of ibuprofen and other compounds
The present invention generally relates to the transdermal delivery of various compositions. In some aspects, the transdermal delivery may be facilitated by the use of a hostile biophysical environment. One set of embodiments provides a composition for topical delivery comprising ibuprofen and/or an ibuprofen salt, a nitric oxide donor, and optionally, a hostile biophysical environment. In some cases, the composition may be stabilized using a stabilization polymer such as xanthan gum, KELTROL® BT and/or KELTROL® RD; propylene glycol; and a polysorbate surfactant such as Polysorbate 20, which unexpectedly provides temperature stability to the composition, e.g., at elevated temperatures such as at least 40° C. (at least about 104° F.), as compared to compositions lacking one or more of these. |
US09155699B2 |
Pulmonary delivery for levodopa
In one aspect, the invention is related to a method of treating a patient with Parkinson's disease, the method including administering to the respiratory tract of the patient particles that include more than about 90 weight percent (wt %) of levodopa. The particles are delivered to the patient's pulmonary system, preferably to the alveoli or the deep lung. |
US09155695B2 |
Injectable ropinirole compositions and methods for making and using same
Compositions and methods are provided that utilize an injectable ropinirole having a therapeutically effective amount of ropinirole in an aqueous solvent, the composition having a pH of from about 3.0 to about 6.5. The compositions and methods provided contain less than 3% by weight of impurities and are suitable for administration by infusion pumps. In some embodiments, the compositions are made in an oxygen free environment and/or are made with an antioxidant to reduce impurities and improve stability. In some embodiments, the compositions provided are utilized to treat Parkinson's disease. |
US09155689B2 |
Coloring agent comprising direct dyes and amphoteric surfactants
Agents for coloring keratinic fibers, containing (a) at least one compound of formula (I) and (b) at least one amphoteric surfactant are disclosed and described. |
US09155688B2 |
Oral care whitening compositions
Described herein are whitening compositions comprising a peroxide source, and an adhesion system comprising a hydrophobic component comprising a silicone adhesive; and a dental surface adhesion enhancing agent, which are physically stable and effectively provide whitening. Methods of making and using these compositions are also described herein. |
US09155687B2 |
Ultra-violet radiation absorbing silicon particle nanoclusters
Silicon particle nano-clusters formed with crystalline cores and amorphous shells are used for absorbing ultraviolet wavelength radiation. Silicon nano-particles are synthesized by plasma-chemical sputtering of bulk silicon crystal to form particles which are then quenched in an atmosphere of oxygen or oxygen and nitrogen. Analysis of these particles is presented for their scattering and absorption properties for use as ultraviolet protection elements. |
US09155685B2 |
Low stress flowable dental composition
Disclosed herein are low viscosity and low stress dental compositions comprising at least one low stress polymerizable resin and at least one filler. The dental compositions described herein have high depth of cure and self-leveling characteristics and are capable of bulk application. |
US09155682B2 |
Mobile cart for dispensing medicine
A mobile cart for dispensing medications has an automated locking mechanism for selectively opening the drawers of such cart. The locking/unlocking both unlocks and moves a respective drawer on command from a signal panel that is connected to a computerized controller. The caregiver enters an authorizing codes and patient identifiers so that one drawer unlocks and opens slightly. As such, the unlocked drawer is identified by lock mechanism, which slightly opens the drawer, thereby identifying the unlocked drawer in comparison to other closed, locked drawers. |
US09155678B2 |
Apparatus of cardiopulmonary resuscitator
The present disclosure discloses an apparatus of cardiopulmonary resuscitator that is operated through a driving mechanism controlled and driven by air power. The driving mechanism functions to actuate a belt adapted to extend around a chest of a patient to generate reciprocating movement of pressing and releasing so as to achieve a purpose of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for recovering heartbeat and breathing of the patent. |
US09155677B2 |
System for gastrointestinal and vascular atrophy engineering to restore normal youthful bodily functions
The system includes one or more devices to improve performance of selected internal organs by stimulating the organs through vibrating action. Sources of vibration include a capsule, which can be swallowed, or a larger member that is introduced through the rectum or esophagus or applied into the abdominal cavity with or without incision. These vibration sources are either implanted and inserted for natural passage along the digestive tract, or they are retained at the end of a flexible shaft to reach their intended placement from access through the mouth or rectum. The vibrating capsule can be swallowed as well as implanted and released for natural passage along the small intestine and colon. |
US09155675B2 |
Portable robotic device
A portable robotic device (PRD) as well as related devices and methods are described herein. The PRD includes a 3-D imaging sensor configured to acquire corresponding intensity data frames and range data frames of the environment. An imaging processing module configured to identify a matched feature in the intensity data frames, obtain sets of 3-D coordinates representing the matched feature in the range data frames, and determine a pose change of the PRD based on the 3-D coordinates; and perform 3-D data segmentation of the range data frames to extract planar surfaces. |
US09155674B2 |
Chair utilizing self-weight traction
A chair utilizing self-weight traction consists of: a seat unit (10) which is arranged to swing about a horizontal shaft (14) installed on chair legs (12) and which has a seat plate (16) and a back plate 18; and a binding foothold (20) arranged below the seat unit (10) so as to bind a foot of a user. According to the present invention, the seat unit (10) of the chair swings backwardly about the horizontal shaft (14) using the body weight of the user, thus enabling the user to readily take a self-weight traction posture. Therefore, the user who works while seated and thus may have a high practical need for spinal stretching may simply stretch his/her spine even during work, without being restricted in time or space, leading to the effect of treating and preventing spinal disorders such as herniated lumbar disc and scoliosis caused by the long-term use of a chair. |
US09155670B2 |
Absorbent articles with elastics in multiple layers
Absorbent articles that include elastics in multiple layers are disclosed herein. |
US09155663B2 |
Personal disposable hygiene product including adhesive applied on an elastic strand
A method of dispensing adhesive onto a stretched elastic strand includes applying a first volume of adhesive onto a first portion of the elastic strand, applying a second volume of adhesive onto a second portion of the elastic strand, and applying a third volume of adhesive onto a third portion of the elastic strand. The second volume is less than the first and third volumes. When the elastic strand is adhered to a substrate to form a personal disposable hygiene product, the first and third portions of the elastic strand define opposing ends of the elastic strand, which are adhered with a larger amount of adhesive to resist creep at the opposing ends. The reduction of adhesive in the second or central portion between the opposing ends significantly reduces the adhesive add on in the personal disposable hygiene product. |
US09155662B2 |
Multi-component non-woven
The formation of a non-woven, free from organic solvent, formed through parallel formation of fibers on a collection device is disclosed. As the individual fibers are dry prior to contact with other fibers, the different contents of the various fiber types do not interact. However, when wetted, the fibers will start to be dissolved, or swell, and the different contents will be released and then interact. For the example of thrombin and fibrinogen, the interaction will initiate the formation of a fibrin coagulum by the cleavage of fibrinogen through the action of thrombin to form fibrin monomers that spontaneously polymerize to form a three dimensional network of fibrin. |
US09155661B2 |
Corded hearing protective device and method of manufacturing the same
A hearing protective device is provided including a first sound attenuating element, a second sound attenuating element, a flexible elongated member connecting the first sound attenuating element and the second sound attenuating element, and a knot formed in the flexible elongated member, the knot is untied by moving the first sound attenuating element in a direction away from second sound attenuating element. |
US09155658B2 |
Systems and methods for dynamic patient fixation system
The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for ophthalmic laser procedure and, more particularly, to systems and methods for dynamic fixation used in the fixation of the eye(s) of a patient during laser-assisted ophthalmic surgery and/or ophthalmic diagnostic and measurement systems where visualization and concentration on a target are desired. The invention generally enhances the alignment between the eye and a laser beam of a laser eye surgery system using visual fixation system and laser delivery optics. The visual fixation system allows a patient's eye(s) to be accurately focused at one or more fixation targets. |
US09155656B2 |
Delivery system for ocular implant
A delivery system is disclosed which can be used to deliver an ocular implant into a target location within the eye via an ab interno procedure. In some embodiments, the implant can provide fluid communication between the anterior chamber and the suprachoroidal or supraciliary space while in an implanted state. The delivery system can include a proximal handle component and a distal delivery component. In addition, the proximal handle component can include an actuator to control the release of the implant from the delivery component into the target location in the eye. |
US09155652B2 |
Method for laser correction of refractive errors of an eye with a thin cornea
The present invention relates to a method of altering the refractive properties of the eye, the method including applying a substance to a cornea of an eye, the substance configured to facilitate cross linking of the cornea, irradiating the cornea so as to activate cross linkers in the cornea, and altering the cornea so as to change the refractive properties of the eye. |
US09155648B2 |
Stent delivery system and method using the same
Disclosed herein is a stent delivery system which includes: a hollow shaft; first and second expandable balloons arranged around of the distal end of the shaft; and a stent which is arranged around the second balloon such that it expands as the second balloon expands; the first balloon having drug release means for releasing a drug at least to prevent the proliferation of endothelial cells, the stent being a bare metal stent to be indwelled at a target position as lesion of stenosis or occlusion in the lumen of a living body. |
US09155644B2 |
Flexible helical stent having intermediate structural feature
The present invention relates to tubular stents that are implanted within a body lumen to support the organ, maintain patency and/or deliver drugs or agents. The stent has a cylindrical shape defining a longitudinal axis and includes a helical section having of a plurality of longitudinally oriented strut members and a plurality of circumferentially oriented hinge members connecting circumferentially adjacent strut members to form a band. The band is wrapped about the longitudinal axis in a substantially helical manner to form a plurality of helical windings. The helical section further includes a proximal section, a distal section and an intermediate section there between. The stent further includes a plurality of connector members extending between longitudinally adjacent helical windings, wherein the number of circumferentially adjacent connector members per winding in the intermediate section is greater than the number of circumferentially adjacent connector members per winding in the proximal or distal sections. |
US09155641B2 |
Expandable stent grafts
This invention relates to a medical device and, in particular, to a prosthesis or stent graft assembly for use within the human or animal body and, more particularly, to the fastening of a stent to the graft material of the stent graft assembly or prosthesis. |
US09155639B2 |
Helical hybrid stent
An expandable helical stent is provided, wherein the stent may be formed of a main stent component and a securement. The main stent component is formed from a flat strip having one or more undulating side bands that may be connected to form geometrically shaped cells and are helically wound to form a stent. The helical coils of the main stent component may be spaced apart or nestled to each other. The nestling of the undulation of adjacent helical windings contributes to maintaining the tubular shape and uniformity of the helically coiled stent. Alternatively, the flat strip may comprise a single undulating pattern. At the ends of the main stent component are end bands, which when wound, form a cylindrical ring. In one embodiment, one or more struts of the main stent component may have a width sufficient to include one or more fenestrations. The fenestrated struts may be connected by loops or turns wherein the material is narrower than that of the fenestrated struts to provide enhanced flexibility. The helical tubular is maintained with a securement. |
US09155636B1 |
Prosthetic socket liner
A prosthetic socket liner. A liner of the prosthetic socket liner has an inner and outer surface, the inner surface configured to engage skin of a user's residual limb and the outer surface configured to engage a surface of a socket of a prosthesis. An air channel coupled to the liner and to a valve extends downwardly towards a closed end of the liner and is configured to transfer air between an outer surface of the liner and ambient air through the valve. In implementations the air channel is configured to channel air between an inside of a cavity and a location outside the cavity. A method of donning a socket of a prosthesis includes donning a liner of a prosthetic socket liner over a residual limb, opening a valve on the liner, inserting the liner into a socket of a prosthesis with the valve open, and closing the valve. |
US09155635B2 |
Clamps for prosthetic limbs and methods of making clamps for prosthetic limbs
A clamp for a prosthetic limb includes a first section configured to couple to a first portion of a prosthetic limb and a second section being separate and spaced apart from the first section and configured to couple to a second portion of a prosthetic limb. The clamp further includes a plurality of pins extending between the first section and the second section and connecting the first section to the second section, each pin having a first end connected to the first section and a second end opposite to the first end and connected to the second section. |
US09155632B2 |
Orthopedic instrument, system and method for implanting an acetabular cup
An orthopedic instrument for installing a new reverse hip prosthesis, particularly the acetabular cup thereof, wherein the cup can be affixed to the pelvis with or without screws. The acetabular cup is releasably attached to the instrument and the instrument is used to position the cup in the pelvis. Optional screw guides are provided in the instrument in case the surgeon wishes to use screws to affix the cup to the pelvis. |
US09155631B2 |
Intervertbral implant
The present invention provides an intervertebral implant for implantation in a treated area of an intervertebral space between vertebral bodies of a spine. The implant includes a spacer portion having an inferior and superior surface, wherein the inferior and superior surfaces each have a contact area capable of engaging with anatomy in the treated area, and the inferior and superior surfaces define a through-hole extending through the spacer body. The present invention further provides screw holes extending from a side portion to the inferior and superior surfaces of the spacer portion and a plate portion rigidly coupled to the spacer portion through a coupling means, wherein the plate portion contains screws holes for receiving screws. A screw back out prevention mechanism adapted on the plate portion to prevents the back out of screws from the screw holes and to secure the spacer portion to the plate portion of the intervertebral implant. |
US09155630B2 |
Interbody cage for spinal fusion and method of implanting interbody cages into spines
A spinal interbody fusion implant has an impact rod fitting that is configured and adapted to be connected to an impact rod during implantation of the implant. The implant also comprises one or more openings that are encircled by portions of the implant and that extend into the top of the implant and continue through to and out of the bottom of the implant. The top and bottom of the implant each have a load bearing footprint. Each of the load bearing footprints has a centroid that is closer to the leading end of the implant than to the trailing end of the implant. A method of implanting a spinal interbody fusion implant between two vertebrae of a spine comprises inserting the implant into a patient through a posterior incision and guiding the implant into a position between the two vertebrae using a pair of shims. |
US09155629B2 |
Ankle and foot bone growth compositions and methods
The present invention provides an improved technique for spinal fusion involving the administration of an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor to a fusion. The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is preferably delivered to the site by a carrier. More preferably, the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is delivered to the site by a non-compressible delivery vehicle. The invention is suitable for promoting non-anatomic or heterotopic bone growth between any bony surfaces where bone growth is desired but does not naturally occur. |
US09155628B2 |
Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof
The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations. |
US09155627B2 |
Knee joint prosthesis
A knee joint endoprosthesis is provided which consists of a femur component and a tibia component having cooperating joint surfaces in contact with one another. A rotation guide arrangement is provided for forcing the femur component and the tibia component to rotate relative to each other about a medial center of rotation as a result of a flexure of the knee joint endoprosthesis. The rotation guide arrangement having a first guide element with a first guidance surface and a second guide element with a second guidance surface which cooperates with the first guidance surface. A projection of the tibia component comprises the first guide element and a transverse extension connecting condyles of the femur component comprises the second guide element. The first guidance surface defines a first radius of curvature and the second guidance surface defines a second radius of curvature. The first and second radii of curvature are identical. |
US09155626B2 |
Radial head prosthesis with floating articular member
System, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for replacement of the proximal end of a radial bone with a prosthesis having a floating articular member. The prosthesis may include a head portion connected or connectable to a stem portion. While the stem portion remains operatively connected to the head portion, the head portion and/or an articular member thereof may be permitted to float in position relative to the stem portion. The head portion/articular member may float transversely (e.g., translationally) and/or rotationally with respect to the stem portion. The articular member may articulate with a humeral bone or both a humeral bone and an ulnar bone. In some embodiments, the head portion may include a fixed member for articulation with an ulnar bone and a floating member for articulation with a humeral bone. |
US09155625B2 |
Joint support and subchondral support system
A joint support and subchondral support system and method of use of same for providing structural and dampening support to damaged subchondral bone adjacent to a body joint are disclosed. The joint support and subchondral support system and method of use of same are applicable to many parts of the joint as any area with cartilage disease has an adjoining subchondral component. |
US09155619B2 |
Prosthetic heart valve delivery apparatus
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a prosthetic valve (e.g., prosthetic heart valve) and a valve delivery apparatus for delivery of the prosthetic valve to a native valve site via the human vasculature. The delivery apparatus is particularly suited for advancing a prosthetic heart valve through the aorta (i.e., in a retrograde approach) for replacing a diseased native aortic valve. The delivery apparatus in particular embodiments is configured to deploy a prosthetic valve from a delivery sheath in a precise and controlled manner at the target location within the body. |
US09155618B2 |
Device for regulating blood
An implantable device for regulating blood flow through a blood vessel comprising an elongated support dimensioned and configured to be implanted in a blood vessel. The support includes a linking member linking axially spaced apart portions to one another. A valve membrane extends between the axially spaced apart support portions and includes first region folded over the first linking member and attached thereto and a second region adjacent the first region and unattached to the first linking member. The second region is movable between a first position to enable blood flow and a second position to inhibit blood flow. |
US09155617B2 |
Prosthetic mitral valve
A prosthetic mitral valve with a compressible and expandable stent that, when expanded, is circumferentially oval, elliptical, or D-shaped, with a major axis and a minor axis ratio of from about 3:4 to about 4:5. Embodiments of the stent comprise three commissure posts disposed towards an outflow end and three curved cusp regions between adjacent commissure posts. Three flexible leaflets are attached to the commissure posts in a tri-foil configuration. Embodiments of the prosthetic mitral valve include an atrial ring disposed at the inflow end of the stent. |
US09155616B2 |
Prosthetic heart valve with expandable microspheres
A prosthetic heart valve includes a valve assembly mounted to an expandable stent. The prosthetic heart valve includes a cuff coupled to the stent. The cuff includes a pocket formed between an outer side and an inner side of the cuff. The pocket includes a plurality of biocompatible and irreversibly expandable microspheres. After implantation of the prosthetic heart valve into a patient, any gaps existing between the cuff and the native heart valve are exposed to bodily fluid, such as blood. The blood enters the pocket of the cuff through pores in the outer side of the cuff. The blood interacts with the microspheres, causing irreversible expansion of the microspheres. The microspheres expand to fill any gaps between the prosthetic heart valve and the native heart tissue, sealing the gaps and preventing leakage through the gaps. |
US09155615B2 |
Hingeless cartridge for use with an intraocular lens injector providing haptic control
An intraocular lens (“IOL”) cartridge includes an upper wall and a lower wall, together defining a lumen for receiving an IOL. The proximal end of the cartridge has an open slot cut into and through the entire thickness of the upper wall so to allow the leading haptic of the IOL to extend above the upper wall. The cartridge includes a proximal-end feature to facilitate folding of the leading haptic radially inward relative to the optic as the IOL moves into the lumen. |
US09155611B2 |
Branch vessel stent graft
A stent graft (10) has a tubular body of a biocompatible material and a side arm (20) fastened to the tubular body. A tubular extension piece (24) is sealingly joined to the end of the side arm and extends from it. It can be joined with adhesive or stitching. The extension piece can be formed from an elastomeric biocompatible material such as Thoralon™. The extension piece can have a resilient reinforcement 44 embedded into it and extending longitudinally. The extension piece is tucked back into the side arm during deployment of the stent graft into a body lumen. |
US09155610B2 |
System and atraumatic mandrel for creating graft devices
In some aspects, a system for applying a fiber matrix on a tubular conduit is provided. The system can include a tubular conduit, a mandrel and a fiber matrix delivery assembly. The mandrel can comprise an elongate shaft and a rolling membrane configured to atraumatically engage the tubular conduit. |
US09155605B1 |
Biocompatible extremely fine tantalum filament scaffolding for bone and soft tissue prosthesis
A tissue implant member for implanting in living tissue is provided. The implant is formed of an open structured tantalum filament having a cross-sectional size of less than about 250 microns. |
US09155604B1 |
Extraocular muscle support sling
An extraocular muscle support sling and a method for surgically implanting the sling to reinforce a weak or ineffective extraocular muscle. The sling includes a semi-flexible anchor base and a pair of elastic arms which extend from the anchor base and are held together to create a loop. During implantation, the anchor base of the sling is attached to a movable target tissue of the patient, and the looped elastic arms are attached to an immobile base tissue. A pulling or tensioned force applied to the elastic arms causes the patient's movable target tissue to which the anchor base is attached to be pulled towards and oriented with respect to the immobile base tissue with the same force and in the same direction as would be the case had the muscle been normal. According to preferred embodiments, the extraocular muscle support sling has particular application for treating ptosis and strabismus. |
US09155600B2 |
Protective dental post system for teeth with excessive dental material loss
The invention is about the dental post system designed to protect the dental tissues left and is aimed to use for the treatment of teeth with excessive dental material loss in the fields of endodontic, prosthetic dental treatment and pedodontics. |
US09155598B2 |
Blank with encoding and method of manufacturing a molded dental component
A blank for manufacturing molded dental components includes a blank body that includes tooth repairing material. A molded dental component is manufactured by removing portions of the tooth repairing material using a tool. The blank is encoded with at least one structure as a carrier of information regarding properties of the blank body. The at least one structure is arranged such that at least one of a position, dimensions, or a type of structure can be determined by sensing or measuring the blank. In this context, the position, the dimensions, or the type of the structure are embodied such that a value acquired during a determination of the above corresponds to information about a property of the blank body. |
US09155597B2 |
Solid free-form fabrication methods for the production of dental restorations
Solid free form fabrication techniques such as fused deposition modeling and three-dimensional printing are used to create a dental restoration. Three-dimensional printing includes ink-jet printing a binder into selected areas of sequentially deposited layers of powder. Each layer is created by spreading a thin layer of powder over the surface of a powder bed. Instructions for each layer may be derived directly from a CAD representation of the restoration. The area to be printed is obtained by computing the area of intersection between the desired plane and the CAD representation of the object. All the layers required for an aesthetically sound restoration can be deposited concurrently slice after slice and sintered/cured simultaneously. The amount of green body oversize is equivalent to the amount of shrinkage which occurs during sintering or curing. While the layers become hardened or at least partially hardened as each of the layers is laid down, once the desired final shaped configuration is achieved and the layering process is complete, in some applications it may be desirable that the form and its contents be heated or cured at a suitably selected temperature to further promote binding of the powder particles. |
US09155596B2 |
Manual device for dispensing a pasty filler
A manual device, in particular for dental use, for dispensing a pasty filler, may reduce the viscosity of the filler by the introduction of vibrational energy. The device may include a device housing, a detachable container for the pasty filler that includes an outlet nozzle at a front end thereof, a vibration generator with an oscillating body, and pressure generating means for exerting pressure on the pasty filler, wherein the oscillating body is detachably connected to the container in a middle region thereof. |
US09155591B2 |
Treatment limiter
One aspect relates to limiting treatment to prescribed regions of an individual based at least in part on positioning a treatment limiter mechanism relative to the individual at least partially allowing treating at least some desired or planned location that is desired or planned to be treated, but not allowing treating other locations that are not planned or not desired to be treated from being treated. Another aspect relates to configuring at least a portion of a treatment limiter mechanism at least partially in response to attempting to treat at least a portion of an individual associated with the treatment limiter mechanism. |
US09155587B2 |
Visual electrode ablation systems
Visual electrode ablation systems are described herein which include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to a region of tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid, such as saline, can be pumped into the imaging hood until the fluid displaces any blood, thereby leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element in the deployment catheter. An electric current may be passed through the fluid such that it passes directly to the tissue region being imaged and the electrical energy is conducted through the fluid without the need for a separate ablation probe or instrument to ablate the tissue being viewed. |
US09155582B2 |
Aiming instrument
A device for facilitating implantation of an intramedullary nail includes a coupling portion extending from a first end configured to couple to a proximal end of an intramedullary nail to a joint portion and a radiolucent handle coupled to the joint portion and extending distally therefrom along a path which, when the coupling portion is coupled to an intramedullary nail in a desired orientation, extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of a proximal portion of the nail, the radiolucent part including first and second radiopaque markers positioned and oriented so that, when the nail is coupled to the coupling portion in the desired orientation, the first and second markers align with edges of the proximal portion of the nail. |
US09155581B2 |
Staged locking of surgical screw assembly
A surgical screw assembly including: a fastener including an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a head at the proximal end. A tulip having a an internal bearing surface is provided. A distal end of the tulip has a bore therethrough defining the internal bearing surface. Locking enhancement features are configured to cooperate with the head, such that, in an unlocked configuration, the head is movable relative to the tulip; in a provisionally locked configuration, the locking enhancement features engage the head with a first polyaxial grip strength; and in a finally locked configuration, the locking enhancement features engage the head with a second polyaxial grip strength greater than the first polyaxial grip strength. |
US09155573B2 |
Spinal correction system
A spinal correction system comprises a first member defining a longitudinal axis and including an inner surface that defines a first cavity and a second cavity. A second member defines a longitudinal axis and includes an inner surface that defines a first cavity and a second cavity. The members are connected along a first axis disposed in substantially parallel relation to the longitudinal axes. At least one first implant support is configured for disposal within the first cavities. At least one second implant support is configured for disposal within the second cavities. The members are rotatable about the first axis to space apart the members such that the inner surfaces forcibly engage the supports in releasable fixation. Methods of use are disclosed. |
US09155566B2 |
Adjustable bone anchor assembly
A medical implant device has in one embodiment a receiver member for receiving an elongated member, a crown member, an anchor member and a retaining member. An embodiment of the receiver member has an axial opening, a transverse channel, a chamber including at least one substantially flat wall, and a groove. An embodiment of the crown member has at least one substantially flat side. An embodiment of the anchor member has a head with at least one substantially flat surface that may be parallel to the anchor member's longitudinal axis, and an anchoring portion. An embodiment of the retaining member is a substantially flat clip. The crown member and anchor member are inserted into the chamber, and the retaining member is inserted into the groove beneath them. The anchor member may be pivoted substantially in one plane with respect to the receiver member until locked. |
US09155551B2 |
Treatment instrument
A treatment instrument has a longitudinal-axis member having a longitudinal axis, a curved portion formed on a distal end side of the longitudinal-axis member, a lumen formed along the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal-axis member, and a through hole that communicates with the lumen, and opens toward the inner side of a curve of the curved portion when the curved portion is curved. |
US09155548B2 |
Positioning device for bone drilling
The positioning device for bone drilling comprises a base, and the base has an outer wall, a positioning block, a guiding recess and an inner wall. The positioning block is formed on the outer wall of the base. The guiding recess is formed longitudinally through the base. The inner wall surrounds the guiding recess and the inner wall is a concave camber. The doctor can use the positioning block to fix the positioning device on a guide mold. A relative position between the positioning device and the guide mold can be relatively fixed. Prior to or during the drilling, the doctor can replace the positioning device with another positioning device with a more suitable diameter, oblique angle and oblique direction so that the positioning device for bone drilling can drill a hole at an accurate position, at an accurate oblique angle and in an accurate oblique direction as desired. |
US09155546B2 |
Surgical aimer
The present disclosure relates to a surgical aimer including a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a handle coupled to the proximal portion of the shaft. The handle includes a mechanism for coupling the shaft to the handle and releasing the shaft from the handle. |
US09155545B2 |
Surgical drill handpiece with adjustable cutting tool guard
A system includes a handpiece and a removable tool assembly including a holder body, a shaft, a cutting bur, a guard, and a sleeve. The body engages the handpiece and defines a bore. The shaft extends within the bore and the bur is provided to the distal end of the shaft. The guard is coupled to the body via a threaded mating at the bore, such that rotation of the guard relative to the body longitudinally displaces the guard. The extends within the bore of the body and the guard. The guard is positioned relative to the body by a distance to define a working length of the bur between the distal end of the guard and the distal tip of the bur. The working length of the bur is used to cut tissue, without concern that cutting will be deeper than intended. |
US09155538B2 |
Method and apparatus for solid organ tissue approximation
Surgical bolts are useful for solid visceral wound hemostasis. The devices utilize flexible, variable depth transfixing bolts that penetrate the viscera. These bolts bring the tissue into apposition and hold said tissue in apposition while the wound heals. These bolts, or soft tissue rivets, overcome the limitations of sutures that are currently used for the same purposes. The devices are flexible, bendable, and conformable in their wet or dry state. The bolts include pressure plates that are capable of exerting compressive pressure over broad areas of visceral wounds without causing tearing of the friable parenchyma. The bolts are placed and removed by open surgery or laparoscopic access. The bolts can be placed into tissue where both sides of the bolt are exposed, or they can be placed blindly into tissue where the bolt does not protrude out of the tissue at its distal end. |
US09155537B2 |
Surgical fastener applying apparatus
A surgical fastener applying apparatus for applying fasteners to body tissue. The apparatus includes a cartridge receiving half-section defining an elongated channel member configured to releasably receive a stationary housing of a firing assembly. The stationary housing is dimensioned to releasably receive a single use loading unit therein, and includes a lockout structure that prevents insertion of the single use loading unit into the stationary housing after the stationary housing is mounted to the cartridge receiving half-section. |
US09155536B1 |
Circular stapler
An exemplary circular stapler may include an anvil; a staple holder connected to the anvil; and a feeder belt ring held within the staple holder, the feeder belt ring including staples frangibly affixed thereto. An exemplary surgical method for treating tissue may include possessing an anvil, a staple holder connected to the anvil, and a feeder belt ring held within the staple holder, the feeder belt ring including a plurality of staples frangibly affixed thereto; clamping tissue between the anvil and staple holder; and sequentially deforming and then breaking from the feeder belt ring at least two staples. |
US09155535B2 |
Device and method for suturing intracardiac defects
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a suturing device. The suturing device includes a length of suture that will be delivered to the site of the PFO and placed through the tissue adjacent the opening to close the PFO. As described in greater detail below, the suture is advanced through the tissue surrounding the opening by a pair of needles that penetrate the tissue adjacent to the opening. A knot is then loosely tied with the length of suture and advanced to the site of the PFO. The tails of the suture extending from the knot are then cut and removed. It is also contemplated that a pre-formed or pre-tied knot may be disposed on the device, wherein after deployment of the suture through the tissue adjacent to the PFO and removal of the device a loop of suture having a pre-tied knot will remain, wherein the pre-tied knot may then be tightened to close the PFO. Further still it is contemplated that other means may be utilized to retain the sutures. For example, it is contemplated that a suture clip or other clip like device may be utilized to retain the suture in a position such that the PFO is closed. |
US09155533B2 |
Soft tissue defect device and associated method
The present invention provides instrumentation and associated methods for suture-based soft tissue repair. The disclosed instrument is configured to pass suture through tissue, relocate the instrument, and retrieve the suture, thereby creating a stitch. These steps can be repeated any number of times to create multiple stitches through the tissue. |
US09155531B2 |
Miniaturized dual drive open architecture suture anchor
The disclosure provides examples of an open architecture anchor for securing soft tissue to bone, for example, to repair a torn rotor cuff. The anchor includes at least one open helical coil defining a polygonal internal volume and at least one rib disposed within the polygonal internal volume and connected to at least two turns of the at least one open helical coil. The at least one rib is sized to engage a driver and a combination of the at least one rib and the polygonal internal volume is sized to provide an anchor drive torque required to drive the anchor into bone. |
US09155525B2 |
Urine sample collection device
A urine sample collection device having a collection vessel for capturing urine from a patient, and an associated sample collection container portion for gathering the urine sample in an assured manner without the need for manual transfer. The urine sample collection device can be easily mounted inside a toilet bowl, so that the patient can deliver the urine stream to the toilet in the normal manner to produce the urine sample. The device avoids splashes of residual urine after the sample container is remove from the collection vessel, and a urine flow barrier shield for automatically accommodating the clean-catch method for delivering a urine sample. |
US09155524B2 |
Physiologically active substance collecting device and biological information acquisition method
A physiologically active substance collecting device, includes: a collecting section brought into contact with a body surface of a living organism to acquire a physiologically active substance from the body surface; and a liquid sending means for sending a solvent to the collecting section, the collecting section having an aperture at which the solvent flown by being sent from the liquid sending means contacts the body surface. |
US09155523B2 |
Method of detecting and predicting ovulation and the period of fertility
Methods of detecting and predicting ovulation and a period of fertility include determining a series of measures indicative of the basal body temperature of a female human user to identify a temperature change event. The method includes obtaining, within a first 24 hour period, a plurality of first readings of the temperature of the female human user at intervals over a first extended period of at least an hour. The plurality of first readings are then processed to determine at least one first representative temperature reading representative of the basal body temperature of the user for the first extended period and the at least one first representative temperature reading is stored. The method is repeated for at least second and third 24 hour periods and the representative temperature readings are provided for analysis to identify a temperature change event for the female human user. |
US09155506B2 |
Method and system for processing MRT data of the human brain
A method, a software program and a system for processing MRT data of the human brain of a patient, wherein three-dimensional MRT data resolved in voxels of the patient's brain and the brains of a normative database of a plurality of neurologically healthy human individuals are available. The MRT data of the patient's brain are segmented for each voxel into portions of grey substance, white substance and liquor by means of a classification algorithm, wherein for comparison with corresponding data of the normative database the data are normalized before, after or synchronously into a standardized stereotactic space whereby one or more normalized tissue maps result that contain the proportions determined by the classification algorithm, and the tissue map or tissue maps of the patient's brain is or are subjected to a voxel-wise statistical comparison with the correspondingly normalized and segmented data of the normative database. |
US09155501B2 |
Methods for the compensation of imaging technique in the processing of radiographic images
The present invention relates to methods and devices for analyzing x-ray images. In particular, devices, methods and algorithms are provided that allow for the accurate and reliable evaluation of bone structure and macro-anatomical parameters from x-ray images. |