| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09217233B2 |
Adjustable weir for hydroelectric dam installations
A system for controllably adjusting spent water levels in the tailrace pool area of a hydroelectric power-generating dam installed into a waterway. The system comprises: (a) a controllably adjustable weir device installed into a downstream portion of the waterway adjacent a distal end of the tailrace pool area. The controllably adjustable weir device is configured for controllably impeding the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area, (b) an apparatus provided with operative components configured for manipulating the controllably adjustable weir device to controllably increase and decrease the impediment therewith of spent water egress from the tailrace pool area. The operative components are serviceable from above the spent water, and (c) a control device configured for communicating and cooperating with the apparatus for manipulating the controllably adjustable weir therewith. The controllably adjustable weir device may be optionally installed into an excavation provided downstream adjacent to the tailrace pool area. |
| US09217232B2 |
Fish levitation system
A levitation system communicates fish mutually exclusively upstream and downstream, with minimal trauma to fish, in harmony with their homing instinct and natural levitation process, in discrete micro-steps aggregated in macro steps, with optimally adjusted water flows, through capsules of stations differing in elevation by 50 to 100 feet, connected through inclined conduits in series and in parallel. The process starts with electricity from a utility to pump water from the forebay to the dam crest. Water moves slowly in controlled cascades through stations from crest to the afterbay. Surplus electricity is generated as pressure is adjusted at each station. Cooler water drawn from below the surface of the forebay is blended at stations along the passageway and spent water is flushed. Energy losses are attributable mainly to attraction flow at the station a few feet above the afterbay and are mitigated by a moderate negative pressure to control flow. |
| US09217230B2 |
Barrier system
A barrier system including a guardrail, a support to hold the guardrail in position and a fastener to attach the guardrail to the support, wherein the support has a weakened zone to facilitate the fastener releasing from the support when the support is subject to impact forces. |
| US09217229B2 |
Barriers
A barrier apparatus (1) comprising a first support means (2a) and a separate second support means (2b), a flexible coupling means (20) attached to the first support means defining a through-opening (21A), a bridging member (4) supporting said flexible coupling means, wherein the bridging member is attached movably to the first support means to be movable to and from a position which places said through-opening in alignment with the second support means, and the second support means includes an obstruction part (11) adapted to extend through said through-opening when said through-opening is placed in said alignment with the second support means thereby to obstruct removal of said through-opening from said alignment with the second support means to provide a barrier comprising said flexible coupling means which extends between the first support means and the second support means. |
| US09217224B2 |
Print head arrangement and method of depositing a substance
A system for depositing a substance onto a substrate comprises continuously transporting the substrate in a transport direction while traversing a deposition arrangement across the substrate to deposit the substance in a number of swathes. During such movement the positions of the deposition arrangement and the substrate are controlled with respect to one another such that the swathes complement one another to provide substantially uniform coverage of the substrate. As a result of the defined arrangement, improved substrate speeds can be achieved since there is no need for the substrate to stop at each traverse. |
| US09217216B2 |
Washing machine
A washing machine that circulates wash water and, at the same time, generates bubbles in the wash water. The washing machine includes a machine body, a tub disposed in the machine body. a tub cover provided above the tub, a pump mounted below the tub, and a circulation unit, having one end coupled to the pump and the other end coupled to the tub cover, to circulate wash water from the pump to the tub. The circulation unit includes a first channel, a second channel communicating with the first channel, the second channel having a smaller sectional area than the first channel, and an air inlet port provided in the second channel to allow air to be introduced into the circulation unit therethrough. |
| US09217212B2 |
Oven with gas circulation system and method
An oxidation oven with a heated chamber for treating fibers, the heated chamber having two opposing sides, each side with a plurality of gaps to allow the fibers to pass to and from the heated chamber. Embodiments of the invention provide capture ducts, which are configured to be under negative pressure, the capture ducts draw-in heated chamber air that would otherwise flow through the gaps. Embodiments of the invention provide supply ducts, which are configured to be under positive pressure and provide heated air near the gaps. Embodiments of the invention provide louvers positioned near the gaps, the louvers are configured to reduce the flow of heated chamber air that would otherwise pass through the gaps. |
| US09217211B2 |
Method for fabricating nanofibers
Nanofibers are fabricated in a continuous process by introducing a polymer solution into a dispersion medium, which flows through a conduit and shears the dispersion medium. Liquid strands, streaks or droplets of the polymer solution are continuously shear-spun into elongated fibers. An inorganic precursor may be introduced with the polymer solution, resulting in fibers that include inorganic fibrils. The resulting composite inorganic/polymer fibers may be provided as an end product. Alternatively, the polymer may be removed to liberate the inorganic fibrils, which may be of the same or smaller cross-section as the polymer fibers and may be provided as an end product. |
| US09217209B2 |
Methods for epitaxial silicon growth
Methods of cleaning substrates and growing epitaxial silicon thereon are provided. Wafers are exposed to a plasma for a sufficient time prior to epitaxial silicon growth, in order to clean the wafers. The methods exhibit enhanced selectivity and reduced lateral growth of epitaxial silicon. The wafers may have dielectric areas that are passivated by the exposure of the wafer to a plasma. |
| US09217208B2 |
Apparatus for producing single crystal
The present invention is an apparatus for producing a single crystal, growing the single crystal by the Czochralski method and comprising at least: a main chamber in which a crucible for accommodating a raw material melt and a heater for heating the raw material melt are arranged; a pulling chamber into which the grown single crystal is pulled and accommodated, the pulling chamber being continuously provided above the main chamber; and a cooling cylinder extending at least from a ceiling of the main chamber toward a surface of the raw material melt so as to surround the single crystal during pulling, the cooling cylinder being forcibly cooled with a cooling medium. As a result, there is provided an apparatus for producing a single crystal that can increase the growth rate of the single crystal by efficiently cooling the single crystal during the growth. |
| US09217206B2 |
Enhanced porosification
Forming a porous layer on a silicon substrate. Forming the porous layer can include placing a first silicon substrate in a solution, where a first electrode is within a threshold distance to an edge of the silicon substrate. It can further include conducting a first current through the silicon substrate, where the first electrode can be positioned relative to the edge allowing for substantially uniform porosification along the edge of the first silicon substrate. |
| US09217204B2 |
Control of temperature and operation of inert electrodes during production of aluminum metal
The present invention relates to methods for operating and controlling the temperature of inert electrodes during production of molten aluminum by electrolysis of an aluminous ore, preferably alumina, dissolved in molten salts, preferably a fluoride based electrolyte, in an electrolysis cell with vertical or essentially vertical electrode configuration.The invention describes methods of designing and operating inert electrodes in a vertical and/or inclined position for production of aluminum metal, where said electrodes have an operating temperature that may deviate from the electrolyte temperature, thereby controlling the dissolution of electrode materials and preventing solid deposit formation on the electrodes. The present invention is also applicable to aluminum production cells utilizing inert electrodes in a horizontal configuration, and traditional Hall-Hèroult cells retrofitted with inert anodes. |
| US09217203B2 |
Hydrogen gas generator
A hydrogen generating device comprising an anode, a cathode, a housing having an internal cavity and a perforated wall within the cavity electrically connected to the anode or the cathode and separating an end portion of the cavity from a main portion of the cavity. The device includes water in the housing extending continuously from the main portion of the cavity through the perforated wall and into the end portion of the cavity. The housing includes two ends and a perforated wall within the cavity near each end separating end portions of the cavity from a main portion of the cavity, the anode or the cathode extending through one end of the housing through one perforated wall into the main portion of the cavity, through the other perforated wall into the other end portion of the cavity and through the other end of the housing. |
| US09217197B2 |
Methods for depositing a layer on a substrate using surface energy modulation
Methods for depositing layers on substrates are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of forming a layer on a substrate having at least one feature disposed therein includes forming a conformal layer on an upper surface of the substrate and within the at least one feature by sputtering a target material using a first plasma that reduces the surface energy of the target material such that the sputtered target material wets the upper surface of the substrate and the at least one feature to form the conformal layer; and filling at least a portion of the at least one feature by sputtering the target material using a second plasma different from the first plasma to increase the surface energy of the sputtered target material and the conformal layer such that at least portions of the conformal layer are pulled into the at least one feature by capillary action. |
| US09217196B2 |
Method for forming DLC film on spline shaft and hot cathode PIG plasma CVD device
Plural spline shafts are arranged around columnar plasma, and plural spline shafts are coaxially aligned in a direction that the columnar plasma extends within a vacuum chamber. The plural coaxially aligned spline shafts are positioned so that axial gap is formed between the respective male spline sections. The axial gap of the plural male spline sections is positioned at a center of the columnar plasma in the direction that the columnar plasma extends. |
| US09217189B2 |
Extraction of uranium from wet-process phosphoric acid
A process for extracting uranium compounds from wet-process phosphoric acid (WPA) includes lowering iron content of WPA to produce a lowered iron WPA, reducing valency of any remaining iron in the lowered iron WPA to produce a reduced iron valency WPA. Uranium compounds are extracted from the reduced iron valency WPA via a solvent extraction process. |
| US09217188B2 |
System and method for integrated waste storage
The present invention provides integrated bunker storage systems for waste streams based on the composition and characteristics of waste streams. In particular, the present invention provides a process for generating individual waste streams based on a set of material characteristics. According to the system and method of the present invention, individual waste streams from wastes stored in bunkers are mixed in a given feed ratio to generate a feed stock that will produce a desired output from a chemical conversion process, e.g., gasification. Optionally, composition data regarding the feed stock can be certified to a third party. |
| US09217185B2 |
Method of reduction processing of steel-making slag
The method of reduction processing of steel-making slag, includes: a hot steel-making slag inflow process of continuously or intermittently charging, from a slag supplying container, hot steel-making slag to a molten slag layer on a molten iron contained in an electric furnace while adjusting an amount of inflow with the slag supplying container; a reducing agent supplying process of supplying a reducing agent to the molten slag layer; an electrifying and heating process of heating the molten iron and the molten slag layer through application of electric power; and a reduction process of continuing reduction processing of the hot steel-making slag in a non-oxidizing atmosphere while intermittently discharging either one or both of the molten iron or molten slag of the molten slag layer. |
| US09217183B2 |
Method for producing isopropanol and recombinant yeast capable of producing isopropanol
Isopropanol is produced with good productivity via fermentation processes. Specifically, isopropanol is produced at a high level in a medium by culturing recombinant yeast into which an acetoacetyl CoA synthase gene and a group of genes (isopropanol synthesis-related gene group) encoding a group of enzymes for synthesis of isopropanol from acetoacetyl CoA have been introduced. |
| US09217182B2 |
Process controls for molecular assay
A full process control for use with a molecular assay and a method of determine the efficacy of the molecular assay. A full process control can include a fixed cell, and specifically can include a fixed vegetative cell. A method of determining the efficacy of a molecular assay can include providing an internal control, mixing the internal control with a sample, lysing the internal control and the sample, and detecting the lysis product. The full process control and/or the internal control can be Bacillus subtilis cells. |
| US09217179B2 |
Systems and methods for multiplexed electrochemical detection
Contemplated methods and devices comprise performing electrochemical sample analysis in a multiplexed electrochemical detector having reduced electrical cross-talk. The electrochemical detector includes electrodes that share a common lead from a plurality of leads. The sample, which may be a liquid sample, is introduced into one or more sample wells and a signal is applied to at least one of the electrodes. A response signal is measured while simultaneously applying a substantially fixed potential to each of a remainder of the plurality of leads. |
| US09217176B2 |
Methods of monitoring conditions by sequence analysis
There is a need for improved methods for determining the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with conditions, including autoimmune disease and cancer. Provided herein are methods for using DNA sequencing to identify personalized biomarkers in patients with autoimmune disease and other conditions. Identified biomarkers can be used to determine the disease state for a subject with an autoimmune disease or other condition. |
| US09217173B2 |
Method of polyadenylation and CDNA synthesis in a single reaction
This invention relates to a process for synthesis of a cDNA in a sample, in an enzymatic reaction, wherein the process comprises the steps: simultaneous preparation of a first enzyme with polyadenylation activity, a second enzyme with reverse transcriptase activity, a buffer, at least one ribonucleotide, at least one deoxyribonucleotide, an anchor oligonucleotide; addition of a sample that comprises a ribonucleic acid; and incubation of the agents of the previous steps in one or more temperature steps, which are selected such that the first enzyme and the second enzyme show activity. The invention further relates to a reaction mixture that comprises a first enzyme with polyadenylation activity, a second enzyme with reverse transcriptase activity, optionally a buffer, optionally at least one ribonucleotide, optionally at least one deoxyribonucleotide, and optionally an anchor oligonucleotide. Moreover, the invention relates to a kit that comprises a corresponding reaction mixture. |
| US09217171B2 |
Colorimetric device for detecting, in an aqueous solution of interest, hydrolytic enzymatic activity with regard to at least one polymer of interest
This invention concerns a colorimetric device for detecting, in an aqueous solution of interest, a hydrolytic enzymatic activity with regard to at least one polymer of interest.This device (1) includes (i) a substrate (2) and (ii) a transparent detection layer (3), including the said polymer of interest.This detection layer (3) is adapted so that, on the one hand, after application of the said aqueous solution of interest, when it is deprived of said hydrolytic enzymatic activity, it preserves the said first thickness e, and on the other, after the application of the said aqueous solution of interest, when it includes the said hydrolytic enzymatic activity, it has a second thickness e′, thinner than the said first thickness e,and the said first thickness e and/or the said second thickness e′ of the said detection layer (3) are adapted to generate a color by an optical interference phenomenon caused by the recombining of the light beams reflected at the interfaces (4, 5) of the said detection layer (5). |
| US09217169B2 |
Synthetic pathway enzymes for the production of argyrins
The invention provides the amino acid sequences comprised in or constituting the synthetic pathway enzymes participating in the production of Argyrins, as well as the nucleic acid sequences encoding the synthetic pathway enzymes participating in the production of Argyrins, as well as genetically manipulated microorganisms containing nucleic acid sequences encoding the synthetic pathway enzymes for the production of Argyrins, e.g. for inserting one or more of these coding sequences, mutating in a targeted manner one or more of these nucleic acid sequences, in a wild type producer micro-organism or in a heterologous micro-organism, for the production of Argyrins. |
| US09217162B2 |
Method and apparatus for anaerobic digestion for crop stalk
This disclosure discloses a process and an anaerobic digestion system for crop stalk/straw. The process in one example comprises (A) Feeding, (B) Heating and Digestion at the set temperature, (C) Discharging of Biogas, Sludge and Effluent. The system in one example comprises (I) High Solid Content Digester (II) Hydro-Circulation Digester and (III) Stalk/Straw Feeder. Steps (A), (B) and (C) are accomplished in the devices (I) and (II). |
| US09217160B2 |
Adenoviral assembly method
Methods of assembling modified adenoviruses, libraries of adenoviral gene modules and compositions thereof are provided herein. |
| US09217158B2 |
Replication-defective flavivirus vaccines and vaccine vectors
This invention provides replication-defective flavivirus vaccines and vaccine vectors, and corresponding compositions and methods. |
| US09217157B2 |
Recombinant influenza viruses and uses thereof
Modified influenza virus NS gene segments and nucleic acid sequences encoding such modified influenza virus NS gene segments are described. In certain embodiments, a modified influenza virus NS gene segment comprises an influenza virus NS 1 open reading frame (ORF) lacking a stop codon, a heterologous nucleotide sequence, a 2A autoproteolytic cleavage site or another cleavage site, an NEP ORF, wherein the gene segment has one or more mutations in either the splice acceptor site, splice donor site, or both the splice acceptor and splice donor sites that prevents splicing of mRNA. Also recombinant influenza viruses comprising a modified influenza virus NS gene segment and the use of such viruses are described. The recombinant influenza viruses may be used in the prevention and/or treatment of influenza virus disease or as a delivery vector. |
| US09217154B2 |
Actinomycete integrative and conjugative element from Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110 as plasmid for genetic transformation of related Actinobacteria
The present invention is directed to an innate DNA sequence within the complete genome sequence of Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110 which resembles the structure of an actinomycete integrative and conjugative element (AICE). Related AICEs were used for establishing genetic manipulation tools for other bacteria in the past. In this document, we describe the unique features of the specific AICE found in Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110 which are clearly distinct from any other known AICE as a whole, but share minor parts with varying sequence similarity with other characterized AiCEs from other species. |
| US09217153B2 |
Antibiotic-free plasmids
The present invention provides a method of maintaining a gram negative bacterium plasmid without the use of antibiotic selection pressure. Further, the invention relates to the drugless plasmids produced including drugless plasmids containing a heterologous gene. The invention also provides formulations and/or compositions comprising the drugless plasmids comprising a heterologous gene, formulations and/or compositions comprising a protein or an immunogen expressed using the drugless plasmids, and methods of administering such formulations and/or compositions to a host. The invention relates to gram negative bacteria containing the drugless plasmids. |
| US09217149B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer
The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer, comprising at least one selected from deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) for encoding small interfering RNA (siRNA) which complementarily binds to the base sequence of the transcript (mRNA transcript) of the FLJ25416 gene, represented by sequence number 3, sequence number 5, and sequence number 7 to inhibit the intracellular expression of the FLJ25416 gene, antisense RNA which inhibits expression of the FLJ25416 gene, and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) which inhibits expression of the FLJ25416 gene. As the siRNA, which is complementary to the base sequence of the transcript (mRNA transcript) of the FLJ25416 gene, the antisense RNA, and the shRNA, according to the present invention, inhibit expression of the FLJ25416 gene which is known to be expressed in cancer cells, and thus kill cancer cells, the composition of the present invention can be used as a novel anti-cancer agent. |
| US09217147B2 |
Spinal muscular atrophy treatment via targeting SMN2 catalytic core
The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for blocking the effect of the intronic inhibitory splicing region of intron 7 of the SMN2 gene. The compositions and methods of the instant invention include short oligonucleotide reagents (e.g., oligoribonucleotides) that effectively target sites in the SMN2 pre-mRNA, thereby modulating the splicing of SMN2 pre-mRNA to include exon 7 in the processed transcript. The short target regions are 8-mers and 5-mers and also include the identification of a single nucleotide base that is essential for initiating a long distance stearic inhibitory interactions as well as novel targets distant from intron 7 which block the intronic inhibitory splicing of the same. These short target regions and concomitant inhibitory blocking oligonucleotides are less expensive and easier to manufacture and are small enough to cross the blood brain barrier. |
| US09217143B2 |
Polynucleotide capture materials, and methods of using same
Disclosed are methods for isolating polynucleotides (e.g., RNA and DNA) from a cell-containing sample. The disclosed methods employ polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer molecules bound to the surface of binding particles to capture and isolate the polynucleotides from the samples. The polynucleotides are released from the binding particles by contacting the binding particles with a release solution having a basic pH. |
| US09217142B2 |
Culture method and culture device for culturing cells adhered onto an electrode layer
There is provided a culture method and a culture device for efficiently producing cells and/or cell tissue suitable for medication applications. The culture method may include a first step of adhering the cells onto the electrode layer and culturing the cells thereon. The electrode layer may be coated with an oligopeptide including a terminal amino acid, a cell adhesive sequence, and an alternating sequence to be bound to the one end side of the cell-adhesive sequence. The alternating sequence may include a plurality of acidic amino acids and a plurality of basic amino acids that are alternately bound to each other one by one. The culture method may include a second step of applying, to the electrode layer having the cells adhered thereonto, an electrical potential inducing reductive desorption of the oligopeptide, to thereby detach the cells from the electrode layer. |
| US09217140B2 |
Fungal strain Beauveria sp. MTCC 5184 and a process for the preparation of enzymes therefrom
A fungal strain Beauveria species bearing accession number MTCC 5184 is disclosed. The process for the preparation of an enzyme mix including at least one enzyme selected from, but not limited to protease, carbohydrase, and lipase from the disclosed Beauveria species and uses of the enzyme mix in various areas also disclosed. |
| US09217134B1 |
Aptamer drug for detoxification of Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin
Aptamers and methods of use thereof are presented for the treatment or diagnosis of Staphylococcus aureus infection. The aptamers binds to and capable of neutralization of Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin. |
| US09217125B2 |
Organic cleaning composition
Organic cleaner/detergent compositions, formulations and solutions, and methods of cleaning using such compositions, formulations and solutions and manufacturing such compositions, formulations and solutions are disclosed. More particularly, compositions; formulations and solutions used for the cleaning and/or cleansing of a variety of industrial, domestic and/or communal hard surfaces, fiber/soft surfaces, including all natural, organic, synthetic and blended fibers, and organic surfaces, including, but not limited to, human skin and hair and animal skin and hair are disclosed. Such compositions, formulations and solutions are useful as laundry detergents, automatic dishwasher detergents, hard surface cleaners, hand soaps, human shampoos, and animal shampoos. |
| US09217119B2 |
Extraction of lipids from living cells utilizing liquid CO2
A process for the extraction of lipids from living cells utilizing liquid carbon dioxide optionally in the presence of a porous inorganic matrix or polymer coating as well as additional solvents to improve extraction efficiency. The cells may also optionally be treated a photosensitive material to promote cellular photosynthesis. |
| US09217111B2 |
Process for converting a solid biomass material
A process for converting a solid biomass material by contacting the solid biomass material with a catalytic cracking catalyst at a temperature of more than 400° C. in a riser reactor to produce one or more cracked products is provided, wherein the riser reactor is an internal riser reactor. |
| US09217102B2 |
Amide branched aromatic gelling agents
A downhole fluid comprises a base fluid, for example a hydrocarbon base fluid, and a gelling agent. The gelling agent has an aromatic core of one or more aromatic rings, the gelling agent having two or more amide branches distributed about the aromatic core, each of the two or more amide branches having one or more organic groups. An example gelling agent is a pyromellitamide gelling agent. The pyromellitamide gelling agent may have the general formula of: with R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 each being a hydrogen or an organic group. Methods of use and composition are discussed. |
| US09217095B2 |
Organic-inorganic complex, and composition for forming same
The organic-inorganic complex of the present invention is made using an organic-inorganic complex-forming composition containing the following components a) to c): a) at least one organic silicon compound represented by the formula (I) RnSiX4-n and in which a molar ratio of an organic silicon compound in which a solubility parameter of R (SP1) obtained by a Fedors' estimation method is smaller than a solubility parameter of an electromagnetic ray-curable compound (SP2) obtained by the Fedors' estimation method and a difference between the SP1 and the SP2 is 2.0 or more (Si1) to an organic silicon compound in which SP1 is smaller than SP2 and a difference between the SP1 and the SP2 is less than 2.0 or an organic silicon compound in which SP1 is larger than SP2 (Si2) (Si1:Si2) is within the range of 8:2 to 10:0, and/or a condensate of the organic silicon compound; b) an electromagnetic ray-curable compound; and c) metal compound particles. |
| US09217093B1 |
Palladium ink compositions
An ink includes a palladium salt, an organic amine that forms a palladium complex from the palladium salt, and, at least one solvent, the solvent has a boiling point at about the decomposition temperature of the palladium complex. |
| US09217092B2 |
Inkjet recording method, inkjet recording device, and ink recorded matter
An inkjet recording method, containing: applying a stimulus to an inkjet recording ink to jet the ink, to form an image on a recording medium, wherein the ink contains water, a water-soluble organic solvent, a colorant, and a surfactant, and has a predetermined surface life time as measured by a maximum bubble pressure method and a predetermined static surface tension, wherein the recording medium contains a support, and a recording layer provided at least one surface of the support, where the recording layer contains a cationic resin in a predetermined amount, and is a medium for a concealing postcard where the recording medium is folded to bond a surface of the recording layer to face each other with an adhesive after information is recorded on the surface of the recording layer, in which the surface of the recording layer has a predetermined 10-sec Cobb size degree. |
| US09217091B2 |
Inkjet recording ink and ink cartridge using the ink, inkjet recording apparatus, inkjet recording method and ink recorded matter
An inkjet recording ink, including: water; a water-soluble solvent; a pigment; and a phosphate group-containing copolymer, wherein the phosphate group-containing copolymer includes a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1) and a structural unit represented by the following structural formula (1): wherein, in the general formula (1), R1 represents either of a hydrogen atom and a methyl group; and M+ represents any of an alkali metal ion, an organic ammonium ion, an organic amine ion and a hydrogen ion, one-half or more of the M+ in the copolymer is an alkali metal ion, an organic ammonium ion or an organic amine, and the remainder is a hydrogen ion: |
| US09217089B2 |
Ink for inkjet recording
An ink for inkjet recording includes water; a hydrosoluble solvent, a pigment, and a copolymer including a salt of a diphosphonic acid group. The copolymer including a salt of a diphosphonic acid group includes structural units having the following formulae (1) and (2): X represents an alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, each of R1 and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, M+ represents an alkali metal ion, an organic ammonium ion or a proton and Z1 represents a hydrocarbon group having 6 to 22 carbon atoms. The alkali metal ion or the organic ammonium ion and the proton may be mixed, and half or more of the M+ are alkali metal ions or the organic ammonium ions. |
| US09217087B2 |
Corrosion inhibitors
A corrosion inhibitor composition for use in coating compositions on metal surfaces, or in metal containers, to provide corrosion resistance to said metals. The corrosion inhibitor comprises at least one alkoxylated phosphate ester; and at least one borate ester. The corrosion inhibitor composition optionally comprises at least one inorganic metal salt. There is also provided an end-use coating composition comprising said corrosion inhibitor composition, and a method of providing corrosion resistance to a metal surface by applying said coating composition thereto. |
| US09217084B2 |
Constrained microlayer cellular material with high stiffness and damping
Composite materials with high damping and high stiffness at relatively low density. These materials include three-dimensional structures of interconnected ligaments, which have multiple concentric layers alternating between stiff constraining layers and soft damping layers, so that bulk deformation of the structure results in high local shear strain and correspondingly high bulk damping. |
| US09217080B2 |
Microcapsules
The present invention concerns microcapsules comprising a capsule core and a capsule wall, the capsule wall being constructed from 30% to 90% by weightof one or more C1-C24-alkyl esters of acrylic and/ or methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and/or maleic acid (monomers I), 10% to 70% by weightof a mixture of divinyl and polyvinyl monomers (monomers II), the fraction of polyvinyl monomers being in the range from 2% to 90% by weight based on the monomers II, and also 0% to 30% by weightof one or more miscellaneous monomers (monomer III), all based on the total weight of the monomers, a process for their production and their use in textiles, bindered building materials and heat transfer fluids. |
| US09217077B2 |
Sulfur-crosslinkable rubberizing mixture
A sulfur-crosslinkable rubberizing mixture for strengthening elements in motor vehicle pneumatic tires comprises 70 to 100 phr (parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of total rubbers in the mixture) of natural rubber, up to 30 phr of at least one polybutadiene, 40 to 70 phr of at least one carbon black and a bonding system. Further, motor vehicle pneumatic tires are disclosed that comprise the sulfur-crosslinked rubberizing mixture. The key conflict between tear propagation resistance, stiffness and heat build-up is solved by virtue of the carbon black being a nanostructured carbon black with a rough surface. |
| US09217074B2 |
Moldings based on reaction products of polyols and isocyanates
Molding compositions are provided that include a) one or more polyisocyanates, b) one or more polyols, c) one or more catalysts catalyzing the reaction between polyisocyanate and polyol, d) one or more pyrogenically produced oxides of a metal or of a metalloid, and e) at least one or more siloxanes. |
| US09217071B2 |
Fluorescent compound, method for producing the same, and fluorescent resin composition
The present invention provides a fluorescent compound represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 to R4 each independently represent a substituent selected from a linear, branched or cyclic monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryloxy group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, halogen atom, hydrogen atom, amino group, cyano group, amine-containing group, and siloxane-containing group; with the proviso that when an amine-containing group as the substituent is not included, at least one of R1 to R4 is a siloxane-containing group represented by Sx-A-, and that when an amine-containing group as the substituent is included, at least one of R1 to R4 and a substituent of the amine-containing group is a siloxane-containing group represented by Sx-A-; a method of producing the same; and a fluorescent resin composition containing the same. |
| US09217070B2 |
Black colorant mixture
A black colorant mixture comprising a bis-oxodihydro-indolylene-benzodifuranone colorant and a perylene colorant is disclosed which provides high blackness and NIR transparency combined with low conductivity for organic coating films used in display devices. Especially, a black matrix for color filter applications and black column spacers are described used in LCD devices. Further, the black colorant mixture can be used in bezels of a display device equipped with a touch sensor. |
| US09217068B2 |
Alkaline earth metal aluminate spinels and methods for the preparation and use thereof
High surface area alkaline earth aluminate spinel materials are disclosed, together with methods for the preparation thereof from one or more alkaline earth metal salts and a water soluble non-ionic polymer. A nanocrystalline alkaline earth metal aluminate spinel prepared according to the method is also provided. |
| US09217065B2 |
Binder compositions for making fiberglass products
Fiberglass mats, binder compositions, and methods for making the same are provided. The fiberglass mat can include a plurality of glass fibers and an at least partially cured binder composition. The binder composition, prior to at least partial curing, can include a first copolymer modified by reaction with one or more base compounds. The first copolymer can include one or more unsaturated carboxylic acids, one or more unsaturated carboxylic anhydrides, or a combination thereof, and one or more vinyl aromatic derived units. The first copolymer can have a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 500 to about 200,000. The first copolymer can be present in an amount ranging from about 60 wt % to about 95 wt %, based on a combined weight of the first copolymer and the one or more base compounds. |
| US09217063B2 |
Conjugated polymer compound
A conjugated polymer compound is disclosed. The conjugated polymer compound includes a conjugated polymeric main chain; and a porphyrin compound having absorption in a blue light region of solar radiation, and is bonded to the polymeric main chain to form a side chain on the polymeric main chain. |
| US09217059B2 |
Method for preparing a composition comprising perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently and highly selectively preparing a composition comprising a perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal at a higher ratio. The present invention provides a method for increasing a ratio of a perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal, relative to a total amount of the perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal and a perfluoropolyether having carboxyl groups at both terminals in a composition comprising these perfluoropolyethers, wherein the method comprises a step of subjecting the composition to chromatography in which a moving phase is supercritical or subcritical state carbon dioxide of the specific temperature and the specific pressure, and a stationary phase is silica gel to thereby collect a fraction containing the perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal at a higher ratio. Further, present invention provides for increasing a ratio of a perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal, relative to a total amount of the perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal, a perfluoropolyether having carboxyl groups at both terminals and a perfluoropolyether having no carboxyl group at any terminal perfluoropolyether, in a composition comprising these perfluoropolyethers, wherein the method comprises a step of subjecting the composition to chromatography in which a moving phase is supercritical or subcritical state carbon dioxide of the specific temperature and the specific pressure, and a stationary phase is silica gel to thereby collect a fraction containing the perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal at a higher ratio. |
| US09217054B2 |
Process for production of di- and polyamines of the diphenylmethane series
Process for the production of di- and poly(diamino diphenyl methane) comprising the steps of (a) reacting aniline and formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce a reaction mixture containing di- and polyamines; (b) neutralizing the reaction mixture containing di- and polyamines; (c) separating the neutralized reaction mixture into an organic phase containing di- and polyamines and an aqueous phase; (d) further treating the organic phase separated off in step (c) by (d1) washing with water followed by (d2) separating the washed mixture into an organic phase and an aqueous phase and (d3) further fractionation of the organic phase to produce purified di- and polyamines on the one hand and aniline/water on the other hand; (e) further treating the aqueous phase separated off in step (c) by (e1) washing with aniline followed by (e2) separating the washed mixture into an aqueous phase and an organic phase and (e3) further treatment of the aqueous phase to remove the aniline thereby leaving an effluent stream wherein phase separation in step (c) and/or step (e2) is facilitated by using any of the following methods either on its own or in combination with one or more of the other methods: (A) removal of some of the water from the neutralized reaction mixture obtained in step (b) or the aqueous phase separated in step (c); (B) addition of inorganic salt to the neutralized reaction mixture obtained in step (b) or the aqueous phase separated in step (c); (C) return of some of the aqueous phase obtained in step (e2) or (e3) to the neutralized reaction mixture obtained in step (b) or to the washed mixture in step (e1). |
| US09217053B2 |
Active ester resin, thermosetting resin composition, cured product of same, semiconductor encapsulation material, prepreg, circuit board, and build-up film
A cured product exhibits good heat resistance and flame retardancy as well as low dielectric constant and low loss tangent. A phosphorus-containing compound (i) obtained by a reaction between an aromatic aldehyde (a1) having an alkoxy group as a substituent on a nucleus and an organic phosphorus compound (a2) having a P—H group or a P—OH group in a molecular structure is reacted with a phenolic substance (a3) to obtain a phosphorus-containing phenolic substance (A1). Then the phosphorus-containing phenolic substance (A1) is reacted with an aromatic dicarboxylic acid or an anhydride or dihalide of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid or a C2-6 saturated dicarboxylic acid or an anhydride or dihalide of a C2-6 saturated dicarboxylic acid (A2) so that all or some of hydroxyl groups of the phenolic substance (A1) form ester bonds. |
| US09217050B2 |
Crosslinkable composition comprising photobase generators
The present disclosure provides an crosslinkable composition comprising a (meth)acrylate copolymer component having pendant photobase functional groups and a crosslinking agent that has amine-reactive functional groups. On exposure to light, the pendant photobase group photolyzes to provide a pendant amine group, that crosslinks the copolymer. |
| US09217048B2 |
Stimulus responsive polymers for the purification of biomolecules
The present invention provides novel and improved stimulus responsive polymers and methods of using the same for the purification of biomolecules. |
| US09217046B1 |
Methods for preparing stable urea formaldehyde polyvinyl alcohol colloids
The mechanical properties of urea formaldehyde resins may be improved by incorporating therein polyvinyl alcohol. The polyvinyl alcohol may be incorporated during pre-mixing, mid mixing, and/or post mixing of the resin components. Resins prepared using polyvinyl alcohol are particularly desirable in articles requiring improved mechanical strength and water resistance, as compared to similar resins prepared without the polyvinyl alcohol such as shingles. |
| US09217043B2 |
Process for producing solid cellulose and process for producing cellulose ester
Provided is a process for obtaining solid cellulose, such as a cellulose solidified article or cellulose shaped article, from a cellulose solution without causing discharge of large amounts of waste liquids and environmental issues such as large energy consumption. The process produces solid cellulose through the steps of (A) dissolving cellulose in a solvent (s1) to give a cellulose solution, where the solvent (s1) includes at least one onium hydroxide in a content of from 45 to 85 percent by weight and water in a content of from 15 to 55 percent by weight, and the at least one onium hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of quaternary phosphonium hydroxides and quaternary ammonium hydroxides; (B) bringing the cellulose solution into contact with a poor solvent (s2) to precipitate cellulose as a cellulose solidified article; and (C) separating and collecting the cellulose solidified article. |
| US09217042B2 |
Method of reducing MACE in diabetic patients subsequent to stent placement
This invention relates to the use of dual variable domain antibodies to locate naturally-occurring beneficial agents or therapeutic agents at a region of stent implantation in diabetic patients who have undergone stent implantation. |
| US09217036B2 |
Prion protein as a receptor for amyloid-β oligomers
The invention provides methods of inhibiting suppression of long term potentiation, improving acute memory retention and spatial memory performance and treating Alzheimer's disease by administration of a PrPc antagonist or combinations thereof. Additionally, this invention provides pharmaceutical kits comprising, and methods for making and using, such combinations, as well as methods of identifying molecules that could function as PrPc antagonists. |
| US09217035B2 |
Regulatory T cell mediator proteins and uses thereof
The present invention relates to novel regulatory T cell proteins. One protein, designated PD-L3, resembles members of the PD-L1 family, and co-stimulates αCD3 proliferation of T cells in vitro. A second, TNF-like, protein has also been identified as being upregulated upon αCD3/αGITR stimulation. This protein has been designated Treg-sTNF. Proteins, antibodies, activated T cells and methods for using the same are disclosed.In particular methods of using these proteins and compounds, preferably antibodies, which bind or modulate (agonize or antagonize) the activity of these proteins, as immune modulators and for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disease, allergy, infection and inflammatory conditions, e.g. multiple sclerosis is disclosed. |
| US09217034B2 |
Anti-PD1 antibodies and their use as therapeutics and diagnostics
Provided are antibodies that specifically bind to Programmed Death-1 (PD1, Pdcd-1, or CD279) and inhibit PD1-mediated cellular signaling and activities in immune cells, antibodies binding to a set of amino acid residues required for its ligand binding, and uses of these antibodies to treat or diagnose cancer, infectious diseases or other pathological disorders modulated by PD1-mediated functions. |
| US09217031B2 |
Humanized anti-IL-20 antibody and uses thereof
The present disclosure provides humanized antibodies specific to human interleukin 20 (IL-20) and uses thereof in treating diseases associated with the IL-20 signaling pathway, e.g., osteoporosis, inflammatory disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), cancer, stroke, and renal failure. |
| US09217030B2 |
Humanized antibodies that recognize alpha-synuclein
The present application discloses humanized 1H7 antibodies. The antibodies bind to human alpha synuclein and can be used for treatment and diagnosis of Lewy body disease. |
| US09217029B2 |
Antibodies against clostridium difficile toxins and uses thereof
Antibodies that specifically bind to toxins of C. difficile, antigen binding portions thereof, and methods of making and using the antibodies and antigen binding portions thereof are provided herein. |
| US09217028B2 |
Human cytomegalovirus neutralising antibodies and use thereof
The invention relates to neutralizing antibodies and antibody fragments having high potency in neutralizing hCMV, wherein said antibodies and antibody fragments are specific for a combination of hCMV proteins UL130 and UL131A, or for a combination of hCMV proteins UL128, UL130 and UL131A. The invention relates also to immortalized B cells that produce, and to epitopes that bind to, such antibodies and antibody fragments. In addition, the invention relates to the use of the antibodies, antibody fragments, and epitopes in screening methods as well as in the diagnosis and therapy of disease. |
| US09217023B2 |
Alpha- and gamma-MSH analogues
The present invention provides peptide analogues of α-MSH and γ-MSH, comprising the amino acid sequence of human α-MSH or γ-MSH, or variants thereof, and having a branched amino acid probe in the N-terminal part of the peptide. |
| US09217020B2 |
Constructs for enhancement of gene expression in muscle
Efficient and muscle-specific gene expression can be obtained with constructs containing two or more copies of USE and/or ΔUSE fused to the minimal promoter of the TnISlow gene. USE is a small (about 160-bp) upstream enhancer of the TnISlow gene that confers slow-twitch muscle fiber specificity. ΔUSE is generated from a 100-bp deletion at the 5′ end of USE. ΔUSE confers expression in slow- and fast-twitch muscle fibers. The strength and relatively small size (less than 600-bp) of these constructs make them useful for gene therapy applications. |
| US09217018B2 |
HSP70 fusion protein conjugates and uses thereof
The present invention relates to novel therapies that utilize HSP70 fusion proteins for the treatment of disorders or conditions regulated by HSP70. |
| US09217014B2 |
Antifungal agents and uses thereof
The invention features echinocandin class compounds. The compounds can be useful for the treatment of fungal infections. |
| US09217012B2 |
Inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatases
Disclosed herein are compounds that selectively inhibit members of the PTP family of enzymes. Synthesized compounds demonstrated selective inhibition of TC-PTP. Also provided are methods of using the compounds and formulations containing the compounds. Also described is a fluorescence-tagged combinatorial library synthesis and screening method. And methods of using these compounds to effect enzyme activity both in cells and in vitro as well as method of using these compounds to treat diseases in human and animals. |
| US09217004B2 |
Organic light emitting materials
Novel phosphorescent metal complexes containing 2-phenylquinoline ligands with at least two substituents on the quinoline ring are provided. The disclosed compounds have low sublimation temperatures that allow for ease of purification and fabrication into a variety of OLED devices. |
| US09216994B2 |
Process for preparing benzo[1,2-b;4,5-b′]dithiophene-4,8-dicarboxylic acid or its 2,3-dihydro derivative
The invention relates to a process for preparing benzo[1,2-b;4,5-b′]dithiophene-4,8-dicarboxylic acid or its 2,3-dihydro derivative, and to novel products prepared by this process. |
| US09216993B2 |
Compositions comprising thienopyrimidine and thienopyridine compounds and methods of use thereof
The present disclosure relates generally to thienopyrimidine and thienopyridine compounds and methods of use thereof. In particular embodiments, the present disclosure provides compositions comprising thienopyrimidine and thienopyridine compounds of Formula 4: and methods of use to inhibit the interaction of menin with MLL1, MLL2 and MLL-fusion oncoproteins. |
| US09216984B2 |
3-[4-(7H-pyrrolo[2,3-D]pyrimidin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]octane—or heptane-nitrile as JAK inhibitors
The present invention relates to the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors 3-[4-(7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]octanenitrile or 3-[4-(7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]heptanenitrile, as well as its compositions and methods of use, which is useful in the treatment of JAK-associated diseases including, for example, inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, skin disorders, cancer, and other diseases. |
| US09216979B2 |
Antimicrobial compounds and methods of making and using the same
The present invention relates generally to the field of antimicrobial compounds and to methods of making and using them. These compounds are useful for treating, preventing, and reducing the risk of microbial infections in humans and animals. |
| US09216978B2 |
Ring-fused pyrimidines and triazines and use thereof for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of cardiovascular diseases
The present application relates to novel fused pyrimidines and triazines, to processes for their preparation, to their use alone or in combinations for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases and to their use for preparing medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of cardiovascular disorders. |
| US09216975B2 |
TRPV1 vanilloid receptor antagonists with a bicyclic portion
The invention discloses compounds of formula I wherein Y is a group of formula A, B, C, D, or E: and W, Q, n, R1, R2, R3, U1-U5, J and K have the meanings given in the description. The compounds of formula I are TRPV1 antagonists and are useful as active ingredients of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of pain and other conditions ameliorated by the inhibition of the vanilloid receptor TRPV1. |
| US09216972B2 |
Tricyclic heterocyclic compounds
Disclosed are compounds of Formula (I) or stereoisomers or salts thereof, wherein: X1, X2, X3, W, Q1, Q2, and G2 are defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of using such compounds as selective agonists for G protein-coupled receptor S1P1, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. These compounds are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases or disorders in a variety of therapeutic areas, such as autoimmune diseases and vascular disease. |
| US09216968B2 |
Heterocyclic derivative and pharmaceutical drug
The present invention provides a novel heterocyclic derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. For example, the present invention provides a heterocyclic derivative of the general formula [1] or its tautomer, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different aromatic rings, etc., and ring A is a heterocyclic ring. The compound of the invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof has potent mPGES-1 inhibiting activity and is useful as an agent for the treatment or prevention of a disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, temporomandibular joint disorders, low back pain, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea, overactive bladder, malignant tumors or neurodegenerative disease. |
| US09216965B2 |
Amino-quinolines as kinase inhibitors
Disclosed are compounds having the formula: wherein R1, R2R3, R4 and R5 are as defined herein, and methods of making and using the same. |
| US09216963B2 |
Pyrazine derivatives with extended conjugation and methods of using the same in optical applications
The present invention relates to pyrazine derivatives capable of absorbing and emanating spectral energy in the visible and/or near infrared spectrum. Pyrazine derivatives of the invention may be administered to a patient in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable composition and utilized in medical (e.g., diagnostic imaging) procedures. |
| US09216961B2 |
Deuterated 1-piperazino-3-phenyl indanes for treatment of schizophrenia
The present invention relates to deuterated 1-piperazino-3-phenyl-indanes and salts thereof with activity at dopamine receptors D1 and D2 as well as the 5HT2 receptors in the central nervous system, to medicaments comprising such compounds as active ingredients, to the use of such compounds in the treatment of diseases in the central nervous system, and to methods of treatment comprising administration of such compounds. |
| US09216960B2 |
Spiro[2.4]heptanes for treatment of Flaviviridae infections
Compounds, methods, and compositions for the treatment of infections in or exposure to humans and other host animals of Flaviviridae viruses, including HCV, that includes the administration of an effective amount of a spiro[2.4]heptane as described herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, are provided. The spiro[2.4]heptane compounds either possess antiviral activity, or are metabolized to a compound that exhibits such activity. |
| US09216958B2 |
2,6-dihalo-5-alkoxy-4-substituted-pyrimidines, pyrimidine-carbaldehydes, and methods of formation and use
2,6-Dihalo-5-alkoxy-4-substituted-pyrimidines, 2,6-dihalo-5-alkoxy-4-pyrimdine carbaldehydes, and derivatives of each are useful intermediates in forming potent herbicides that demonstrate a broad spectrum of weed control. These compounds are disclosed, as are methods of forming and using these compounds. |
| US09216954B2 |
Serine racemase inhibitor
A novel serine racemase inhibitor exhibits sufficient activity and specificity. The serine racemase inhibitor includes one or more compounds selected from compounds respectively represented by the following general formulas [MM_1], [DR_1], [DR′_1], [LW_1], and [ED_1] as an active ingredient. |
| US09216952B2 |
Process for preparing antiviral compound
This invention is directed to: (a) processes for preparing a compound and salts thereof that, inter alia, are useful for inhibiting hepatitis C virus (HCV); (b) intermediates useful for the preparation of the compound and salts; (c) pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound or salts; and (d) methods of use of such compositions. |
| US09216946B2 |
Method of producing basic amino acid or basic amino acid salt
[Problem] It is to provide a method of producing basic amino acid or basic amino acid salt suitable for each use for medicine, industrial use, feed, food additive and the like, by a simple method to remove HCl from HCl salt of basic amino acid efficiently.[Solving Means]The above problem is solved by a method of producing a basic amino acid or a basic amino acid salt which comprises allowing to coexist a weak acid in a basic amino acid HCl salt solution, when the solution is dechlorinated using an anion-exchange resin. |
| US09216945B2 |
Methods of synthesizing 2-substituted-1,4-benzenediamine
Disclosed is a method of making a 2-substituted-1,4-benzenediamine by nucleophilic aromatic substitution. |
| US09216944B2 |
Process for the production of choline hydroxide
A continuous process for the production of choline hydroxide includes reacting ethylene oxide, trimethylamine, and water in a reaction zone to form a reaction mixture and extracting heat from the reaction mixture. Subsequently, phase separation of the reaction mixture is induced to obtain a choline hydroxide phase and an organic liquid phase comprising trimethylamine. A choline hydroxide solution (e.g., at a concentration of about 40% to 50% by weight, based on total weight of the choline hydroxide solution) is obtained from the choline hydroxide phase. |
| US09216937B2 |
Water concentration reduction process
The present disclosure relates generally to water concentration reduction processes within an adipic acid process. The present invention also includes process for converting a glucose-containing feed derived from a carbohydrate source to an adipic acid product wherein the process includes the steps of: converting glucose in the feed to a reaction product including a hydrodeoxygenation substrate and a first concentration of water; reducing the concentration of water in the reaction product to produce a feedstock including the hydrodeoxygenation substrate and second concentration of water, wherein the second concentration of water is less than the first concentration of water; and converting at least a portion of the hydrodeoxygenation substrate in the feedstock to an adipic acid product. Processes are also disclosed for producing hexamethylene diamine and caprolactam from the adipic acid product. |
| US09216936B2 |
Process for recovering halogen promoters and removing permanganate reducing compounds
This invention relates to processes for producing acetic acid and, in particular, to improved processes for recovering C2+ alkyl halides and removing permanganate reducing compounds formed during the carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a Group VIII metal carbonylation catalyst to produce acetic acid. |
| US09216934B1 |
System and method for pH control of lean MEG product from MEG regeneration and reclamation packages
A lean MEG stream having a first pH level is contacted with a CO2-rich gas stream to yield a lean MEG product having a second different and lower pH level preferably in a range of 6.5 to 7.0. The system and method can be readily incorporated into a slipstream MEG recovery package, with a source of the lean MEG stream being a MEG regeneration section of the package. The CO2-rich gas could be a vented CO2 stream from the MEG reclamation section of the package. Unlike hydrochloric and acetic acid overdosing, CO2 overdosing of the lean MEG stream does not lead to rapid acidification of the lean MEG product to be stored or injected. |
| US09216930B2 |
Continuous process for manufacturing a neutral granular P/K fertilizer
The invention provides a continuous process for manufacturing an essentially neutral phosphorus/potassium rich fertilizer from basic chemical commodities. The fertilizer is a freely-flowing particulate solid. |
| US09216926B2 |
Synthetic formulations and methods of manufacturing and using thereof
A method for producing a reaction product including at least one synthetic formulation that carbonates sufficiently, said method comprising: providing a first raw material, having a first concentration of M; providing a second raw material, having a second concentration of Me; and mixing the first raw material and the second raw material to produce a reaction product that includes at least one synthetic formulation having the general formula MaMebOc, MaMeb(OH)d, MaMebOc(OH)d or MaMebO(OH)d•(H2O)e, wherein M comprises at least one metal that can react to form a carbonate and Me is at least one element that can form an oxide during the carbonation reaction, wherein the at least one synthetic formulation is capable of undergoing a carbonation reaction, and wherein the at least one synthetic formulation is capable of undergoing volume change during the carbonation reaction. |
| US09216922B2 |
Granules and method for their production, method for producing molten glass, and method for producing glass product
Granules of a glass raw material mixture, for producing alkali-free glass containing substantially no alkali metal oxides, such that the glass composition of glass obtained from the granules comprises, as represented by mol % based on oxides, 60-75 mol % of SiO2, 5-15 mol % of Al2O3, 1-9 mol % of B2O3, 0-15 mol % of MgO, 0-20 mol % of CaO, 0-12 mol % of SrO and 0-21 mol % of BaO, provided that the total of CaO, SrO and BaO is more than 0, and in an X-ray diffraction spectrum of the granules obtained by means of a CuKα ray, when the diffraction peak area of quartz (100) in a range of 2θ being 19.85-21.71 degrees is taken as 1, the total of the relative values of the diffraction peak areas of strontium borate hydrate, calcium borate hydrate and barium borate hydrate, is at least 0.005. |
| US09216919B2 |
Microbial electrolysis cells and methods for the production of chemical products
A microbial electrolysis cell having a brush anode is described. A method of producing products, such as hydrogen, at the cathode of the microbial electrolysis cell is also provided. The microbial electrolysis cell is configured in a cylindrical shape having an anode, cathode and anion exchange membrane all disposed concentrically. A brush anode spirally wound around the outside of the cylindrical microbial electrolysis cell is described. The method may include sparging the anode and/or cathode with air in some cases. In addition, CO2-containing gas may be injected into a cathode chamber to reduce pH is some cases. |
| US09216918B2 |
Self-cleaning electro-reaction unit for wastewater treatment and related process
The present invention relates to the treatment of wastewater by electrochemical reactions. More particularly, an Electro-Reaction Unit (ERU) is disclosed. The ERU is provided with at least one electrolytic cell comprising a pair of self-cleaned electrodes for purifying wastewater. Along with electro-reactions, electrodes of the ERU are submitted to passivation, i.e. coverage with an oxide layer. The present invention provides a solution for alleviating passivation with a self-cleaning system comprising hard elements, confined in a cage and movable therein, for bombardment of the electrodes and rupture of the oxide layer. The present invention further provides a related process. |
| US09216917B2 |
Recovery of retrograde soluble solute for forward osmosis water treatment
Improved systems and processes for forward osmosis water purification or desalination are herein disclosed. According to one embodiment a process for purifying contaminated water is provided wherein a contaminated feed solution stream comprising water and with a first osmotic pressure is passed through a semipermeable membrane to a draw side having a draw solution stream with a second osmotic pressure on a draw side of the semipermeable membrane. The diluted draw solution stream is heated, agglomerated and cooled to produce a cooled single phase water rich stream that is purified to produce a water product stream. |
| US09216914B2 |
Water filter device and refrigerator having the same
A refrigerator includes a cabinet to define an outer appearance of the refrigerator and having a storage chamber therein; and a water filter device installed in the storage chamber, to purify water supplied from an external water supply source. The water filter device includes a filter unit to purify the water supplied from the water supply source, a storage tank unit to store the water purified through the filter unit, a case to accommodate the filter unit and the storage tank unit, a filter head assembly, and a water filter assembly separably coupled to the filter head assembly. |
| US09216910B2 |
Stable complexes of multiple zero-valent metals and hydride as novel reagents
A composition and its method of production are provided. The composition includes at least one zero-valent metal atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. In some instances, the composition includes a first zero-valent metal atom and a second zero-valent metal atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling an elemental metal in a high-surface area form, with a hydride. The composition can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of zero-valent metal alloy nanoparticles. |
| US09216908B2 |
Method for making strip shaped graphene layer
A method for making a strip shaped graphene layer includes the following steps. First, a graphene film is located on a surface of a substrate is provided. Second, a carbon nanotube structure is disposed on the graphene film. The carbon nanotube structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotube segments and a number of strip-shaped gaps between the adjacent carbon nanotube segments. Third, the graphene film exposed by the strip-shaped gaps is removed by applying a voltage to the carbon nanotube segments and heating the substrate. |
| US09216898B2 |
Chip package and method for forming the same
An embodiment of the invention provides a chip package which includes: a first substrate; a second substrate disposed on the first substrate, wherein the second substrate has at least one opening penetrating through the second substrate, and the at least one opening defines a plurality of conducting regions electrically insulated from each other in the second substrate; a carrier substrate disposed on the second substrate; an insulating layer disposed on a surface and a sidewall of the carrier substrate, wherein the insulating layer fills the at least one opening of the second substrate; and a conducting layer disposed on the insulating layer on the carrier substrate and electrically contacting with one of the conducting regions. |
| US09216887B2 |
Efficiently and easily opening and closing a canister valve
The present disclosure relates to a canister connection apparatus designed to efficiently and easily connect a pressurized canister to an external system. |
| US09216886B2 |
Refuelling stand
A refuelling stand that is lightweight and easily portable which includes a funnel; a support for the funnel, which is optionally collapsible, and a conduit which is removably attached to the end of the funnel. The conduit can he made of flexible material which may be rolled up for storage alongside the support or may be formed of inflexible tubing. The refuelling stand may also include at least one stabilizing dement. The refuelling stand is designed to be a free-standing apparatus which is not intended to be permanently or semi-permanently affixed. In addition, the refuelling stand can be entirely disassembled in the form of a kit which further includes instructions for use. The refuelling funnel stand is designed to be suitable for delivering fuel from a hand-held fuel can into the fuel tanks of, for example, watercraft, lawnmowers, snowblowers and the like. |
| US09216884B2 |
Narrow aisle load handler and material handling vehicle including a narrow aisle load handler
A material handling vehicle includes a vehicle body with a vertically extendible mast fixed to the vehicle body. A fork support is fixed relative to the mast and has a first side and a second side. The first side faces away from the second side. A first fork is mounted to the fork support and is movable between a first fork stored position and a first fork working position. In the first fork working position, the first fork extends substantially perpendicularly from the first side of the fork support. A second fork is mounted to the fork support and is movable between a second fork stored position and a second fork working position. In the second fork working position, the second fork extends substantially perpendicularly from the second side of the fork support. |
| US09216882B2 |
Battery powered work machine, and battery powered forklift
A heat sink includes a first part on which a control device is attached, a second part on which an electronic component is attached and that is arranged to be opposite to the first part, and plural air passages provided between the first part and the second part for allowing air to pass. Plural plate-like members are arranged between the first part and the second part, and the air passage is formed by a space enclosed by the first part, the adjacent partition member, and the second part. |
| US09216880B2 |
Header system
Header assemblies generally used to handle yarns, for example, to facilitate connection of yarns feeding into a tufting machine or other device. In some embodiments, the improved header assembly includes at least a detachable header and a collector plate. The improved header assembly simplifies the process of loading yarn through a detachable header by positioning the detachable header so that it abuts the collectable plate so that individual yarns can be blown through the collector plate through the appropriate holes in the detachable header. In some embodiments, the header assemblies are configured for use with varying gauges, different alignment requirements, different devices, and/or to otherwise be more universal in nature. |
| US09216871B2 |
Method for register correction in a web processing machine having a delay section
A method for register correction in a web processing machine includes leading a product web through at least one delay section and processing the product web by a first processing device. An actuating command is applied to the first processing device to position the product web at an intended position during a web tension change. The actuating command is determined from an actuating command leading to the web tension change and at least one delay term. The at least one delay term delays the action of the actuating command leading to the web tension change on the actuating command for the first processing device by a delay time needed by the product web to pass through the at least one delay section before the first processing device. |
| US09216870B2 |
System and method of manufacturing composite core
A method of manufacturing a composite core can include: wrapping a mandrel in a mandrel wrapping process by securing a mandrel with a winding jig; orienting the composite material at a wrap angle to the mandrel; and depositing the composite material around a circumference of the mandrel. The method can further include assembling the wrapped mandrels in a tool and applying a pressure to the composite material during a curing cycle. |
| US09216867B2 |
Sheet feeder and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A sheet feeder, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a sheet tray on which a recording medium is loaded, a regulating member, a link mechanism, and a guide storage. The regulating member is movably disposed to regulate a position of the recording medium loaded on the sheet tray and has guide portions having a height higher than a maximum possible thickness of a sheet stack loadable on the sheet tray and the height thereof is changeable. The link mechanism rotatably supports the sheet tray with respect to a tray storing position and a sheet feeding position. The guide storage stores the guide portions of the regulating member as the link mechanism moves the sheet tray from the sheet feeding position to the tray storing position and has a depth set to be greater than a length in a height direction of the guide portions. |
| US09216866B2 |
Web processing with semi-rotary accumulator
Various apparatus embodiments include first, second, third and fourth idler shafts, and further include a first movable idler shaft having a first movable axis that is movable between a first axis position and a second axis position, and a second movable idler shaft having a second movable axis that is movable between a third axis position and fourth axis position. At least one linkage connects the first movable idler shaft to the second movable idler shaft. A motor linkage connects the at least one linkage to at least one motor for providing simultaneous movement of the first and second movable idler shafts. |
| US09216863B2 |
Method and transfer device for transferring a tube in a tube filling machine
For the purpose of transferring a tube in a tube filling machine between a staging location and a set-down location, the tube at the staging location is gripped at its lateral surface by a holding device and transported by a transfer device to the set-down location where it is set down while simultaneously being rotated about its longitudinal axis or about an axis parallel thereto during transport. Such a transfer device has a multiple-member articulated arm, which has at least one 1st arm member that is mounted to pivot about a rotary axis and directly or indirectly pivotably supports at least one holding member. The holding member carries at least one holding device by means of which the tube can be picked up and which can be pivoted about an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube or that coincides therewith. |
| US09216862B2 |
Narrow belt sorter
A material handling system including a sorter that uses compressed air and drive from the narrow belts to cause articles or loads to change from one conveyor segment to an adjacent segment. |
| US09216858B2 |
Bottle receiving and detection apparatus and method therefore
An apparatus for receiving and detecting a bottle having a chute configured for receiving the bottle therein, a first sensor disposed to detect the bottle at a first position within the chute, a second sensor disposed to detect the bottle at a second position within the chute, and a third sensor disposed to detect the bottle at a third position within the chute, and an indicator in communication with the sensors to provide indication that a bottle was received. A method carried out by the apparatus is also provided. |
| US09216857B1 |
Automated inventory management system
Some examples include an inventory system having both mobile drive units remotely controllable to transport inventory items and holders within a warehouse and automated aerial vehicles remotely controllable to identify and remove amnesty items from the storage region. In some implementations, the automated aerial vehicles are equipped with imaging components to monitor the floor of the warehouse to identify and engagement mechanisms to secure and remove the amnesty items that may otherwise impede the movement of the mobile drive units. |
| US09216845B2 |
Leak-resistant slider select zipper
The present disclosure relates to a leak-resistant slider zipper. The zipper typically includes end seals at the opening and closing ends of the zipper, an upper and a lower set of interlocking elements, first and second upper flanges above the upper interlocking elements having no gaps or cut-outs therein, and first and second lower flanges below the lower interlocking elements, one of the lower flanges being folded back on itself, and a slider. |
| US09216842B2 |
Stackable systems
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to stackable systems for use on countertops, as travel systems, or anywhere the items contained therein are desired for use. The stackable systems may be used to contain body lotions, crèmes, powders, perfumes, soaps, washes, gels, body scrubs (such as salt or sugar grain-based scrubs), shampoo/conditioner or any other substance to be dispensed. The systems may also feature one or more dispenser features at the front, top, or bottom of a unit in the stackable system. Embodiments also relate to dispenser systems for use in connection with shower curtains or other surfaces. |
| US09216832B2 |
Heat shrinkable bubble wrapping machine
This invention is to replace the need for a corrugated carton by wrapping an article with a heat shrinkable bubble wrap film. Heat shrinking the bubble wrap will allow the bubble wrap to shrink sufficiently to conform to an article such as a group of containers, e.g. bottles. Because of the inability of the bubble wrap film to tightly shrink around the containers, the containers can move and bump each other. To ensure stability, the bubble wrapped article is film wrapped with a heat shrink film and heat shrunk to provide an article that does not require a corrugated box for to ensure the integrity of the containers. |
| US09216831B2 |
Method and plant for filling a bottle with a radioactive fluid-based mixture
The method provides: a first step, in which a radioactive fluid is conveyed from a source to a container; a second step, during which inert gas under pressure is conveyed towards the container; and a third step, during which, due to the action of the inert gas, the radioactive fluid is conveyed from the container to a bottle. |
| US09216829B2 |
System and method for rigging a control surface of an aircraft
A system for rigging a control surface of an aircraft, wherein the control surface is movable relative to a reference structure of the aircraft by means of at least one actuator, comprises a mobile control unit having being connectable to at least one actuator, an input means for commanding a deflection of the control surface, and an optical rigging apparatus having a first rigging component and a second rigging component. The first rigging component is adapted for being mounted on a reference structure to which the control surface is swivably attached and the second rigging component is adapted for being mounted on the control surface itself. Thereby an accurate rigging may be conducted with a clearly reduced number of personnel and a clearly reduced time for completion. |
| US09216827B2 |
Self-contained aircraft electronic air treatment system
An Environmental Control System may use an electronic air treatment system to control humidity in an aircraft. The electronic air treatment system may use an electronic charging system and a separation system. A turbine rotor may drive a power generating stage to provide high voltage power to the electronic charging system. The charging stage may charge airflow passing through to repel liquid particles away from the airflow. Liquid droplets may be collected and centrifugally flung toward a periphery of the separation system. The liquid particles may be collected outside of the airflow, which may be allowed to pass through the separation system and out to a destination in the aircraft without the collected liquid. |
| US09216826B2 |
Aircraft seating configuration
A passenger seating arrangement for an aircraft cabin that includes first and second adjacent columns of at least two seats that define a first longitudinally extending center axis that extends approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. The seats in the first column face away from and form an angle with the first axis of between about 1° and about 44°, and the seats in the second column face away from and form an angle with the first axis of between about 1° and about 44°. Each seat in the first column is staggered fore of a seat in the second column. |
| US09216824B2 |
Systems and apparatus for tether termination mount for tethered aerial vehicles
Wind energy systems, such as an Airborne Wind Turbine (“AWT”), may be used to facilitate conversion of kinetic energy to electrical energy. An AWT may include an aerial vehicle that flies in a path to convert kinetic wind energy to electrical energy. The aerial vehicle may be tethered to a ground station with a tether that terminates at a tether termination mount. In one aspect, the tether may be a conductive tether that can transmit electricity and/or electrical signals back and forth between the aerial vehicle and the ground station. The tether termination mount may include one or more gimbals that allow for the tether termination mount to rotate about one or more axis. In a further aspect, the tether termination mount may include a slip ring that allows for rotation of the tether without twisting the tether. |
| US09216823B2 |
Wing flapping mechanism and method
The wing flapping mechanism (100) includes a main frame (110), a pair of opposite wings (120) laterally projecting from the main frame (110), and a linkage arrangement to convert rotation of a motor (150) into a three-dimensional cyclic wing motion of each of the wings (120). The linkage arrangement includes torque-transmitting couplings extending from inside the main frame (110) into the wing structures (122) to transmit an alternating pivoting motion, created as a result of the rotation of the motor (150), to the distal end of a corresponding third torsion-responsive tube (140, 144′″). Each torque-transmitting coupling extends inside a shoulder joint (130), a first torsion-responsive tube (132, 144′), an elbow joint (134), a second torsion-responsive tube (136, 144″), a wrist joint (138) and the third torsion-responsive tube (140, 144′″) of the corresponding wing structure (122). |
| US09216820B2 |
Device for assisting in piloting a hybrid helicopter, a hybrid helicopter provided with such a device, and a method implemented by said device
A piloting assistance device for a hybrid helicopter is provided with a rotary wing, two half-wings (8′, 8″) provided respectively with first and second propellers (6′, 6″), and an engine installation continuously driving the rotary wing (100) and the propellers by meshing with a mechanical interconnection system. Furthermore, the device is provided with computer element (40) for determining maximum mean pitch (max) applicable to the first and second propellers without exceeding the power available for the propellers, the computer element determining the maximum mean pitch (max) as a function of the current mean pitch of the blades of the first and second propellers as measured in real time, of a maximum power that can be delivered by the engine installation, of a current power being delivered by the engine installation, and of a relationship determining a power gradient (GRD) as a function of pitch for the first and second propellers. |
| US09216819B2 |
Wheel structure for integrating an electric drive motor
A wheel design is provided for an aircraft landing gear wheel that is configured to maximize the space available within a landing gear wheel well to support a motor driver assembly that drives the aircraft wheel when the aircraft is on the ground. The wheel includes inboard and outboard support walls that are spaced apart a selected distance along the wheel axle so that the motor driver assembly components are substantially completely contained within the wheel space defined by the support walls. The preferred motor driver assembly includes an electric motor and a gear and clutch assembly operatively connected to the wheel to drive the wheel and move the aircraft on the ground. The wheel and motor driver assembly described herein may be retrofitted in an existing aircraft wheel without changing existing landing gear components, including tires, piston, and axle. |
| US09216818B1 |
Impact protection apparatus
An impact protection apparatus is provided, comprising a gas container configured to hold a compressed gas and an inflatable member configured to be inflated by the gas and function as an airbag of a movable object, such as an aerial vehicle. A valve controls flow of gas from the container to the inflatable member in response to a signal from a valve controller. The valve and valve controller are powered by an independent power source than one or more other systems of the movable object. A safety mechanism may also be provided that, unless deactivated, prevents inflation of the inflatable member. |
| US09216814B2 |
Stackable wing for an aerocar
A wing includes an upper surface that forms a generally fixed shape and a lower surface adjacent to the upper surface. The lower surface is morphable between a stowed shape and a deployed shape. A method of morphing a wing includes morphing a lower surface between a stowed shape and a deployed shape. The lower surface curves toward the upper surface in the stowed shape and curves away from the upper surface in the deployed shape. |
| US09216813B2 |
Inflatable and rigidizable support element
The present invention provides novel inflatable and rigidizable support elements, and methods of manufacture and use thereof. In particular, the present invention provides inflatable and rigidizable support elements rapidly inflated and rigidized using an acrylic adhesive and UV light generated by combustion, which find use, for example, in rapidly deploying and supporting the wing of an aerial vehicle and wind turbine towers. |
| US09216812B2 |
Optimized torsion box for an aircraft
An aircraft lifting surface with a torsion box of a composite material including an upper skin, a lower skin, a front spar, a rear spar, one or more intermediate spars and transverse ribs arranged between the rear spar and an adjacent intermediate spar and/or between the front spar and the adjacent intermediate spar. |
| US09216808B2 |
Self-righting frame and aeronautical vehicle
An aeronautical vehicle that rights itself from an inverted state to an upright state has a self-righting frame assembly has an apex preferably at a top of a central vertical axis. The apex provides initial instability to begin a self-righting process when the vehicle is inverted on a surface. A lift and stabilization panel extends across an upper portion of said frame to provide lift, drag and/or stability. A propulsion system can be located within a central void of the frame assembly and oriented to provide a lifting force. An electronics assembly is also carried by the self-righting frame for receiving remote control commands and is communicatively interconnected to the power supply for remotely controlling the aeronautical vehicle to take off, to fly, and to land on a supporting surface. The frame provides self-righting functionality and protection of elements carried therein. |
| US09216806B2 |
Durable airship hull and in situ airship hull repair
A system for airship hull reinforcement and in-situ repair includes a sensor for detecting a leak in the airship hull of a lighter-than-air airship and a repair mechanism inside lighter-than-air airship for dispensing repair material to seal the leak. A durable airship hull includes an inner gas barrier, an outer gas barrier, and a microlattice layer sandwiched between the inner gas barrier and the outer gas barrier. |
| US09216803B2 |
Protective apparatus for marine structures
An apparatus for inhibiting damage from impact between a marine structure and an adjacent watercraft, and a related method, are described. The apparatus includes a cushion body forming a mounting surface and a watercraft-engaging surface substantially opposing the mounting surface, at least one rigid support member, the rigid support member defined by or configured for contact with the mounting surface of the cushion body and disposed, during use, between the cushion body and the portion of the marine structure, and attachment means for detachably attaching the cushion body to the portion of the marine structure. The cushion body, when attached to the portion of the marine structure, is sized and configured to prevent destructive contact between the marine structure and a watercraft when the watercraft-engaging surface is contacted by the watercraft. |
| US09216802B2 |
Safety flag for a watercraft
The present invention provides a safety flag for a watercraft that comprises an elongated pole, a pennant flag and a connector having upper, intermediate and bottom portions. The upper portion of the connector has an aperture for receiving the bottom portion of the pole. The intermediate portion of the connector has a shoulder for abutting against the upper surface of the wall. The bottom portion of the connector is at least partially made of a flexible elastomeric material such that, in use, a user can insert the bottom portion in a watercraft aperture by rotating or pressing the connector up to a position wherein the shoulder abuts a watercraft wall and the safety flag is maintained in a stand up position. |
| US09216801B2 |
Floatation device
Described herein are floatation devices, surfboards, surfboard blanks and methods of manufacture. The board or device design is altered by removal of a traditional stringer or stringers and instead form a composite of different foams to produce a board or device with improved strength and durability along with similar or even better board dynamics. |
| US09216800B2 |
Float for an offshore structure such as in particular a wind turbine
The invention relates to a float for an offshore structure such as in particular a wind turbine, characterized in that it comprises means in the form of a support beam (1) the exterior surface of which comprises means (2) of attachment for individual buoyancy tanks (3). |
| US09216798B2 |
Covering system
A covering system for removably covering a vehicle, such as a boat, that includes a plurality of rotatively anchored swing arms rotatable between a covered position and an uncovered position. Each swing arm includes a mount and a pretensioner formed of one or more stays adjustably attached to part of a shaft of the arm to adjust an applied preload and transfer forces encountered during operation to part of the shaft rotatively anchored by the mount to a grounded structure such as a piling or post of a dock. The swing arms are pivotally connected to an elongate transversely extending carriage from which a cover is suspended with a boom of each arm connected to the carriage by a pivot assembly that also facilitates carriage and cover position adjustment. A pivot limiter can be included that limits or even stops pivoting of the carriage relative to the swing arm boom. |
| US09216795B2 |
Hull design with engine air flow system
A hull design configured for use in combination with at least one outboard motor disposed within a motor compartment formed at the stern of the boat to operatively enclose the outboard motor having an air flow system to direct the flow of air to the engine of the outboard motor during operation thereof and an idle exhaust system to direct the flow of exhaust gases from the motor compartment when the engine of the outboard is at idle while permitting the outboard motor to be trimmed or tilted and rotated for directional control of the boat and a directional fluid flow control to channel or direct water flow to the propeller of the outboard motor during operation thereof. |
| US09216794B2 |
Front derailleur
A front derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a chain guide, a link mechanism and a cable guiding structure. The base member is fixedly coupled to a bicycle. The chain guide is configured to guide a chain. The link mechanism movably couples the chain guide to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position in response to movement of an operation cable. The link mechanism includes a cable attachment portion that is configured to be attached to the operation cable. The cable guiding structure guides the operation cable from the cable attachment portion. The cable guiding structure is disposed on at least one of the base member and the link mechanism. The cable guiding structure has a cable exit that is arranged such that the operation cable exits forwardly from the cable guiding structure towards the front of the bicycle. |
| US09216793B2 |
Bicycle single-acted gear-shifting device and its unidirectional operator mechanism
Bicycle single-acted gear-shifting device (12), comprising one front or rear derailleur (10, 20) coupling a ratchet indexing mechanism (13) acted by only one single-acting slave-connector (110, 120) attached to said ratchet indexing mechanism (13), operated by a unidirectional operator mechanism (15) with optional multiple unidirectional handle operator units (30). Said ratchet indexing mechanism (13) removably defines and holds a plurality of predetermined working stable positions of the derailleur's cage-plate (102,202) for each gearshift, and it comprises a ratchet-gear (1) with a pawls' system. And said unidirectional operator mechanism (15) comprises optional multiple unidirectional operator units (30) connected in parallel with the only single-acting slave-connector (110, 120), in order to indistinctly operate it, by means of a branched single-acting drive circuit (115, 123) which can be arranged either using a hydraulic circuit (115, 115′, 115″) acting by pushing, or using flexible cables (123,123′) and housings (124) to act by pulling. |
| US09216792B2 |
Chainless electric bicycle
Disclosed herein is an electric bicycle. The electric bicycle includes a battery, a generator to generate voltage by operation of pedals, and a pedal load adjustment unit to adjust pedal load applied to the pedals by controlling voltage generated from the generator and used to charge the battery. The pedal load adjustment unit includes plural capacitors configured to be charged with the voltage generated from the generator and plural switches configured to operate alternately so that the voltage generated from the generator is discharged to the capacitors to charge the capacitors and the voltage stored in the capacitors is discharged to the battery to charge the battery. |
| US09216789B2 |
Two-wheeled vehicle
A two-wheeled vehicle includes a frame, a plurality of ground-engaging members for supporting the frame, and an engine supported by the frame and operably coupled to the ground-engaging members. Additionally, the two-wheeled vehicle includes an upper and lower fairing assembly that cooperate together to define wind flow around the vehicle. Vents and deflectors are controllable to regulate the airflow to the rider. A vehicle control unit is operable to control the heated grips and the cruise control. A trunk is provided for mounting to the motorcycle and is electrically coupled to a harness running beneath the seat. The vehicle is further profiled to receive a hand held GMRS handset and smart phone. |
| US09216777B2 |
Work vehicle
A work vehicle includes a vehicle body, a seat section and a load-carrying platform disposed rearwardly of the seat section. A storage space is disposed rearwardly of the seat section and downwardly of the load-carrying platform, the storage space extending in a lateral width direction of the vehicle body, and the storage space opening toward a lateral side of the vehicle body. |
| US09216775B2 |
Subframe for vehicle
Disclosed is a subframe for a vehicle that allows a molten metal to be smoothly guided in order to maintain a good flow. This subframe for a vehicle is equipped with a rear subframe. For the rear subframe, a rear cross member, a rear section of a left side member, and a rear upper section of a right side member are constructed with an aluminum alloy and formed into one piece that has a substantially U-shape in a plan view. The rear cross member has a radial rib group that extends radially and a parallel rib group that intersects with the radial rib group. The radial rib group is configured such that radial ribs positioned further outside in the vehicle width direction form larger tilt angles. |
| US09216774B2 |
Interconnected foam or adhesive layers
A reinforcement includes a material layer disposed on a carrier that includes integrally formed support features, such as ribs, holes, pins, or a combination thereof, and/or a connector pin that deforms to secure the material layer to the carrier. The support features reduce the weak interface between the material layer and the carrier by improving bonding of the material layer to the carrier. |
| US09216772B2 |
Steering shaft retainer and gap hider
An instrument panel subassembly for a motor vehicle has a cross beam providing a main structural support for the subassembly. An instrument panel substrate is mounted to the cross beam. A steering shaft assembly has an upper end with a swivel connection to the substrate and has a lower end for coupling to a steering gear assembly. A closeout trim panel comprising an elongated strip is mounted to the cross beam and has a snap-in retainer slot positioned to temporarily retain the steering shaft assembly prior to final coupling to the steering gear assembly at a substantially fixed position. The fixed position is spaced away from a final position of the steering shaft assembly when coupled to the steering gear assembly, and the retainer slot flexes to permit manual insertion and removal of the steering shaft assembly. |
| US09216769B2 |
Cowl cross member mounting assembly for vehicle
A cowl cross member mounting assembly for a vehicle, may include front side members that may be respectively formed on both lower sides of an engine compartment, a shock absorber housing that may be formed between the front side members and a fender apron upper member, a dash lower panel that separates the engine compartment from an inside of the vehicle, a cowl cross bar that may be connected to both sides of the dash lower panel, and a reinforcing member that may be connected to the cowl cross bar while being bonded between the shock absorber housing and the dash lower panel. |
| US09216764B2 |
Vehicle steerable by movement of center of gravity
A vehicle steerable by movement of the center of gravity has an auxiliary wheel. A left drive wheel is driven by a left rotary driver. A right drive wheel is driven by a right rotary driver. A gravity center position calculator calculates a position of the center of gravity of a driver on a steering step board based on a detection signal from a load detection module detecting a load distribution of the driver. A travel controller has a first control mode controlling rotary drive of the left and right rotary drivers to achieve straight forward travel or turning. The travel controller also has a second control mode controlling the rotary drive of the left and right rotary drivers to achieve straight forward travel, turning or straight backward travel based on the position of the center of gravity. A driver input operation device can be used to select either the first or the second control mode. |
| US09216763B2 |
Personal mobility device
A personal mobility vehicle is described. Generally, the vehicle includes a vehicle frame with multiple wheels rotatably connected thereto. The vehicle further includes one or more components that allow the vehicle to be leanable, yet stable. In this regard, such components may include: a fifth link suspension mechanism that couples at least one of the wheels to the vehicle frame, an offset hub motor system that is connected to at least one of the wheels, a lean adjustment system connected to at least one of the wheels, a return to neutral lean position mechanism connected to at least one of the wheels, and a differential system for a leanable vehicle. While the vehicle can seat any suitable number of occupants, in some cases, the vehicle seats one or two occupants. Other implementations are also described. |
| US09216761B2 |
Eccentric yoke with backlash compensation for the steering system of a motor vehicle
The yoke device comprises a rotary pad (10), the inner periphery (11) of which is eccentric with respect to the outer periphery (12) and is applied against the back of the rack, which is thus pushed towards the teeth of the steering pinion. The rotary pad (10) is rotationally biased and positioned by a backlash compensation mechanism (17) with spring means. This mechanism comprises a rotating movable stop (21), including gearings (24, 25) having staggered teeth that engage with the notches (26, 27) of a push member (19). The staggered gear teeth comprise, on one sector, a pilot gearing (24) having planar teeth (28) provided with a protrusion (29) and, in another sector, at least one gearing (25) having planar teeth (30) with no protrusion. |
| US09216760B2 |
Steering gear
A steering gear having a gearwheel, having a pinion which meshes with said gearwheel and having a pinion shaft which comprises the pinion and winch is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pinion shaft wherein the radial spacing between the pivot axis and the location of toothed engagement between the gearwheel and pinion is smaller than the core radius of the pinion. |
| US09216756B1 |
Wearable and steerable snow sled
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a wearable and steerable sled for descending a sloped surface. The wearable and steerable sled may include a wearable back sled having blades extending therefrom, a pair of wrist controls, and a pair of ankle controls. The wearable back sled may attach to a user's back. The wrist controls may strap to a user's wrists. The ankle controls may strap to a user's angles. The wearable back sled may allow a user to descend a sloped surface by laying on the sloped surface with the wearable back sled positioned between the user and the sloped surface, wherein the wrist controls and the ankle controls may aid the user in steering and controlling speed at which the user descends the sloped surface. |
| US09216750B2 |
Livestock chute puller and a method of using the same
A cart enabling a single person to pull a livestock chute across the ground. The cart includes a bar having a handle and wheels provided at opposing ends. The bar includes first and second members pivotally engaged together. A crossbar pivotally mounted on the bar includes first and second arms configured to engage handles on a lower front end of the chute. When the bar is in a collapsed position, where the first and second members are disposed at an angle to each other, the first and second arms are insertable into the chute handles. When the bar is moved to an erected position, where the first and second members are aligned along the same plane, a force is applied to a footrest on the bar. The arms lift the front end of the chute off the ground and the cart's wheels move under the front end of the chute. |
| US09216747B2 |
Lid body locking apparatus of railcar
A locking apparatus includes a shaft member having an operating shaft of a non-circular shape in cross section, and a body member including a bearing part and a cylindrical part. A cover member of a ring shape is fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical part, at a position corresponding to a tip end of the operating shaft, and a movable member is slidably fitted onto the operating shaft. The movable member is configured so that it is located at a normal position where the movable member fills a clearance between the operating shaft and the cover member when a latch member engages with the car body, and the movable member is maintained at a retreated position that is retreated from the normal position when the movable member is plunged, the operating shaft is rotated, and the engagement between the latch member and the car body is released. |
| US09216746B2 |
Apparatus and method of controlling automatic driving of vehicle
Provided are an apparatus and a method of controlling automatic driving of a vehicle, which adjust an operation mode of a map-supported system to a limited operation, a normal operation, and an emergent operation according to a driving situation for a safe operation of a map-supported driving assistance or automatic driving system. |
| US09216740B2 |
Driving support system
An electronic control unit is provided with a braking device formed of a brake pedal which exerts braking force on a vehicle, a brake actuator, braking units and the like, a vehicle speed change rate setting device which sets a target vehicle speed change rate, and a vehicle speed control device which performs vehicle speed control to realize the target vehicle speed change rate by predetermined operation to the braking device performed by a driver. The vehicle speed change rate setting device sets a target vehicle speed change rate to accelerate the vehicle when the predetermined operation is performed while the vehicle stops, for example. |
| US09216736B2 |
Control device for hybrid vehicle
This control device is applied to a hybrid vehicle that is provided with a motor lock mechanism that changes over the state of a power distribution mechanism between a differentiating state in which a differentially rotating state between an engine and a first motor-generator is permitted, and a non-differentiating state in which the rotation of the first motor-generator is prohibited. The control device stops combustion by the engine and changes over to an EV mode when predetermined conditions become valid during implementation by the power distribution mechanism of a differentiating mode of the differentiating state or of a non-differentiating mode of the non-differentiating state. The condition is set to be more severe while the non-differentiating mode is being implemented, as compared with the case while the differentiating mode is being implemented. |
| US09216735B2 |
Hybrid vehicle control device and hybrid vehicle control method
A hybrid vehicle control device provided with an engine idle unit for maintaining an engine rotation speed at an idle rotation speed by an engine, a motor idle unit for maintaining the engine rotation speed at the idle rotation speed by a motor generator, a switching unit for switching an idle control between execution of engine idle control and execution of motor idle control in accordance with an operation state of the hybrid vehicle, and an idle control changing unit for changing from the idle control to the engine idle control by adding a load torque portion of the motor generator having been inputted into the engine for maintaining the engine rotation speed at the idle rotation speed during the motor idle control to an output torque of the engine when the idle control is switched from the motor idle control to the engine idle control during the idle operation. |
| US09216729B2 |
Hybrid module and torque transfer device
The present invention relates to a hybrid module with fastening means for fastening, for example, detachable fastening, of the hybrid module with a torque transfer device, such as a torque converter or a clutch, such as a dual clutch, where the hybrid module includes a drive shaft that can be connected to an internal combustion engine and can rotate around a rotary axis and an electric motor with a stator, a rotor, and a power take-off component that can be connected to the rotor and where the torque transfer device has a transfer component for connecting to the hybrid module, where the fastening means axially secure the power take-off component with respect to the transfer component and can produce the connection between fastening means and transfer component. |
| US09216728B2 |
Procedure for operating decelerating downshifts with the participation of a form-locking shift element of an automatic transmission comprising a torque converter lockup clutch
A method of carrying out coasting downshifts that involve an interlocking shifting element in an automatic transmission having a torque converter lockup clutch. At the beginning of the coasting downshift, positive action is taken on the torque. The method including the steps of, at the beginning of the coasting downshift, the torque converter lockup clutch is fully or partially disengaged so that the drive-train is fully or partially decoupled from the drive aggregate, and action upon the torque is carried out in such manner that the engine rotational speed only falls below the turbine rotational speed once the synchronous point for the interlocking shifting element is reached. |
| US09216725B2 |
Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle
A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust gas purification catalyst, a first motor-generator, an output section, a differential mechanism, a second motor-generator, and a controller. The output section is configured to transfer torque to driving wheels of the hybrid vehicle. The differential mechanism is configured to distribute the torque from the engine to the first motor-generator and the output section. The second motor-generator is connected to the output section through gears. The controller is configured to: (a) execute a temporarily changing the air-fuel ratio of the engine to a rich side as a rich spike operation when a specified condition is satisfied, and (b) set the specified condition so that the rich spike operation is easily executed as a motor torque of the second motor-generator increases. |
| US09216723B2 |
Method for controlling a wheel brake pressure in a hydraulic vehicle braking system
A method for controlling the wheel brake pressures in wheel brake cylinders in a hydraulic vehicle braking system proposes to connect the wheel brake cylinders via wheel valves to a piston pump, the pistons of which are double-action pistons, and the two piston sides are connectable by means of pump valves. In order to increase the wheel brake pressure, the wheel valves are opened during a delivery stroke of the piston pump and the pump valves are closed, and the wheel valves are closed and the pump valves opened during a suction stroke. In order to reduce the wheel brake pressures, the valves are controlled in reverse. |
| US09216720B2 |
Differential emergency/park electric brake system
A system, apparatus and method provide emergency differential braking for effecting braked steering of an aircraft. A brake input device is provided that not only allows for emergency and parking brake functions, but also enables differential braking. The brake input device (e.g., a parking and/or emergency brake lever, pedal, handle, etc.) can be used in a brake system including a brake system control unit (BSCU), one or more electro-mechanical actuator controllers (EMACs) and a brake assembly including one or more electrical actuators. Each EMAC is electrically coupled to one or more of the actuators so as to provide electrical power for driving the actuators. Each EMAC is also communicatively coupled to the BSCU so as to receive braking data therefrom. In an emergency, the input device sends braking signals directly to the brake actuators. |
| US09216716B2 |
Wiper device, method for manufacturing wiper device, and apparatus for manufacturing wiper device
A wiper device includes pivot shafts to which wiper arms are secured, pivot holders, which rotationally support the pivot shafts, coupling shafts, and a pipe frame having cylindrical ends. The cylindrical ends of the pipe frame are coupled to the coupling shafts. The coupling shafts each include a swaging part, which is swaged to the corresponding cylindrical end, and a flat portion, which is located at part of the coupling shaft exposed from the pipe frame. The flat portions have a predetermined angle with respect to the swaging direction of the swaging and are parallel to the axis of the coupling shafts. |
| US09216714B2 |
Belt presenter system
A belt presenter system for a seat belt system of a vehicle includes an arm (22) mounted on a vehicle pillar, wherein the arm (22) can adopt a feeding position (A) and a parking position (P). An end portion (40) of the arm (22) is connected to a fixed arm portion (36) via a hinge (42) so that the end portion (40) is bendable about a pivot axis relative to the fixed arm portion (36). |
| US09216709B2 |
Deployable structure to provide protection when vehicles roll over
A deployable structure to provide protection when vehicles roll over, which is made up of a “V” shaped structure (1) closed at the top where both the lateral vertical bars (4) and the uppermost horizontal bar (7) can fold and unfold telescopically, resulting in an increase in the width and the height of the structure when changing from the folded to the unfolded positions. The lower end of the tubular vertical lateral elements (4) of the structure are conveniently coupled to the chassis of the vehicle (2) in question, with the structure (1) being deployed when a certain tilt of the vehicle is detected by means of a tilt sensor using an activation control or algorithm. |
| US09216708B1 |
Bumper assembly including airbag
A bumper assembly for a vehicle includes a bumper beam and an energy absorbing member adjacent the bumper beam. An airbag module includes an inflator coupled to the bumper beam and an airbag coupled to the inflator. The airbag is disposed between the bumper beam and the energy absorbing member. The airbag is deployed during an impact between the vehicle and an object to modify the stiffness of the bumper assembly during the impact. |
| US09216697B1 |
Vehicle vault assembly
A vehicle vault assembly safely and discreetly stores valuables within a motor vehicle. The assembly includes a vehicle having a horizontal deck. A well extends downwardly into the deck. A vault is positionable within the well. The vault includes a housing and a lid. The housing has a bottom wall and a perimeter wall attached to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The bottom wall and the perimeter wall define an interior space of the housing configured to store valuables therein. An upper edge of the perimeter wall defines an access opening into the interior space of the housing. The lid is positionable over the upper edge of the perimeter wall to selectively close the access opening. A locking mechanism selectively secures the lid to the housing. |
| US09216696B2 |
Device for vehicle-mounted equipment and vehicle having the same
A device for moving a vehicle-mounted object and a vehicle having the same are provided. The device comprises a housing with an opening, a cover frame mounted on the housing, a cover with a surface for mounting the vehicle-mounted object thereon, the cover being coupled with the cover frame and being capable of pivoting to either expose or cover at least a part of the opening, and a platform slidably fitted within the housing, being coupled with the cover and movable between a first position to cause the cover to pivot to expose at least a part of the opening, and a second position to cause the cover to pivot to cover at least a part of the opening. |
| US09216694B2 |
Vehicle center console
A vehicle center console includes a small item receptacle closing a part of an opening of a console body and capable of storing therein small items, and an arm rest closing a remaining part of the opening of the console body and capable of placing thereon an elbow of a passenger. The small item receptacle and the arm rest are mounted adjacent to each other on the console body in such a manner that the small item receptacle and the arm rest are slidable in a front-rear direction of the vehicle. The vehicle center console has an opening mode for opening the opening of the console body by sliding the small item rearwardly so that both the small item and the arm rest are together slid rearwardly. |
| US09216690B2 |
Exterior rear view mirror
An exterior rear view mirror, for a motor vehicle, with an exterior rear view mirror housing formed in at least two parts, which comprises an opening for a mirror glass, and houses at least one base bracket, on which the mirror glass is adjustably arranged. The exterior rear view mirror housing consists at least of a first housing part and a second housing part, which are connected to both each other as well as to the base bracket, in each case. Locking connections are provided at least between the first housing part and the second housing part, as well as between the housing parts and the base bracket, in each case. |
| US09216680B2 |
Hard rock mined ore truck body
A truck body designed for transporting hard rock mined ore. The truck body includes a body floor having a first material forming a floor structure and a liner structure including a second material covering at least a portion of the floor structure. The second material has a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the first material and prevents wear of the truck body floor by the hard rock ore. The truck body includes a front wall and two opposing body sidewalls that taper outwardly from front to rear of the truck body such that a width between the body sidewalls at a rear of the truck body is at least 10% greater than a width at the front of the truck body. The outward tapering of the body sidewalls promotes movement of the load away from the body sidewalls as the load is released from the truck body. |
| US09216678B1 |
Heel protecting vehicle floor mat device
A heel protecting vehicle floor mat device for protecting a heel of a user's footwear from abrasion while driving. The device includes a mat having a front section, a back section, and a medial section positioned between the front section and the back section. The front section is narrower than the back section for positioning on a floor of a vehicle such that the front section extends under pedals of the vehicle. Each of a plurality of pads extends upwardly from the mat positioned in spaced relationship to a front edge of the front section of the mat wherein the pads are configured for positioning to support a heel of a driver of the vehicle. |
| US09216677B2 |
Quick-connect trim carrier attachment
A quick-connect assembly for a vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback structure. A suspension assembly includes a plurality of outwardly extending flex members. A removable trim carrier is disposed over upper and lower components and is removably coupled to distal ends of the plurality of outwardly extending flex members by a friction-fit connection. A cushion is operably coupled with the trim carrier. An external peripheral gap is defined between the passenger support and the seatback structure. |
| US09216676B1 |
Seat assembly with displaceable neckrest and neck support
A seat assembly for a motor vehicle includes a seat body having a seating surface and a storage cavity. A headrest is carried on the seat body. Further a neckrest is pivotally attached to the seat body. The neckrest is selectively displaceable between the storage position in a cavity of the seat body and a deployed position above the seating surface. In one possible embodiment the seat assembly also includes a neck support that may be displayed with the neckrest between storage and deployed positions. |
| US09216674B1 |
Portable seat partition unit
An easy-to-use seat partition unit, a kit for transporting and assembling, and a method for establishing a physical barrier in mass transit vehicles is disclosed. The seat partition unit includes a movable partition panel which is physically connected to a partition base. The movable partition panel extends from an inoperative collapsed first position vertically from the central section of the partition base to an extended second position which is the operative configuration of the seat partition unit and is slid from the central section of the partition base either in a left or right longitudinal direction on upper tracks on the partition base such that the movable panel efficiently provides a barrier between the upper and lower bodies of adjacent passengers. The panel and base are configured and adapted to be placed into and frictionally held between adjacent passenger seats to support the seat partition unit in an upright position. |
| US09216670B2 |
Child restraint system
A child restraint system includes an infant carrier and a base adapted to be mounted on a passenger seat in a vehicle in a vehicle mode. The infant carrier is also configured to be mounted on a stroller frame in a stroller mode. The infant carrier includes a seat shell and a carrying handle coupled to the seat shell. |
| US09216669B2 |
Fitting for a vehicle seat, and vehicle seat
A fitting for a vehicle seat has a first fitting part and a second fitting part that relatively rotate about an axis. A toothed rim (17) is on the first fitting part and guide segments (14) are on the second fitting part. Bars (16) are guided by the guide segments between an unlocked state and a locked state, interacting with the toothed rim. A spring-loaded, rotatably mounted eccentric (27) urges the bars to interact with the toothed rim. A rotatable driver (21) rotates the eccentric. A fastening ring (24) is connected to the driver. A cam (24n) is formed on the fastening ring and bears in the circumferential direction against a driver cam (21 f) of the driver. The fastening ring has a collar (24b) with a passage (24d) about the axis. The cam is formed within the passage such that it is oriented in the radial direction towards the axis. |
| US09216665B2 |
Premium seat offering extra wide bed
Embodiments of the invention provide premium seats for aircraft and other passenger transport vehicles that provide extra seat room by providing an improved tray table configuration, which also enhances privacy for each passenger. Certain embodiments also provide an improved outer armrest configuration. |
| US09216664B2 |
Vehicle and vehicle control method
In a hybrid vehicle including an engine, a motor, a generator, and a battery that is electrically connected to the motor and the generator, an ECU performs “battery-less travel control” enabling the vehicle to travel when a fault occurs in the battery by disconnecting the battery from an electrical system including the motor and the generator and driving the motor using power that is generated by the generator using the power of the engine. When the battery-less travel control is underway and a vehicle speed V exceeds a vehicle speed limit Vsh, the ECU implements a vehicle speed limitation. As a result, a control mode of the motor is less likely to shift to a rectangular control mode during the battery-less travel control. |
| US09216657B2 |
EVCS power switching following a catastrophic seismic event
An EVCS equipped with an accelerometer to detect seismic events. Upon sensing a catastrophic environmental event, the EVCS is automatically disconnected from the main utility power source. A controller powered by a backup or alternate power source inside the EVCS monitors the seismic activity, and upon sensing the seismic event is over, the EVCS automatically performs a startup check. If utility power is present and the self-check passes, the EVCS resets and provides power from the main utility to the charging connector. If the EVCS is operable but utility power is unavailable, the EVCS switches to a generator or a UPS. The EVCS can provide multiple power outlets, including USB outlets, and emergency lighting. The EVCS can also be retrofitted or constructed with a communications interface for communicating status and operational information following a seismic event. |
| US09216655B2 |
Vehicle and power supply system
A vehicle includes a charging unit receiving electric power supplied from an external power supply through a power feeding cable connected to an inlet for charging a power storage device; a discharging unit for supplying electric power from the power storage device to the power feeding cable through the inlet; a discharge relay; and a charge relay. When ending a discharging operation, an ECU outputs an opening instruction to the discharge relay and determines based on the state of a power line during output of the opening instruction whether the discharge relay is welded or not. When starting the discharging operation, the ECU outputs a closing instruction to the discharge relay and does not determine during output of the closing instruction whether the discharge relay is welded or not. |
| US09216653B2 |
Method for charging an electric vehicle by supplying DC over a cable configured for AC charging
A method is disclosed for charging at least one energy store of an electric vehicle via a charging point, using a first terminal having first connecting elements of a charging cable connected to the charging point. The first connecting elements are connected to corresponding second connecting elements of a second terminal on the vehicle, and the first and second connecting elements are designed to supply alternating current for charging the at least one energy store. Direct current from the charging point for charging the at least one energy store is supplied to the electric vehicle via at least two first connecting elements or at least two third connecting elements of the first terminal, wherein PLC communication between the electric vehicle and charging point in order to exchange information relating to the charging operation occurs via one or more first connecting elements on which no direct current for charging is carried. |
| US09216650B2 |
Thin gauge with self-emitting display for hidden pointer
An exemplary vehicle instrument panel includes gauges for communicating various vehicle operating parameters and conditions that include self-emitting displays. The exemplary vehicle gauge includes the display that is self-emitting. The exemplary display is a self-emitting programmable display that can be operated and programmed to electronically generate text, symbols and graphics. Moreover, all of the display area making up the gauge face can be programmed and actuated to display electronically generated images to provide desired information and data. |
| US09216649B2 |
Power transfer mechanism for 4WD vehicles with low effort mode shift system
A power transfer mechanism 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 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 associated with the transfer mechanism has internal spline teeth meshed with external spline teeth on the second shaft with a predetermined amount of backlash therebetween. A ball cam mechanism centers the backlash and permits relative rotation of the transfer mechanism and the mode sleeve to circumvent a blocked mode shift. |
| US09216641B2 |
Driving device for hybrid vehicle
A driving device for a hybrid vehicle including a power transmission mechanism (10) that is connected to an engine (1) and transmits a rotation of the engine; a differential mechanism (20) that connects the power transmission mechanism to driving wheels (32); and a switching device (CL1, BK1) that performs speed change of the power transmission mechanism, wherein the differential mechanism includes a first rotary element (24) that is connected to an output element (13) of the power transmission mechanism, a second rotary element (21) that is connected to a first rotating electrical machine (MG1) and a third rotary element (23) that is connected to the second rotating electrical machine (MG2) and the driving wheels, and wherein the rotation of the output element of the power transmission mechanism is limited by the switching device. |
| US09216638B2 |
Structure for mounting battery pack on vehicle
In a structure for mounting a battery pack on a vehicle, even if a battery case housing a plurality of batteries is disposed beneath a floor panel, due to an internal cable within the battery case being disposed above the batteries, it is possible to prevent the internal cable from becoming wet. Furthermore, if the internal cable disposed above the batteries were connected to an external cable via a high voltage connector without changing the height, the height of the floor panel would increase to thus constrain the vehicle compartment space, but since the high voltage connector is disposed at a position that is lower than the upper end of the battery, it is possible to decrease the height of the floor panel by disposing the external cable at a low position, thereby ensuring the vehicle compartment space. |
| US09216634B1 |
Rocker seal attachment structure
A rocker seal attachment structure for a side door includes an attachment base that projects inward from the lower end of a cutline seal. A receiving surface is formed along the lower surface of the attachment base. The rocker seal includes a first clip and a second clip attached to an elongated rocker seal body, which is hollow and has an open end. An upper surface of the end of the rocker seal body in the vicinity of a door hinge configures an attachment surface. The end is fastened to the attachment base from below by the first clip with the attachment surface held in contact with the receiving surface. The rocker seal body is fastened to the side door from below by the second clip at a position spaced from the first clip in the longitudinal direction of the rocker seal body. |
| US09216632B2 |
Sliding/folding soft top assembly for SUV
A sliding/folding soft top assembly having opposing first and second linkage assemblies with a plurality of guide rollers located within a first and second guide track for selectively moving the soft top assembly between a deployed position to a first stowed position or a retracted stowed position. A first bow and second bow are coupled to each of the first and second linkage assemblies, which include a first pivot joint for rotating the first bow to the first stowed position. A rear pivot joint allows a rear link of the first and second linkage assemblies to rotate in an area where the first and second guide tracks curve. A third bow is rotatably connected to first and second pivot brackets, and a fourth bow is pivotably connected to the third bow, to allow rotation of the third and fourth bow between the deployed position and retracted stowed position. |
| US09216630B2 |
Water shield
A water shield for a door of a vehicle. The water shield includes a sheet of a water impervious material configured to be attached to an inboard panel of the door and extend over an access opening in the inboard panel. A cover of expanded foam is directly attached to the sheet to fit over the access opening in the door. A perimeter portion of the cover circumscribes the access opening. The cover is secured, around the access opening, to the inboard panel, resulting in sealing of the access opening and mass dampening of the inboard panel. |
| US09216627B2 |
Torsion beam for an anti-roll bar of a motor vehicle
A torsion beam for an anti-roll bar of a motor vehicle is provided having a main body which is produced from a carbon fiber material, and at least one non-metallic bearing layer which is applied on the main body in order to form one sliding bearing side of an anti-roll bar bearing. As a result of the protection of the main body provided by the bearing layer against abrasive wear in the anti-roll bar bearing, the main body can be produced from the carbon fiber material, with the result that a lightweight and durable anti-roll bar for driving stability of a motor vehicle is made possible. |
| US09216625B2 |
Method to control toe angle and camber angle in active rear suspensions of cars
A control method of the toe and camber angles of rear active suspensions of a vehicle; the control method includes the steps of: detecting when the vehicle follows a curved trajectory; conferring negative toe angles combined with zero camber angles to the rear active suspensions, when starting the curved trajectory and when the vehicle enters the curved trajectory; and conferring positive camber angles combined with negative toe angles to the rear active suspensions, while following the curved trajectory and when the vehicle is inscribed in the curved trajectory. |
| US09216622B1 |
Facing assembly for vehicle including towing cable guide
A facing assembly is provided for a motor vehicle. That facing assembly includes a resilient facing member and a resilient reinforcing element. The resilient reinforcing element engages and supports the resilient facing member against wind forces experienced during vehicle operation so as to provide desired aerodynamics at speed while allowing the necessary flex when contacted by an obstruction to provide clearance and the necessary resiliency to return to the home position once clear of the obstruction. Further, the resilient reinforcing element includes a channel that receives, holds and guides a towing or wench cable and protects the resilient facing member during the towing or wenching operation. |
| US09216618B2 |
Pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire is mounted on a vehicle so a first side in a tire width direction corresponds to a vehicle outer side. A tread surface has four circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction and five land portions partitioned by the circumferential main grooves. A ratio W2/W1 ranges 4 to 5 when W1 is a groove width of a first circumferential main groove that is located at a first position when viewed from the first side and W2 is defined as a groove width of a second circumferential main groove located at a second position when viewed from the first side, and a ratio Sin/Sout ranges 1.1 to 1.2 when, in a region of the tread surface which interposes the tire centerline, Sout is defined as a groove surface area ratio in a region on the first side and Sin is defined as a groove surface area ratio in a region on the second side. |
| US09216617B2 |
Anti-skid device
In an anti-skid device having lengths of chain which can be thrown under a vehicle wheel by means of a rotary plate which is arranged at the end of a pivotable extension arm (5), a drive unit having a piston (16) which is arranged in a cylinder (11) and whose movements are transmitted by a thrust chain (22) which assumes the function of the piston rod, to a drive pinion (29) whose shaft bears the extension arm (5) is used to apply the pivoting movement to the extension arm (5). |
| US09216616B2 |
Self-orienting twin castor with braking assembly
A self-orienting twin castor with a braking assembly is provided. A main body of the castor rotatably mates with a base of an installation device. The body has a through hole for rotatably accommodating a shaft having two coupling ends for respective wheels, with play along a vertical direction. Elastic means are arranged within a transverse channel of the through hole of the body. The main body has two tubular lateral portions, which are coaxial with the through hole and adapted to accommodate a sleeve of a respective wheel fitted on a coupling end of the shaft. A portion of the castor has, along its inner surface, at least one radially protruding slider parallel to the axis of the shaft. |
| US09216615B2 |
Wheel mounting bolt and wheel mounting structure
A wheel mounting bolt includes a male thread portion, a collar portion, an engagement portion, and a protruding shaft portion. The male thread portion has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion in an axial direction of the male thread portion to be threadedly engaged, from the first end portion, with a female thread portion of a hub. The collar portion is provided between the first end portion and the second end portion of the male thread portion to fit into a bolt insertion hole of a wheel. The engagement portion is provided at the second end portion of the male thread portion integrally with the male thread portion to be gripped by a fastening tool. The protruding shaft portion protrudes from the engagement portion toward a direction opposite to the first end portion and is provided with male threads. |
| US09216613B2 |
Bicycle rim with brake track
A FRP rim for a bicycle, including a radially outer tire-engaging portion and a radially inner spoke-engaging portion. A first sidewall is in a spaced configuration with a second sidewall. The first and second sidewalls extend between the radially outer tire-engaging portion and the radially inner spoke-engaging portion. A brake track is disposed on each of the first and second sidewalls including a layer of microparticles. |
| US09216612B2 |
Mecanum wheel and Mecanum-wheeled vehicle
A Mecanum wheel having a first wheel rim (2) which bears a multiplicity of rollers (4) which are arranged adjacent to one another in a circumferential direction and which are in each case mounted so as to be rotatable about a roller axis of rotation (38) arranged at an angle with respect to a first wheel rim axis of rotation (24), wherein said Mecanum wheel is characterized by a second wheel rim (3) which can be driven together with the first wheel rim (2) by means of a common drive shaft (33) and which bears a multiplicity of rollers (4) which are arranged adjacent to one another in a circumferential direction and which are in each case mounted so as to be rotatable about a roller axis of rotation (38) arranged at an angle with respect to a second wheel rim axis of rotation (25), which second wheel rim is connected to the first wheel rim (2) via damping means (7) formed so as to permit a limited relative movement of the first and the second rim (3) relative to one another. It is provided according to the invention that the damping means (7) are formed so as to permit a damped, limited relative movement between the first and the second wheel rim (2, 3) in the circumferential direction and/or perpendicular to a Mecanum wheel axis of rotation (9) and/or perpendicular to the first and/or to the second wheel rim axis of rotation (25) and/or at a tilt angle relative to one another. |
| US09216609B2 |
Radical etching apparatus and method
A radical etching apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber for a substrate to be treated; a pipe pathway, connected to the vacuum chamber, a zone for generating plasma and a gas introduction device through which N2 and at least one of H2 and NH3 can be introduced; a microwave applying microwaves to the interior of the pipe pathway; a gas introducer as a source of supply for F, between the vacuum chamber and the zone; and a shower plate. A method comprises introducing N2 and at least one of H2 and NH3 into a pipe pathway and applying microwaves. The gas mixture is decomposed by the plasma forming decomposition products as active species which react with F during transportation to the vacuum chamber to make radicals. An SiO2 layer on the substrate etched in the vacuum chamber, by irradiating the substrate with the radicals through the shower plate. |
| US09216608B1 |
Interactive greeting card with articulated character
A greeting card having a jointed or articulated character attached to a surface thereof, the articulated character being movable by user interaction with the greeting card. The articulated character contains various segments which are attached together at various pivot or hinge points making the character capable of bending and moving various aspects of the character body in various ways or directions which simulate the character dancing to audio playing in the background. |
| US09216605B2 |
Security thread or stripe comprising oriented magnetic particles in ink, and method and means for producing same
The present invention concerns a security thread or stripe for the incorporation into or onto a value-document or currency substrate, as well as a method and means of making such thread or stripe. The thread or stripe comprises a plastic foil which carries a hardened coating comprising oriented magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles, the orientation of said pigment particles representing graphic information. Preferred are optically variable magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles. Said hardened coating may also be comprised between a first and a second plastic foil. Said graphic information is a repetitive seamless pattern of suitable repetition length, which is produced using a magnetic orienting cylinder having a corresponding repetitive seamless magnetic field pattern. A magnetic orienting cylinder and a process for process for producing such magnetic orienting cylinder are also disclosed. The process comprises the coating of a cylindrical support body with a polymer material comprising a high-coercivity permanent-magnetic powder as a filler material, and magnetizing or engraving the seamless outer cylinder surface to form on the cylinder a repetitive seamless magnetic field pattern. |
| US09216602B2 |
Printing apparatus and method for controlling sheet processing apparatus
A method includes determining, if power to an apparatus is turned on, whether a state of a sheet has been changed while the power is off, based on a change of the sheet state before turn-off and after turn-on of the power, and performing control to perform initializing operations according to a result of the determination. |
| US09216601B2 |
Electric device and printing apparatus using the same
An embodiment of this invention relates to an electric device capable of controlling a plurality of elements with an inexpensive, simple configuration, and a printing apparatus using the same. In this embodiment, an operation unit of the printing apparatus switches the states of a plurality of general purpose input/output ports between low-level signal output, high-level signal output, and input high impedance for each time set in a timer by an MPU. This allows LED light emission control and switch key press detection. Also, output ports used for LED light emission control, and input ports used for key press detection are shared using general purpose input/output ports to realize LED light emission control and switch key press detection with a configuration simpler than the conventional configuration. |
| US09216600B2 |
Printer with presenter unit for paper discharge and recovery
A printer apparatus includes a presenter unit including a first roller and a second roller connected to the first roller by a connection arm to move along an outer periphery of the first roller in accordance with the rotation of the first roller between a first rotating position and a second rotating position, rotate at the first rotating position in accordance with the rotation of the first roller to transfer a cut printed recording paper in an ejecting direction while interposing with the first roller, and rotate at the second rotating position in accordance with the rotation of the first roller to transfer the cut printed recording paper in a recovering direction while interposing with the first roller. |
| US09216598B2 |
Feeding apparatus and image recording apparatus
A feeding apparatus includes an apparatus main body; a feeding section which feeds sheets in a feeding orientation; a feed tray which has a first tray to load some of the sheets, and a second tray provided above the first tray to load the rest of the sheets, and which is movable relative to the apparatus main body along the feeding orientation; and a guide which guides the sheets by contact with the sheets fed by the feeding section. At an end portion of the first tray on the downstream side in the feeding orientation, a first projective portion is formed to project upward and have a supporting portion capable of supporting the second tray on its upper end, and a second projective portion is formed to project upward from a different position from the first projective portion in a width direction perpendicular to the feeding orientation. |
| US09216595B1 |
Apparatus for reducing wrinkles in moving web
A print media moving apparatus includes a vacuum assembly positioned immediately upstream relative to a roller. The vacuum assembly has a multiple vacuum manifolds forming an arcuate surface including three sections with the second section located between the first and third sections. The arcuate surface includes an extremum in the second section. The roller, having a diameter and rotational axis, includes three sections with the second section located between the first and third section as viewed along the rotational axis. The diameter of the roller in the first and third sections is greater than in the second section. The three sections of the vacuum assembly correspond to the three sections of the roller such that the contour of the arcuate surface causes the print media, after leaving the vacuum assembly, to contact the first and third sections of the roller prior to contacting the second section of the roller. |
| US09216594B2 |
Conveyor device and inkjet recording apparatus
A conveyor device is installed opposite to a recording head in a recording apparatus. The conveyor device includes a conveyor belt that conveys a recording medium. The conveyor device further includes a suction section. The suction section includes a guide member having through holes and an air escape channel. The guide member is located opposite to the recording head with the conveyor belt therebetween. The suction section sucks on the recording medium through the conveyor belt and the guide member. The guide member has a surface having grooves therein. The surface faces the recording head with the conveyor belt therebetween. The surface has a recess located outside of a region where the grooves are located. The recess constitutes a part of the air escape channel. The air escape channel is in communication with one or more of the grooves. |
| US09216591B1 |
Method and system for mutual augmentation of a motivational printing awareness platform and recommendation-enabled printing drivers
This disclosure provides a method and system to promote the reduction of an environmental impact by one or more users of a printing system. According to an exemplary embodiment, a printing system includes a motivational platform and an operatively associated printer driver, the motivational platform recording the historical print activity of a plurality of users associated with a group and communicating the historical print activity to the print driver which is configured to provide an active user recommended selectable printer settings for a print job, prior to being submitted, which are based on best practices within the group. |
| US09216586B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid transfer method
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a head unit that ejects a liquid onto a medium; a first liquid accommodation unit that accommodates the liquid; a second liquid accommodation unit that is different from the first liquid accommodation unit; a first flow channel that communicates with the first liquid accommodation unit and the head unit; a second flow channel that communicates with the first flow channel and the second liquid accommodation unit; and a liquid supply unit that delivers the liquid from the first liquid accommodation unit to the second liquid accommodation unit through the first flow channel and the second flow channel and that returns the liquid from the second liquid accommodation unit to the first liquid accommodation unit through the second flow channel and the first flow channel. |
| US09216585B2 |
Liquid storage container
A liquid storage container supplies ink to a printer which consumes the ink, and includes a liquid storage body which includes a liquid lead-out port communicating with the printer and a filler port formed to pour the liquid to the liquid storage container, an auxiliary holding member which is mounted to be slidable to a side in which the filler port is formed, and a memory unit holding member which is detachably configured to the auxiliary holding member and includes a memory unit. |
| US09216583B2 |
Liquid container, adapter, and liquid ejection apparatus
A liquid container is configured to be detachably attached to a liquid container storage section having a liquid supply section, and a damping section including a movement section that seals off one end of a recess space and is movable in a direction of compression in which air of the recess space is compressed, and an urging section that urges the movement section in a direction opposite to the direction of compression. The liquid container includes a liquid lead-out section configured to be connected to the liquid supply section, and an abutment section arranged on a same side as a side section to which the liquid lead-out section is provided, and abuttable against the movement section in a direction of mounting that matches the direction of compression when the liquid container moves in the direction of mounting with respect to the liquid container storage section. |
| US09216579B2 |
Waste liquid recovery apparatus and liquid ejecting apparatus
A waste liquid recovery apparatus includes a container body; a liquid absorbing body which is accommodated in the container body and absorbs liquid discharged as a waste liquid; and a sealing member which seals the container body, wherein a first space into which liquid is discharged from a liquid ejecting head and a second space which links with the outside through a ventilation hole formed in the sealing member are formed in a space closed by the container body and the sealing body, and the first space and the second space are connected with each other at the ventilation hole side. |
| US09216578B2 |
Liquid ejection head
A liquid ejection head includes a recording element substrate including an electrode at a first side portion; an electrical wiring substrate having a wire line; a connecting portion connecting the electrode and the wire line; and a sealing material provided between the first side portion of the recording element substrate and the electrical wiring substrate. A first line and a second line are out of alignment in a direction along a side of the recording element substrate. The first line orthogonal to the side passes through a center of gravity of the recording element substrate. A second line passes through a center of a part covered with the sealing material and extends parallel to the first line. Of a part of the sealing material, a first area on the first line side has a larger volume than that of a second area opposite to the first line side. |
| US09216577B2 |
Droplet ejection device
A droplet ejection device includes a pressure chamber; a nozzle orifice arranged in fluid connection with the pressure chamber; an actuator system for generating a pressure wave in a liquid present in the pressure chamber; and an obstruction member arranged in the pressure chamber in a position opposite to the nozzle orifice. The obstruction member comprises a first surface facing the nozzle orifice and rigidly coupled to a wall of the pressure chamber via a support. The support is arranged near the first surface of the obstruction member. The droplet ejection device according to the present invention may further comprise a structured nozzle inflow means which provides a gradual transition from the hollow shaped liquid passage to the nozzle orifice. The droplet ejection device prevents or at least mitigates air entrapment in dead volumes present in the interior of the droplet ejection device. |
| US09216576B2 |
Inkjet head with damper member in common ink chamber, and method for driving inkjet head
An inkjet head includes pressure chambers arranged in 2 or more rows and a common ink chamber connected to all the pressure chambers, wherein each of the pressure chambers includes a damper member inside of the common ink chamber of the inkjet head for commonly supplying an ink from the common ink chamber via an ink inlet which faces the common ink chamber, and the shortest distance between the damper member and the ink inlet is made shorter than the distance between ink inlets in adjacent rows of pressure chambers. |
| US09216575B2 |
Recording-element substrate and liquid ejection apparatus
A recording-element substrate includes an ejection port configured to eject liquid; a heating resistance element configured to generate thermal energy for ejecting the liquid from the ejection port; and a drive circuit configured to drive the heating resistance element. The heating resistance element includes a heating resistor layer and three pairs of electrodes provided for the heating resistor layer. The drive circuit forms a heating area that generates thermal energy in the heating resistor layer by selectively using two or more of the electrodes. |
| US09216573B2 |
Apparatus for controlling droplet motion in electric field and method of the same
The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling droplet motion in an electric field by reducing volume of a single droplet to a very small volume using a strong electric field and controlling a position of a droplet using a repulsive force of the same polarity, and a method of the same. The apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first electrode, an insulator disposed above the first electrode, a discharge tip disposed above the insulator by a predetermined distance and dividing a transferred fluid into a small volume of a droplet, and a second electrode contacting the fluid supplied through the discharge tip. The first electrode and the second electrode may form an electric field at an end of the discharge tip by forming a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US09216572B2 |
Printing device and printing method
A printing device include a control section that causes the head to execute an ejection operation of forming an image forming dot for printing an image designated as a print target and a flushing dot other than the image forming dot on a printing medium, wherein the control section has an acquiring unit that acquires a prescribed parameter in printing conditions for forming the image forming dot on the printing medium, a determining unit that determines a margin area in which the flushing dot is not formed in an end portion of the printing medium based on the prescribed parameter, and an executing unit that executes the ejection operation so as not to form the flushing dot in the margin area on the printing medium. |
| US09216564B2 |
Systems and methods for forming laminates with patterned microwave energy interactive material
Portions of microwave energy interactive material may be cut and removed during intermediate steps in a lamination processes, so that remaining microwave energy interactive material in a resultant laminate is arranged in a pattern. Regarding the removal of the portions of the microwave energy interactive material, a compound laminate may be delaminated into parts, and one of the parts may be a sacrificial laminate that includes the removed portions of the microwave energy interactive material. |
| US09216563B2 |
Lead anchor with adhesive and systems and methods using the lead anchor
A lead anchor includes an anchor body having an outer surface, a top end, a front side, a first end, and a second end disposed opposite to the first end. The anchor body defines a longitudinal lead lumen extending from the first end of the anchor body to the second end of the anchor body. The lead lumen is configured and arranged to receive a portion of a lead. A transverse lumen extends from the top end of the anchor body and perpendicularly intersects the lead lumen. An adhesive is disposed within a shell. The adhesive and shell are disposed in the transverse lumen of the anchor body and are configured and arranged for fastening the received lead to the lead anchor by piercing the shell to release the adhesive so that the adhesive passes through the transverse lumen into the lead lumen and into contact with the received lead. |
| US09216562B2 |
Alignment film material and manufacturing method for liquid crystal display panel
The present invention discloses an alignment film and the manufacturing method for liquid crystal display panel. The method comprises preparing a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal, at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate being provided with an alignment film; the material of the alignment film comprising a solvent and a substance dissolved in the solvent, the substance comprising at least one first polymer, the first polymer comprising a main chain and a side chain; folding the first substrate and the second substrate, and injecting the liquid crystal between the first substrate and the second substrate to form a liquid crystal cell; applying voltage to the liquid crystal cell, and then irradiating the liquid crystal cell with UV light. Through the above way, the present invention can reduce the mura phenomenon in the liquid crystal display panel and improve the display quality. |
| US09216555B2 |
Wear-resistant attachments for high-wear applications
A wear-resistant assembly, including: a surface; a base; and a plurality of wear-resistant attachments removably coupled to the base, each of the plurality of wear-resistant attachments including an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein the outer portion of each of the plurality of wear-resistant attachments is coupled to the outer portion of at least one other wear-resistant attachment so that a plurality of coupled wear-resistant attachments include a substantially continuous surface, the substantially continuous surface including at least a portion of the surface of the wear-resistant assembly. |
| US09216548B2 |
Removing volatile compounds from polymer pellets
The invention is directed to a process for the treatment of plastic material comprising a) providing a liquid; b) contacting the plastic material with the liquid; c) keeping the plastic material in the liquid at Tb−25° C. to Tb of the liquid, wherein Tb is the boiling point of the liquid at the applied pressure; and d) removing the plastic material from the liquid. Furthermore, the invention is directed to the use of a liquid for the treatment of plastic material and to a plant for treating plastic material with a liquid. |
| US09216545B2 |
Printing head module
A printing head module includes a bracket, a locking mechanism disposed on the bracket and a printing head. The bracket includes a containing cavity and a supporter. The locking mechanism includes a pressing component fixed to the supporter, a locking component and an elastic component. The locking component pivoted to the pressing component such that the elastic component leans therebetween. The locking component has a first positioning portion. The printing head detachably disposed in the containing cavity includes a second positioning component. The first positioning portion is engaged with the second positioning component, so the elastic component is pressed to provide the locking component a restoring force away from the pressing component to confine the printing head between the locking component and the bracket. |
| US09216544B2 |
Automated additive manufacturing system for printing three-dimensional parts, printing farm thereof, and method of use thereof
An additive manufacturing system comprising a platen assembly configured to restrain and release a film or substrate, a head gantry configured to retain a print head for printing a three-dimensional part on the restrained film or substrate. The additive manufacturing system may also include a removal assembly configured to draw the film having the printed three-dimensional part from the platen assembly and to cut the drawn film. |
| US09216543B1 |
Method of forming a three-dimensional object
The current three-dimensional object manufacturing technique relies on the deposition of a pseudoplastic material in gel aggregate state. The gel flows through a deposition nozzle because the applied agitation and pressure shears the bonds and induces a breakdown in the material elasticity. The elasticity recovers immediately after leaving the nozzle, and the gel solidifies to maintain its shape and strength. |
| US09216531B2 |
Ring valve gate mold device
A ring valve gate mold device includes: a stationary mold and a movable mold that are disposed so as to be allowed to be joined together and separated from each other; an annular cavity used to form an annular product, the cavity being formed in a mating face that is an upper face of the movable mold; a supply passage through which molten resin is supplied via a circular gate connected to the entire circumference of the annular cavity; and a valve body that opens and closes the circular gate of the supply passage. The valve body is a tubular sleeve body that moves in the axial direction of the ring valve gate mold device to open and close the circular gate. The sleeve body is disposed at a position radially outward of the supply passage connected to the gate. |
| US09216528B2 |
Bi-stable medical sensor and technique for using the same
A bi-stable sensor is provided that includes a frame upon which electrical and optical components may be disposed and a coating, such as an overmold coating, provided about the frame. A resistance-providing component is provided integral with or external to the coated bi-stable sensor such that the bi-stable sensor has two mechanically stable configurations that may be transitioned between by overcoming the resistance provided by the resistance-providing component and/or the by the coating. In one embodiment, the resistance-providing component comprises an elastic band provided about a hinge of the frame, either within or external to the coating. In one embodiment, the sensor may be placed on a patient's finger, toe, ear, and so forth to obtain pulse oximetry or other physiological measurements. |
| US09216525B2 |
Process for producing expanded polyolefin resin particles and expanded polyolefin resin particles
A process for producing expanded polyolefin resin particles with use as a foaming agent of water contained in an aqueous dispersion medium. The process includes dispersing polyolefin resin particles together with the aqueous dispersion medium into a closed vessel; heating the polyolefin resin particles up to or above a softening temperature of the polyolefin resin particles and pressurizing the polyolefin resin particles; and releasing the polyolefin resin particles into a zone whose pressure is lower than an internal pressure of the closed vessel. The polyolefin resin particles are composed of a polyolefin resin composition including polyolefin resin, a water-absorbing substance, and a foam nucleating agent. |
| US09216522B2 |
Apparatus for the pretreatment and subsequent plastification of plastic material with melt filter
Disclosed is an apparatus for processing of plastics, with a container with a mixing implement, and a conveyor provided with a screw rotating in a housing, the housing being divided into two chambers, the frontal chamber having an intake aperture, and the rearward chamber having at least one degassing aperture, the two chambers being connected to one another through a channel having a melt filter, wherein the imaginary continuation of the longitudinal axis of the conveyor in a direction opposite to the direction of conveying passes the axis of rotation, wherein the distance from the opening of the channel into the rearward chamber to the degassing aperture is in a range from 1.5 to 15 times the nominal diameter (d) of the screw. |
| US09216521B2 |
Apparatus for processing plastics material
Disclosed is a device and a method for processing plastic material with at least one receiving container, wherein at least one mixing and/or comminution tool, rotatable about a rotation axis, is arranged, for mixing and warming the plastic material, and with at least one conveyor for discharging the plastic material from the receiving container, with at least one screw rotating in a housing, where the conveyor is connected, at its material inlet side via an opening which is formed in a side wall of the receiving container, with the interior of the receiving container. An imaginary extension of the central longitudinal axis of the conveyor extends, against the conveyance direction of the conveyor, past the rotation axis of the receiving container, without intersecting this axis, where the longitudinal axis of the conveyor is offset by a separation relative to the radial ray of the receiving container on the discharge side. |
| US09216519B2 |
Epitaxial formation support structures and associated methods
Epitaxial formation support structures and associated methods of manufacturing epitaxial formation support structures and solid state lighting devices are disclosed herein. In several embodiments, a method of manufacturing an epitaxial formation support substrate can include forming an uncured support substrate that has a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and coefficient of thermal expansion substantially similar to N-type gallium nitride. The method can further include positioning the first side of the uncured support substrate on a first surface of a first reference plate and positioning a second surface of a second reference plate on the second side to form a stack. The first and second surfaces can include uniformly flat portions. The method can also include firing the stack to sinter the uncured support substrate. At least side of the support substrate can form a planar surface that is substantially uniformly flat. |
| US09216514B2 |
Manually actuatable liquid dispensing razor
The invention features a razor for dispensing a fluid during shaving. The razor includes a handle, a razor cartridge, and a fluid dispensing member joined to the cartridge. The handle includes a cavity for housing a fluid and a manually-actuated pump to displace the fluid from the cavity through a connector port flowpath to an opening at the proximal end of the handle. The razor cartridge includes a cartridge connecting structure attached to the housing and an aperture that extends from the rear surface to the front surface of the housing. The fluid dispensing member is disposed in the cartridge connecting structure and includes a converging flowpath that is in fluid communication with the connector port flowpath and the aperture in the housing. |
| US09216512B2 |
Scissors
Provided are scissors with excellent safety that can more reliably prevent finger pinch when being closed. In the present invention, finger pinch prevention guards 20a, 20b for preventing fingertips from entering the opposing inner surfaces 10a, 10b side from above or below are formed on left and right operation portions 7a, 7b. This can prevent user's fingertips from reaching the opposing inner surfaces (10a, 10b) by setting the user's fingertips inserted into finger placing holes (6a, 6b) along upper and lower surfaces of the finger pinch prevention guards 20a, 20b. Consequently, when the operation portions 7a, 7b are in the closed position, the fingertips are prevented from being pinched between the opposing inner surfaces 10a, 10b so as not to cause finger pinch. |
| US09216510B2 |
Remote vehicle control system
A method for controlling one or more remote vehicles may comprise manipulating remote dexterous manipulators, translating movement of the remote dexterous manipulators into movement of the one or more remote vehicles, and providing a sliding work window allowing control of the one or more remote vehicles' entire range of motion without sacrificing control resolution. |
| US09216507B2 |
Wall mounted work bench
A wall mounted collapsible work bench, the bench having a frame mounted flush against a wall, at least one support member, and a work surface having a top planar surface, a bottom, a back side, a front side, a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the back side is fixedly hinged to the top bar of the frame such that, in an open position, the work surface hinges upward to rest atop the A shaped braces, perpendicular to the frame and, in a collapsed position, the work surface hinges downward to lie parallel to the frame. |
| US09216503B2 |
Multi-tool wrench
A multi-tool is provided having a first end having a socket wrench, a second end having a retractable blade, a plurality of interchangeable wrench heads that are affixable over the second end of the tool when the blade is retracted, a screwdriver that is pivotally deployable from the body of the tool, an extendable magnet that is pivotally deployable from the reverse side of the tool, and at least one level. An alternative embodiment of the present multi-tool further includes a light to be used to illuminate dim work environments. The interchangeable wrench heads include an open-ended wrench head, an adjustable open-ended wrench head, a box end wrench head, and other such wrench head attachments. |
| US09216496B2 |
Variable gear ratio ratchet
This invention relates to a fastener driving device including a variable ratio gear mechanism that enables the ratio of the rotation of the handle to the rotation of a driving bit extending from the handle to be varied to allow the bit to rotate at different speeds from the handle. The device includes a gear mechanism disposed within a housing for the device that includes a locking member. The locking member can be engaged with the gear mechanism to lock the gear mechanism in a configuration for a 1:1 gear ratio. The locking member can be moved with regard to the gear mechanism to provide an increased gear ratio for the gear mechanism when desired. |
| US09216493B2 |
Methods of improving sintering of PCD using graphene
A method of making diamond including mixing graphene with diamond seed to form a powder mixture, and then sintering the powder mixture, in the absence of a transition metal catalyst, at high pressure and high temperature; and a method of making a polycrystalline diamond compact including mixing graphene in diamond powder to form a powder mixture with less than about 50% graphene by weight, and then sintering the powder mixture, in the absence of a transition metal catalyst, at high pressure and high temperature. |
| US09216492B2 |
Functionalization of cubic boron nitride and method of making the same
A superabrasive material and method of making the superabrasive material are provided. The superabrasive material may comprise a superabrasive crystal and a plurality of particles. The plurality of particles may be included within the superabrasive crystal. The plurality of particles may comprise a non-catalyst material. |
| US09216491B2 |
Components with cooling channels and methods of manufacture
A manufacturing method is provided. The manufacturing method includes forming one or more grooves in a component comprising a substrate. Each groove extends at least partially along the substrate and has a base, a top and at least one discharge end. The manufacturing method further includes forming a crater, such that the crater is in fluid connection with the respective discharge end for each groove, and disposing a coating over at least a portion of an outer surface of the substrate. The groove(s) and the coating together define one or more channels for cooling the component. The coating does not completely bridge each of the one or more craters, such that each crater defines a film exit. A component with cratered film exits is also provided. |
| US09216487B1 |
Manual tool sharpener with moveable abrasive surface
Apparatus and method for sharpening a cutting tool having a cutting edge. In some embodiments, a manual sharpener includes a base housing adapted to be contactingly supported on a base surface, with the base housing having an overall length dimension in a first direction. A support member extends along the overall length dimension of the base housing and is adapted for rotation with respect to the base housing about a central axis extending along the first direction. An abrasive surface covers a top surface of the support member. The support member rotates the abrasive surface responsive to presentation of the cutting edge of the tool thereagainst as the cutting edge is moved along the abrasive surface in the first direction. A biasing mechanism coupled to the support member urges the support member to a neutral rotational position with respect to the base housing. |
| US09216486B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing a plastic part and comprising a lathe system
The invention relates to a method for processing a plastic part by using a lathe system and comprises the following steps: rotating the plastic part mashing of a tools cutting edge with the plastic part, generating a gaseous and a liquid flow, whereby the chip, which is lifted of the plastic part, is first surrounded by the gas flow and subsequently by the liquid flow Moreover the invention relates to a lathe system to carry out the said method which comprises a rotatable workpiece receptacle, a tool fitted with a tool cutting edge, and a chip removal device. The chip removal device is fitted with a gas flow generator, having a gas nozzle which points towards the tool and with a liquid flow generator having a liquid channel configured below the tools cutting edge. |
| US09216485B2 |
Quick clamping device adapted for worktable
A quick clamp is adapted for a worktable, and includes a slide bar for clamping or loosening a workpiece by the sliding thereof, and a fixing rod fixedly connected to the worktable. The quick clamping device further includes a pushing mechanism for pushing the slide bar towards the worktable, and a locking mechanism for locking the slide bar at a position. At least some advantages of the present quick clamp include simplicity in structure and cost-effectiveness, and the assurance of a quick clamping and quick release functionality. The present quick clamp also provides simple operation and reliable clamping, while improving convenience and comfort of operation. |
| US09216481B1 |
Method of producing a circular saw blade having reversible arbor mounting hole that receives an asymmetrical arbor
A method of creating an arbor mounting hole in a blade. The arbor mounting hole is created by making a first model of an arbor mounting hole that fits onto the asymmetrical mounting arbor. The first model has a first long flat edge and a first center of rotation. A mirror image of the first model is used to create a second model. The second model has a second long flat edge and a second center of rotation. The first model and the second model are superimposed so that the first center of rotation aligns with the second center of rotation and the first long flat edge aligns with the second long flat edge. The superimposition creates a compound model. A symmetric arbor model is formed about the compound model. The symmetric arbor model is cut into the blade. |
| US09216476B1 |
Enclosure for laser engraving device
A laser engraving device includes a retractable enclosure which provides full access to the product to be engraved for set-up while providing complete enclosure of the product during the engraving operation. |
| US09216474B2 |
Two-piece friction-welded piston
A two-piece piston is formed by friction welding an upper member to a lower member, wherein the upper and lower members are precision cast to net final dimensions such that no post-casting machining is required prior to the friction-welding process. The upper member includes a substantially flat crown and combustion surface extending radially inward from the crown. The lower member includes a pair of opposing skirts, each having a bore formed therethrough for receiving a connecting rod pin. The upper member and lower member each include at least two corresponding connecting surfaces that form a welded joint therebetween when the upper and lower members are friction welded together. The finished piston includes an integral cooling oil reservoir adjacent to the combustion surface. |
| US09216473B2 |
Clamping and heating apparatus for joining tools
A friction stir spot welding tool and a self-piercing riveting tool are disclosed for joining parts. The parts are clamped between a head and anvil support of the friction stir spot welding tool or the self-piercing riveting tool. A plurality of clamping and heating modules are attached to an attachment fixture on the head and the anvil support that heats the area around the pin of the friction stir spot welding tool or self-piercing riveting tool prior to and during the joining operation. |
| US09216472B2 |
Friction stir welding apparatus comprising slide plates
A friction stir welding apparatus includes a rotating tool provided with an upper rotating body arranged to be axially adjustable in position by an upper actuator, a lower rotating body integral with a rotating main rod extending through the upper rotating body and arranged to be axially adjustable in position by a lower actuator, and a stirring part formed in the rod. The upper rotating body and the lower rotating body clamp therebetween a joint of members to be joined placed with their end faces butting each other. The stirring part is rotated to stir the joint by frictional heat to join them. The rotating tool includes a slide plate attached, through a thrust bearing, to one or both of end portions of the upper rotating body and the lower rotating body facing each other to provide good finished surfaces of the joint. |
| US09216471B2 |
Connector for arc welding conductor tube for GMAW manual/robotic arc welding MIG guns
An arc welding apparatus comprising a conductor tube defining an internal passageway is disclosed. The conductor tube further defines an external surface profile and a distal end portion. The conductor tube is configured to engage a sleeve having inner and outer surface profiles. The inner surface profile is configured to abut the external surface profile of the conductor tube, and the outer surface profile comprises an engaging portion. |
| US09216466B2 |
Gear processing machine
A machine tool comprising a machine base having a first side comprising a first planar surface and a machine column movable along an arcuate path on the first planar surface. The machine further comprises a first spindle movable in a first linear direction and being rotatable about a first axis of rotation. The machine further comprises a machine turret located on a second planar surface of the machine base first side. The machine turret is angularly movable about a pivot axis. The machine turret includes a second spindle positioned within the turret with the second spindle being rotatable about a second axis of rotation and being movable in a second linear direction. |
| US09216465B2 |
Ratchet cutting tool with a replacement blade storage tray
The improved ratchet cutting tool comprises a first contoured handle member having a first rear end defining a hand gripping portion, a second forward end defining a cradle portion for supporting different size work pieces to be cut. A second contoured handle member having a first rear end defining a hand gripping portion, a second forward end defining a securing means for pivotally attaching a ratchet cutting blade holder and ratchet assembly between the first and second handle members. An intermediate portion including a pair of ramp portions that extends between the cradle portions and the hand gripping portion. The first handle member includes a sliding replacement and display blade storage tray cavity disposed along an exterior side face of the first handle member below the intermediate portion for receiving a sliding replacement and display blade storage tray for storing non-standard angled cutting blades therein. |
| US09216464B2 |
Milling tool and milling tool body having pressure holes for securing cutting inserts
A rotary milling tool body includes a circumferential clamping portion with opposite first and second side surfaces and a plurality of insert pockets and integral clamping jaws arranged therealong. Each clamping jaw includes opposite forward and rearward abutment surfaces which extend between the first and second side surfaces. Each clamping jaw further includes a throughgoing pressure hole which opens out only to the first and second side surfaces. Each clamping jaw further includes a pressure member which is located in the pressure hole and transferable between disengaged and engaged positions. |
| US09216463B2 |
Cutting tool and cutting insert having exactly three cutting portions therefor
In a cutting tool having an indexable cutting insert with three cutting portions, the cutting insert is removably securable to an insert holder by means of a fastener. The cutting insert has two opposing end surfaces with a peripheral side surface extending therebetween. At least one end surface has a central boss protruding therefrom with a raised support surface, and the peripheral side surface has three abutment recesses. In an end view of the cutting insert, each of the three abutment recesses is visible and located inside a first imaginary circle circumscribing the visible central boss. A holding portion of the insert holder has a seating surface with at least one protuberance protruding therefrom. The support surface is in clamping contact with the seating surface, and exactly two of the three abutment recesses are engaged with the at least one protuberance. |
| US09216460B2 |
Coolant-hole equipped drill
A coolant-hole equipped drill includes a drill main body, a cutting edge portion which has a tip flank, a chip discharging groove provided with a front groove wall surface and a rear groove wall surface, a cutting edge formed at a ridge line portion where the front groove wall surface and the tip flank intersect with each other, a land portion formed between the chip discharging grooves adjacent to each other in the rotating direction, and a coolant hole drilled at the land portion and opened at the tip flank. The coolant hole includes a front hole wall surface, a rear hole wall surface, and an outer-circumference hole wall surface. |
| US09216459B2 |
Drilling machine, in particular hand-held core drilling machine
The invention discloses a drilling machine, in particular a hand-held core drilling machine, having a drive with a motor that can be coupled to a tool spindle in order to drive the latter, wherein the drive allows at least a first transmission stage and a second transmission stage, having a center mount for mounting a pilot drill and having a tool mount for mounting a drill bit, wherein the drill bit and the pilot drill can be mounted substantially concentrically with one another, wherein the pilot drill, in particular in order to drill a pilot hole, can be driven in a first rotational speed range by means of the first transmission stage and wherein the drill bit, in particular in order to drill a core hole, can be driven in a second rotational speed range by means of the second transmission stage. |
| US09216458B2 |
Cutting tool having adjustable insert cutting angle
An adjustable insert cutting angle cutting tool comprising a tool holder having a cartridge receiving pocket, an insert cartridge clamped the cartridge receiving pocket by a clamping member, and a cutting insert removably retained in the insert cartridge. The clamping member is operated by a separate fastening member. The cutting insert has at least one operative cutting portion, and the insert cartridge is oriented in a cartridge receiving pocket of the tool holder so that the operative cutting portion encounters a workpiece at an insert cutting angle. The clamping member has a clamping surface with at least one clamping zone, and the same at least one clamping zone makes contact with a non-planar clamped surface of the insert cartridge for different values of insert cutting angle. The insert cutting angle is increased or decreased by reorienting the insert cartridge in the tool holder, following release of the fastening member. |
| US09216448B2 |
Drawing press having two couplable rams
The invention relates to a drawing press (10) having a first ram (17) and a second ram (18). The first ram (17) is moved in a working direction (A) by an electromotive first ram drive (25) and the second ram (18) by an electromotive second ram drive. The drawing press (10) also has a coupling means (35) which can be switched between an uncoupling state and a coupling state. In the uncoupling state, the two rams (17), (18) can move independently of one another in the working direction (A). In the coupling state, the coupling means (35) ensures that a relative movement between the two rams (17, 18) is prevented. The drawing press (10) can therefore be operated as a single-acting or double -acting press. |
| US09216447B2 |
Formation and rotational apparatus and method for cylindrical workpieces
A formation and rotation apparatus for use in forming and rotating interconnected sections of a cylindrical workpiece, including a frame and a head arranged within the frame, the head defining two slots and being operatively rotated via an integral drive assembly. A first slide block is slidably disposed within one of the two slots, and a second slide block is disposed within another of the two slots, each of the first and the second slide blocks include a cutting wheel and a beading wheel for successively forming each of the interconnected sections. An armature having an axis of rotation is also provided, along with a gripping mechanism being operatively connected to the armature. A drive mechanism selectively rotates the armature about the axis of rotation after the gripping means has closed about one of the interconnected sections. |
| US09216443B2 |
Drive system for a cleaning device and cleaning device
A drive system (100) for a cleaning device for cleaning a tank (1) including a brake arrangement (7, 8, 13) for regulating the speed of the magnetic hysteresis coupling, and where the brake arrangement is arranged in the vicinity of a second coupling part (5) of the magnetic hysteresis coupling, and where brake arrangement includes brake parts (7, 8, 13) that interacts with the second coupling part of the magnetic hysteresis coupling to adjust the rotation of the second coupling part of the magnetic hysteresis coupling. |
| US09216438B2 |
Diamond screening apparatus
The present invention relates to a diamond screening apparatus, comprising: a working platform comprising a working plane; a conveyer disposed on the working plane of the working platform for carrying a diamond matrix unit; an image capture device forming one or a plurality of captured images in different regions of the diamond matrix unit; a display device; and an image recognition module, which is electrically connected to the image capture device and the display device, performs a geometric feature parameter analysis on the captured images to determine one or a plurality of risk diamonds of the diamond matrix unit. |
| US09216435B2 |
Method for the preparation of graphene or graphenic materials films on non-metal substrates
The present invention describes a method for the preparation of graphene or graphenic material films by the carbonization of biopolymers.The method comprises the following stages: preparation of an aqueous solution of a non-crystallizable water-soluble biopolymer or a derivative of said biopolymer at the suitable pH, coating of the substrate with the aqueous solution of the biopolymer prepared in the previous stage by immersion of the substrate in said solution or by using the spin coating technique, conditioning of the aqueous solution of the biopolymer by means of a hydrothermal process consisting of subjecting the coated surface to a flow of nitrogen saturated with water vapor at the temperature of between 100 and 250° C. for a time between 30 minutes and several hours, thermal decomposition of the biopolymer deposited on the substrate in the absence of oxygen at temperatures below 1200° C. |
| US09216433B2 |
Powder coating system
A powder coating system which is provided with a rotating stage which makes a metal cylindrical member rotate while holding its internal circumferential surface, a first booth which covers part of the metal cylindrical member which is held by the rotating stage, and a second booth which holds the first booth. A powder coating introduction nozzle which is provided with a filling port of powder coating and a plurality of powder coating spray ports is provided so that a filling port is positioned at the outside of the second booth and so that the plurality of spray ports can be changed in position in the first booth to face surface parts of the metal cylindrical member. The sprayed powder coating is collected inside the second booth by a flow of air from a blow device and is removed by being sucked up by a powder collector. |
| US09216430B2 |
Spray device having curved passages
A system includes an air cap configured to mount to a head of a spray device, wherein the air cap comprises at least one air passage having a curved flow path. A system may include a spray head having a first curved air passage that turns inwardly toward a central axis of the spray head, and a second curved air passage that turns inwardly toward the central axis of the spray head, wherein the first and second curved air passage are configured to direct first and second air flows inwardly toward a spray to shape the spray. A system may include a spray device having a liquid passage leading to a liquid outlet, and a curved air passage that gradually curves toward an air outlet. |
| US09216429B2 |
Mist generating apparatus and method
The present invention provides, inter alia, an apparatus for generating a mist. The apparatus includes (a) a first transport fluid passage having a first transport fluid inlet, a first transport fluid outlet, and a throat portion intermediate the first transport fluid inlet and the first transport fluid outlet, the throat portion having a cross sectional area which is less than that of either the first transport fluid inlet or the first transport fluid outlet; (b) at least one working fluid passage located radially outwardly of the first transport fluid passage and having a working fluid inlet and a working fluid outlet; (c) at least one second transport fluid passage having a second transport fluid inlet and a second transport fluid outlet in fluid communication with the working fluid passage; and (d) an outlet nozzle in fluid communication with the first transport fluid and working fluid outlets, wherein the second transport fluid passage has an outlet located in the working fluid passage upstream of the working fluid outlet. Systems and methods of generating a mist using such an apparatus are also provided. Methods for fire suppression and decontamination using such an apparatus are further provided. Mists generated using such an apparatus are further provided. |
| US09216428B2 |
Spindle system and electrostatic painting system
Each spindle system turbine blade has front and rear surfaces relative to the rotational direction. The rear surface is a recessed columnar surface with a radius of curvature R1, while the front surface is a smooth continuous surface having a projecting columnar surface with a radius of curvature R2 larger than R1 and a flat surface between which a projecting columnar surface with a radius of curvature R3 larger than R1 is arranged. Among the three surfaces, the projecting columnar surface is at an inlet side of a channel straddling the projecting columnar surface, while the flat surface is at the outlet side. A space sandwiched between a facing front surface and rear surface of adjoining turbine blades forms a gas channel. Gas ejected from a nozzle flows in from an inlet in a direction along the arc-shaped curve of the recessed columnar surface and out an outlet. |
| US09216425B2 |
Funnel shaped shower shield and kiddie shower
A shower attachment acts as a shield to block a child from the encompassing high pressure water spraying from an ordinary shower head. The shower attachment also acts as a kiddie shower that imitates the spraying action of an ordinary bathroom showerhead. The shield portion can include a funnel shape that allows the blocked water from the shower head to flow down through the shower attachment and then exit in a spraying fashion that is less frightening to children. The shower attachment includes a clamping mechanism to attach to a conventional shower arm, a funnel-shaped shield and shower, and extender bars interconnecting the clamping mechanism with the funnel-shaped shield and shower. The extender bars can be rotated to position the funnel-shaped shield and shower in front of the shower head to catch water being expelled therefrom. |
| US09216424B2 |
System and method of selective fluid pattern distribution
A fluid distributor has a component configured for selective rotation about a central axis of the fluid distributor, a fluid input, a first fluid output, and a second fluid output, wherein rotation of the component in a first direction about the central axis alternates selection between the first fluid output and the second fluid output and at least one of (1) the component is configured to rotate about the central axis by at least 360° in the first direction and such rotation of the component about the central axis provides at least four alternations between selection of the first fluid output and the second fluid output and (2) selection of the second fluid output is the next available fluid output for selection in response to rotating the component about the central axis away from a position of the component in which the first fluid output is selected. |
| US09216421B2 |
Integrated system for sampling and analysis
There is disclosed a device for determination of a sample from a dielectric fluid medium for a bio-specific assay device, comprising: a sampling device and a biosensor, wherein the sampling device concentrates a sample from dielectric medium by electrically focusing the sample on to a capture element and wherein said biosensor is fluidically linked to said capture element thus providing sampling and determination in a unitary device. |
| US09216418B2 |
Hydraulic milling ball feed and discharge for stirred ball mills
A method for the introduction of auxiliary grinding bodies into an agitator ball mill and for the removal of auxiliary grinding bodies from an agitator ball mill. The auxiliary grinding bodies are transported into the agitator ball mill and out of the latter via a closed circuit by means of a hydraulic conveying medium. |
| US09216415B2 |
Methods of dispensing and withdrawing liquid in an electrowetting device
The invention provides a method for dispensing liquid, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a droplet to be dispensed in a gap of an electrowetting device using an electrowetting array; and (b) dispensing the droplet through a hole in a housing or substrate of the electrowetting device. The invention further provides a method for withdrawing liquid comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a droplet to be withdrawn from a gap of an electrowetting device using an electrowetting array; and (b) withdrawing the droplet through a hole in a housing or substrate of the electrowetting device. |
| US09216412B2 |
Microfluidic devices and methods of manufacture and use
Series of bio-detection elements, shown as short hollow transparent reaction vessels (32), batch-surface-coated with capture-agent, are placed in channel of larger width (a3; c8; 15; 28; 44), and fixed by flexible or elastomeric over-lying sheet (a1; c7; 13; 38). Portions of sheet form pneumatically-activated pistons (22; 36) and valves (23-27; 54) to produce and control channel flow. Overlying sheet is of reflectively-coated Mylar (b4) or PDMS, bonded with channel-defining structure. PDMS sheet is surface-activated for molecular-bond with PDMS channel-defining structure, molecular-bond with PDMS-valve-seat-forming portions (34) defeated by repeated make-and-break contact during cure. Pick-and-place of detection elements in channel employs electrostatic attraction to seize elements, enabling tool removal. Rigidly-backed parts are brought together to channel-fix detection elements. Active capture-agent on batch-coated bio-elements defeated by shear-force removal or laser-scanning deactivation, so, e.g. inside surface only of hollow elements carries capture-agent. Sample may flow through hollow elements and by-pass outside without assay disturbance. |
| US09216411B2 |
Method for inhibiting nitrosamine formation in anion exchange resins
A method for inhibiting formation of nitrosamines and an anion exchange resin produced therefrom comprising providing an anion exchange resin with a nitrosating agent and applying an antioxidant to the resin to inhibit formation of nitrosamines on the anion exchange resin. |
| US09216410B2 |
Systems and methods for using Pd1+ in a TWC
Stabilized palladium (+1) compounds to mimic rhodium's electronic configuration and catalytic properties are disclosed. Palladium (+1) compounds may be stabilized in perovskite or delafossite structures and may be employed in Three-Way Catalysts (TWC) for at least the conversion of HC, CO and NOx, in exhaust gases. The TWC may include a substrate, a wash-coat and, a first impregnation layer, a second impregnation layer and an over-coat. The second impregnation layer and the over-coat may include palladium (+1) based compounds as catalyst. |
| US09216409B2 |
Systems and methods for zero-PGM binary catalyst having Cu, Mn, and Fe for TWC applications
Variations of bulk powder catalyst material including Cu—Mn, Cu—Fe, and Fe—Mn spinel systems for ZPGM TWC applications are disclosed. The disclosed bulk powder catalyst samples include stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric Cu—Mn, Cu—Fe, and Fe—Mn spinels on Pr6O11—ZrO2 support oxide, prepared using incipient wetness method. Activity measurements under isothermal steady state sweep test condition may be performed under rich to lean condition. Catalytic activity of samples may be compared to analyze the influence that different binary spinel system bulk powders may have on TWC performance of ZPGM materials for a plurality of TWC applications. Stoichiometric Cu—Mn, Cu—Fe, and Fe—Mn spinel systems exhibit higher catalytic activity than non-stoichiometric Cu—Mn, Cu—Fe, and Fe—Mn spinel systems. The influence of prepared Cu—Mn, Cu—Fe, and Fe—Mn spinel systems may lead into cost effective manufacturing solutions for ZPGM TWC systems. |
| US09216405B1 |
Rotary enthalpy exchange wheel having sulfonated block copolymer
A rotary enthalpy exchange wheel having a rotatable wheel with air passageways extending from a front side to a back side for passing air streams therethrough. The wheel has a rigid substrate which is coated or laminated with a desiccant composition having a sulfonated block copolymer. The sulfonated block copolymer has at least one end block A and at least one interior block B, wherein each A block contains essentially no sulfonic acid or sulfonate ester functional groups and each B block is a polymer block containing from about 10 to about 100 mol percent sulfonic acid or sulfonate ester functional groups based on the number of monomer units. |
| US09216404B1 |
Removal of toxic chemicals using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) post-treated via plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) with fluorocarbons
A system and method of filtering comprising adsorbing a toxic chemical using a metal-organic framework (MOF) compound that has been post-treated with fluorocarbons using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The toxic chemical may comprise any of ammonia and cyanogen chloride. Furthermore, the toxic chemical may comprise any of an acidic/acid-forming gas, basic/base-forming gas, oxidizer, reducer, and organic gas/vapor. The toxic chemical is physically adsorbed by the MOF compound. Moreover, the toxic chemical interacts with unsaturated metal sites within the MOF. Additionally, the MOF compound may comprise any of Cu-BTC, MOF-177, and an isoreticular metal-organic frame work (IRMOF) compound. The MOF compound may comprise a metal-carboxylate bond. Additionally, the MOF compound may be unstable in the presence of moisture. |
| US09216402B2 |
Reactor and catalyst for converting natural gas to organic compounds
Herein disclosed is a reactor comprising a housing; an inlet tube having a section with perforations along its length, wherein the inlet tube section is within the reactor housing; an outlet tube having a section with perforations along its length, wherein the outlet tube section is within the reactor housing; and at least one cylinder made of sintered metal contained within the reactor housing, wherein the sintered metal is catalytically active. In some cases, the sintered metal in the reactor comprises a porous metallic multifunctional (PMM) catalyst. Other reactor designs and the method of use are also described herein. |
| US09216401B2 |
Bell column downtube, reactors utilizing same and related methods
Reactors for carrying out a chemical reaction, as well as related components, systems and methods are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a reactor is provided that includes a furnace and a crucible positioned for heating by the furnace. A downtube is disposed at least partially within the interior crucible along an axis. At least one structure is coupled with the downtube and extends substantially across the cross-sectional area of the interior volume taken in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis. A plurality of holes is formed in the structure enabling fluid flow therethrough. The structure coupled with the downtube may include a lower body portion and an upper body portion coupled with the lower body portion, wherein the plurality of holes is formed in the lower body portion adjacent to, and radially outward from, a periphery of the upper body portion. |
| US09216398B2 |
Method and apparatus for making uniform and ultrasmall nanoparticles
A system comprising: a plasma production chamber configured to produce a plasma; a reaction chamber vaporize a precursor material with the plasma to form a reactive mixture; a quench chamber having a frusto-conical surface and a quench region formed within the quench chamber between an ejection port of the reaction chamber and a cooled mixture outlet, wherein the quench region configured to receive the reactive mixture from the ejection port, to cool the reactive mixture to form a cooled mixture, and to supply the cooled mixture to the cooled mixture outlet; and a conditioning fluid injection ring disposed at the ejection port and configured to flow a conditioning fluid directly into the reactive mixture as the reactive mixture flows through the ejection port, thereby disturbing the flow of the reactive mixture, creating turbulence within the quench region and cooling the reactive mixture to form a cooled mixture comprising condensed nanoparticles. |
| US09216397B2 |
Stabilizing additives for thermochromic pigments
A microencapsulation process is improved by adding a stabilizing agent that contains one or more catalytic organo-metal oxide materials, such as metal soaps. This functions as a crosslinker by causing unsaturated bonds in the microcapsule walls to react, thereby stabilizing the microcapsules against the effects of additives to coatings that, otherwise, degrade the functionality of thermochromic or photochromic materials at the microcapsule core. |
| US09216395B2 |
Process for charging a longitudinal section of a catalyst tube
A process for charging a longitudinal section of a catalyst tube with a homogeneous fixed catalyst bed section whose active composition is at least one multielement oxide or comprises elemental silver on an oxidic support body and whose geometric shaped catalyst bodies and shaped inert bodies have a specific inhomogeneity of their longest dimensions. |
| US09216394B2 |
Stackable structural reactors
A reactor for carrying out catalytic reactions. The reactor includes a reactor component optionally arranged on a central rod in a reactor tube. The reactor component can have fluid ducts for directing fluid flow through the reactor. The fluid ducts are effective for increasing heat transfer in the reactor. The reactor component can further have a washer attached to a top or bottom surface for directing fluid flow. |
| US09216379B2 |
Method and apparatus for drying compressed air
This invention relates to a method and apparatus to remove unwanted water moisture from industrial, commercial and home shop compressed air systems. The invention removes water through the process of thermal condensation. The reduced temperatures are generated by utilizing the Joule-Thompson effect through the manipulation of the pressure or pressures generated by the attached air compressor |
| US09216375B2 |
Method for selectively desulfurizing a crude synthesis gas
The invention relates to a method for operating a gas scrubber, in which a feed gas (1) containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and carbonyl sulfide and/or hydrogen sulfide is scrubbed in a scrubbing apparatus (A1) using a scrubbing agent (3, 4) preladen with carbon dioxide in order largely selectively to separate the sulfur components from the feed gas and to produce a desulfurized gas stream (5, 9). The invention is distinguished in that a sulfur-free scrubbing agent (3, 4) is used which, on introduction thereof into the scrubbing apparatus (A1), has a carbon dioxide partial pressure which is greater than or equal to the carbon dioxide partial pressure in the feed gas (1) to be desulfurized. |
| US09216371B2 |
Composite filtering structures with mat of packed melt blown micro- and nano-fibres having NANO-protrusions
Composite filtering structures comprising nanofibers spatially distributed between microfibers, wherein on the nanofibers and on the microfibers a palisade of protrusions of nanometric sizes in the form of nano-protrusions is produced, which palisade comprises nano-protrusions oriented with respect to the fiber surface at an angle ranging from about 70° to about 120°. A method of obtaining such composite filtering structures by a method that includes feeding a thermoplastic material from an extruder to at least one fiber formation die, stretching formed fibers coming out from the die, which fibers being still in a molten phase, to smaller sizes by a stream of hot air flowing tangentially to the fibers, collecting the fibers after their solidification and thus forming a mat of packed fibers providing a filtering structure, and subjecting the filtering structure to chemical etching. |
| US09216369B2 |
Filter device
In at least one embodiment, a filter device for filtering out of solid substance from a solid-liquid-mixture where the filter device includes a bearing shaft; a rotation body attached to the bearing shaft and supported by the bearing shaft to be rotatable; a single filter cell formed on the rotation body with a filter structure attached to the rotation body for filtering out the solid substance and a connection channel formed in the rotation body that extends from a filter structure outlet side to an outlet opening formed adjacent to the bearing shaft and via which the connection channel is permanently connected with an intermediate connection channel formed in the bearing shaft; a liquid discharge line connected with or formed by the intermediate connection channel; a plurality of branch-off lines which are branched-off from the liquid discharge line; and a control device having a valve assembly. |
| US09216366B2 |
Liquid chromatography component
The present invention aims to provide a liquid chromatography component including a column and a prefilter, which is hard to cause an increase of supplied liquid pressure even when the measurement of a sample is repeated. The present invention is a liquid chromatography component, which includes: a column with filler particles filled therein; and a prefilter, the filler particles having an average particle size in the range of 2 to 20 μm, the prefilter having a filtering particle size in the range of ⅙ to ⅓ of the average particle size of the filler particles. |
| US09216362B2 |
Water frolic apparatus
A water frolic apparatus is provided comprising a power supply; a controller electrically connected to the power supply, the controller capable of operating a valve; the valve having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet attachable to a water supply from a hose and the outlet attachable to plastic tubing, wherein operation of the valve controls flow of water; and a plurality of pods, each of the pods having a first hole that accepts entry of the tubing and a second hole allowing water from the tubing to spurt through. The pods are connected in series, wherein, except for the last pod in the series, the tubing extends through the entire length of each of the pods to the next pod. In an embodiment, the controller is configured to open the valve at a set interval or a pseudo-random interval. |
| US09216354B2 |
Attribute-driven gameplay
Methods and systems for emotion-based game character manipulation are provided. Each character is associated with a table of quantified attributes including emotional attributes and non-emotional attributes. An adjustment to an emotional attribute of a game character is determined based on an interaction with another game character. The emotional attribute of the first game character is adjusted, which further results in an adjustment to a non-emotional attribute of the first game character. The behavior of the first game character is then determined based on the adjusted non-emotional attribute. |
| US09216352B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating sensory vibration
In an image display apparatus for outputting a vibration with a sense of realism and an realistic sense and a method for adjusting an intensity of vibration for implementing a vibration with sense of realism and an realistic sense, a user of the image display apparatus can directly recognize (experience) a situation happened on a space formed by a screen by virtue of the vibration with the sense or presence and the realistic sense, output in association with an effect of a displayed image, and also can feel more the sense of realism and the realistic sense from the situation in the game or a virtual reality. |
| US09216350B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information processing program, and storage medium storing information processing program
An information processing apparatus for performing a competition game based on a game result determined from fighting information for each of a plurality of users in accordance with a predetermined rule. The fighting information is generated based on images input by the plural users. The information processing apparatus includes: an input unit inputting a picture drawn by the user as the image; a generation unit generating the fighting information used in the game based on an amount of features of the image input from the input unit; and a performing unit performing the game based on the fighting information for the plural users generated from the generation unit. |
| US09216348B2 |
Device to control the movement of a virtual player and a virtual ball in a game application
The present invention relates to the domain of control devices for virtual games, and more specifically to a control device to control the displacement of a virtual player and of a virtual ball in the scope of a football video game. According to the invention, the control device is in the form of a ball connected to a pedestal. This ball is equipped with accelerometers able to detect a displacement force on the ball as a result of a strike exerted on said ball, pressure sensors able to detect a pressure force exerted on the surface of the ball and a processing module. The processor module generates using information from the accelerometers and pressure sensors control signals to control the displacement of the virtual ball in the video game and control signals to control the displacement of the virtual player in the video game. |
| US09216344B1 |
Tile alignment and matching game
A set of tiles interconnecting to each other in a continuous end-to-end manner. Each tile has a body. The body of each tile has a specific amount of through bores, a pair of blind bores, and a pair of pins. The pin of the body of one tile sits in the blind bore of the body of another tile. A portion of the specific amount of through bores in the body of the one tile align with a similar portion of the specific amount of through bores in the body of the another tile. |
| US09216338B1 |
Easy golf tee
Disclosed is a golf tee foldable, through rotation, in a direction of a drive swing to prevent breakage and loss and increase the drive shot distance. The golf tee comprises a ball platform; a supporting pillar; a coupling ball; and a ball coupling portion having a fixation pin. The ball coupling portion has two quarter-spherical shells symmetrically facing each other, separated by a contoured crevice of a uniform width defined by two opposing top edges of the shells. The two shells define a generally hemispherical receptacle for holding the coupling ball therein, which is open partially through the crevice and through a horseshoe-shaped bottom opening formed by two bottom edges of the shells. The crevice is sized and configured such that at a drive swing, the supporting pillar, being restricted by the two shells, moves only along the crevice, and thereby rotates and folds only in a single plane. |
| US09216335B2 |
Detachable golf bag
The present invention provides a detachable golf bag, which is characterized by that: the support bars plugged between the upper frame and base of the golf bag comprise separately a first bar body, a second bar body and a coupling device; of which the coupling device can easily connect or disengage the first and second bar bodies to reduce the transportation space for the golf bag and also facilitate disassembly and assembly. |
| US09216327B2 |
Golf club face
A golf club head including a club face constructed from a low modulus material for maximizing driving distance potential and a perimeter flange having a mass reducing configuration for preventing adverse influences to the center of gravity and the moment of inertia of a golf club head including the club face. |
| US09216321B2 |
Exercise device
Provided is an exercise device including a planar support surface and a rolling joint which is configured to enable a 360° range of motion for the exercise device. In this regard, the user may roll the exercise device along a planar surface in a forward-and-backward motion, a side-to-side motion, or in an arcuate or circular motion. |
| US09216319B2 |
Systems and methods for analyzing event data
A computer-implemented method for determining a target situation in an athletic event. Positional information including the relative positions of a group of selected participants is initially received from a tracking system, and the aggregate motion of the selected participants is detected in real-time using the positional information. The target situation may be determined to have occurred when a change in the aggregate motion occurs in accordance with a predetermined characteristic during an initial time interval. |
| US09216318B2 |
Resistance training device and method of use thereof
A resistance training device comprising a mounting device, the mounting device configured to removably mount onto a game table, a resistance article configured to be operably attached to a game table rod that extends into a game space of the game table, the resistance article having a thickness that tapers from a minimum thickness to a maximum thickness, wherein the resistance article extends through a non-uniform opening of the mounting device, wherein a resistance is gradually increased during rotation of the resistance article is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided. |
| US09216310B2 |
Hydrotalcite like substance, process for producing the same and method of immobilizing hazardous substance
A hydrotalcite-like substance capable of ion exchange with target anions, being of small crystal size that exhibits large basal spacing and excels at anion exchange performance; a process for producing the same; and a method of immobilizing hazardous substances. The hydrotalcite-like substance is produced by mixing an acidic solution containing aluminum and magnesium ions with an alkaline solution containing an alkali to synthesize a hydrotalcite-like substance, followed by, without ageing, water removal or neutralization. The molar ratio of aluminum ions and magnesium ions is preferably in the range of 1:5 to 1:2. Hazardous substances can be immobilized by pulverizing the hydrotalcite-like substance after synthesis and adding the powder to a subject, or adding a hydrotalcite-like substance in slurry form to a subject, or carrying out addition so as to cause the synthesis directly at the position of the subject. Furthermore, anion adsorption can be performed by a filter containing the hydrotalcite-like substance. |
| US09216300B2 |
Phototherapy apparatus with interactive user interface
A phototherapy apparatus with interactive user interface for treating biological tissue of an animal or human target. The user interface comprises intuitive graphic menus which allow the clinicians or practitioners to define the properties of the biological tissue through easily observable physical characteristics such as weight, skin color, and hair color of the patient. The central control unit of the phototherapy apparatus then automatically optimizes the parameters of the light source according to the properties of the biological tissue and generates an appropriate treatment protocol to produce the optimum phototherapy result. |
| US09216297B2 |
Flexible recharge coil techniques
Techniques adapted for use with recharging a rechargeable power source of an implantable device. One aspect relates to providing a flexible primary coil that can be transcutaneously coupled to a secondary coil of the implantable device. Multiple adjacent turns of the coil are grouped via lacing to form bundles. The bundles have at least one dimension that is selected to be a same size as a predetermined thickness of the coil. In one embodiment, the dimension is a diameter of the bundle. In another embodiment, the dimension is at least one of a length or width of the bundle. Insulating overmolding may be provided over the coil. In one embodiment, the resulting antenna structure is bidirectional such that substantially the same performance characteristics are obtained during recharge regardless of which of two major surfaces of the antenna is placed in proximity to the patient. |
| US09216296B2 |
Implantable medical device capable of preserving battery energy to extend its operating life
Embodiments relate to an implantable cardiac system, including a housing, electronic circuitry for controlling one or more of power management, processing unit, information memory and management circuit, sensing and simulation output. The system also includes diagnosis and treatment software for diagnosing health issues, diagnosing mechanical issues, determining therapy output and manage patient health indicators over time, a power supply system including at least one rechargeable battery, a recharging system, an alarm (or alert) system to inform patient of energy level and integrity of system, communication circuitry, one or more electrodes for delivering therapeutic signal to a heart and one or more electrodes for from delivering electrocardiogram signal from the heart to the electronic circuitry. The power supplies can include rechargeable batteries. The housing can include a plurality of physically distinct structures that can be implanted in different locations in patient's body. |
| US09216293B2 |
Delivery system assemblies for implantable medical devices
An inner subassembly of a delivery system assembly extends within a lumen of an elongate outer tube of the assembly, and includes a flared distal end, which is preferably configured to conform to a proximal end of an implantable medical device; a distal-most portion of the outer tube is sized to contain both the flared distal end and an entirety of the medical device. The inner subassembly includes a core, an elongate pull-wire, extending along the core, and a sheath surrounding the pull-wire and the core; the sheath includes a slot opening that allows the pull-wire to pass laterally therethrough. The assembly preferably has a pre-formed curvature along a length of the sheath, and the slot opening extends along the pre-formed curvature. The outer tube is longitudinally moveable relative to the inner subassembly, for example, to deploy the medical device. |
| US09216292B2 |
Dynamic morphology based atrial automatic threshold
Methods and systems for performing capture threshold tests are described. During an initialization procedure a capture detection interval and capture detection threshold are determined based on peak values of cardiac signals sensed following the supracapture threshold initialization pulses. Following initialization, a plurality of pacing pulses to the atrium are delivered and the peak values of the cardiac signals sensed following each of the plurality of pacing pulses are determined. The peak values are compared to the pacing artifact threshold and the capture detection threshold. A timing of each of the peak values is compared to the capture detection interval. For each pacing pulse, discrimination between a captured response, a noncaptured response, and a fusion response is based on the peak value and timing comparisons. |
| US09216290B2 |
Cranial nerve stimulation for treatment of substance addiction
A method of treating a patient with at least one substance addiction, which comprises directly stimulating a cranial nerve, such as the vagus nerve, of a patient with an electrical pulse signal defined by a plurality of parameters to provide a therapy regimen for alleviating a symptom associated with the substance addiction. |
| US09216289B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling autonomic balance using neural stimulation
A neural stimulation system senses autonomic activities and applies neural stimulation to sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves to control autonomic balance. The neural stimulation system is capable of delivering neural stimulation pulses for sympathetic excitation, sympathetic inhibition, parasympathetic excitation, and parasympathetic inhibition. |
| US09216284B2 |
Electrode insertion tools, lead assemblies, kits and methods for placement of cardiac device electrodes
Insertion tools, lead assemblies, kits, and methods for placement of cardiac device electrodes. In some embodiments, an insertion tool having a proximal end and a distal, dissecting end includes a structure configured to receive or engage a structure on a lead assembly. Some embodiments include a lead assembly having an end including a structure configured for engaging the distal end of an associated insertion tool. Some embodiments include kits or systems including both an insertion tool and a lead assembly, each having a structure for engaging the other. In these embodiments, the engaging structures may take several forms including threads, small posts, circular or semi-circular receiving members, and/or a slot. Some embodiments also include methods for placement of cardiac device electrodes with the assistance of an associated insertion tool, wherein the cardiac device electrodes are associated with a lead assembly having an end configured to engage a distal, dissecting portion of an associated insertion tool. |
| US09216282B1 |
Electrode configurations for electrical stimulation systems and methods of making and using
A paddle lead can include a plurality of first electrodes disposed entirely on a first major surface of the lead body and a plurality of second electrodes disposed entirely on a second major surface of the lead body. A paddle lead may include a plurality of electrodes in at least one column on a paddle body and a strip electrode disposed on the paddle body. A lead may include a lead body with an ellipse-like cross-section and a plurality of electrodes disposed circumferentially around the lead body and proximate to a distal end of the lead body. |
| US09216281B2 |
Implantable medical leads having oscillating cable conductor lumens
An electrical implantable lead includes an elongated lead body having a plurality of lumens therein, including at least one linear lumen and at least one planar, non-linear lumen and a plurality of conductor cables disposed within the plurality of lumens. The electrical implantable lead further includes a terminal connector coupled to a proximal end of the lead body, the terminal connector being in electrical communication with at least one of the plurality of conductor cables. Further, the electrical implantable lead includes at least one electrode coupled to the lead body, the at least one electrode in electrical communication with at least one of the plurality of conductor cables. In accordance with various embodiments, the at least one non-linear lumen extends longitudinally along a portion of the lead body and includes a plurality or crests and a plurality of troughs. |
| US09216274B2 |
Catheter having transitioning shaft segments
Balloon catheter includes an elongate tubular shaft having an outer tubular member having proximal and distal portions, and an inner tubular member having a distal length extending distally from the distal portion of the outer tubular member. The elongate tubular shaft has an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen defined therein. The guidewire lumen extends along at least the distal length of inner tubular member. The balloon catheter also includes a distal end section coupled to a distal end of the inner tubular member and having a proximal end and a distal end. The balloon catheter also includes a balloon having a proximal portion sealingly coupled to the distal portion of the outer tubular member, a distal portion sealingly coupled to the distal end section, and a working length therebetween. The balloon defines an inner chamber. The proximal end of the distal end section is disposed within the inner chamber. |
| US09216272B2 |
Medical device for dispersing medicaments
For selective treatment of diseased tissue sections or organ parts, the surface of medical devices entering into contact with areas thereof under pressure is coated with lipophilic substantially water-insoluble medicaments binding to various tissue components with good adherence thereto, said medicaments having an effect thereupon a short time after entering into contact therewith without exerting a harmful influence upon adjacent healthy tissue. |
| US09216265B2 |
System and respiration appliance for supporting the airway of a subject
A respiration appliance (10), system (40), and method (62, 72, 86) for supporting the airway of a subject (12) as the subject (12) breaths. The flow of gas from the lungs of the subject (12) during exhalation is leveraged to provide support to the airway. In particular, a body (14) that encloses one or more external orifices of the subject (12) provides a resistance differential between inhaled gas flows and exhaled gas flows that supports the subject's airway. |
| US09216261B2 |
Dose counter for a metered-dose inhaler
A dose counter for counting doses of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes: a rotatably mounted gear wheel having a circular arrangement of ratchet teeth; a display coupled to the gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the gear wheel; and an actuator mechanism having a driver for rotatably driving the gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, the driver being arranged to engage the ratchet teeth of the gear wheel. The actuator mechanism includes a pivotally mounted lever having an input portion. The lever is arranged to amplify a linear stroke at the input portion such that a linear stroke of the driver exceeds the linear input stroke. By amplifying the stroke, the risk of undercounting due to insufficient stroke length may be reduced. |
| US09216255B2 |
Needle assembly
A needle assembly (2) for a drug delivery device (1) comprises a needle seal (3), a needle retainer (4) and a needle (5). The needle retainer (4) secures the needle (5) against displacement with respect to said needle retainer (4) when a dose of drug is being delivered. The needle seal (3) is configured to push onto the needle retainer (4) after delivering the dose of the drug, thereby unlocking the needle (5) from the needle retainer (4). |
| US09216253B2 |
Needle dispensing and storing apparatus for medicament delivery device
A flip-open multi-pack assembly is provided which can contain a plurality of new pen needles, such as through the provision of a rectangular or tube-shaped shaped, hinged shell housing, wherein new pen needles can be stored in a plurality of user accessible openings each having a sterility barrier formed, for example, by covers that cover the non-patient end of the openings in which the new pen needles are contained. Used pen needles can be returned and stored in openings accessible by rotatably opening the shell housing. One or more of the openings within first and second opposite ends of the housing shell can be provided with a slidable internal holder within the device and are configured to releasably secure the inner shield of the new pen needle, and to then be pulled forward when the new pen needle is removed and lock at a forward position, and thereby create an interior space, accessible from an opposite end when the hinged housing is opened, for a used pen needle to be inserted and stored. |
| US09216251B2 |
Medicament delivery device
The present invention relates to a medicament delivery device. The medicament delivery device may include an operation member configured to act on a medicament container for expelling a medicament. The device may be configured to hold the operation member in a pre-tensioned state. The device may include an activation member configured to interact with the operation member to release it from the pre-tensioned state. The device may further comprise feedback. For example, the feedback may include generating an audible and/or tactile and/or visual signal indicating that the medicament has been completely expelled. |
| US09216250B2 |
Rotatable infusion set
An arrangement for introducing a liquid into the body of a patient or for withdrawing a liquid from the body of a patient, including a first structural part carrying a cannula for positioning in the body of the patient, and a second structural part with a connection port for detachably coupling a conduit for supplying or withdrawing a liquid, wherein the first and second structural parts are connected, can be rotated relative to each another and in relative rotational positions form a channel for introducing a liquid from the conduit to the cannula or for withdrawing a liquid from the cannula to the conduit, and whereby movement of the conduit for coupling and uncoupling is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. |
| US09216248B2 |
Method and a device for monitoring a state of a blood line in a machine for extracorporeal blood treatment
A method for monitoring a state of a blood line in a circuit for extracorporeal blood treatment, including the steps of: acquiring at least a first pressure value from a first sensor mounted at a first point of a circuit for extracorporeal blood treatment, comprising a blood line in which the blood is subjected to a pulsating thrust; acquiring at least a second pressure value from a second sensor mounted at a second point, distinct from the first point of the blood line of the circuit for extracorporeal blood treatment, and correlating at least a first value, correlated to the first pressure value, and at least a second value, correlated to the second pressure value, with at least a threshold value, in order to obtain a datum representing a state of the blood line. |
| US09216246B2 |
Renal failure therapy machines and methods including conductive and convective clearance
A renal failure therapy method includes causing therapy fluid to flow to a renal failure therapy filter, directing at least twenty-five percent of the therapy fluid to the renal failure therapy filter to perform conductive clearance, and using the renal therapy failure filter to cause at least a substantial amount of the remaining therapy fluid to perform diffusive clearance. |
| US09216243B2 |
Robotic surgical systems with fluid flow control for irrigation, aspiration, and blowing
In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic surgical system is provided including a master control console and a surgical manipulator. The master control console generates control signals to cause one or more fluids to flow into or out of a surgical site. The surgical manipulator is coupled to the console to receive the control signals and includes at least one robotic arm and a surgical instrument coupled thereto. The surgical manipulator controls the surgical instrument in response to the control signals to control the flow of the one or more fluids into or out of the surgical site. The surgical instrument has a first robotically controlled valve that is responsive to the surgical manipulator and a hollow tube having a first end coupled to the first robotically controlled valve with an opening at a second end to direct the flow of one or more fluids. |
| US09216242B2 |
Multi-functional and modular urine collection system
Multi-functional urine collection devices, embodiments of which can include a self-expanding container having a receptacle for receiving urine from the tubing, a pump for moving urine through the tubing and into a receptacle, extendable tubing that may be shortened and/or lengthened, and/or one or more meters for monitoring, measuring, transmitting or storing a characteristic from the urine. |
| US09216239B2 |
Medical device for intra-lumenal delivery of pharmaceutical agents
The present invention relates to intra-lumenal drug delivery devices. The device, such as a stent, is coated or impregnated with a pharmaceutical agent suitable for use in treatment of restenosis, pulmonary hypertension, and cancer. Suitable pharmaceutical agents include vasodilators and chemotherapeutics. |
| US09216227B2 |
Activated sialic acid derivatives for protein derivatisation and conjugation
Derivatives of PSAs are synthesized, in which a reducing and/or non-reducing end terminal sialic acid unit is transformed into a N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) group. The derivatives may be reacted with substrates, for instance substrates containing amine or hydrazine groups, to form non-cross-linked/crosslinked polysialylated compounds. The substrates may, for instance, be therapeutically useful drugs, peptides or proteins or drug delivery systems. |
| US09216226B2 |
Compounds and medical devices activated with solvophobic linkers
The present disclosure relates to compounds and medical devices activated with a solvophobic material functionalized with a first reactive member and methods of making such compounds and devices. |
| US09216225B2 |
Remote assembly of targeted nanoparticles using H-phosphate ENE/-YNE hydrophosphonylation reactions
The present invention provides phosphonate compounds and methods of preparing the phosphonate compounds so as to allow, for example, increased capability to modify nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery applications. |
| US09216224B2 |
Fatty acid COX inhibitor derivatives and their uses
The invention relates to fatty acid COX inhibitor derivatives; compositions comprising an effective amount of a fatty acid COX inhibitor derivative; and methods for treating or preventing a metabolic, autoimmune, inflammatory, or neurodegenerative disorder comprising the administration of an effective amount of a fatty acid COX inhibitor derivative. |
| US09216222B2 |
Isoamyl nitrite formulations
The present invention is directed at isoamyl nitrite formulations suitable for use in medicinal applications. The formulations include a composition of isoamyl nitrite in combination with an epoxidized vegetable oil, identified as stabilized isoamyl nitrite. The isoamyl nitrite may also be combined with petrolatum. Methods of treatment of the formulations are applicable to cyanide poisoning, H2S poisoning as well as treatment for elevated blood pressure. |
| US09216221B2 |
Medicament and method of diagnosis for treating subclinical Cushing's syndrome
We disclose a diagnostic test to determine suitable therapeutic intervention of subjects suffering from subclinical Cushing's syndrome [SCS] and also agents that antagonize the action of cortisol or inhibit excess cortisol production in the treatment of conditions such as SCS in the presence of an adrenal incidentaloma. |
| US09216219B2 |
Anti-BAFFR antibody formulation
Anti-BAFFR antibodies are formulated as liquid formulation comprising a high concentration of the antibody active ingredient for delivery to a patient without high levels of antibody aggregation. The aqueous pharmaceutical composition may include one or more sugars, a buffering agent, a surfactant, and/or a free amino acid. |
| US09216218B2 |
Monoclonal antibodies for treatment of cancer
The present invention provides antibodies useful as therapeutics for treating and/or preventing diseases associated with cells expressing GT468, including tumor-related diseases such as breast cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer, hepatocellular cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer, head & neck cancer, kidney cancer, in particular renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, liver cancer, melanoma, sarcoma, myeloma, neuroblastoma, placental choriocarcinoma, cervical cancer, and thyroid cancer, and the metastatic forms thereof. In one embodiment, the tumor disease is metastatic cancer in the lung. |
| US09216217B2 |
Oligomer-specific amyloid beta epitope and antibodies
A novel constrained peptide epitope derived from Aβ, wherein the eptitope comprises the amino acid sequence SNK, related antibody compositions and methods of use. An isolated antibody that specifically binds to a cyclic peptide comprising the conformational epitope which comprises the amino acid sequence SNK and corresponding to a solvent-exposed, antibody accessible knuckle region of oligomeric Aβ is described. An antigenic peptide comprising an epitope having a constrained cyclic configuration, which comprises the amino acid sequence SNK and corresponding to a solvent-exposed, antibody accessible knuckle region of oligomeric Aβ is also described. Methods of treating, preventing and diagnosing Alzheimer's disease are also described. |
| US09216211B2 |
Attenuated swine influenza vaccines and methods of making and use thereof
This disclosure provides attenuated swine influenza strains, particularly those produced via a reverse genetics approach, compositions comprising same, and methods of production and use thereof. The attenuated strains are engineered to encode HA proteins having additional glycosylation sites, relative to the HA proteins encoded by the corresponding virulent parental viruses. Advantageously, the attenuated influenza strains may be administered. |
| US09216209B1 |
Compositions and method for utilization of thioretinamide in therapy of degenerative diseases of aging
A process for the endogenic catabolism of homocysteine and the control of homocysteine levels for treating disease and the degenerative diseases of aging is provided along with pharmaceutical compositions having thioretinamide, retinol or combinations thereof in combination with an enzyme or a pro-enzyme. The process includes the catabolism of homocysteine thiolactone in cells and tissues by catalyzing the reaction of homocysteine thiolactone with an enzyme-bound retinoic acid to increase the bioavailability of thioretinamide in diseased and aged cells and tissue. |
| US09216208B2 |
Topical ophthalmic peptide formulation
A topical ophthalmic formulation of peptides and their use for the treatment and/or local prevention of ocular diseases, preferably posterior segment eye diseases. |
| US09216206B2 |
Methods of treating symptoms associated with menopause and hormonal variations with G-CSF
The invention provides for compositions and methods of treating or ameliorating menopausal symptoms and/or symptoms associated with hormonal variations by administering granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). The invention also provides for compositions and methods of treating or ameliorating arthritis using G-CSF. |
| US09216205B2 |
Modified polynucleotides encoding granulysin
The invention relates to compositions and methods for the preparation, manufacture and therapeutic use of oncology-related polynucleotides, oncology-related primary transcripts and oncology-related mmRNA molecules. |
| US09216203B1 |
Natural health supplement
A natural antibiotic health supplement, having garlic, onion, horseradish root, cayenne or habanero peppers, ginger, organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar, unfiltered raw honey, cinnamon, echinacea, and monolaurin. The natural antibiotic health supplement is effective to support a person's immune system, and especially when it detects various common strains of viruses, bad bacteria, and infections. |
| US09216201B2 |
Method for regenerating hyaline cartilage
The present invention provides a composition for regenerating cartilage or treating a cartilage disease containing a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid for which the endotoxin level thereof has been lowered to an extent that does not substantially induce inflammation or fever. As a result, it is possible to provide a composition for regenerating cartilage that improves cartilage regenerative action and ease of application to a cartilage injury lesion, and a composition for treating a cartilage disease, which has the effects of protecting cartilage from mechanical irritation, inhibiting degenerative changes in cartilage caused by wear and inflammation, repairing a cartilage injury lesion, and inhibiting inflammation and pain of joint tissue. |
| US09216198B2 |
Compositions and medical devices for controlled release of nitric oxide and methods of production thereof
The present disclosure describes compositions providing for controlled release of nitric oxide (NO) and methods for production of these compositions. In some embodiments, the compositions may include a biodegradable polymer and a nitric oxide-releasing material at least partially encapsulated by the biodegradable polymer. Nitric oxide-releasing materials may include, for example, diazeniumdiolates and nitric oxide contained within a zeolite, metal-organic framework or other porous material. In general, the compositions are spun into a porous fiber, which may be further annealed by heating in order to densify the fiber. Annealing may prolong the NO release profile. Medical devices containing the compositions described herein are also contemplated by the present disclosure. Medical devices include, for example, textiles, bandages and articles of clothing. |
| US09216197B2 |
Topical formulations of tellurium-containing compounds
Novel formulations of tellurium-containing compounds, which are suitable for topical application, are disclosed. The formulations are characterized by high chemical and physical stability and are easy to handle and use. |
| US09216193B2 |
Crosslinked hyaluronic acid composition and self-crosslinking hyaluronic acid particles
The present invention provides a crosslinked hyaluronic acid composition including self-crosslinking hyaluronic acid particles having an equilibrium swelling capacity of 3-fold to 10-fold, and an aqueous solvent, wherein a dry weight of the self-crosslinking hyaluronic acid particles based on the total volume of the crosslinked hyaluronic acid composition is 3 w/v % to 8 w/v %.The crosslinked hyaluronic acid composition of the invention uses self-crosslinking hyaluronic acid particles of which the equilibrium swelling capacity is within the above predetermined range. Accordingly, the viscosity does not sharply increase even if the concentration thereof is increased. Therefore, if the crosslinked hyaluronic acid composition is applied to an injection, it is possible to obtain a sufficient curative effect on knee osteoarthritis even with a small frequency of administration. |
| US09216189B2 |
Antibodies which bind type I cannabinoid receptor/angiotensis II receptor heteromers
Compounds and compositions useful for the treatment of liver diseases and methods of treating liver diseases are disclosed. The compounds of the invention specifically interact with heteromers of cannabinoid receptors as compared to monomers or homodimers. The invention also relates to methods of screening for compounds useful for the treatment of liver diseases and to methods of screening for diacylglycerol lipase inhibitors. |
| US09216188B2 |
Hydrogels for vocal cord and soft tissue augmentation and repair
The present invention provides hydrogels and compositions thereof for vocal cord repair or augmentation, as well as other soft tissue repair or augmentation (e.g., bladder neck augmentation, dermal fillers, breast implants, intervertebral disks, muscle-mass). The hydrogels or compositions thereof are injected into the superficial lamina propria or phonatory epithelium to restore the phonatory mucosa of the vocal cords, thereby restoring a patient's voice. In particular, it has been discovered that hydrogels with an elastic shear modulus of approximately 25 Pa are useful in restoring the pliability of the phonatory mucosa. The invention also provides methods of preparing and using the inventive hydrogels. |
| US09216185B2 |
Use of cilastatin to reduce nephrotatoxicity of various compounds
Use of cilastatin to reduce the nephrotoxicity of different compounds. The invention refers to use of cilastatin to prepare a medicinal product to reduce the nephrotoxicity of a nephrotoxic compound that enters the cells of the proximal tubule through cholesterol rafts. The invention is based on the discovery that a great number of nephrotoxic compounds, including drugs, enter the cells of the proximal tubule through the cholesterol rafts, and that cilastatin is able to interfere with this transport mechanism, decreasing the nephrotoxicity of such compounds to a variable extent. The nephroprotective effect is common to compounds of different chemical nature and solubility and is specific for the kidney, causing no interference with the effects of nephrotoxic drugs having their targets in other organs. Therefore, administration of cilastatin allows for decreasing the nephrotoxic effects of different drugs without reducing their therapeutic effects. |
| US09216184B1 |
Agent and method for increasing testosterone level in a body
A composition for regulating male sexual function includes at least one amino acid selected from a group consisting of L-Glutamic acid (glutamate), L-Arginine, glycine, L-aspartate, L-carnitine, L-tyrosine, L-glutamine and/or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, such as any of monosodium-L-glutamate monogidrate, L-potassiumarginine, L,-ammoniumaspartate, L-arginine HCl, sodium-L-tyrasine, lithium aspartate, in the amount of 1-1000 mg, preferably 10-300 mg; at least one vitamin, in the amount of 1-500% of a daily recommended dose, preferably 10-200%; and at least one chelated compound of a formula: acid-Me-acid.nH2O, wherein Me is a metal chosen from any of Ca, Mg and Zn, wherein the acid is a dicarboxylic acid anion chosen from the group consisting of succinic acid, fumaric acid or aspartic acid, and wherein n=0-8. The composition increases testosterone level in a body of a male mammal. |
| US09216177B2 |
Small molecular inhibitors of RAD51 recombinase and methods thereof
The invention includes compositions comprising a selective small-molecule inhibitor of RAD51 recombinase and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention further includes methods of treating or preventing cancer in a subject, comprising the step of administering to the subject the compositions contemplated within the invention. |
| US09216174B2 |
Modulators of cellular adhesion
The present invention provides compounds having formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, wherein R1-R4, n, p, A, B, D, E, L and AR1 are as described generally and in classes and subclasses herein, and additionally provides pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for the use thereof for the treatment of disorders mediated by the CD11/CD18 family of cellular adhesion molecules (e.g., LFA-1). |
| US09216173B2 |
2-Pyridyl carboxamide-containing spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitors
The invention provides certain 2-pyridyl carboxamide-containing compounds of the Formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein A and B are as defined herein. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of using the compounds for treating diseases or conditions mediated by Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (Syk) kinase. |
| US09216164B2 |
Composition and method to alleviate joint pain using a mixture of fish oil and fish oil derived, choline based, phospholipid bound fatty acid mixture including polyunsaturated EPA and DHA
Beneficial and synergistic effects for alleviating joint pain and symptoms of osteoarthritis and/or rheumatoid arthritis have been found using a mixture of fish oil and fish oil derived, choline based, phospholipid bound fatty acid mixture including polyunsaturated EPA and DHA either alone or in combination with other active constituents, including astaxanthin and polymeric hyaluronic acid or sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronan) in an oral dosage form. |
| US09216163B2 |
Method of inhibiting angiogenesis
A novel angiogenesis inhibitor, and a method for inhibiting angiogenesis are provided. Also provided are a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for a disease accompanied by angiogenesis, and a method for preventing or treating a disease accompanied by angiogenesis. The angiogenesis inhibitor contains L-carbocisteine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient. |
| US09216162B2 |
N-acetylcysteine amide (NAC amide) in the treatment of diseases and conditions associated with oxidative stress
Methods and compositions comprising N-acetylcysteine amide (NAC amide) and derivatives thereof are used in treatments and therapies for human and non-human mammalian diseases, disorders, conditions and pathologies. Pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable compositions of NAC amide or derivatives thereof are administered alone, or in combination with other suitable agents, to reduce, prevent, or counteract oxidative stress and free radical oxidant formation and overproduction in cells and tissues, as well as to provide a new source of glutathione. |
| US09216160B2 |
Choline composition
Compositions and methods for treating hyperlipidemia and elevated LDL cholesterol and for weight reduction are disclosed. The compositions comprise (a) choline, or a salt or hydroxide thereof; (b) niacin, or a salt, amide or ester thereof; (c) folic acid, or a salt thereof; (d) methionine or a salt or ester thereof; and (e) glycine or a salt, ester or methylated form thereof. |
| US09216154B2 |
Protease selective supramolecular assemblies
Supramolecular assemblies for delivering active agents to cancerous or precancerous tissues in a subject are provided. These supramolecular assemblies are also useful in assays for detecting and imaging of cancerous and precancerous cells. The assemblies are protease-sensitive and comprise a peptide linkage containing a protease consensus sequence. The assemblies can be selectively targeted to cancerous tissue where the protease enzymes degrade the peptide linkage thereby releasing the active agents which were physically or mechanically contained in or retained by the supramolecular assembly. |
| US09216153B2 |
Osteoclast inhibitors for knee conditions
Oral dosage forms of osteoclast inhibitors, such as nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, can be used to treat or alleviate pain or related conditions. |
| US09216152B2 |
Injectable delivery of microparticles and compositions therefore
Compositions and methods of making and using of microparticle compositions that provide faster flow or improved injectability through smaller or small-diameter needles have been developed. Notably, the microparticle compositions can be successfully delivered or administered through smaller-diameter needles than other microparticle compositions prepared from biocompatible or biodegradable polymers including, for example, poly(lactide), poly(lactide-co-glycolide), polycaprolactone, or poly-3-hydroxybutyrate. The microparticle compositions can exhibit a higher solids loading for a given needle size and/or faster flow through needles than other microparticle compositions. Further, blending or mixing the polymer of the microparticle composition with other polymer formulations can enhance the injectability of the resulting formulation. |
| US09216145B2 |
Semi-permanent cosmetic concealer
A semi-permanent concealer composition for use on a target skin area that includes from about 10% to about 80% of a non-aqueous carrier from about 15% to about 35% of a tackifier comprising a tall oil glyceride, and from about 0.1% to about 20%, by weight, of colorant particles. The semi-permanent concealer composition is long lasting and has excellent wear characteristics. |
| US09216141B2 |
Curable composition, process of production and use thereof
The present disclosure relates to a curable composition to be prepared by mixing a base paste and a catalyst paste, the base paste comprising (A) a hardenable compound comprising at least two aziridine moieties, and (B) a metal containing component containing anions and/or ligands, the metal containing component being present in an amount of about 0.1 to about 5 wt.-%, the metal being selected from Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Ag and combinations thereof, the anions or ligands being selected from oxide, hydroxyl, (hydro)carbonate, sulphate, nitrate, halide, lactate, benzoate, wolframate, linear or branched aliphatic carboxylic acid anions, ligands having not more than two coordinating moieties and combinations thereof, the catalyst paste comprising (C) a Lewis acid, the composition optionally further comprising (D) a retarder, (E) filler and (F) additive(s). The present disclosure also relates to a kit of parts, the use of a metal containing component and a method of taking a dental impression. |
| US09216135B2 |
Massage appliance capable of synchronous kneading and tapping
A massage appliance capable of synchronous kneading and tapping includes: a power-driven vertically-moving device, including an outer portion having therein a sliding channel, and a vertically-moving rack disposed alongside the sliding channel; a device capable of synchronous kneading and tapping, including a housing portion having therein a power source for driving a first transmission device whereby a second transmission device is driven to drive a rotational inclined surface structure for driving an oscillating arm to oscillate laterally; an oscillating arm coupled to a massage head support, two infrared lamp plates and two massage heads, causing the massage heads to perform kneading-based massage, the first transmission device driving a third transmission device, whereas the third transmission device driving an eccentric cam, wherein an eccentric spindle is connected to a lever weight to pull the massage head support to perform tapping, thereby allowing the two massage heads to perform tapping-based massage. |
| US09216133B2 |
Using a 3D display to train a weak eye
A method for treating a weak viewer-eye includes the steps of receiving eye-strength data indicative of an eye-strength of the weak viewer-eye and causing a 3D display system to vary, in accordance with the eye-strength of the weak viewer-eye, display characteristics of a perspective that the 3D display system displays. |
| US09216130B2 |
Support device
A support device (5) arranged to be removably secured to a user and having vertical (16) and horizontal (18) members. In one arrangement, a lower support assembly is arranged for attachment to the user's leg so that the support device assists the user in lifting the leg while taking a step. In an alternative arrangement, the lower support assembly is attached to the lower trunk of the user so that the support device assists in straightening the user's spine. The spring assembly (10) can be arranged to apply forward torque to the lower support assembly (8) relative to the upper support assembly (6), for leg lift assist, or backward torque to the lower support assembly for spine straightening assist. |
| US09216128B2 |
Human remains bag with filtration unit
The present invention is directed to a closeable container for storing a cadaver where the container has a passthrough unit that may allow for filtration and includes an opeanable one-way flow valve that allows for fluids such as gas to travel only from inside the container to the exterior of the container. The passthrough unit includes a coupling for mating with an air purifying canister or cartridge. |
| US09216124B2 |
Leg support for a surgical table
Described is a leg support for a surgical table, the leg support comprising a connector for connecting the leg support to a surgical table; an intermediate member mounted on the connector by a first pivot joint defining a first axis about which the intermediate member is displaceable relative to the connector; and a support for supporting a leg of a patient, the support mounted on the intermediate member by a second pivot joint defining a second axis about which the support is displaceable relative to the intermediate member independently of displacement of the intermediate member relative to the connector about the first axis, the second axis being parallel to the first axis, and a plane normal to the second axis passing through both the intermediate member and the support. Also described is a kit of parts for a leg support, a method of configuring a leg support, a surgical table comprising a leg support, and a kit of parts for a surgical table. |
| US09216117B2 |
Absorbent article with point fusion bonding
An absorbent article having improved handling of liquid and improved intake and retention of liquid loadings during use. The absorbent article can minimize the amount of moisture in contact with a wearer's skin and can provide a feeling of softness on the skin of the wearer. |
| US09216115B2 |
Surgical towel and method for producing the same
Disclosed are a surgical towel and a method for producing the same. The production method includes the following steps: blowing: removing impurities from a pure-cotton raw material; carding: loosening and combing the blown pure-cotton raw material; lapping: spreading cotton-webs, which are formed after the carding, back and forth in the direction of cotton fiber in a staggered overlapping manner; water jetting: water-jet entangling the lapped cotton-webs by using a high-pressure water flow; degreasing: removing wax or grease from cotton fibers of an all-cotton non-woven fabric; bleaching: bleaching the degreased all-cotton non-woven fabric; softening and finishing: softening and finishing the all-cotton non-woven fabric to enhance its softness; and cutting and folding: cutting and folding the softened and finished all-cotton non-woven fabric according to a required specification and packaging the same into a finished product. The surgical towel disclosed in the present application has a strong liquid-absorption capability and soft and comfortable hand-feel, does not easily become fuzzy after rubbing, and can improve safety of a medical surgery. |
| US09216113B2 |
Hearing protection earpiece
A hearing protection earpiece having a shell shaped according to conform to the user's concha and ear canal and having an open hollow lateral portion to be inserted into the user's concha and a medial portion to be inserted into at least an outer portion of the user's ear canal, wherein the medial portion of the shell is axially adjacent to the lateral portion of the shell, wherein the lateral portion of the shell forms part of an open portion of the earpiece and the medial portion of the shell forms part of a closed portion of the earpiece, wherein the earpiece provides for a mechanical sound attenuation of at least 10 dB averaged over the audible frequency range, and wherein the lateral portion of the shell has a wall thickness of not more than 3 mm and is shaped to cover at least half of the concha area. |
| US09216112B2 |
System and method for the simultaneous bilateral placement of pressure equalization tubes
Systems and methods for bilateral treatment of a patient having a head with a first ear and a second ear function by aligning a first device with a target tissue of the first ear; aligning a second device with a target tissue of the second ear; and therapeutically remodeling, with synchronization, the target tissues of the first and second ear with the first and second aligned devices, respectively. |
| US09216111B2 |
Steerable laser probe
A steerable laser probe may include a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end, an actuation control of the handle, a flexible housing tube having a flexible housing tube distal end and a flexible housing tube proximal end, an optic fiber disposed within an inner portion of the handle and the flexible housing tube, and a cable disposed within the flexible housing tube and the actuation control. A rotation of the actuation control may be configured to gradually curve the flexible housing tube and the optic fiber. A rotation of the actuation control may be configured to gradually straighten the flexible housing tube and the optic fiber. |
| US09216110B2 |
System for refractive ophthalmological surgery
A system for refractive ophthalmological surgery, in particular LASIK, has—in addition to the ablation laser and, where appropriate, further optical guidance means (18, 30)—a device (34) for optical coherence tomography as an integrated component, in order to make available results of measurement acquired with this device either for the purpose of representation on a display device and/or for the purpose of control of the ablation. |
| US09216109B2 |
Ocular delivery systems and methods
Described here are systems and methods for accessing Schlemm's canal and for delivering an ocular device or fluid composition therein. The ocular devices may maintain the patency of Schlemm's canal without substantially interfering with transmural fluid flow across the canal. The fluid composition may be a viscoelastic fluid that is delivered into the canal to facilitate drainage of aqueous humor by disrupting the canal and surrounding trabeculocanalicular tissues. Tools for disrupting these tissues and minimally invasive methods for treating medical conditions associated with elevated intraocular pressure, including glaucoma, are also described. |
| US09216108B2 |
Lacrimal implants and related methods
Lacrimal implants and related methods providing secure retention within the lacrimal punctum of an eye are described. The lacrimal implants can comprise a implant body configured for at least partial insertion through the lacrimal punctum and into a lacrimal canaliculus. The implant body can include a deformable retention structure that can be configured to substantially encapsulate an expandable retention element. In some examples, the expandable retention element can include a fluid absorbing material, which can be exposed to fluid such as via a fluid permeable retainer or a fluid permeable aperture. As the fluid absorbing material retains fluid (i.e., upon acceptance of fluid into the retention structure), its size increases and its shape can change to urge one or more portions of the retention structure outward, such as against a wall of the lacrimal canaliculus, thereby securely retaining the lacrimal implant within the punctum. |
| US09216104B2 |
Leak sensor
A dressing is provided for application to an object that is, at least partly, electrically conductive. The dressing includes an adhesive for attaching the dressing to the object, and at least two electrodes. The electrodes are adapted to be arranged at a distance from the partly electrically conductive object so that a first capacitor is formed between a first electrode and the partly electrically conductive object, and a second capacitor is formed between a second electrode and the partly electrically conductive object. |
| US09216098B2 |
Intervertebral disc space sizing tools and methods
A method and apparatus for making a size measurement within an intervertebral space by placing an expandable and contractible device into the intervertebral space, expanding the device, measuring a size characteristic of the space, contracting the device and then removing it. The measurement may be accomplished by an external x-ray or other imaging device imaging the expanded device in situ or by mechanically operated devices. An expansion and contraction mechanism such as fluid containing bladder or mechanically shifted members expands the device which later contracts in a controlled manner to the contracted size. An apparatus and method is provided for the measuring of the intervertebral space at a controlled distraction force. The apparatus includes an expandable device for providing a measurement within the intervertebral space and facilitating the measurement of the angulations of the lordotic curve of the intervertebral space. |
| US09216093B2 |
Minimally invasive intervertebral staple distraction devices
Multiple, small, staple-like supports are inserted through a small tube into the disc space then rotated into position on the edge of the vertebral bodies. The tooth-like geometry of the proximal and distal faces of these staples mates with the outer edge of the vertebral body, extending past the front of the endplate anteriorly. The staples have teeth that dig into the endplate on the inside of the rim as well. |
| US09216091B2 |
Glenoid extension block
A glenoid implant has an anatomically formed body including of metal and/or plastic materials. It further has a contact surface adapted to extend the surface of a glenoid and to bear a humerus. In the implant body, there is at least one hole with a screw head seating area for holding the head of a screw, which may be screwed into a glenoid for fixedly attaching the glenoid implant. |
| US09216087B2 |
Sleeve for modular revision hip stem
The present disclosure provides a femoral prosthesis for use during a revision procedure. The femoral prosthesis includes a body, a neck, a stem, and a sleeve. The sleeve facilitates reattachment of an osteotomized proximal femur, specifically the greater trochanter, following a revision femoral prosthesis surgery involving an extended trochanteric osteotomy. Additionally, the sleeve promotes ingrowth of the osteotomized proximal femur with the sleeve. |
| US09216078B2 |
Method and apparatus for tibial fixation of an ACL graft
A tensioner system for use in tensioning graft strands in a knee reconstruction procedure can include a handle assembly, a tensioner assembly coupled relative to the handle assembly, and a drive shaft slidably received through and supported by the handle assembly. The tensioner assembly can include an arm support member rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and first and second arm members each rotatably coupled to lateral sides of the arm support member. Each arm member can include at least one graft attachment area adapted to be coupled to a graft strand. The arm support member can be configured to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tensioner system and perpendicular to an axis of rotation of each of the arm members. The drive shaft can include proximal and distal ends that extend beyond respective proximal and distal ends of the handle assembly. |
| US09216076B2 |
Means for controlled sealing of endovascular devices
Expandable sealing means for endoluminal devices have been developed for controlled activation. The devices have the benefits of a low profile mechanism (for both self-expanding and balloon-expanding prostheses), contained, not open, release of the material, active conformation to the “leak sites” such that leakage areas are filled without disrupting the physical and functional integrity of the prosthesis, and on-demand, controlled activation, that may not be pressure activated. |
| US09216073B2 |
Oral care device
A device for directing a liquid onto a plurality of surfaces of the oral cavity, the device including a chamber for maintaining the liquid proximate the surfaces, where the chamber is defined by front, rear and base inner walls of the device and the front and rear inner walls each include a plurality of openings, the devices further including a first manifold and a second manifold, a first port and a second port. |
| US09216071B2 |
Dental anchor implant device
A dental anchor implant device anchors false teeth securely within a user's mouth. The device includes a base having a convex upper surface and a concave lower surface wherein the base is configured for positioning on and coupling to a top of a jawbone. An anchor is coupled to and extends upwardly from the upper surface of the base. A post extends upwardly from a top surface of the anchor. A tooth has a socket extending into a bottom surface of the tooth. The post is positionable in the socket wherein the post inhibits lateral movement of the bottom surface of the tooth relative to the top surface of the anchor. The bottom surface of the tooth is substantially complementary to the top surface of the anchor. |
| US09216069B2 |
Methods for defining and marking tissue
In order to later identify the location of a biopsy or surgery, various means and methods for permanently and non-surgically marking selected tissue in the human body are used. Later visualization of the markers is readily accomplished using state-of-the-art imaging systems. |
| US09216065B2 |
Forming and displaying a composite image
Apparatus and methods are described including acquiring a plurality of image frames of a portion of a subject's body. At least one of the image frames is designated as a baseline image frame, a shape of the portion in the first baseline image frame being designated as a baseline shape. A non-baseline-shape image frame is deformed, such that the shape of the portion becomes more similar to the baseline shape of the portion than when the portion in the non-baseline-shape image frame is not deformed. A composite image is formed that is of higher clarity with respect to anatomy of the portion, relative to each of the acquired image frames, by averaging at least the deformed non-baseline-shape image frame with the baseline image frame. The composite image is displayed on a display. Other applications are also described. |
| US09216064B2 |
System for cleaning robotic surgical instruments
An apparatus for cleaning robotic surgical instruments includes an ultrasonic emersion tank having cleaning fluid there within and a device for providing negative pressure or suction (e.g. a pump) through a tool-end cleaning chamber. Cleaning fluid is drawn into the tool-end cleaning chamber through a plurality of intake holes in the tool-end cleaning chamber by the suction, thereby creating turbulence and flow around an end of a robotic surgical instrument that is positioned in the tool-end cleaning chamber. Cleaning of the shaft and control box of the robotic surgical instrument is performed by providing negative pressure or suction to a port on the control box of the robotic surgical instrument. |
| US09216059B2 |
Contact laser apparatus for ablation of tissue
Apparatus and methods are described for laser ablation of tissue. The apparatus and methods utilize a laser source coupled to a fiberoptic laser delivery device and a laser driver and control system with features for protection of the laser delivery device, the patient, the operator and other components of the laser treatment system. Advantageously, the laser source may utilize laser diodes operating at approximately 975 nm, 1470 nm, 1535 nm or 1870 nm wavelengths with a laser power output of at least 60 watts, preferably greater than 80 watts and most preferably 120-150 watts or higher. The invention, which has broad medical and industrial applications, is described in relation to a method for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by contact laser ablation of the prostate (C-LAP). |
| US09216058B2 |
Method and apparatus for treating subcutaneous histological features
A system and method for treating subcutaneous histological features without affecting adjacent tissues adversely employs microwave energy of selected power, frequency and duration to penetrate subcutaneous tissue and heat target areas with optimum doses to permanently affect the undesirable features. The frequency chosen preferentially interacts with the target as opposed to adjacent tissue, and the microwave energy is delivered as a short pulse causing minimal discomfort and side effects. By distributing microwave energy at the skin over an area and adjusting power and frequency, different conditions, such as hirsuitism and telangiectasia, can be effectively treated. |
| US09216054B2 |
Esophageal mucosectomy systems, devices and methods
Systems, devices, apparatus and methods that may be used for en bloc circumferential esophageal mucosal resection or ablation that can extend over only a selected portion or all of the length of the esophagus. |
| US09216053B2 |
Elongate member providing a variation in radiopacity
An elongate member for inserting into a cannula is disclosed. The cannula comprises an electrically insulated region and an electrically exposed conductive region for delivering energy to form a lesion within a patient's body at an intended location relative to the electrically exposed conductive region. The elongate member is structured to cooperatively engage with the cannula at a pre-determined insertion depth and to provide a variation in radiopacity, at a pre-determined position relative to the electrically exposed conductive region, when inserted to the pre-determined insertion depth. The variation in radiopacity provides a visual reference for distinguishing, using fluoroscopic imaging, the intended location of the lesion. |
| US09216050B2 |
Detection of microbubble formation during catheter ablation
A method and system for detecting microbubble formation during a radiofrequency ablation procedure. The method includes measuring an impedance of a pair of electrodes, at least one electrode in the pair of electrodes being coupled to a treatment assembly of a medical device. Radiofrequency ablation energy is transmitted between the pair of electrodes. The transmission of radiofrequency ablation energy between the pair of electrodes is terminated when after a predetermined period of time the measured impedance in either of the electrodes in the pair of electrodes is a predetermined percentage above a measured minimum impedance and a measured power is above a predetermined power threshold. An alert is generated indicating at least one of the formation and release of microbubbles proximate the pair of electrodes. |
| US09216048B2 |
Image-guided minimal-step placement of screw into bone
The present disclosure describes a device and methods for safely and accurately placing screws into bones with a powered driving device. By employing multiple layers of fail-safe features and image-guidance systems, the powered driving device provides safe, accurate, and efficient screw placement. That is, the powered driving device may continuously monitor a screw advancement and placement and may automatically shutdown when improper placement is detected. Monitoring placement may be conducted by a microcurrent-monitoring system, by an image-guidance system, or by any other appropriate sensory system. Additionally, upon detecting that screw insertion is complete, the powered driving device may be automatically shutdown. As screw placement is continuously simulated by image-guidance in real time, multiple redundant verification steps are eliminated, providing highly accurate screw placement while decreasing clinician error, device contamination, and surgical time, the decreased surgical time associated with decreased patient-recovery time and associated medical costs. |
| US09216041B2 |
Spinal connecting members with tensioned cords and rigid sleeves for engaging compression inserts
A spinal implant having at least two bone anchors includes a longitudinal connecting member assembly having hard, non-elastic sleeves for attachment to the bone anchors, at least one spacer located between the bone anchors, and in some embodiments, an end elastic bumper and cord blocker. A cord is received within the rigid sleeves, the spacer and the bumper, the cord being in fixed or sliding relationship with cooperating sleeves. The sleeves include portions for direct engagement with bone screw inserts and closure tops and may include a channel for receiving a projected portion of a spacer. |
| US09216040B2 |
Methods and devices for spinal fixation element placement
Minimally invasive methods and devices are provided for positioning a spinal fixation element in relation to adjacent spinal anchors. In an exemplary embodiment, the device is a percutaneous access device that can be coupled to a spinal anchor, and the method includes the step of positioning a spinal fixation element through at least one sidewall opening of at least two percutaneous access devices such that the spinal fixation element extends in a lengthwise orientation that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of each percutaneous access device. The spinal fixation element can then be advanced in the lengthwise orientation to seat the spinal fixation element in or adjacent to the receiver heads of at least two adjacent spinal anchors. A fastening element or other closure mechanism can then be applied to each spinal anchor to engage the spinal fixation element within the receiver heads of the adjacent anchors. |
| US09216034B2 |
Devices and methods for percutaneous endarterectomy
Devices and methods are provided for percutaneously treating atherosclerotic plaques within blood vessels. Atherosclerotic plaques cause significant morbidity and mortality by narrowing the arteries, which adversely affects blood flow, and by acting as a source for thrombi and emboli thus causing acute organ ischemia. Current treatments include open surgery with its inherent drawbacks, and stenting, which is less invasive but leaves the plaque material in the artery, which promotes restenosis. The present invention combines the advantages of both approaches. In general, the invention provides tools that enable percutaneously dissecting the plaque from the arterial wall and removing it from the body. |
| US09216030B2 |
Laparoscopic forceps assembly
A laparoscopic forceps comprising a handpiece including a distal end portion; a tubular member protruding from the distal end portion of the handpiece, the tubular member having a distal end with a distal opening, a pair of jaws having legs that are disposed within the tubular member and partially protruding from the distal opening, the jaws and the tubular member being movable relative to each other; wherein each of the jaws has an arcuate section; an operable mechanism for creating relative motion between the jaws and the tubular member along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and one or more spacing members extending across the distal opening of the tubular member and between the jaws; wherein the jaws are closable by the relative movement of the tubular member and the jaws towards each other so that the tubular member advances over the arcuate section of the jaws, and the jaws are openable by the relative movement of the tubular member and the jaws away from each other so that the one or more spacing members extend between the jaws and the jaws are moved apart. |
| US09216025B2 |
Joint arthroplasty devices and surgical tools
Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The articular surface repairs are customizable or highly selectable by patient and geared toward providing optimal fit and function. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty. |
| US09216024B2 |
System and method for an intervertebral implant
The invention relates to the preparation of an intervertebral space with a trial implant (9), the insertion of an implant (5, 6, 7), the inserters (13, 16), and the method for feeding and inserting the implant (5, 6, 7) by means of an oblique anterior approach. In the novel improved method, the associated instruments (13, 16) for inserting an implant (5, 6, 7) into an intervertebral space, in particular for the lumbar spine at an oblique anterior angle of 45° was developed, the left side of the body being preferred for insertion of the implant (5, 6, 7). Either the implant (5, 6, 7) can be inserted all in one, or first the upper part (5) and lower parts (7) and then the inlay (6) may be inserted. By insertion by means of the left oblique anterior approach at 45°, optimum utilization of the area of the intervertebral space is ensured (footprint), and better retention of the implant is guaranteed by the exact chiselling at an angle of 90° normal to the respective intervertebral surface. |
| US09216018B2 |
Plication lock delivery system and method of use thereof
A plication lock delivery system that enables a suture lock assembly to be delivered percutaneously. The plication lock delivery system comprises a lock assembly that secures sutures in place, a control assembly that allows a clinician to engage a suture to a suture lock assembly, apply tension to the sutures to cause tissue plication, and deploy the lock assembly, and a catheter assembly. This plication lock delivery system can be used to repair mitral regurgitation percutaneously or in an open-heart surgery. |
| US09216015B2 |
Apparatus and methods for performing brain surgery
Less invasive surgical techniques for performing brain surgery are disclosed in which a dilating obturator and cannula assembly is inserted into brain tissue until the obturator tip and cannula are adjacent to the target tissue. The obturator is removed and surgery is performed through the cannula. In preferred embodiments the obturator and cannula are placed using image guidance techniques and systems to coordinate placement with pre-operative surgical planning. A stylet with associated image guidance may be inserted prior to insertion of the obturator and cannula assembly to guide insertion of the obturator and cannula assembly. Surgery preferably is performed using an endoscope partially inserted into the cannula with an image of the target tissue projected onto a monitor. Dilating obturator structures having a rounded or semi-spherical tip and/or an optical window for visualizing brain tissue during expansion are contemplated. |
| US09216005B2 |
Synchronized view data acquisition between stationary spectral detectors and rotating energy integrating detectors for spectral computer-aided tomography
A control circuit for a computer-aided tomography (CT) system includes an input that receives a master timing signal and an input that receives a first timing signal. The control circuit includes a mode detection circuit that determines the scan mode of the CT system based on the master timing signal and a first timing signal, where the frequency of the first time signal is lower than the frequency of the master timing signal. The control circuit also includes a circuit that generates a second timing signal based on the master timing signal and the scan mode, where the second timing signal that has a lower frequency than the master timing frequency but a higher frequency than the frequency of the first timing signal. |
| US09215999B2 |
EEG monitor of fetal health
A method for predicting health compromise in a fetus comprises acquiring one or more EEG signals and a fetal heart rate (FHR) signal from the surface of the head of a fetus; and determining the spectral edge frequency (SEF) of the one or more EEG signals. A repetitive temporal correlation between the FHR signal and the SEF of the one or more EEG signals is indicative of fetal health compromise. A system for detecting the correlation between FHR signal and the SEF of the one or more EEG signals and predicting fetal health compromise is also described. |
| US09215990B2 |
Arrangement and method for detecting and/or locating a magnetic material in a region of action
In Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) the reconstruction requires the knowledge of a so called system function. This function describes the relation between spatial position and frequency response. For reasonable resolutions and field of views the system function becomes quite large, resulting in large acquisition times for the system function and high memory demand during reconstruction. The present invention proposes to reduce the size of the system function matrix by making use of structural properties of the matrix. Such properties are, for instance, spatial symmetries reducing the number of columns and identical responses at different frequencies reducing the number of rows. In other embodiments the matrix can be transformed to a sparse representation using appropriate base functions. |
| US09215988B2 |
Low power test signal generator for medical equipment
A cardiac signal generator includes a portable housing, a memory, a processing device, a digital to analog converter, and at least one analog output. The memory stores programming instructions including instructions defining a plurality of mathematical relationships. The processing device is configured to execute the programming instructions to generate a sequence of output values using the plurality of mathematic relationships as a function of time, wherein the sequence of output values defines a sampled waveform output simulating an ECG signal and having linear portions and at least one curved portion. The processing device furthermore provides the sequence of output values at an output. The digital to analog converter is operably coupled to receive the sequence of output values from the output, and generates an electrical signal having a waveform corresponding to the sampled waveform output. The analog output is operably coupled to the digital to analog converter. |
| US09215987B2 |
Methodology for arrhythmia risk stratification by assessing QT interval instability
A method of predicting ventricular arrhythmias includes receiving an electrical signal from a subject's heart for a plurality of heart beats, identifying characteristic intervals and heart beat durations of the electrical signal corresponding to each of the plurality of heart beats to provide a plurality of characteristic intervals with corresponding heart beat durations, representing dynamics of the plurality of characteristic intervals as a function of a plurality of preceding characteristic intervals and durations of corresponding heart beats over a chosen period time, assessing a stability of the function over the chosen period of time, and predicting ventricular arrhythmias based on detected instabilities in the dynamics of the characteristic intervals. |
| US09215985B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring a treatment of a patient, preferably for monitoring hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration, and/or peritoneal dialysis
A method of monitoring a treatment of a patient, preferably for monitoring hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration and/or peritoneal dialysis, that includes the steps of irradiating a sample of a dialysis liquid used in the treatment with irradiation light of at least a first irradiation wavelength, detecting light emitted by the irradiated sample in at least a first detection wavelength, the detection wavelength being different from the first irradiation wavelength, and determining the presence and/or concentration of at least one analyte in the sample on the basis of the detected light. |
| US09215978B2 |
Systems and methods to gather and analyze electroencephalographic data
Example methods are described herein that include obtaining electroencephalographic data from an example device worn by a subject. The device includes a central body portion and a plurality of extensions extending from the central body portion. Respective ones of the extension have ends carrying an electrode. The example device includes an adjustment band disposed along a longitudinal axis of the central body portion to adjust a position of the extensions. The example method also includes analyzing the data to determine a mental state of the subject. |
| US09215977B2 |
Portable device for indirect ophthalmology
A device for examining an eye of a subject including a camera detachably mounted on a camera mounting unit. The camera includes an illuminating source, which generates illuminating radiation for irradiating the eye thereby enabling the camera to generate a plurality of images of the eye. The device also includes a first lens assembly detachably mounted on an adjustable lens holder and selected to focus the illuminating radiation towards the eye as well as focusing radiation reflected from the eye towards an entrance pupil of the camera. An extendible support arm supports the camera and the adjustable lens holder at a first distance between the camera and the first lens assembly. Subsequent to adjusting the first distance to correspond to a diopter value of the selected first lens assembly, the illuminating source irradiates the eye and subsequent thereto the camera generates the plurality of images of the eye. |
| US09215976B2 |
Ophthalmologic apparatus, program, and storage medium of program
A control unit, if insertion of a diopter correction lens or retraction of the diopter correction lens is detected, moves a focusing lens to a position according to an insertion or retraction state of the diopter correction lens corresponding to a position of the focusing lens detected by a focusing lens position detection unit. |
| US09215975B2 |
Ophthalmic device
An ophthalmic device to measure weakness of Zinn's zonule of an examinee's eye having: an illuminating unit arranged to illuminate the examinee's eye including a lens; an imaging unit including an imaging element and arranged to capture an image of an anterior segment illuminated by the illuminating unit; and a determination unit arranged to process the image of the anterior segment captured by the imaging unit after applying a stimulus to guide the lens to move, the determination unit being further configured to obtain positional information of a characteristic point of the lens to detect mobility of the lens relative to the pupil when the lens returns to a pre-stimulus status, and determine the zonular weakness based on the detected mobility. |
| US09215972B2 |
In-vivo image acquiring apparatus, in-vivo image receiving apparatus, in-vivo image displaying apparatus, and noise eliminating method
An in-vivo image acquiring apparatus includes an operation control unit which controls a black image acquiring operation, in which the operation control unit controls an imaging unit and an illuminating unit in such a manner the imaging unit conducts an image acquiring operation in a state the illuminating unit does not conduct an illuminating operation. The in-vivo image acquiring apparatus also includes an average calculating unit which calculates the average value of pixel value in a predetermined determining area, and a black image determining unit, which determines whether the image information acquired by the image acquiring operation is the black image by comparing the average value with a predetermined threshold value. The image information determined as the black image by the black image determining unit is transmitted, as the black image information, to an external apparatus by radio. |
| US09215961B2 |
Automatic floor cleaning machine
An automatic floor cleaning machine includes a base, an upper cover covering the base, a supporting seat mounted on the base, a random-turn driving unit installed on the supporting seat, and a floor cleaning plate installed on a bottom of the base. The automatic floor cleaning machine is randomly operated over a floor by the random-turn driving unit. Dedusting papers are disposed on a bottom surface of the floor cleaning plate and protruded from two sides or two corners of the base. The dedusting papers turn to sweep and kick up dust particles on the floor when the automatic floor cleaning machine is operating. Thereby, the effect of thorough cleaning of the floor can be achieved. The automatic floor cleaning machine may further include a vacuum cleaner for further enhancing the cleaning effect. |
| US09215960B2 |
Surface cleaning apparatus
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a first flexible electrified air flow conduit having an air inlet end that is electrified. |
| US09215958B2 |
Pick-up head system
A pick-up head system comprises a housing and a main fan connected in air suctioning relation to the housing for causing the interior of the housing to have a reduced internal air pressure. A secondary substantially continuously available source of low air pressure has an inlet connected in air suctioning relation to the housing. A valve is operatively mounted between the housing and the inlet of the source of low air pressure. A control mechanism is operatively connected to the valve and responsive to at least one operational condition in the pick-up head system. In a reduced-flow position, the air pressure in the housing is unaffected by the vacuum tank. In the increased-flow position, when the at least one operational condition passes a threshold, the vacuum tank decreases the air pressure in the housing, thus precluding the escape of dust and other fine particulate matter from the interior of the housing. |
| US09215955B1 |
Kitchen utensil for lifting foodstuffs out of a container
A puller, preferably made of bent metal wire, for removing pickles and the like from a jar in which the pickles are tightly packed is preferably made of bent wire, has a handle end, a hook end, and a shank connecting them. The hook of the puller faces in generally the same lateral direction relative to the shank axis as does the handle. And the hook has a jog, comprising two portions which are differently angled relative to the plane in which lies the handle of the puller; and outer portion angles upwardly in the shank-direction where lies the handle. |
| US09215954B2 |
Twist-action mixing bottle
A twist action mixing container is capable of separately storing various substances for later mixing. The mixing container includes an upper and lower housing which respectively define an upper and lower chamber. The upper and lower chambers are separated by a valve assembly that seals off one chamber from the other until the valve assembly is opened. The valve assembly includes upper and lower valve halves, each of which includes one or more tracks along their periphery and corresponding guide members that insert into said tracks. When the upper and lower housings are twisted in opposite directions, the guide members travel along their respective tracks moving upper and lower valve openings into alignment, thus opening the valve assembly. A preventer is operably coupled to the lower valve for blocking the container opening while the valve assembly is closed. |
| US09215953B2 |
Sealed filtering and mixing jar
An apparatus for mixing drinks utilizing a mason jar, combining the jar and collar with a separate annular gasket, filtering lid, and sealing cap. The annular gasket and filtering lid are sealed to the jar by attaching the collar to the jar. A flange from the filtering lid sits atop the annular gasket, while a lip from the collar presses down on the flange as the collar is tightened. The collar is secured to the jar by matching threading on the jar and collar. The filtering lid has filtering holes that allow a drink inside the jar to be filtered while being poured. A sealing cap can be attached to a spout of the filtering lid by means of an interference fit. The sealing cap allows the mixing apparatus to be used to mix and shake a contained drink. The shaker is useful for creating cocktails, infusions, and similar drinks. |
| US09215949B1 |
Modular griddle and grill frame with inserts
Disclosed herein is a combination griddle and modular grilling frame comprising in one example a thermally conductive frame having a longitudinal dimension, a transverse dimension, and a lowermost portion forming a perimeter foot. The grilling frame may also provide a transverse divider extending between opposing sides of the perimeter foot. The transverse divider in one example having: a first longitudinal side and a longitudinally opposing second longitudinal side. Also provided is a thermally conductive grilling surface extending between the first longitudinal side of the transverse divider and the portion of the perimeter foot facing the first longitudinal side of the transverse divider. Generally, the area bounded by the second longitudinal perimeter foot and the portion of the perimeter foot facing the second longitudinal side is substantially unobstructed and comprises a surface defining an insert shelf for fitting of a grilling surface such as a perforated plate or mesh panel. |
| US09215946B2 |
Method and apparatus for making beer and other alcoholic beverages
A beverage preparation machine with a receptacle for removably receiving therein a disposable cartridge having a first liquid ingredient and alcohol separated by a frangible partition. A movable lid closes the receptacle with the cartridge therein and has an inlet tube that pierces the upper portion of the cartridge when the lid is closed. An outlet tube at a lower portion of the receptacle pierces the lower portion of the cartridge when the lid is closed. A bottle is removably mounted on the machine beneath the outlet tube. A cold water reservoir is connected to the inlet tube. For carbonated beverages, a carbon dioxide source is connected to the machine at the upper end of the bottle. |
| US09215945B2 |
Cover for decorated christmas tree
A removable cover is provided for a decorated Christmas tree to prevent house pets from getting into the tree or playing with ornaments and lights on the tree. The cover wraps at least partially around the tree, with the top edge being hooked to tree branches with the top of the tree extending above the cover. Preferably, the bottom edge of the cover drapes onto the floor. The cover may partially or fully enclose the tree from the floor up to a desired height. The tree cover can be quickly and easily placed on the tree when people are sleeping or out of the house, and easily removed and stored when display of the tree is desired. The cover is a sheer material so that ornaments and lights are visible through the material when the cover is on the tree. |
| US09215943B1 |
Clothing hanger accessory
A clothing hanger accessory that allows a user to store clothing accessories, such as necklaces, bracelets, ear rings, finger rings, bangles, wristbands, headbands, scrunchies, etc. in close proximity to clothing garments that, in combination, form an entire clothing outfit. |
| US09215942B2 |
Closure for a beverage container
A closure for a beverage container is disclosed. Said closure comprises an inserted element (2) and a closing member (3) which can be inserted into a mouth of the inserted element (2). A first engaging structure (22) mounted on the internal face of the inserted element (2) can be connected to a second engaging structure (36) arranged on the external face of the closing member (3). The inserted element (2) further has a funnel section (25) above the first engaging structure (22). The closing member (3) has a closed top surface (32), a handle element (31), and an apron (35) with outlets (33). The engaging structures (22, 36) are designed such that the closing member (3) can be moved relative to the inserted element in a vertical direction between a first position in which the closing member (3) seals the mouth and a second position in which the outlets (33) open passages for a liquid. |
| US09215941B1 |
Frame assembly
A frame assembly for displaying a flat article and a combined frame assembly and flat article. In one aspect, the frame assembly comprises a frame, a coupler, a backer panel, and a window panel. The frame comprises a floor structure, a wall coupled to the floor structure, a locking feature on the wall, and a coupling member. The coupler comprises a retaining member and a mounting member. The coupler is coupled to the coupling member of the frame by interaction between the mounting member of the coupler and the coupling member. The retaining member of the coupler protrudes into a display cavity of the frame for retaining a flat article by the retaining member extending into an opening in the flat article. The window panel is positioned in the display cavity of the frame and the locking feature retains the window panel within the display cavity. |
| US09215940B2 |
Cross-merchandising display fixture
A display fixture includes a shelf display including a main body having a front side and a backside, a plurality of shelves coupled to the front side of the main body and adapted to support merchandise and a back support attached to the backside of the main body and extending from the backside of the main body. The display fixture also includes a rack display including a frame having at least one substantially vertical member located on a first side of the rack display, at least one substantially vertical member located on a second side of the rack display and at least one arm coupled to the frame to support hanging merchandise. A plurality of fasteners secure the at least one substantially vertical member to the back support of the shelf display. |
| US09215939B2 |
Retail fixtures
A display fixture has a bin with multiple sections. A clip attached to a back panel of the bin has an aperture for receiving a fastener to fasten the bin to a peg board. A back support is mounted to the bin and has a downwardly extending leg that is sized to fit between the peg board and a back surface of a base that the display fixture is seated upon. The bin includes a lower tier of product sections defined in part by a front panel and has a lower sign support with two legs attached to the front panel and a lower label holder connected between the two legs such that there is an open space defined between the two legs and between a top of the front panel and a bottom of the lower label holder. The bin also includes an upper tier of product sections. |
| US09215938B2 |
Product display system with adjustable bracket
A product display system includes a plurality of brackets, a plurality of shelves, and a plurality of products. Each bracket is configured to mechanically engage a support structure. Each shelf is mechanically engaged with at least one bracket. The shelves form a first row, a second row, a third row, a first column, a second column, and a third column. The first row is adjacent the second row, and the second row is adjacent the third row. The first column is adjacent the second column, and the second column is adjacent the third column. Each product is supported by one of the shelves. The shelves are arranged such that the distance between the shelves in the first column and the third column is smaller than the width of the product supported by the shelves in the second column. |
| US09215935B2 |
Portable chair shade
A chair shade including a cover sheet, frame having a first end and a second end, a sliding unit simultaneously affixed to the cover sheet and slidably affixed to the frame such that the sliding unit moves along the length of the frame when a force is applied and maintains its position on the frame when no force is applied and a securing unit that secures the first end and second end of the frame to corresponding opposite sides of a chair. |
| US09215932B2 |
Slide chair action
A chair action features a movable seat frame (11), a drive frame (12) for effecting seat frame movement, and an underpinning yoke frame (13), intervening pivot slides operative between frames, with guideway slots (14, 14, 16) and followers (19) variously in frames, to contrive a combined pivot swing and translational slide action, and free-floating seat frame mobility, while conforming to virtual pivot geometry; operable under a potential energy function in an inter-relationship between back recline and seat movement, for a common or harmonious experience between different occupancy weights. |
| US09215919B2 |
Cosmetic dispenser with roller applicator
A dispenser includes a deformable roller and a housing having a reservoir for containing a product, such as a cosmetic product or a medicinal product. The deformable roller comprises a napped roller over molded to, and encasing, a roller pin. Both the napped roller and the roller pin may be formed of materials that are suitable for an injection over-mold manufacturing process. The deformable roller disposed configured for applying product to a body and for deforming and tangentially mating and/or un-mating with an orifice of a reservoir of the housing for sealing and/or un-sealing the reservoir. |
| US09215911B1 |
Belt buckle with storage compartment
A belt buckle with a storage compartment uses a typical box frame buckle architecture with a storage compartment hingedly attached to a back side of the box frame on a side opposite a grab bar of the box frame. The storage compartment articulates between a closed position against the box frame and an open position. In the closed position, a pin is removably received within a receiver in order to secure the compartment in the closed position. When the storage compartment is in the closed position, pivot posts that hold the grab bar are within the storage compartment and the grab bar partially overlays an open side of the storage compartment. |
| US09215909B2 |
Footwear with interchangeable heel components
Footwear having interchangeable heels, includes: (a) a top component having a back section, a middle, a front and an upper section for encompassing a foot, the top component having an underside shape and contour, and having at least two separate connect mechanisms for connection to a bottom component; (b) a bottom component having a having back, a middle, and a front section, the bottom component having a topside shape and contour sufficiently coinciding with the top component underside shape and contour so as to nest with one another, and having at least two separate connect mechanisms corresponding to the at least two separate mechanisms of the top component for connection to it; and (c) at least one locking mechanism. |
| US09215908B1 |
Foot bed
A foot bed comprises a bottom encasing mechanically coupled to a cushion. The cushion is mechanically coupled to an encasing sheet. The encasing sheet is mechanically coupled to a top cover. |
| US09215905B2 |
Heat-generating shoe
A heat-generating shoe comprises a power generation device. When applying a force to the heat-generating shoe, the power generation device with applied force produces electrical energy by electromagnetic induction or piezoelectric effect without external power supply or replacing the battery, so as to generate power automatically during the user walking. More particularly, the present invention can increase the temperature inside the shoe body for preventing users from frostbite in cryogenic environment. Additionally, the present invention provides a variety of types of power generation devices, so a suitable power generation device can be adopted depending on the power demand, thickness of heat-generating shoe, and/or costs. |
| US09215904B2 |
Helmet having magnetically coupled cheek pads
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a helmet having magnetic coupling is provided. In a particular embodiment, the helmet includes at least one protective layer configured to cover at least a portion of a user's head and a pad coupled to a back plate, a back plate coupled to a protective layer, a back plate comprising a magnet. |
| US09215903B2 |
Neck protection device
A device for use with a helmet in contact sports, which includes a curved body connected with the helmet and configured for disposal along a front part of a user's neck. The body includes: (i) planar first and second surfaces, the first surface having a curved portion to generally conform under the user's chin; and (ii) a third surface that is curved along the front part of the user's neck and configured to be spaced from but does not contact the user's neck. The device is configured to absorb an impact force and resist the user's neck from moving forward during a sports collision. Systems and methods are disclosed. |
| US09215901B1 |
Eyelash application system
A method and apparatus of an eyelash application system can include: a cartridge having a handle, a seat, and a cartridge mating structure; an eyelash strip attached to the seat of the cartridge; and an applicator having a top arm with a clamping pad, the clamping pad including an applicator mating structure configured to interlock with the cartridge mating structure. |
| US09215899B1 |
Pocket T-shirt with a pocket made out of necktie material
A pocket t-shirt with a pocket formed from a first material such as that of a necktie, affixed to the upper left portion of a shirt formed from a second material, different from the first, is provided. The shirt may be one of a variety of colors, and the pocket material may define a multitude of patterns and colors as well. The V-shaped pocket will be sewn onto the shirt to introduce an element of class to the casual look of the t-shirt. A method of forming a pocket t-shirt is also provided. |
| US09215895B2 |
Nicotine salt formulations for aerosol devices and methods thereof
A nicotine salt liquid formulation for generating an inhalable aerosol in an electronic cigarette comprising nicotine salt that forms about 0.5% to about 20% nicotine is provided. |
| US09215894B2 |
Apparatuses, systems, and associated methods for forming organic porous masses for flavored smoke filters
Organic porous masses may be used in flavored smoke filters. Production of organic porous masses may involve introducing a matrix material into a mold cavity, the matrix material comprising a plurality of binder particles, a plurality of organic particles, and a microwave enhancement additive; heating at least a portion of the matrix material so as to bind the matrix material at a plurality of contact points, thereby forming an organic porous mass length, wherein heating involves irradiating with microwave radiation the at least a portion of the matrix material; and cutting the organic porous mass length radially thereby yielding an organic porous mass. |
| US09215893B2 |
Machine and method of manufacturing low ignition propensity paper by maintaining shrinkage rate of dried web within allowable range
There is provided a machine of manufacturing a low fire-spreading web, having a travel path (2) through which a paper web (W) travels; an applicator (3) that is interposed in the travel path (2) and used to apply a combustion inhibitor (7) onto the web (W); and a dryer (4) that dries the web (W) applied with the combustion inhibitor (7), further including a detector (9) that measures a parameter indicative of width of the web (W) that has passed through the dryer (4); and a controller (10) that controls a drying condition of the dryer (4) on the basis of a measurement result obtained by the detector (9) so that the width of the web (W) falls within an allowable range. |
| US09215890B2 |
Micro-colloidal silicic acid / boric acid composition and a method of preparing a bioenhancing solution and powder
The present invention provides a composition comprising an acidified aqueous solution of (1) micro colloidal silicic acid, (2) boric acid, and (3) a water absorbing additive, having a pH value of equal to or less than 1, wherein the micro colloidal silicic acid has particle sizes in the range of 1-8 nm, especially in the range of 1.5-6 nm. The invention also provides a particulate product obtainable by the method according to claim 18, wherein the particles comprise (1) silicic acid, (2) boric acid, and (3) the water absorbing additive, and wherein at least 90% of the particles in the particulate product have particle sizes in the range of 0.3-5 μm. |
| US09215885B2 |
Sequential extraction process
The specification provides methods for extracting proanthocyanidins, especially from firm fruit such as cranberries, through a sequential extraction procedure, and producing infused fruit products. |
| US09215884B2 |
Single mode microwave popping device
The present invention relates to an apparatus for popping kernels, comprising a heating chamber for containing kernels, a microwave emitter configured to produce microwave energy within the heating chamber and heat the kernels, a single-mode resonant microwave applicator configured to generate a standing microwave energy field comprising an array of one or more high intensity microwave regions, and a device configured to move kernels within the high intensity microwave regions. |
| US09215877B2 |
Compositions including a vacancy-engineered(VE)-ZnO nanocomposite, methods of making a composition , method of using a composition
Embodiments of the present disclosure, in one aspect, relate to compositions including a vacancy-engineered (VE)-ZnO nanocomposite, methods of making a composition, methods of using a composition, and the like. |
| US09215875B2 |
Thiazolyl oxime ethers and hydrazones as crop protection agents
Thiazolyl oxime ethers and hydrazones of the formula (I), in which the symbols A, L1, L2, Y, W, X, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 have the meanings given in the description, and also agrochemically active salts thereof, and their use for controlling phytopathogenic harmful fungi, and also methods for controlling phytopathogenic harmful fungi and processes for preparing compounds of the formula (I). |
| US09215862B2 |
Animal tag applicator
An applicator (1) has handles (2, 4) which on closing together will engage an animal tag with the animal's ear but at which time a control member (28) will engage with a linkage (6) to trip the linkage (6) into a jaw-open position. Once the handles (2, 4) have been released the linkage (6) will again be returned to its normal position primarily under the bias of a spring (25). |
| US09215861B2 |
Milking box with robotic attacher and backplane for tracking movements of a dairy animal
A milking box comprises a stall portion and a backplane positioned in the stall portion. The backplane moves toward the rear of the stall portion in response to pressure applied to a contact surface of the backplane. The backplane moves toward the front of stall portion in response to pressure removed from the contact surface. |
| US09215855B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH942450
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH942450. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH942450, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH942450 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH942450. |
| US09215849B2 |
Generation of haploid plants and improved plant breeding
Methods and compositions for generating haploid organisms are described. |
| US09215848B2 |
Electronic control unit with one or two ways controlled by electrovalves for programmed watering of lawns, gardens, flower boxes and similar spaces
Electronic control units for programmed watering of lawns, gardens, flower boxes and similar spaces, comprise a front panel including a single push-button for selecting a watering program, at least one push-button for starting the selected program and a display. The control units comprise an electronic micro controller which in response to the operation of said push-button causes the visualization of the duration and the frequency of the selected program, and in response to a single operation of the start push-button causes the immediate start of the selected watering program, while the operation of the start push-button for a variable number of times programs the delayed start of the selected program. |
| US09215846B2 |
Multi-process machine
The invention relates to a multi-process machine for the felling and further processing of trees, which is arranged to be suspended on the boom of a loader device with the aid of a pivot. The suspension device of the multi-process machine includes a rotator attached to the arm of the suspension device as well as a transverse frame pivot in its lower part, for supporting the frame of the operating unit, and an operating device. The suspension device further includes a wide-angle mechanism between the operating device and the said frame, for enlarging the rotation created by the length of stroke of the operating device. |
| US09215844B2 |
Vacuum collector assembly for lawn tractors
A vacuum collector assembly comprises a mountable hitch having support posts connected to one another by horizontal supports and a hinge mechanism for connecting to a trailing carriage. The trailing carriage includes a lift assembly and an engine support frame for mounting thereon an engine operating conjunctively with an impeller assembly for developing negative pressure within a blower housing that is connected in between a receptacle hood and a lawn cutting deck. The engine support frame generally extends outwardly from a pair of vertical columns each having ends connected to support runners for situating atop thereof a pair of receptacles holders suited for receiving receptacle bins utilized in storing collected debris. The lift assembly comprises side arms functioning with a trailer jack having internal gearing made operable by an extension rod and handle assembly to facilitate rotation thereof that effects lifting and lowering of the trailing carriage apart and away from the mountable hitch to allow for wheeled transport and storage of the vacuum collector assembly. |
| US09215843B2 |
Conversion kit for automating foldable and unfoldable grain tank extensions of an agricultural combine
A conversion kit for automating a foldable and unfoldable grain tank extension for an agricultural combine is provided. The conversion kit includes a first bracket assembly for attaching to a first grain tank extension, a second bracket assembly for attaching to a second grain tank extension and a control actuator. The control actuator extends between and is operatively connected to the first and second bracket assemblies for moving the first and second brackets between a folded position and an unfolded position. A torque rod assembly extends between and is operatively connected to third and fourth grain tank extensions. The torque rod assembly is rotatable to pivotally move the third and fourth grain tank extensions between a folded position and an unfolded position. |
| US09215841B2 |
Seed inductor for an agricultural implement having an adjustable air bypass
A particulate material delivery system for an agricultural implement including, an inductor box configured to receive particulate material from a tank, the inductor box including, an inductor segment comprising an air bypass channel extending through a particulate material supply chamber, wherein the particulate material supply chamber is configured to receive the particulate material for distribution to at least one row unit, and the air bypass channel is configured to guide airflow through the particulate material supply chamber without interacting with a flow of the particulate material through the particulate material supply chamber, and an airflow control device in communication with the inductor segment and configured to control the airflow through the air bypass channel. |
| US09215840B2 |
Seed inductor for an agricultural implement having an air bypass channel
A particulate material delivery system for an agricultural implement including, an inductor box configured to receive particulate material from a tank, the inductor box including, an inductor segment comprising an air bypass channel extending through a particulate material supply chamber, wherein the particulate material supply chamber is configured to receive the particulate material for distribution to at least one row unit, and the air bypass channel is configured to guide airflow through the particulate material supply chamber without interacting with a flow of the particulate material through the particulate material supply chamber. |
| US09215839B2 |
Agricultural apparatus with hybrid single-disk, double-disk coulter arrangement
An agricultural row unit assembly includes an attachment frame configured for attachment to a tow bar that is movable in a direction of travel. A proximal end of a swing-arm is coupled to the attachment frame, and an opener disk is mounted to and offset from a distal end of the swing-arm for forming a furrow. A deflecting disk is mounted to the distal end for deflecting debris from entering the furrow, and is mounted between the distal end of the swing-arm and the opener disk. The deflecting disk has a top peripheral edge spaced away from a top peripheral edge of the opener disk. A support bracket is attached as a cantilevered structure depending from the proximal end of the swing arm and extends in a space between the top peripheral edges. A tube is routed long the support bracket for dispensing a material into the furrow. |
| US09220183B1 |
Devices employing semiconductor die having hydrophobic coatings, and related cooling methods
Devices employing semiconductor die having hydrophobic coatings, and related cooling methods are disclosed. A device may include at least one semiconductor die electrically coupled to a substrate by electrical contact elements. During operation the semiconductor die and the electrical contact elements generate heat. By applying hydrophobic coatings to the semiconductor die and the electrical contact elements, a cooling fluid may be used to directly cool the semiconductor die and the electrical contact elements to maintain these components within temperature limits and free from electrical shorting and corrosion. In this manner, the semiconductor die and associated electrical contact elements may be cooled to avoid the creation of damaging localized hot spots and temperature-sensitive semiconductor performance issues. |
| US09220182B2 |
Semiconductor module cooler and semiconductor module
A semiconductor module cooler includes a fin which is a heat sink, which is thermally connected to a semiconductor element, and which has one or more notches in an edge at one or more arbitrary positions in a longitudinal direction and one or more convex ribs which are formed on a bottom of a water jacket having a cooling flow path and which fit into the one or more notches at one or more arbitrary positions. By doing so, the efficiency of transferring heat generated by the semiconductor element by a coolant is improved and cooling performance is improved. |
| US09220180B2 |
System and methods for scalable parallel data processing and process control
The present invention provides an apparatus and/or method for modular, scalable and nestable parallel data processing and process control systems from molecular to module/enclosure level, comprised of calculable inter- and intra-modular processing time standards and shorter look-a-head propagation paths; based on regular and irregular hexagonal and dodecagonal prisms, derivative dumbbells and variants as actual and/or approximated tilings/tessellations which may be arranged in columns, rows, stacks and arrays with or without rounding and/or a sliding fit. Non-sliding fit systems are fundamentally solid. Sliding fit systems modules have a central cavity with systems as follows: cage assembly, optional patch panels, anchoring, thermal management, interconnect enclosures, power, hot swap, fail over, positioning, and interconnects with optional quick disconnects and retractors. Optionally, module arrays store on dollied pallets in ramped warehouse rack shelving with optional catwalks, mezzanines, walls and roofs for build out and new construction. |
| US09220179B2 |
Pluggable power cell for an inverter
In one embodiment, a power cell chamber for a drive system includes moveable and fixed portions. The moveable portion includes a rectifier stage to rectify an input signal received from a secondary winding of a transformer to provide a rectified signal and an inverter stage having a plurality of switching devices to receive a DC signal and output an AC signal. This moveable portion can be slidably adapted within a cabinet of the drive system. In turn, the fixed portion includes a DC link having at least one capacitor to receive the rectified signal and provide the DC signal to the inverter stage. |
| US09220175B2 |
Electronic device and contact member
An electronic device includes a housing, a circuit board contained in the hosing, a pin, and a fitting member. The pin is inserted, from outside, in a through-hole formed in a wall of the housing, and has a head which is exposed to the outside and a shaft portion which projects into an inside space of the housing. The fitting member has a linear shape, and is formed with a nip spring portion and a circuit board contact portion. The nip spring portion nips the shaft portion elastically in its radial direction in the inside space of the housing to contact with the pin projected as a contact. The circuit board contact portion is in contact with a contact of the circuit board. |
| US09220166B2 |
Method for manufacturing light emitting diode backlight module
A method to manufacture an LED backlight module comprising steps: providing a substrate with circuits arranged thereon; pasting a plurality of LEDs on the substrate; electrically conducting the LEDs with the circuits on the substrate; providing a luminance photometer to measure an illumination of the LEDs in luminous state and getting an actual light intensity distribution of the light of the LEDs through a brightening sheet and a diffusion sheet; providing a computer to detect whether the actual light intensity distribution has a dark/bright band/spot. If the actual light intensity distribution is uniform, the LEDs are soldered to the substrate directly. If there is dark/bright band/spot, the positions of LEDs in connection with the irregular light band/spot are adjusted to enable the light from the LED backlight module to have a uniform intensity distribution. |
| US09220165B2 |
Printed circuit board
A power source terminal and a ground terminal for a semiconductor integrated circuit are connected to a conductor pattern through a capacitor. The conductor pattern is connected, through a filter, to a plane conductor connected to neither a ground plane nor a power source plane. Thus, a common mode noise arising from between the power source and the ground is caused to flow into the plane conductor. This reduces the common mode noise flowing in the ground and the power source of the printed wiring board, which relatively act as antennas. |
| US09220164B2 |
High frequency module
A high frequency module includes a ground mounting electrode connected to a ground terminal of a component, a first ground in-plane conductor in a multilayer substrate on a portion under the component and connected to the ground mounting electrode with a first ground interlayer connecting conductor, a signal mounting electrode connected to a signal terminal of the component, and a signal in-plane conductor provided in the multilayer substrate on a portion under the first ground in-plane conductor and connected to the specific signal mounting electrode with a signal interlayer connecting conductor. The first ground in-plane conductor is between the component and the signal in-plane conductor, and the signal interlayer connecting conductor is on an outer side portion of the first ground in-plane conductor when seen from above. |
| US09220162B2 |
Plasma generating apparatus and plasma generating method
Generated amount of active species is increased, and dew formation or moisture attachment hardly occurs on a dielectric layer. A plasma generating apparatus including a pair of electrodes, wherein a dielectric layer is arranged on at least one of surfaces of the electrodes facing each other, plasma discharge occurs as a predetermined voltage is applied to the electrodes, and a coating film is arranged on a surface of the dielectric layer. |
| US09220161B2 |
Array substrate and panel
An array substrate includes a common electrode line located in a surrounding region, a protected structure located inside the common electrode line, and a first electrostatic protection circuit having a shorting bar electrically connected between the protected structure and the common electrode line for releasing static electricity on the protected structure. A second electrostatic protection circuit is also electrically connected between the protected structure and the common electrode line, and the second electrostatic protection circuit releases static electricity through the common electrode line after the shorting bar is cut off. The invention can make the conduction of the static electricity accumulated at the shorting bar that has been cut off change from unidirectional conduction toward inside of the array substrate to bidirectional conduction toward inside of the array substrate and edges of the array substrate, thus reducing the probability of electrostatic damage to internal devices of the array substrate. |
| US09220159B2 |
Electronic ballast
An electronic ballast for lighting applications is disclosed. The electronic ballast comprises a first charge pump having an input capacitor (13) charged with a supply current drawn from a power source by application of a charging voltage to the input capacitor (13), the magnitude of the supply current being proportional to the magnitude of the charging voltage; and a voltage booster (16, 17) for generating a boost voltage, which is used to augment the charging voltage, thereby increasing the current drawn from the power source. |
| US09220156B2 |
Lighting control apparatus and process
A lighting control apparatus for controlling one or more light sources, the lighting control apparatus including: at least one sensor for detecting or sensing a parameter of interest; a transmitter for transmitting one or more wireless signals to one or more other lighting control apparatuses; a receiver for receiving one or more wireless signals from one or more other lighting control apparatuses; and a controller having at least one processor and a memory in communication with the processor to store configuration data representing one or more processes to be executed by the processor; wherein the stored configuration data represents one or more processes that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: receive, via the receiver, configuration update data representing one or more further processes to be executed by the processor; and modify the stored configuration data to represent the one or more further processes to be executed by the processor. |
| US09220155B2 |
Lamp and switch apparatus thereof
A lamp includes a lamp body, an LED light source, a storage unit, a switch apparatus, and a microprocessor. The storage unit stores a function table recording a relationship between a plurality of types of touches and a plurality of control functions. The switch apparatus includes a touch panel, a touch controller, and an indicator located under the first touch region. The touch panel generates signals in response to touches applied on thereon. The touch panel includes a first touch region and a second touch region. The touch controller receives the signals and determines the type of the touch intended. The microprocessor refers to the function table, and controls the LED light source to execute the control function and to give visual feedback when the touch panel is touched. A switch apparatus is also provided. |
| US09220152B2 |
Methods and apparatus for communication over a three-phase power system utilizing a communication protocol
Methods and apparatus related to controlling an apparatus such as a lighting fixture utilizing a communication protocol transmitted over the power line that feeds the lighting fixture. For example, in some embodiments data is transmitted over a three-phase power system via switching of a transformer electrically coupled to the three-phase power system. Optionally, a single transformer may be utilized to transmit data to at least on apparatus coupled to a first phase line of a three-phase power system and to at least one apparatus coupled to a second phase line of the three-phase power system. |
| US09220147B2 |
Luminaire with a sensor that varies its activation in response to the presence or absence of objects
A luminaire (1a, 1b) and a method for controlling a luminaire are disclosed. The luminaire (1a, 1b) comprises a light source (2) and an ultrasonic sensor (3). The ultrasonic sensor (3) detects the presence and direction of movement of a person (4) with respect to the light source (2). A controller modifies a lighting parameter emitted from the light source (2) depending on whether a person (4) is moving towards or away from the light source (2). |
| US09220146B2 |
Light emitting diode driver with linearly controlled driving current
A driver circuit for a lighting apparatus includes a current regulator configured to supply a load current to a load, and a control circuit coupled to the current regulator and configured to receive a dimming control signal and to linearly vary an amplitude of the load current in response to the dimming control signal. |
| US09220143B2 |
LED dimmer, LED lighting device comprising same, and method for controlling dimming of LED lighting device
A light-emitting diode (LED) dimmer for an LED lighting device, including a power switch, a drive voltage supply, and a LED light-emitting unit. Operating zones of the LED lighting device are changed in accordance with the switching of the power switch, and a dimming level for a next operating zone is determined on the basis of the dimming level and time while the power switch was on during the previous operating period. |
| US09220141B2 |
Programmable solid state light bulb assemblies
A driver circuit for programmable solid state light bulb assemblies including light emitting diodes is operable to provide a drive current to a light source of the light bulb assembly. The controller comprises a data storage unit storing a test scenario for calibration of the light bulb assembly; wherein the test scenario indicates a sequence of states of the light source; wherein a state of the light source is associated with settings of the driver circuit; a data input unit receiving a command signal via a modulated electricity supply signal; and a data processing unit retrieving the test scenario from the data storage unit; in dependence of the received command signal, generating a control signal for operating the light source in at least one state of the sequence of states of the test scenario; and to output the control signal. |
| US09220138B1 |
Soft bleeder to remove step dimming
Power lighting control methods and systems for solid state lighting are disclosed. For example, a power control system includes a transformer that includes a primary coil configured to receive a first voltage based on an output of a switching circuit, a secondary coil configured to generate a first current based on the first voltage to power a solid-state load, and a bleeder coil coupled to a bleeder switch, and a control module that causes the bleeder switch to turn on incrementally during a dimming event over M power cycles, where M is a positive integer, so as to eliminate or reduce a current step in the first current provided to the solid state load. |
| US09220136B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a lighting device
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method. The method includes detecting a dimming characteristic in an energy source that provides energy to be transferred to a load via a magnetic component, receiving a dimming control signal, and controlling a switch in connection with the magnetic component based on the dimming characteristic and the dimming control signal to transfer energy to the load via the magnetic component. |
| US09220133B2 |
Controllable-load circuit for use with a load control device
A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load is operable to conduct enough current through a thyristor of a connected dimmer switch to exceed rated latching and holding currents of the thyristor. The load control device comprises a controllable-load circuit operable to conduct a controllable-load current through the thyristor of the dimmer switch. The load control device disables the controllable-load circuit when the phase-control voltage received from the dimmer switch is a reverse phase-control waveform. When the phase-control voltage received from the dimmer switch is a forward phase-control waveform, the load control device is operable to decrease the magnitude of the controllable-load current so as to conduct only enough current as is required in order to exceed rated latching and holding currents of the thyristor. |
| US09220131B1 |
Ingot solidification controller for vacuum arc remelting
A method of model-based ingot solidification control for the vacuum arc remelting process is presented. Specifically, the model predicts the pool depth as a function of radial position from ingot centerline and time, given melting current, and electrode melting efficiency. The analysis leading to the model assumes that the electrode gap is being accurately controlled during the melting process. The controller has both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional embodiments. |
| US09220129B2 |
Communication method and system
A method of sending information from a first base station to other base stations including sending information to a first plurality of the base stations at a first time; and sending said information to a different plurality of the base stations at a later time according to a predetermined sending pattern for timing sending of said information to different pluralities of the base stations at different times. |
| US09220126B2 |
Method and apparatus for user equipment control in a cellular network
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a number of user equipments operating in a cellular network. The method comprises receiving an indication that a rise-over-thermal (RoT) measured in a cell is above a threshold. In response to reception of the indication, it is determined (52) if a user equipment, which is in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, state CELL_DCH and served by the cell, has a low data activity in the uplink According to the method, a user equipment, which is in the RRC state CELL_DCH, is served by the cell and is determined to have a low data activity in the uplink, is triggered (54) to change state to a RRC state CELL_FACH. Thereby the contribution of the user equipment to the RoT of the cell may be reduced and it may be possible to avoid dropping users due to congestion control in case of unacceptably high RoT in the cell. |
| US09220125B2 |
Method for processing heartbeat message, method for acquiring heartbeat period, and access network device
The present invention provides a method for processing a heartbeat message, a method for acquiring a heartbeat period, and an access network device. The method for processing a heartbeat message includes: acquiring, by a terminal, heartbeat control information (101); and sending, by the terminal, a heartbeat message according to the heartbeat control information (102). Embodiments of the present invention can reduce the signaling processing burden on a network side device and reduce the power consumption of a terminal, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the communication service of the terminal. |
| US09220121B2 |
Device to device interference triggered handover
Various communication systems may benefit from properly triggered handovers. For example, certain communication systems may benefit from device-to-device interference triggered handovers. A method may include identifying, at a device, at least one strong device to device communication. The method may also include reporting, or initiating the reporting, the at least one strong device to device communication to a controlling node, wherein the controlling node is configured to control the device. |
| US09220119B2 |
Method and apparatus for transceiving a contact verification signal in a wireless communication system
The present document related to a method and apparatus for transceiving a signal capable of verifying the validity of an available channel in a wireless communication system. According to the present invention, a scheme for transceiving available channel information, a scheme for requesting/responding to a channel validity inquiry, and a scheme for transceiving a contact verification signal are provided, and accordingly, a scheme for supporting the accurate and efficient operation of an unlicensed device while protecting a licensed device in a whitespace band is provided. |
| US09220117B2 |
IMS cross carrier supportability
A system may include a first Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network comprising one or more devices configured to receive a first registration request for a first mobile directory number (MDN), associated with a subscriber, wherein the first MDN corresponds to a home mobile directory number with respect to the first IMS network; and register the first MDN with the first IMS network. The one or more device may be further configured to detect a service point trigger, associated with the subscriber, to register a second MDN, foreign to the first IMS network, with a second IMS network, in response to the first MDN being registered; and send a second registration request to the second IMS network, to register the second MDN with the second IMS network. |
| US09220115B2 |
Techniques for channel access in asynchronous unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band deployments
Techniques are described for channel access in a radio frequency spectrum band shared by a number of asynchronous operators. One or more clear channel assessment (CCA) procedures may be used to contend for one or more transmission periods in the radio frequency spectrum band. When the contention is won for one or more transmission periods, a determination may be made as to whether the a number of transmission periods for which contention has been won is equal to or greater than a threshold number of consecutive transmission periods. If the number of transmission periods for which contention has been won is at or above the threshold number, occupancy of the radio frequency spectrum band may be relinquished for a period of time, in order to allow another operator to access the radio frequency spectrum band. |
| US09220106B2 |
Transmitter architecture for uplink inter-band carrier aggregation
A transmitter architecture and methodologies supporting uplink inter-band carrier aggregation (CA). In various embodiments, first and second baseband signals are provided to a plurality of passive mixers that selectively combine the baseband signals with differing local oscillation signals to produce outbound RF signals of at least first and second RF frequencies. Depending on the relevant CA mode of operation, the outbound RF signals are amplified and selectively coupled to at least one transmitting antenna for respective transmission over a plurality of frequency bands. |
| US09220103B2 |
Method of network entry in OFDM multi-carrier wireless communications systems
A unified two-stage network entry procedure is provided for OFDM multi-carrier wireless communications systems. During a first stage, a mobile station performs a common network entry procedure using a primary radio frequency carrier and then exchanges multi-carrier capability information with a base station. In one embodiment, the base station transmits a network entry allowance indicator to assist the mobile station in selecting the primary carrier. The network entry allowance indicator comprises information of preference of one or more available carriers. During a second stage, the mobile station enables multi-carrier transmission over multiple frequency channels if both the mobile station and the base station support multi-carrier capability. Before enabling multi-carrier transmission, the mobile station may optionally perform additional ranging by transmitting a ranging request for a secondary carrier. In one embodiment, the base station replies with a ranging response in response to the ranging request through the primary carrier. |
| US09220098B2 |
Radio resource allocation method and telecommunication apparatus
A radio resource allocation method for use in a radio telecommunication system for a first radio telecommunication apparatus and a second telecommunication apparatus carrying out a radio telecommunication by using an allocated radio resource, comprising selecting a resource allocation pattern identifying a combination of radio resources allocatable within a resource management space from among a pre-prepared plurality of resource allocation patterns, and notifying the second radio telecommunication apparatus of pattern identifier information identifying the selected resource allocation pattern and of startup position information thereof within the resource management space. |
| US09220094B2 |
Method, access point and terminal for selecting channel in wireless local area networks
A method for selecting a channel for an access point (AP) in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). The method includes the AP receiving network conditions of APs within the sensing range of a terminal sent by the terminal, and the AP selecting a channel based on the received network conditions. By forwarding the network conditions of other APs which can be detected by the terminal, the method of the present invention enables an AP to select a channel from the view of a terminal to avoid conflicts at the terminal, thereby improving the available bandwidth of the terminal, and giving a better experience to users. |
| US09220090B2 |
Base station apparatus, terminal apparatus, transmission method, and reception method
Disclosed is a base station apparatus in which a configuration section (102) configures, within a data assignable region for a terminal apparatus (200), a first search space and a second search space each being a candidate to which control information is assigned, each of the first search space and the second search space including a plurality of control channel elements, and a signal assignment section (105) assigns control information to each of the first search space and the second search space. In addition, the configuration section (102) allocates numbers to a plurality of first control channel elements included in the first search space in an ascending order, and allocates numbers larger than or identical with the numbers allocated to the first control channel elements to a plurality of second control channel elements included in the second search space. |
| US09220088B2 |
Method and arrangement for adapting guard time based on timing advance
A method in a base station for selecting a set of transport format schemes for a cell is provided. The set of transport format schemes shall be used for a radio transmission from a communication device to the base station. The base station is serving the eel! comprising the communication device. The communication device is unsynchronized for transmission to the base station. The base station specifies (201) a plurality of sets of transport format schemes. Each set of transport format schemes is associated to a respective guard time, which guard time is a time margin required to compensate for the communication device being unsynchronized for transmission to the base station. After determining (203) a required guard time as the maximum timing advance value used in the cell the base station selects (204) one set of transport format schemes from the plurality of sets of transport format schemes to be available for the cell. The set is selected such that its associated guard time matches the determined required guard time in the cell. |
| US09220084B1 |
Activation of voice over internet protocol applications based on push notifications
Systems and methods are described for communicating between VoIP applications installed on a mobile computing device and their corresponding servers using a cloud-based notification infrastructure. In one aspect, a method is performed by a notification handler executing on a mobile computing device and includes the actions of maintaining a persistent network connection between the notification handler and a notification server associated with the notification handler; receiving, over the persistent network connection, an incoming call notification for a VoIP application installed on the mobile computing device, the received incoming call notification being relayed by the notification server from a VoIP server to which the VoIP application is associated; determining, in response to the receiving of the incoming call notification, that the VoIP application is in an inactive state; and activating the VoIP application on the mobile computing device to provide information relating to the received incoming call notification. |
| US09220082B2 |
Method of determining a location of a mobile device and method of managing a list for use in such a method
The invention relates to a method of determining a location of a mobile device for use in a first communication network and a second communication network. The mobile device is camped on a cellular base station in the second communication network. According to the method, a list of records of communication units within the first and/or second communication network that are located within a predetermined geographical area is obtained. A communication unit record contains information representative of the identity of the respective communication unit, information representative of a position of the respective communication unit, and a reliability indication of the respective communication unit. Additionally, with the mobile device, communication units within the first and second communication network are detected. Finally, the location of the mobile device is detected based on the information representative of the position, the reliability indication, and an accuracy indication of the detected communication units. |
| US09220081B2 |
Access point location discovery in unmanaged networks
Embodiments of a system and method for Access Point Location Discovery in Unmanaged Networks are generally described herein. When a device attempts to discern its location indoors, it must be aware of the exact location of the network infrastructure that participates in the measurement. Indoors, it is the location of the Access Points (APs), which must be known to the device in order to triangulate its position. A system and method are disclosed for correctly discovering the exact location of network APs. An AP populates a neighbor list with location information by performing Wi-Fi scanning to receive a Media Access Control address and radio channel of a neighboring AP. The interested AP then acquires the position of this AP neighbor by querying its location and receiving its position information. Lastly, the received neighbor location is validated for correctness and reliability using Time of Flight measurements. |
| US09220073B2 |
Method, device and system for controlling uplink channel power
A sending parameter of a preamble is compared with at least one preset parameter threshold to obtain a comparison result. A channel priority is determined in accordance with the comparison result. When a plurality of uplink channels are required for simultaneous transmission, the transmitting powers of the plurality of uplink channels is determined in accordance with the channel priority; and the plurality of uplink channels comprising a PRACH. This scheme adopts an unfixed strategy for the ranking of the PRACH in the channel priority, and determines the ranking of the PRACH in the channel priority by comparing the sending parameter of the preamble with a preset parameter threshold or receiving a signaling from a base station. |