| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09487442B1 |
Raw mixture and method for producing gas concrete
The invention relates to the field of construction materials and can be used in manufacture of heat-insulating, structural and heat-insulating, as well as structural gas concretes and articles based thereon to be used in construction of outer and inner walls of residential, public and industrial buildings.The raw mixture for manufacture of gas concrete comprises ground granulated blast furnace slag, sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate solution, aluminum powder as a gas-forming agent, and additionally comprises a product of condensation of sulfonated naphthalene with formaldehyde at the following component proportion, % by weight: Ground granulated blast furnace slag63.0-69.0 Sodium silicate solution36.7-30.6 Aluminum powder0.07-0.11 Product of condensation of sulfonated 0.11-0.13 naphthalene with formaldehyde Sodium hydroxide0.12-0.16 |
| US09487440B2 |
Process for producing chemically strengthened glass
A process for producing a chemically strengthened glass is provided. The method for producing a chemically strengthened glass includes subjecting a phase-separated glass to an ion exchange treatment. A chemically strengthened glass which is obtained by the process and a phase-separated glass which has been subjected to the ion exchange treatment are also provided. |
| US09487439B2 |
Heavy-metal-free, ion exchangeable glass enamels
Heavy-metal-free glass enamels are applied to glass and fired. After firing, the coated glass can subsequently be ion exchanged to give a chemically strengthened, decorated glass article. |
| US09487438B2 |
Insulating glass unit comprising a sheet of glass with a fluorine doped tin oxide coating made from a gas stream comprising a nitric acid solution as oxidizing agent
The present invention provides low-E thin film optical stacks with improved optical and infrared reflecting properties and methods of making the same. More specifically, the present invention provides for a metal oxide thin film coating that exhibits lower emissivity values than its predecessor due to the inclusion of an oxidizer in the metal oxide deposition process, such as a strong acid such as nitric acid. The present invention also provides for a method that increases the coating efficiencies of the thin films described herein. |
| US09487431B2 |
Method for replacing cutting members
A method enabling maintenance intervention on a chopping machine. In the method at least one strand is drawn through a first chopping assembly in operation, the first chopping assembly including a first chopping wheel and a first anvil wheel, the first chopping assembly being secured to a chassis mounted to move about an axle. The chassis is rotated about its axle until a second chopping assembly initially in a position of non-operation is brought into the vicinity of the strand, the second chopping assembly being secured to the chassis and including a second chopping wheel and a second anvil wheel. The second chopping assembly is set in operation and the strand is led in between the second chopping wheel and the second anvil wheel. The first chopping assembly is brought into the position of non-operation. |
| US09487430B2 |
Polygonal tip plate module and bushing assembly comprising such modules
The present invention concerns a tip plate module for use in a bushing assembly for the production of glass fibers, said tip plate module comprising side walls surrounding at least a portion of the perimeter of a tip plate (11) forming the floor of the module, said tip plate forming a convex polygon, characterized in that, said polygonal tip plate comprises at least five edges (N≧5), preferably at least six edges (N≧6), more preferably it comprises six edges (N=6). The present invention also concerns a bushing assembly comprising at least one such tip plate module. |
| US09487427B2 |
Electric glory hole door assembly
An electric glass hot shop system is described herein that has at least one electrically powered heating unit (e.g., electric furnace, electric glory hole, electric pipe warmer, electric color box, electric annealer, electric crucible kiln) used in the processing of glass. |
| US09487419B2 |
Treatment of acid mine drainage
A method for treating acid mine drainage includes mixing acid mine drainage (20) and alkaline tailings from a gold recovery process (140). The acid mine drainage is thereby neutralized (12). |
| US09487416B2 |
Method of filtering water using an electrically active polymer composed of pyrrole monomers having counter anions associated therewith
A method for removing one or more organic or inorganic solutes from a solution, comprising contacting the solution with one or more layers of filtration media, whereby the solute(s) are adsorbed onto one or more filtration layer(s) is described. Primarily, but not exclusively, the filtration media are polymers formed by polymerizing one or more hydrophilic electrically active monomers, with the subsequent addition of varying mole percent's of one or more counter anions. The solution can comprise a polar solvent such as a polar organic solvent or water or an aqueous solution. The solution may also be a non-polar solvent, or water and organic mixture. The hydrophillic monomer can be, for example, a heterocyclic group, such as pyrrole or thiophene. The counter anion can be any anion, such as polystyrene sulfonate. The varying hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity of the polymer filtration media is controlled by the type(s) and mole percent of counter anion(s) used. |
| US09487413B2 |
Water filter assembly for a beverage dispenser
A water filter assembly for a beverage dispenser having a reservoir is provided. The water filter assembly includes a filter medium extending along an axial direction and a housing enclosing the filter medium also extending along the axial direction. The housing includes a channel having an inlet proximate to a second end of housing for receipt of unfiltered water from the reservoir and extending to a position proximate a first end of housing. The channel is configured to provide unfiltered water to a location proximate the first end of housing such that an entire surface area of filter medium is utilized in filtering the water in reservoir to minimize a pressure drop across the water filter assembly during operation. |
| US09487412B2 |
System and method for remediating contaminated soil by separation of highly contaminated coarse soil
The present invention relates to a system and method for remediating contaminated soil through separation and process of highly contaminated coarse soil, the system including: a screen adapted to separate the contaminated soil introduced into soil having given particle sizes; multiple hydrocyclones adapted to re-separate the soil having particle sizes of more than the given values by particle size from the soil having the given particle sizes separated through the screen; a remediating unit adapted to wash the soil separated through the multiple hydrocyclones by particle size; and a filtering unit adapted to separate water from the soil washed through the remediating unit. |
| US09487401B2 |
Process for the oxidation of SO2 to SO3
The present invention relates to a process plant for the oxidation of SO2 to SO3 in a process gas, said process plant comprising a heat exchanger configured for heating the process gas by heat exchange with an oxidized process gas and/or a further oxidized process gas by providing thermal contact between said process gas and said oxidized process gas and/or said further oxidized process gas, a first zone of material catalytically active in oxidation of SO2 to SO3, and a boiler configured for containing steam being heated by the oxidized process gas and/or the further oxidized process after said oxidized process gas has been cooled in the heat exchanger characterized in the cooled oxidized process gas in the boiler being non-condensing with the benefit of providing the possibility for a smaller heat exchanger which may be made with only moderate corrosion resistant materials, compared to a process plant according to the prior art, as well as a related process. |
| US09487391B2 |
Micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) device having a blocking layer formed between closed chamber and a dielectric layer of a CMOS substrate
Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) device are provided. The MEMS device includes a CMOS substrate, a cap substrate, and a MEMS substrate bonded between the CMOS substrate and the cap substrate. The MEMS substrate includes a first movable element and a second movable element. The MEMS device also includes a first closed chamber and a second closed chamber, which are between the MEMS substrate and the cap substrate. The first movable element is in the first closed chamber, and the second movable element is in the second closed chamber. A first pressure of the first closed chamber is higher than a second pressure of the second closed chamber. |
| US09487388B2 |
Ruggedized MEMS force die
Described herein are ruggedized wafer level MEMS force dies composed of a platform and a silicon sensor. The silicon sensor employs multiple flexible sensing elements containing Piezoresistive strain gages and wire bonds. |
| US09487387B2 |
System and methods for actuation using electro-osmosis
The invention exploits a widely used device in micro-fluidics, the electro-osmotic pump (EOP), to create very low energy micro-scale and macro-scale mechanical actuators. The EOP uses electrical fields to move naturally occurring charged particles (ions) through a fluid medium. As the ions move in response to the applied field, they drag the (non-charged) fluid along, establishing bulk flow. When confined to a narrow chamber, a pressure gradient can be established. The combination of pressure gradient and flow performs mechanical work. With the use of electro-osmotic pumps, the invention enables actuators to be constructed in a variety of embodiments, including for example, a sheet structure, a piston structure, and a cellular structure to name a few. |
| US09487382B1 |
Magnetic bottle opener
An apparatus is magnetically mounted onto a metal surface, such as steel, presenting a bottle cap remover and magnetic cap catcher. The apparatus is molded as a one piece body having a plate with a surrounding stiffening flange. The bottle cap remover is fixed to a front surface. Magnets are molded into a rear surface with poles facing rearward, wherein the apparatus is secured by magnetic attraction to the ferromagnetic surface. Bottle caps, once removed, tend to slide on the plate and are captured by magnetic force so as to remain on the plate. |
| US09487380B2 |
Hoist assembly
A hoist assembly includes a mount. A plurality of hooks is coupled to the mount. The plurality of hooks engages a ladder. The mount may be coupled to the ladder. A plate is provided. The plate engages the mount. The plate may be positioned above a roof access hatch. A winch is coupled to the plate. A cable is wrapped around the winch. The winch may extend or retract the cable. A hook is coupled to the cable. The hook engages an object. The assembly may lift the object upwardly through the roof access hatch. |
| US09487377B2 |
Elevator installation
An elevator installation is proposed having at least one car which is vertically movable upwardly and downwardly by means of a linear motor, the linear motor having stationary primary parts and a secondary part which is fixed to the car. In order to improve the elevator installation in such a way that it can be installed in a simpler manner, the elevator installation has a multiplicity of support segments on which in each case at least one primary part is mounted, in each case a support segment in combination with the at least one primary part mounted thereon forming a prefabricated drive module which is adapted to be handled independently, and the drive modules being stackable one on top of the other and forming a travel path along which the at least one car is movable. |
| US09487376B2 |
Retracting device for mounting to a web strap
Retractors and vests having retractors are disclosed, wherein the retractor can be attached by an attachment mechanism to a web system on the vest. An accessory can be attached to a line within the retractor, and the line can be extended from the retractor housing during accessory use. When the line is extended from the housing, the retractor housing rotates so it aligns with the extended line. This alignment of the housing and line reduces stresses on the line, which extends the reliability and lifespan of the retractor. Further, a retraction force can retract the line back into the retractor housing when the extension force is released. The retraction force can be strong enough to prevent the line from extending from under weight of the accessory. The retractor can also minimize the dangle length of the retracting device to the attachment point to minimize movement when not in use. |
| US09487374B2 |
Automatic annular winding machine
An automatic annular winding machine includes a paying off unit, a sending wire group, a winding wire group, a sending material group, and a perpendicularly vibrating hopper. The wires are sent to the winding wire group by the sending wire group. A magnetic ring is put into the perpendicularly vibrating hopper and sent to a clamping holder by the sending material group. Then the wires are winded on the magnetic ring by a lead pin of the winding wire group. The winding wire group further includes a pull wire slanting wheel group comprising of a pull wire slanting wheel, a spring, and a regulatable suspending sliding block. Accordingly, the heads of the plurality twisted wires would not branch off during working, and the length of the heads is left after winding accomplishing. |
| US09487373B2 |
Process and system for the production of books with digital printing from a continuous paper strip and respective book
A process for the production of books (22) with digital printing on a continuous paper strip (23), in which the strip defines book sections in sequence, with signature groups (33), each formed with basic sheets (34); the process employs a manufacturing system (21) which includes a transversal cutting equipment (41) for separating signature groups (33) as signatures sheets, and transversal and longitudinal folding equipment (46) for the formation of respective signatures (48); for a book with at least a sheet section devoid of text and/or figures in a last signature group, the method provides: a) identify a reduced signature group (59) including a number of sheet sections having at least a page with text and/or figures; b) cut the paper strip (23) to separate the reduced signature group as reduced signature group; c) actuate the transversal folding equipment (46) limited to the sheet sections having at least a page with text and/or figures and skipping the actuation of the transversal folding equipment (46) for a single sheet section; and d) actuate the longitudinal folding equipment (47) for folding longitudinally the reduced signature group. |
| US09487371B2 |
Printing medium feeding cassette aligning unit releasing member and image forming apparatus including the same
Disclosed are a printing media holder and an image forming apparatus including the same. The printing media holder includes an printing media alignment unit capable of moving bidirectionally toward and away from the printing media loaded on the printing media holder, and includes a release mechanism that releases the printing media alignment unit, to allow the printing media alignment unit to move its position for aligning of print media of different sizes, in response to a force received thereto in any of the bidirectional directions. |
| US09487366B2 |
Belt conveying device provided with rotatable assembly and frame for skew correction of belt
A belt conveying device includes: a first roller, a second roller, a belt, a rotatable assembly, and a frame. The first roller has an axis extending in an axial direction. The first roller has a first end portion on a first side in the axial direction and a second end portion on a second side opposite to the first side in the axial direction. The belt is configured to be looped taut around the first roller and the second roller. The rotatable assembly has a first gear and is provided at the first end portion. The rotatable assembly is configured to provide a first position to engage with the first roller and to rotate and a second position to be disengaged from the first roller. The frame has a second gear arranged in a prescribed direction. The second gear engages with the first gear. |
| US09487364B2 |
Sheet conveying device and image forming apparatus
A sheet conveying device includes a holder, a friction member, a rotary conveyance member having an outer circumferential surface and forming a nip area between the outer circumferential surface thereof and the friction member, the rotary conveyance member configured to rotate while contacting the friction member, and separate and convey multiple sheet-like materials one by one at the nip area, and a pair of guides configured to lift an underside of each of the sheet-like materials at a portion facing the friction member, the pair of guides disposed upstream from the nip area in a sheet conveying direction, outside both ends in an axial direction of the rotary conveyance member, separate from the nip area from the axial direction of the rotary conveyance member, and being overlaid with the outer circumferential surface of the rotary conveyance member. |
| US09487363B2 |
Sheet feeder and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A sheet feeder, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a sheet bypass member openably closable to one side surface of a body of the image forming apparatus, a pickup roller to feed and convey a sheet loaded on the sheet bypass member, and an arm to hold the pickup roller and to open and close with the pickup roller. The arm includes a contact portion extending in a shape of projection toward an upstream side from the pickup roller in a sheet conveying direction of the sheet bypass member. As the sheet bypass member is rotated upward to be closed and stored to the side surface of the body, the contact portion of the arm contacts the sheet bypass member to rotate the arm upward to cause the sheet bypass member to approach to the side surface of the body. |
| US09487362B2 |
Auger pan/hopper splash shield and safety guard
A new and unique granular material-saving auger pan/hopper splash shield and safety guard is presented, being made of rigid, flexible, transparent or partially transparent material. The invention fits over the top of an auger pan/hopper, secured by a lower perimeter sleeve containing strap material and a locking or other securing device, and an upper perimeter sleeve containing elastic material and grommets where bungy cords (not part of the invention) can be hooked through and attached to the granular material source outlet. The auger pan/hopper splash shield and safety guard provides a containment shield to eliminate granular material spillage as well as preventing granular material loss due to moisture, outside contaminants, and damage. This invention may also be used as a safety device to prevent possible injury from the turning auger or conveyor belt and from flying granular materials. |
| US09487356B1 |
Managing low-frequency inventory items in a fulfillment center
The disclosed inventory system and methods can be used to improve access time to less frequently accessed inventory items. Specifically, a mobile drive unit may be selected from a plurality of mobile drive units to retrieve or store an inventory item based on a density of the storage location of the inventory item and/or an estimated cost (e.g., estimated time) associated with the retrieval or storage of the inventory item. For instance, an overhead drive unit may be selected over a ground drive unit to retrieve inventory items from or store inventory items to densely-packed storage areas. As another example, an overhead drive unit may be selected over a ground drive unit when the cost of using the ground drive unit exceeds a threshold value. |
| US09487353B2 |
Environment-friendly paper bag recycling storage plate
The invention relates to an environment-friendly paper bag recycling storage plate characterized by comprising a guide plate structure and a paper bag support plate structure which are folded by a hard foldable material. The guide plate structure is hinged with an end of the paper bag support plate structure, when in storage, the guide plate structure and the paper bag support plate structure are closely abutted and folded into a flat plate, when in use, the paper bag support plate structure and the guide plate structure are folded into a slot shape, the paper bag support plate structure is inserted into a paper bag, and a garbage housing space is formed by the slot-shaped paper bag support plate structure and the paper bag, after the guide plate structure is turned in place towards the direction away from the paper bag support plate structure, garbage enters the garbage housing space along the guide plate structure. When the environment-friendly paper bag recycling storage plate is horizontally placed to serve as a dustpan, scraps can be swept into the paper bag by a broom. The environment-friendly paper bag recycling storage plate is reusable, compact in whole structure, convenient to use, lighter than a common garbage bin, convenient to carry, foldable when not in use, small in occupied space, low in manufacturing cost, and easy to use by common people. |
| US09487352B2 |
Container with supports
A container is provided with a frame including one or more support structures each having a stacking post with a thin cross-sectional shape. Multiple support structures having such stacking posts can be provided along the length of the container to enable the container to be used in a stacked configuration. The container can provide an expanded interior loadable width for increased loading flexibility and capacity, and can have recessed upper and lower handling fitting joints in order to provide stronger and space-saving connections between a header and an upper handling fitting, between the upper handling fitting and a stacking post, between the stacking post and a lower handling fitting, and/or between the lower handling fitting and a floor component. |
| US09487350B2 |
Method and apparatus for maintaining produce in a transportation container
An apparatus for maintaining produce stored in a transportation container is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing of the shape and size of at least one crate storing the produce, the housing having at least one opening therein; and at least one ultrasonic nebulizer for generating fog from a liquid pesticide, the fog rising through the opening to generate a cloud of micro droplets of the pesticide in the container. |
| US09487349B2 |
Round container for germinating and drying malt
The invention relates to a method for producing a round container and to a round container configured for said method, which provide faster construction of the round container, mostly independent from the precision of the preliminary work in spite of high final precision, and which provide simple transportation of the components to the construction site. This is accomplished by the invention through setting up wall profiles (2), which are continuous over the wall height of the round container (1) and which have in particular a flat inner surface, continuously along the circumference and by connecting them with one another and with the subsurface in particular through bolting. |
| US09487348B2 |
Systems for and methods of providing support for displaceable frozen contents in beverage and food receptacles
Apparatuses and processes for providing support for displaceable frozen contents in beverage and food receptacles are provided. A receptacle includes a sidewall extending from a first end of the receptacle to a second end of the receptacle, an end layer disposed at the first end of the receptacle, and a closure disposed at the second end of the receptacle. The sidewall, the end layer, and the closure define a sealed cavity of the receptacle. The receptacle includes a frozen content disposed in the sealed cavity of the receptacle and a movable platform disposed in the sealed cavity of the receptacle and in contact with at least a portion of the frozen content proximate to the end layer. |
| US09487347B2 |
Capsule with controlled opening, process and device for operating the capsule
The present invention refers to a capsule containing at least one aromatic substance for producing a beverage by means of its crossing by a pressurized fluid flow, and having at least one controlled opening element retained in a removable manner at least in one zone of the capsule facing the flow upstream and/or downstream. Said controlled opening element, by means of applying at least one certain actuation force exerted by a respective extraction device, may be displaced in at least linear or rotating fashion from an initial retaining position, that produces the airtight closure of the capsule, to at least one following position, thereby releasing at least one section of flow passageway of previously defined configuration and dimension in view of an optimized flow distribution inside said capsule. |
| US09487345B1 |
Plant carrier
A device is shown to transport potted plants through the mail and other common carriers. A tray assembly includes a series of apertures that hold potted plants. A beam holds the plants into the tray assembly. The tray assembly is enclosed inside of a box assembly. The beam is held in place over the pots when tabs are held into slots by the walls of the box assembly. Indents on the corners of the box assembly hold the tray assembly to the bottom of the box assembly. |
| US09487339B2 |
Liquid dispensing head, in particular for a bottle for packaging a liquid to be dispensed drop by drop
The invention concerns a liquid dispenser head which is designed to be mounted on a bottle containing a liquid and comprises a filtering device (26) forming an interface between the inside and the outside of the bottle. The filtering device comprises tubular filters (30) which are extended longitudinally so they can be plunged into the bottle, particularly tubular filters whose wall consists of a membrane that is selectively permeable to a liquid to be expelled from the bottle and made of hydrophilic material for this purpose. So that the expelled liquid can be replaced by air, the membrane forming the wall of said filter tube is made of hydrophobic material so as to be selectively air-permeable. The hydrophobic membrane also filters bacteria in the air. |
| US09487337B2 |
Layered structures and articles prepared therefrom
The invention provides a layered structure comprising at least two layers: A) a first layer A, formed from a composition A, comprising a polyurethane; and B) a second layer B, formed from a composition B, comprising at least one functionalized polymer B comprising the following: i) at least one polymerized monomeric unit comprising a functional group selected from the group consisting of the following: a) an acid group, b) an anhydride group, c) a primary or secondary amine group, and d) combinations thereof; or ii) at least one reacted functionalization agent comprising a functional group selected from the group consisting of the following: e) an acid group, f) an anhydride group, g) a primary or secondary amine group, and h) combinations thereof; or iii) combinations thereof; and wherein the functionalized polymer B has a number-average molecular weight greater than 1,000 g/mole, and/or a melt index (I2) less than, or equal to, 2500 g/10 min. |
| US09487336B2 |
Liquid container and stand
A liquid container cooperates with a stand to present the container in a display position with the container sealed, and an open position with the container unsealed. The stand is configured to support the liquid container in first and second positions, with the container being closed in the first position and open in the second position. The stand and the liquid container may create a decorative presentation in each of the first and second positions. In the first position the container is sealed by a cap that is within a depression in the stand and may be unitary with the stand. In the second position, the container may be sealed or unsealed with the container opening upward the stand supporting and cradling the portion of the container that is opposite the opening, to maintain the opening upward to prevent spillage of liquid. |
| US09487335B2 |
One piece reversible closures with custom removable liners
A closure is provided having a first section and a second section. The first section includes a first circumferential side wall and a non-child resistant engaging mechanism disposed adjacent the first circumferential side wall. The second section includes a second circumferential side wall and a child resistant engaging mechanism disposed adjacent the second circumferential side wall. A divider wall is disposed between the first circumferential side wall and the second circumferential side wall for closing an opening of the container when the closure is installed on the container. The divider wall forms a first section cavity and a second section cavity. A liner is disposed in at least one of the first section cavity and the second section cavity adjacent the divider wall, the liner including liner indicia printed thereon and a tab element extending away from the divider wall for enhancing removal of the liner from the closure. |
| US09487334B2 |
Method of forming polymeric bags
The present invention relates to improvements for the manufacturing of a wave-cut bag, more specifically a wave-cut bag with improved tie-flaps. Disclosed is a process for intermittently incrementally stretching and imparting a rib-like pattern to a collapsed tube of a blown film extrusion process. The incrementally stretched collapsed tube is particularly well suited for constructing wave-cut trash bags with a rib pattern on the tie-flaps of the trash bags. Further disclosed is a wave-cut trash bag with a rib pattern on its tie-flaps and surrounding area. |
| US09487332B2 |
Stretched films with maintained tear resistance and methods for making the same
Methods of stretching thermoplastic films in the machine direction include elongating the films in the machine direction without significantly reducing the films' machine-direction tear resistance. In one or more implementations, methods of stretching thermoplastic films include reducing the gauge of the films while substantially maintaining the films' machine-direction tear resistance. The methods can involve uniformly cold stretching the films by stretching the films to a draw of about one hundred and eighty percent, or less, of the films' original length. |
| US09487326B2 |
Bulk bin with panel to panel interlock features
A collapsible bulk bin container with structures for improved strength is provided. The bulk bin container includes wrap-around portions in the short sidewalls with a horizontal top plate and a horizontal rib proximate the top plate. The bulk bin container also includes ramp structure in the long side sidewall and base for lifting and dropping the sidewall when pivoted upright. The upright sidewall and base include surfaces to inhibit or prevent buckling due to compressive loads. The bin can also include post and pocket interlock structures. |
| US09487323B2 |
Packaging box
A packaging box where a body part has a bottom plate, first side plates erecting from one opposed edges of the bottom plate and second side plates erecting from other opposed edges and is provided with an opened upper surface. A pair of inner flaps are connected to upper edges of the first side plates through fold lines and folded inside. A pair of outer flaps are connected to upper edges of the second side plates through fold lines, and folded inside and overlapped with the pair of inner flaps to close the opened upper surface. Each of the pair of inner flaps is provided with a first engaging part. Each of the first side plates is provided with a first engaged part, which may engage with the corresponding first engaging part when the pair of inner flaps are folded and overlapped with the outsides of the first side plates. |
| US09487320B2 |
Carton with article protection feature
A carton for containing at least one article. The carton comprises at least one panel that can form an interior of the carton. The carton comprises at least one protection feature for protecting the articles from breakage. The article protection feature can comprise at least one feature in end flaps of the carton. The article protection feature can comprise an article protection flap foldably connected to the at least one panel. The article protection flap can be moveable between a first position and a second position wherein the article protection flap is folded relative to the at least one panel. |
| US09487315B2 |
Machine for packaging articles into cartons
A packaging machine (10) for continuously packaging articles (B) comprising a first conveyor line (23), a second conveyor line (22a, 22b, 22c) and a transfer mechanism (26a, 26b) which transfers articles (B) from the first conveyor line to the second conveyor line into a primary or intermediate carton (C) or transfers primary or intermediate cartons (C) from a second conveyor line to the articles (B) and a second transfer mechanism which transfers packaged articles (B) in said primary or intermediate cartons (C) from the first conveyor line to the second conveyor line to be packaged in secondary or final cartons (T) or transfers articles (B) from the first conveyor to the second conveyor to be packaged directly in the secondary or final cartons (T) or which second transfer mechanism is adapted for reorientation of articles (B) or packaged articles (B) in said primary or intermediate cartons (C) or which second transfer mechanism is idle allowing primary or intermediate cartons to pass for further processing. |
| US09487308B2 |
Launch vehicles with ring-shaped external elements, and associated systems and methods
Launch vehicles with ring-shaped external elements, and associated systems and methods. A representative aerospace system includes a launch vehicle having a first end and a second end generally opposite the first end, with the launch vehicle being elongated along a vehicle axis extending between the first and second ends, and having an external, outwardly facing surface. The system can further include an annular element carried by the launch vehicle, the annular element having an external, inwardly-facing surface radially spaced apart from, and extending at least partially circumferentially around, the vehicle axis. The annular element can have a first edge surface facing a first direction along the vehicle axis, and a second edge surface facing a second direction along the vehicle axis, the second direction being opposite the first direction. A propulsion system can be carried by the launch vehicle, and can have at least one nozzle positioned toward the first end of the vehicle to launch the vehicle. A controller can be in communication with the launch vehicle and programmed to direct the vehicle in the first direction during vehicle ascent, and in the second direction during vehicle descent. |
| US09487305B2 |
Communications quality analysis
A system and method for analyzing a scenario, such as a communications scenario in which the end-to-end quality of communications between end nodes of a communications link may be affected by various factors and conditions. Such factors and conditions may include performance parameters of the end nodes and intermediate nodes, human operational performance, and external conditions, such as weather. Qualitative and quantitative representations of the end-to-end quality of communications are presented simultaneously and in a time-synchronized manner with displays of the relevant performance parameters, indications of human operational actions, and locations of nodes of the communications link and external conditions. |
| US09487297B2 |
Bi-fold door module
A door module for a vehicle lavatory that includes a bi-fold door having a first panel and a second panel each having an inner surface and an outer surface. The first and second panels are pivotably connected together by a living hinge. The living hinge includes a hinge member that extends between first and second securing members, wherein the first securing member extends along and is attached to an inner edge of the first panel and the second securing member extends along and is attached to an inner edge of the second panel. |
| US09487290B2 |
Composite rotor blade having weighted material for mass balancing
A rotor blade for an aircraft includes a composite portion having fiber-reinforced resin material, the composite portion having an outside surface that forms at least a partial airfoil shape. The weighted portion includes a plurality of weighted material layers and a plurality of fiber-reinforced resin material layers. Weighted material is configured to be compatible with and integrated into composite manufacturing processes used to fabricate the rotor blade. The weighted portion has a higher density than the composite portion and positioned to produce desired mass balance characteristics of the rotor blade. |
| US09487286B2 |
Lift and propulsion device, and heavier-than-air aircraft provided with such a device
The invention relates to a device suitable for vertical and horizontal transport of loads, in particular heavy loads, in good weather conditions, using the load-bearing capacity obtained by means of blowing a stream of air, produced by a generator, on two longitudinal lifting wings, substantially rectilinear, arranged symmetrically on either side of a supporting structure, to which the wings are connected. |
| US09487280B2 |
Capture and docking apparatus, method, and applications
Apparatus and methods to operationally link (couple/decouple) a plurality of relatively massive, complimentary payload platforms (i.e., suspended machinery and ROV) at relatively deep working depths in an unstable marine environment (water column) while the payload platforms are in-transit. An apparatus includes a suspended machinery, an ROV, a capture collar, an extendable/retractable harpoon, and actuating machinery to controllably effect extension and retraction thereof. A method includes providing an in-transit suspended machinery having a capture collar, providing an in-transit ROV having an extendable/retractable harpoon, approaching the in-transit suspended machinery with the ROV, maneuvering the ROV so as to bring an end of the partially extended harpoon into aligned proximity with the capture collar, and further extending the harpoon so that it securely engages the capture collar. |
| US09487279B1 |
Signaling apparatus for coupling to an emergency flotation device
A signaling apparatus having a first and second conductive surface on an outward facing surface of a base section. First and second arms of a coupling element are configured to couple to the base, the coupling element comprising conductive material such that the first and second conductive surfaces are conductively coupled when the first arm contacts the first conductive surface and the second arm contacts the second conductive surface. The first and second conductive surfaces are configured to be conductively coupled for an amount of time when a body of water spans from the first to the second conductive surface. The electrical circuitry includes a switching means configured to move a timing circuit of the electrical circuitry to an activated state when the first and second surfaces are coupled to each other such that light is emitted from the light emitting device at a predetermined repeating lighting pattern. |
| US09487278B2 |
Trim tab assembly
A trim tab assembly including a hinge assembly and a trim tab. The trim tab includes a wedge-shaped body with a curved surface and a side. The curved surface, while in a deployed state, adjusts pitch, roll or yaw motion of a marine vessel. The curved surface is pivoted about a portion of the hinge assembly when transitioned between retracted and deployed states. A first portion of the curved surface extends below the marine vessel while in the deployed state and deflects oncoming water when a portion of the curved surface is extended below the marine vessel. A second portion of the curved surface is not below the marine vessel while in the deployed state. The hinge assembly is configured to attach to a support structure of the marine vessel rearward of the curved surface. The side extends between the curved surface and the hinge assembly. |
| US09487277B2 |
Vessel, motion platform, method for compensating motions of a vessel and use of a Stewart platform
A computer program for compensating for motion of a boat as it floats on water includes computer code for causing a processor to receive motion measurements of the boat floating on water relative to another element in an area surrounding the boat, and generate driving signals for driving actuators operatively associated between the boat and at least one carrier based on motion of the boat, wherein the actuators hold the at least one carrier substantially stationary relative to the element based on the driving signal. |
| US09487276B1 |
Fin system for a bi-directional watercraft
Disclosed is a bi-directional watercraft, such as a surfboard, fin systems therefore, and method of use. Example fin systems may allow a user of the watercraft to perform bi-directional maneuvers and stunts. The watercraft may be bi-directionally symmetric or asymmetric with fins mounted on its undersurface on both ends. When underway, the fins at the operating rear of the watercraft deploy for stabilization in cross-currents, while the fins at the operating front remain pivoted out of the way so that they do not “catch” water and destabilize the watercraft. When the watercraft reverses in direction, and the front and rear ends swap with one another, biasing mechanisms cause the fins now at the front to pivot away and hydrodynamic forces cause the fins now at the rear to deploy. In some cases, holders keep the fins from inadvertently deploying when they are not needed. |
| US09487273B1 |
Relocatable seat and removable/storable seating arrangement for boat
In one embodiment of the invention, a relocatable seat and removable and storable seating arrangement for use on a boat is provided. The relocatable seat has a frame, a seat bottom, a seat back, and at least one storage compartment. The removable and storable seating arrangement includes at least one removable support member, which can be stored in the storage compartment when not in use, and at least one removable seat member supported by the support member when in a use position and storable in the storage compartment in a stored position. |
| US09487266B2 |
Bicycle crank axle assembly
A bicycle crank axle assembly has first and second crank arms that are attached to opposite ends of a crank axle. The ends of the crank axle are non-rotatably disposed in axle mounting openings of the first and second crank arms. A first end of the crank axle has at least one axially extending first spline that protrudes radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of its middle body portion. The at least one axially extending first spline non-rotatably couples the crank axle to the first crank arm and prevents outward axial movement of the first crank arm away from the second crank arm. The second end portion of the crank axle has at least one recess that extend radially inward with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the middle body portion to form at least one axially extending second spline. |
| US09487264B2 |
Brake system
A brake system for a bicycle is disclosed. The brake system comprises an actuation mechanism shown as a master cylinder assembly and a brake or brake mechanism for the wheels of the bicycle. The mechanism/assembly comprises (among other parts, components and assemblies) a body or housing, a piston assembly, an actuating lever on a pivot pin, a bladder, a retainer and a primary seal. The bladder is fixed at a first end to the piston and fixed at a second end to the retainer. A reservoir is defined by the piston, the body, and the bladder. Advancement of the piston along the stroke causes the piston to seal against a primary seal and separate the reservoir from a pressure chamber in the body. A retainer may be provided to seal the bladder to the body, act as a piston guide bushing, act as a pivot bushing, and act as a stroke limiter. Upon advancement the piston will contact the primary seal and separate the reservoir from the pressure chamber as the bladder rolls out thus pressurizing the fluid. Stroke is limited at one end by a feature on the retainer which contacts the cam surface on the lever preventing further rotation/movement and at the other end by a stop pin. |
| US09487263B2 |
Bicycle brake pad
A bicycle brake pad includes a cooling plate and a friction plate. The cooling plate has a first surface and a second surface. The cooling plate includes a pad supporting section and a heat dissipation section. The friction pad is connected to the pad supporting section of the cooling plate. |
| US09487260B1 |
Motorcycle slide plate systems
A motorcycle slide plate system includes a second portion and a second portion covering a frame of a motorcycle and a linkage of a suspension system of the motorcycle. The second portion is arranged between the first portion and the linkage of the suspension system of the motorcycle. When the motorcycle traverses an obstacle, the first portion is displaced by the obstacle in a direction toward the linkage, and the second portion receives a force applied by the linkage, in the direction toward the displaced first portion. When displaced, the first portion and the second portion elastically deform between an unimpacted position to an impacted position to slideably displace the linkage of the suspension system of the motorcycle across obstacles. |
| US09487259B2 |
Article for temporarily affixing personal music device
The present disclosure relates to an article adapted for temporarily affixing a personal music device to a vehicle. The article includes an attachment arm, a mounting arm integrally attached to the attachment arm with a connecting structure, and a key slot forming an aperture in the attachment arm for attaching a personal music device to the attachment arm. The article may be a one-piece structure. |
| US09487257B1 |
Bicycle seat support and storage system
A bicycle seat support and inflation storage system. A bicycle seat is mounted to a first end of a bicycle seat post. A first end of a post adapter is threaded to a second end of the seat post. A first end of an inflation adapter is threaded to the second end of the post adapter. A pressurized gas cartridge is disposed inside a chamber of the seat post. The system is partially disposed inside a bicycle seat tube during storage. The seat post is removed from the bicycle seat tube and the post adapter is detached from the seat post to release the cartridge. The inflation adapter is detached from the post adapter and attached to a tire tube valve stem. The cartridge is attached to the inflation adapter first end and a rupture seal is broken to release the pressurized gas for inflating the tire tube. |
| US09487255B2 |
Overhead conveying device having column gantries
The invention relates to an overhead conveying device (30) for integration into an assembly plant for transporting vehicle components (31) by means of a conveying device (33) arranged on the overhead conveying device (30), said overhead conveying device (30) comprising a supporting framework (38) that has a length of more than 5 m and a width of more than 2 m. The conveying device (33) can be mounted on the supporting framework (38), and the supporting framework (38) and the conveying device (33) form a conveying corridor (32) in which the vehicle components (31) can be transported from an input point to an output point. The supporting framework (38) is mounted on the floor (47) of the assembly plant by bearing means that form, between the underside of the supporting framework (38) and the surface of the floor (47), a free space that is suitable for component assembly and/or for component transport and that is accessible on foot and/or on wheels, at least one bearing means being designed in the manner of a column gantry (39) that comprises at least two support columns (41a,b; 40a,b) whose lower ends are attached to the floor (47) of the assembly plant. At least one transverse bridge (42) is mounted between two support columns (41, 40) in each case, and the supporting framework (38) is arranged on the upper side of the transverse bridge (42). |
| US09487252B2 |
Vehicular undercover and method of manufacturing the same
A vehicular undercover constituting a lower surface of a vehicle and molded from a synthetic resin sheet includes a cover main body having a plate shape including one surface that is a flat surface and another surface that is opposite to the one surface, a reinforcing rib projecting from the other surface of the cover main body, and at least two auxiliary ribs projecting form the other surface of the cover main body and sandwiching the reinforcing rib therebetween. The cover main body includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is between the at least two auxiliary ribs and has a first thickness, and the second portion is on an opposite side to the first portion with respect to each of the at least two auxiliary ribs and has a second thickness. The first thickness is smaller than the second thickness. |
| US09487251B2 |
Vehicle having an integrated air curtain and brake cooling duct
A vehicle includes an air intake opening disposed at a forward end of a body, and a duct, having an air inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The air inlet is disposed adjacent the air intake opening. The first outlet is configured for directing the flow of air across a brake system. The second outlet is configured for directing the flow of air across an exterior surface of a wheel. A shutter is disposed within the duct, and is moveable between a first position and a second position. When disposed in the first position, the airflow control mechanism is configured for directing the flow of air through the first outlet and blocking airflow through the second outlet. When disposed in the second position, the airflow control mechanism is configured for directing the flow of air through the second outlet and blocking airflow through the first outlet. |
| US09487249B2 |
Cab suspension system for a work vehicle with circumferentially extending bump stops
A cab suspension system for coupling a cab frame to a chassis frame of a work vehicle is disclosed. The chassis frame may include a suspension platform. The suspension system may generally include a pad configured to be coupled to the cab frame and an outer tube extending from the pad in a direction of the suspension platform. The outer tube may define a circumference. Additionally, the suspension system may include a bump stop coupled to the outer tube. The bump stop may extend around a portion of the circumference of the outer tube. Moreover, at least a portion the bump stop may extend below the outer tube such that the bump stop is configured to contact the suspension platform prior to the outer tube when the outer tube is moved in the direction of the suspension platform. |
| US09487245B2 |
Frame configuration for vehicles
A frame configuration (I; II; III) for a vehicle (1) includes a forward part (10; 210) and a rear part (30; 130, 160; 230), the forward and rear parts are united by a first connection part (50; 150; 250) arranged between the forward and rear parts (10; 210, 30; 130, 160; 230) including a forward interface (G1) for connection with the forward part and a rear interface (G2) for connection with the rear part. Also a vehicle with the frame configuration is disclosed. |
| US09487241B2 |
Center console structure of vehicle
A pair of left and right pads (40) extending in a front-rear direction are provided on opposite side edges of a console main body (4). Each of the pads (40) has a width, in plan view, wider in its rear part than in its front part, and a top surface of a rear end of the pad (40) is substantially flush with a top surface of a front end of an armrest (8). A recessed surface (41) is formed on a top surface of the console main body (4) between the pair of left and right pads (40), and a dial switch (20) is disposed on the recessed surface (41). An elevated portion (7) having a top surface higher than the recessed surface (41) and lower than respective top surfaces of the pads (40) is formed behind the dial switch (20) and in front of the armrest (8). |
| US09487238B2 |
Vehicle parting portion structure and manufacturing method thereof
In a side member outer panel, a second panel portion is formed contiguously to a first panel portion with first ridge line interposed therebetween, and third panel portion is formed contiguously to second panel portion with second ridge line intersecting first ridge line at an acute angle interposed therebetween. A bead with a V shaped cross-section, formed by part of first panel portion and part of third panel portion, extends from an intersection point of the first and second ridge lines. A hood outer panel is disposed along the first ridge line, with a first parting portion formed between the hood outer panel and the second panel portion. A fender panel is disposed along the second ridge line, with a second parting portion formed between the fender panel and the second panel portion and with a third parting portion formed between the fender panel and a hood. |
| US09487228B2 |
Device for stowing a steering column
The steering column having a lug, a casing, an inner tube, an outer tube, a steering wheel end-piece, and at least one adjustment gear motor. The lug is axially movable and the column includes a gear motor controlling the lug. Having a movable lug makes it possible to increase the stowing length of the steering wheel. The range of movement is the sum of the movements of the lug and the adjustment gear motor. |
| US09487227B2 |
Steering column produced from fibre-composite and on the basis of pultrusion, braiding and/or winding technology
The invention relates to a steering column for a motor vehicle comprising a steering shaft which is mounted in a steering shaft mounting unit and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and comprising a support unit for connecting the steering shaft mounting unit to the body of the motor vehicle. At least one component of the steering column is composed at least partially of a fiber-reinforced composite material and the component lies in the flux of force between the steering column and the body. The component is provided with at least one pultrusion layer which has multiple fibers produced by pultrusion as reinforcing fibers, said fibers being oriented parallel to one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis. |
| US09487225B1 |
Utility sled
A sled adapted to couple to a tow hitch on an off-road vehicle comprising a storage compartment and a lighting system. The lighting system is operated by an incorporated electrical system. A rack assembly is secured to the body of the sled. A ski frame with two (2) ski assemblies are secured to the underside of the sled frame. The sled body comprises a planar bottom with side walls and stiffening ribs located along the inner portion of the side walls. |
| US09487224B1 |
Mechanically extendable railroad crossing gate
A system for operating a gate arm of a railroad crossing gate is provided. The system includes a lever, a spring attached to an extendable gate arm, a cable mechanism including a cable and a crossing mechanism. The lever is movably coupled to the cable and the spring is coupled to the cable. The lever is coupled to the crossing mechanism and the cable is coupled to the crossing mechanism. The cable mechanism is configured to extend and retract the extendable gate arm and the lever is configured to enable the spring to pull the extendable arm out from a retracted position. |
| US09487223B1 |
Automatic train operation tender unit
An automatic train operation system is presented for use with a train to automatically operate the train. The automatic train operation system is housed on a tender car and connected to a second rail vehicle. The automatic train operation system is connected to the second rail vehicle through end connections. Additionally, the automatic train operation system communicates with the second rail vehicle through the end connections. The end connections are operable to transmit an operation signal between the automatic train operation system and the second rail vehicle. The second rail vehicle completes the operation signal base on an executable command contained within the operation signal and sent from the automatic train operation system. |
| US09487221B2 |
Railcar bodyshell and railcar including same
The present invention includes: an outside plate; first frames each including a first head portion; and second frames each including a second head portion and arranged perpendicular to the first frames. At each of portions where the first frames and the second frames intersect with each other, the second head portion is arranged on the first head portion so as to overlap the first head portion. |
| US09487217B2 |
Collision mitigation apparatus
A collision mitigation apparatus is provided, which is installed in a vehicle and mitigates damage to the vehicle in occurrence of a collision. The apparatus includes an activation control section which detects an object positioned around the vehicle, and activates a collision mitigation part for mitigating damage to the vehicle in occurrence of a collision if a positional relationship between the vehicle and the object meets a predetermined activation condition, a type determining section which determines type of the object, the type being any one of a vehicle, a pedestrian and a roadside object, and an activation condition changing section which consolidates the activation condition compared to a case where the type of the object is not a roadside object, if the type of the object is a roadside object. |
| US09487214B2 |
Transmission control device for continuously variable transmission
First control unit performing first pseudo stepwise up-shift control that, in first travelling mode, increases vehicle speed while performing hold of transmission ratio and up-shift by first shifting speed and reduces engine torque upon up-shift, second control unit performing second pseudo stepwise up-shift control that, in second travelling mode, increases vehicle speed while performing hold of transmission ratio and up-shift by second shifting speed and reduces engine torque upon up-shift, and third control unit controlling change of travelling mode and switch between two pseudo stepwise up-shift controls according to control states of first and second control units, are provided. When travelling mode is changed to second travelling mode during progress of up-shift in first pseudo stepwise up-shift control, third control unit maintains first pseudo stepwise up-shift control until up-shift is completed. With this, harmonization between pseudo stepwise up-shift control and engine torque control is secured, then shift shock is suppressed. |
| US09487213B2 |
Vehicle control device
A vehicle control device includes an engine that is a power source of a vehicle, a transmission configured to connect the engine to a drive wheel of the vehicle, and a clutch configured to connect or block transmission of power between the engine and the drive wheel through the transmission. The vehicle control device is capable of executing predetermined control to allow the vehicle to travel while stopping supplying fuel to the engine and releasing the clutch that has been engaged, during travel of the vehicle, and the vehicle control device downshifts the transmission at the time the clutch is released in the predetermined control. It is possible to shift the transmission into a lowest-speed side gear ratio by the downshift. |
| US09487209B2 |
Hybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle includes: an electricity storage device configured to output electric power to and receives electric power from a vehicle-driving electric motor and to be charged with electricity generated by using output of an engine; an external charging portion that charges the electricity storage device with electric power supplied from outside the vehicle; and a control device that controls switching between the traveling of the vehicle which does not use the engine but uses the electric motor and the traveling which uses the engine. The control device restrains the traveling that uses the engine, during a period until charging is newly executed by the external charging portion, if degree of execution of the traveling that uses the engine following previous execution of the external charging is greater than a predetermined degree. |
| US09487204B2 |
Method for calibrating analog-controlled hydraulic valves and brake system comprising an electronic control and regulating unit in which the method is carried out
The invention relates to a method for determining a driving characteristic of an analogized or analog-controlled hydraulic valve of a brake system for motor vehicles, comprising hydraulically operatable wheel brakes, in which a brake pressure (pDBE), which is generated with the aid of an electrically controllable, electric-motor-driven (110, 35) driven pressure supply device (101, 5), is conducted to a wheel brake (105a, 105b; 8-11) via an inlet valve (102a, 102b; 6a-d) and can be conducted in particular via an outlet valve (103a, 103b, 7a-d) from the wheel brake into a pressure medium container (104, 4). In order to operate the brake system, the pressure supply device and the inlet valves, and in particular the outlet valves, can be controlled by an electronic control and regulating unit (110, 12), wherein for determining the control characteristic of an analogized or analog-controlled inlet or outlet valve, a brake pressure is generated by the control and regulating unit via the pressure supply device, and the brake pressure (pDBE) is determined by means of a pressure sensor (106, 19) associated with the pressure supply device, and the determined brake pressure and an associated valve control variable (I, U) are stored as a calibration point of the control characteristic (f, F). The invention also relates to a brake system. |
| US09487203B2 |
Brake actuator
The present disclosure is directed to ensuring a brake to be smoothly locked and released by preventing an air pressure of a spring chamber or a pressure chamber of an air operated brake actuator from being excessively compressed, and also solving a buckling phenomenon of a compression spring. |
| US09487199B2 |
Hydraulic brake mechanism
A hydraulic brake mechanism is described including a housing. A master cylinder assembly is disposed within the housing, and the master cylinder assembly includes a fluid chamber. The fluid chamber includes a first chamber portion having a first diameter and a second chamber portion having a second diameter, with the first diameter greater than the second diameter. The fluid chamber includes a transition region between the first and second chamber portions. The mechanism includes a piston assembly having a piston disposed within the fluid chamber. A first seal is configured to sealingly engage between the first chamber portion and the piston, and a second seal is configured to sealingly engage between the second chamber portion and the piston. The mechanism includes an outlet port extending from the fluid chamber from or adjacent the transition region. |
| US09487197B2 |
Multi-stage switchable pilot-controlled valve arrangement
A pilot-controlled valve arrangement having at least one valve mechanism mounted in a valve housing for multi-stage switching of a compressed air flow between a feed pressure connection and a working line connection wherein a throttled compressed air flow can be switched in at least one switching stage by a throttle, wherein the pneumatic pilot control has a first control piston mounted in a first control chamber implemented in the valve housing and having a coaxial recess for forming a second control chamber in which a second control piston is mounted, so that an additive control pressure application to the control chambers generates a telescope-like deployment of a ram extending from the second control piston for generating a multi-stage switching stroke for the valve mechanism, in order to implement the throttled compressed air flow in at least one switching stage of the valve mechanism present between the closed and the open valve setting. |
| US09487196B2 |
Motion control device for vehicle
A motion control device for a vehicle, including a braking means for applying a brake torque to a wheel of the vehicle and maintaining a traveling stability of the vehicle by controlling the braking means, the motion control device for the vehicle, includes a steering angular velocity obtaining means for obtaining a steering angular velocity of the vehicle, a yaw angular acceleration obtaining means for obtaining a yaw angular acceleration of the vehicle, and a control means for controlling the brake torque on the basis of the steering angular velocity and the yaw angular acceleration. |
| US09487184B2 |
Force limiting device for a motor vehicle
A force limiting device for a motor vehicle, which features at least two parts controlled relative to each other with a frequency-based, defined movement, wherein the parts moving relative to each other have mutually engaging gearings and the frequency-controlled movement takes place in such a way that at least one of the parts performs a wave-like advancing motion with respect to another part, in which the gearing is alternately engaged and disengaged, wherein one or a plurality of individual masses are provided, which can be coupled to or decoupled from the part performing the wave-shaped advancing movement thereby changing the force limiting characteristics of the system. |
| US09487183B2 |
Gas generator
A gas generator (10) comprises an outer housing, which has at least two housing parts (12), which are connected to each other, in the form of a diffuser bowl (14) with outflow openings (16) towards the outside and a cover (20) directly connected to the diffuser bowl (14). Inside the gas generator (10), at least one first and one second combustion chamber (30, 36) are provided, wherein the first combustion chamber (30) is delimited by an inner wall (32) and the second combustion chamber (36) is located within the space delimited by the diffuser bowl (14) and the cover (20). The diffuser bowl (14) and/or the cover (20) comprise a section (24) that is shaped, in particular deep-drawn, into an indentation, forming at least partially a circumferential section of the inner wall (32). |
| US09487182B2 |
Gas generator for restraining device
The present invention provides a gas generator for a restraining device, including: a housing; an ignition device chamber housing and an outer cylindrical wall portion disposed inside the housing; and an annular partition wall portion forming a space near a top plate between the ignition device chamber housing and the outer cylindrical wall portion, a portion defined by the top plate and a bottom plate of the housing, the ignition device chamber housing and the outer cylindrical wall portion is a combustion chamber charged with a gas generating agent; an inner cylindrical wall portion, disposed on the housing bottom plate and spaced from the annular partition wall portion, is provided inside the combustion chamber; the ignition device chamber and the combustion chamber communicate with each other by a first communication portion; the combustion chamber and the space communicate with each other by a gas-flow hole of the annular partition wall portion; the first communication portion and the inner cylindrical wall portion face each other in the radial direction of the housing; and a combustion product generated in the ignition device chamber passes through the first communication portion, then collides with the inner cylindrical wall portion, changes a flow direction toward the top plate, and passes through the gas-flow hole of the annular partition wall portion. |
| US09487178B2 |
Head-protecting airbag device and method of folding airbag thereof
A head-protecting airbag device includes an airbag that is inflatable in such a manner as to separate an inboard side wall and an outboard side wall while unfolding downward from a housing. The airbag includes a front inflatable shielding region that covers an inboard side of a window and includes a sub inflatable region that is inflatable later than the main inflatable region. The sub inflatable region includes a supportive inflatable region that is supported by a vehicle body member which is disposed below a beltline. The airbag is stored in the housing such that a front lower corner of the sub inflatable region is folded inward on a crease extending obliquely rearward and downward from the front edge to the lower edge of the airbag before the airbag is subjected to a vertical size reducing folding that brings the lower edge as unfolded flatly close to the upper edge. |
| US09487173B2 |
Molding for a motor vehicle for transmitting an impact force to a hood sensor
A hood sensor assembly of a motor vehicle includes a molding for transmitting an impact force to a hood sensor. The molding includes an absorption area for absorbing an impact force and a transmission section for transmitting at least a portion of the impact force to a hood sensor. An elastically movable material section provides a restoring force against which the molding can be arranged in its installation position (E). The hood sensor is supported within the molding. |
| US09487171B2 |
Telescoping side under-ride guard for sliding axle trailer
A side under-ride collision guard is described configured to be mounted on a large trailer equipped with a sliding rear axle, comprising at least two linear fixed energy absorbing beam structures mounted axially with the trailer and attached to a plurality of support members connecting the beam structures to opposing ends of the trailer's floor beams, and at least two linear telescoping beam structures axially adjustable for position with respect to the fixed beam structures. The guard diminishes the impact hazard to other roadway users that is presented by the lower axial edge(s) of the cargo compartment in the two outboard regions that exist between the trailer's protected regions, which are typically the landing legs or prime mover rear tires to the front and the trailer's sliding axle assembly to the rear of the trailer. |
| US09487169B2 |
Front-end module
A front-end module having a cross-member with crash boxes attached thereto, and a mounting support arranged spaced apart therefrom and above the cross-member. The mounting support is attached by support elements to the cross-member or to the crash boxes, and the support elements are connected by clip connections to the mounting support. |
| US09487163B2 |
Charging/discharging harness routing structure in electric vehicle
In an electric vehicle, high-power unit (20) disposed in motor room (2) to supply drive current to motor drive unit (10), and battery pack (30) disposed below vehicle body floor (3) are connected to each other through charging/discharging harness (51). High-power unit 20 includes unit back surface (high-power module back surface) (24) that faces dash panel (4), and harness connection concave portion (25) recessed from unit back surface (24) toward an inside of high-power unit (20), wherein charging/discharging harness connection terminal (26) to which one end (51a) of charging/discharging harness (51) is connected is disposed inside of harness connection concave portion (25). |
| US09487160B2 |
Sealed device for a camera
The invention relates to a device (10) with a carrier element (11) on which a camera unit (12), which serves for acquiring images in the exterior region of a motor vehicle, is arranged, and with at least one drive mechanism (14) for the camera unit (12), said drive mechanism serving to move the camera unit (12) to and fro between an inoperative position (1a) and an image acquisition position (Ib), wherein the drive mechanism (14) is arranged on the carrier element (11) in order to hold the camera unit (12) movably, and wherein the carrier element (11) has an opening (11.1) on the front side, through which images can be acquired at least in the image acquisition position (Ib) for the camera unit (12), and with at least one gap (11.2) on the front side between the opening (11.1) on the front side in the carrier element (11) and the camera unit (12) in order to be able to transfer the camera unit (12) into the image acquisition position (Ib). The invention is likewise directed towards a method for actuating the device according to the invention. |
| US09487152B2 |
Stowable utility rack
A utility rack assembly including a first rack and a second rack that may be converted from an extended position to a stowed position. Each rack may include a base attachable to the bed of a pickup truck. The racks may further include a bottom member attached to the base and a top member pivotally connected to the bottom member. A main rack holder may also be pivotally connected to the top member. In the extended position, the base, bottom member, top member, and main rack holder form a rack to support equipment. In stowed position, the top member may pivot relative to the bottom member and the main rack holder may pivot relative to the top member. |
| US09487143B2 |
Mirror assembly with formed reflective element substrate
A vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head portion and a reflective element having a glass substrate and a mirror reflector coated at a surface of the glass substrate. The reflective element is configured to provide a rearward field of view of at least about 15 degrees relative to a side of the vehicle and provides a substantially undistorted reflected image as viewed by the vehicle driver. The glass substrate is formed utilizing a bending element having a free form curvature. The reflective element, when accommodated by the mirror head portion at the side of the vehicle and as viewed by the driver, includes an image plane that establishes an object plane. Coordinates of the image plane and of the object plane are determined, at least in part, by the mirror size and by the free form curvature of the bending element used to form the glass substrate. |
| US09487142B2 |
Rearview mirror assembly for vehicle
A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror casing and a reflective element adjustably disposed at the mirror casing. A powerfold actuator is operable to pivot the mirror head relative to the mounting base between at least a park detent position and a drive detent position. The mirror head is manually pivotable to a non-detent position other than the park detent position and the drive detent position. Responsive to the mirror head being at a non-detent position and responsive to a single actuation of a user input, the powerfold actuator is operable to pivot the mirror head to either the park detent position or the drive detent position. |
| US09487138B2 |
Method for outputting alert messages of a driver assistance system and associated driver assistance system
A method for outputting alert messages of a driver assistance system in a vehicle in which data for moving the vehicle and data regarding accident risks in the surroundings of the vehicle are detected, the detected data is evaluated and attributed to a specific accident risk category and an alert message is output subject to the attributed accident risk category. The method according to the invention is characterized in that from the captured movement of the vehicle a planned movement of the vehicle is derived and it is tested whether without modification of the planned movement of the vehicle a collision of the vehicle with another object will occur, and the manner of outputting the alert message is carried out in dependence on the result of said collision testing. The invention further relates to an associated driver assistance system and to a vehicle having such a driver assistance system. |
| US09487137B1 |
Safety message playback device for an automobile
A safety message playback device for an automobile including a housing unit, a central processing unit disposed within the housing unit, a speaker disposed on a top surface of the housing unit, a battery compartment disposed within the housing unit, a rechargeable battery disposed within the battery compartment, a recordation and playback control disposed on the top surface of the housing unit, a pair of electrical cables, a magnetically triggered door sensor, and an adhesive strip disposed on a bottom surface of the housing unit. The recordation and playback control is configured to allow a user to record a message into the speaker for playback through the speaker when the recordation and playback control is activated. The speaker is configured to repeatedly playback the message the user has prerecorded when the magnetically triggered door sensor is in an open position. |
| US09487134B2 |
Seat back illumination module
A seat back illumination module is provided having a housing defined by an interior and a partially open front face. A switch member with a first position and a second position at least partially protrudes from the front face of the housing and is engaged thereto. An illumination assembly is defined by an output end and has an illumination source. At least a part of the illumination assembly is mounted to the switch member, and the output end is proximal to a section of the switch member that protrudes from the front face of the housing. An electrical switch is connected to the illumination source and operated by movement of the switch member between the first position and the second position to selectively power the illumination source. |
| US09487131B2 |
System and method for mounting an interior light bar within a vehicle
A mounting system for an interior light bar is provided having a pair of brackets pivotally mounted at opposite ends of a housing of a light bar so that the brackets and housing rotate with respect to each other. The brackets each have a front platform with adhesive material for attaching the brackets against a glass surface within a vehicle. With the brackets stationary against a glass surface, the light bar housing is pivoted to horizontally level the light bar despite any curvature or slope of the glass surface. Each of brackets has a pawl member having protrusions which when rotated engage different sets detents along a curved ratchet surface along the back of the housing to releasably lock the housing and brackets with respect to each other along one of multiple pivot positions. |
| US09487129B2 |
Method and system to control vehicle turn indicators
Methods, systems and program products are provided for obtaining navigation data indicative of a present position of a vehicle and assessing lane restriction information in connection with a road lane corresponding to a present position of the vehicle as designated by the navigation data. The methods, systems and program products also activate a turn indicator of the vehicle based on the lane information and the navigation data. The methods, systems and program products collect navigation data indicative of a present position of a vehicle. |
| US09487127B2 |
Photoluminescent vehicle step lamp
An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a photoluminescent portion disposed on a step portion and a first light source. The first light source is configured to excite the photoluminescent portion in a back-lit configuration. The illumination apparatus further comprises a lighting controller in communication with the first light source. The lighting controller is configured to activate the first light source to illuminate the photoluminescent portion by exciting a photoluminescent material by emitting a first wavelength of light. In response to receiving the first wavelength, the photoluminescent material is configured to become excited to illuminate at least a portion of the step portion. |
| US09487126B2 |
Photoluminescent puddle lamp
An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a photoluminescent portion disposed on a downward facing portion of the vehicle and a light source located proximate the downward facing portion. The light source is configured to emit light at a first wavelength directed toward the photoluminescent portion. In response to receiving the light at the first wavelength, the photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength, longer than the first wavelength, to illuminate a surface beneath the vehicle. |
| US09487125B2 |
External zero emissions indicator
A system for notifying a third party as to whether a vehicle is producing or generating emissions. The system includes an internal combustion engine capable of producing exhaust gases, an exhaust pipe coupled to the internal combustion engine and for allowing passage of the exhaust gases and a sensor positioned within the exhaust pipe and configured to determine a characteristic of the exhaust gases. The system also includes a switch configured to activate and deactive a zero emissions mode, an electronic control unit (ECU) for determining whether emissions are present based on at least one of the characteristic of the exhaust gases or the zero emissions mode and an external light, controlled by the ECU, that is activated when no emissions are present. |
| US09487122B2 |
Vehicle-mounted apparatus, computer-readable medium storing application program installed in portable information terminal, use restriction method for application program, portable information terminal, and vehicle-mounted system
A vehicle-mounted apparatus outputs caution or warning information to an occupant in a vehicle if the vehicle-mounted apparatus does not continually receive information that shows that an application that is presently being executed in a portable information terminal connected to the vehicle-mounted apparatus has an attribute of being permitted to be used during the moving of a vehicle in which the vehicle-mounted apparatus is mounted. |
| US09487120B1 |
Spreadgate flow adjuster
The spread gate flow adjuster is adapted for use with a dump trailer. The spread gate flow adapter is designed to regulate the flow and application of driveway stone for use in paved and unpaved driveways and parking lots. The spread gate flow adjuster is a latch that is designed to hold the dump gate of a dump trailer a predetermined distance from the closed position of the dump gate. This predetermined distance regulates the flow of the driveway stone released via the dump trailer. The spread gate flow adjusted further comprises a stop pin and a mounting structure. |
| US09487118B2 |
Frame structure for backrest and method for manufacturing the same
A backrest frame structure made of a resin and having a gate-shaped profile includes side frames extending in parallel to each other on both sides thereof and a transverse frame extending between top portion of the side frames integrally connected to the transverse frame, wherein a belt-shaped FRP sheet in which reinforcing fibers are unidirectionally-oriented is set as extending continuously or intermittently at least on the transverse frame between the side frames, and a matrix resin of the set FRP sheet and a resin constituting the transverse frame are integrally joined. |
| US09487113B2 |
Vehicle seat with an actuating element coupled with a fitting lever via a coupling element
A vehicle seat comprises a seat part, a backrest part and a least one fitting which connects the backrest part with the seat part pivotally about a pivot axis and in a locked condition is formed to hold the backrest part in position to the seat part, and in an unlocked condition is formed to permit pivoting of the backrest part relative to the seat part. For actuating the at least one fitting, a first actuating element and a second actuating element different from the first actuating element are provided. Via a coupling element, the second actuating element is coupled with a fitting lever, wherein by shifting the second actuating element the fitting lever is movable for actuating the at least one fitting. The coupling element and the fitting lever are coupled with each other via a first connecting means and a second connecting means. |
| US09487109B2 |
Seat lock device
A seat lock device includes an engagement portion engaged with a vehicle body member extending in a vehicle width direction on a rear side of a front wall of a rear parcel shelf. The rear parcel shelf forms an upper wall of a trunk room arranged on a rear side of a vehicle. The seat lock device is attached to the front wall of the rear parcel shelf, engaged with a striker provided to a rear face of a seat arranged in front of the trunk room to hold the seat in an erect posture, and releases an engagement state thereof with the striker by a release operation of a release operation member arranged in the trunk room. |
| US09487108B2 |
Motor vehicle seat, motor vehicle and associated method
The subject matter of the present invention concerns a motor vehicle seat (10), especially a folding motor vehicle seat (10), comprising a backrest structure (210) and a seat structure (310) hinged to the backrest structure (210) by an adjustment device (100), wherein the adjustment device (100) has at least one adjustable fitting device (150) with a backrest section (16) for connecting to the backrest structure (210) and a seat section (18) for connecting to the seat structure (310), wherein the backrest section (16) and the seat section (18) are arranged on different sides of the backrest structure (210) and/or the seat structure (310). Moreover, the subject matter of the present invention concerns a method for this. |
| US09487101B2 |
Vehicle control system for aligning inductive charging connection
A vehicle control system, a surface marking for a surface upon which a vehicle can be positioned and a method of positioning a vehicle is provided. The vehicle control system is configured to position a vehicle. The vehicle comprises a mobile inductive charging point. The vehicle control system comprises one or more parking sensors configured to determine the position of the vehicle relative to a surface upon which the vehicle is positioned and/or obstacles around the vehicle. The one or more parking sensors are further configured to locate a visual indicator indicating the position of a fixed inductive charging point relative to the vehicle, and a parking assistance controller configured to automatically park the vehicle in a parking space on the surface based on data from the one or more parking sensors. |
| US09487099B2 |
Plug-in electric vehicle supply equipment
A system for connecting an electric vehicle to a Level I or Level II power source. The system including an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) having an electrical plug compatible with a Level I or Level II power outlet, the plug connected to a power cord. The power cord is connected to a housing containing a number of electrical components configured to control the power flow to an electric vehicle to recharge the vehicle's batteries, via either Level I or Level II. The power cord extends from the housing and is connected to a standard electric vehicle connector compatible with battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). The EVSE further includes safety measures, such as a relay that controls the flow of power to the vehicle connector and a ground fault interrupter, to protect users from high voltage electric shocks. |
| US09487098B2 |
Power conversion apparatus
A power conversion apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a bridge circuit including a first switch and a second switch, a first auxiliary switch, a first auxiliary inductor, a control device, a transformer, a secondary-side inductor, a rectifier circuit, a smoothing circuit, and an output detection circuit. The control device performs an on/off operation on the first auxiliary switch if a value detected by the output detection circuit is smaller than or equal to a setting value, and maintains the first auxiliary switch in an off state if the detected value exceeds the setting value. |
| US09487089B2 |
On-board system for a vehicle and device for controlling a current flow in an on-board system of a vehicle
An on-board system for a vehicle and a device for controlling a current flow in an on-board system of a vehicle, as well as a vehicle (e.g., a motor vehicle) including such on-board system or device, are disclosed. The on-board system or device may include a control device and an emergency power source for closing a self-locking switch controlling the current flow in the on-board system in order to prevent a possible parasitic current injection when a faulty voltage drop occurs, and to thus prevent system overheating. |
| US09487086B2 |
Auxiliary modules mounted on a vehicle
Provided is an auxiliary power module removably connectable to a mobile platform, such as a municipal vehicle having a prime mover mounted thereon for powering the auxiliary power module. The auxiliary power module includes a connector configured to be fluidly connected to a connector on the vehicle, a hydraulic motor fluidly connected to the connector through a hydraulic circuit, and an auxiliary device, such as a generator, mechanically driven by the hydraulic motor. When the auxiliary power module is connected to the municipal vehicle, the existing vehicle hydraulic circuit may be used with the auxiliary power module to provide output power from the generator during emergency and disaster situations. |
| US09487083B2 |
Fuel supply apparatus
A fuel supply apparatus for supplying fuel to a fuel tank includes a passage forming member that has a fuel passage connected to the fuel tank, an injection port forming member that is disposed in the fuel passage and fixed to the passage forming member, the injection port forming member having an injection port forming a part of the fuel passage, and an injection port open and close mechanism that is mounted to the injection port forming member and has an open and close member for opening and closing the injection port. A reinforcing member of the passage forming member and a welded portion of the passage forming member and the injection port forming member are arranged in the vicinity of a common plane perpendicular to a center line of the fuel passage. |
| US09487079B2 |
Air inlet and cleaner arrangement for work vehicle
An air inlet arrangement is provided for a work vehicle that has an auxiliary bay external to the engine compartment. The auxiliary bay can have a bay cover in part forming a step panel for the operator. The auxiliary bay contains an air cleaner coupled to an air inlet via air ducting that extends through the engine compartment. In the case of work vehicles having an aftertreatment device within the engine compartment for example, the air duct extends through the engine compartment between a side wall of the engine cover and the engine and/or the aftertreatment device. The air duct can at least in part be formed as a unitary part of the engine cover with multiple tube segments of differing cross-sections. At least the segment passing between the engine cover and the aftertreatment device can be oblong with a major axis essentially parallel to the engine cover side wall. |
| US09487077B2 |
Temperature adjustment structure
A temperature adjustment structures includes a first duct, a blower, and a second duct. The first duct includes an intake port. The blower is connected to the first duct and configured to take in air through the intake port. The blower is placed forward of an electric storage apparatus in the vehicle. The second duct is connected to the blower and the electric storage apparatus and configured to direct the air from the blower to the electric storage apparatus. The second duct extends downward in the vehicle from the blower toward the electric storage apparatus. The electric storage apparatus is housed in a recessed portion of a floor panel, and the recessed portion is located below a luggage compartment of the vehicle. |
| US09487076B2 |
Vehicle cooling structure
A technique for increasing the capacity of air passing through a radiator main body, in a vehicle having a radiator. A vehicle includes a radiator main body for cooling a refrigerant introduced from an engine main body with a fan for conveying air to the vicinity of the radiator main body. A baffle member capable of sucking air from or blowing air into the radiator main body is attached to the radiator main body. A connecting duct for conveying air to the baffle member from the fan is provided between the baffle member and said fan. |
| US09487073B2 |
Power train for continuously variable power transmission
A power train and related vehicle are described for continuously variable transmission of power. A gear set includes first and second input components and an output component. An engine provides mechanical power to the first input component and, when a clutch device is in a first state, to a first continuously variable power source (“CVP”). With the clutch device in a second state, the first CVP is decoupled from the engine. A second CVP receives non-mechanical power from the first CVP, and converts the non-mechanical power to mechanical power. When a brake device is not engaged, the second CVP provides the resulting mechanical power to the second input component. When the brake device is engaged, the brake device prevents the second input component from rotating. |
| US09487072B2 |
Anti-vibration device and anti-vibration device bracket
An anti-vibration device bracket is provided that is capable of suppressing deformation due to contact with a member coupled to an engine side, and also capable of suppressing liquid ingress from the engine side.A anti-vibration device bracket 70 supports an anti-vibration device main body 12 on a vehicle body, the anti-vibration device main body 12 including an inside attachment member 14 coupled to an engine bracket 90, an outside attachment member 16 coupled to the vehicle body, and a resilient body 18 that couples together the inside attachment member 14 and the outside attachment member 16. The anti-vibration device bracket 70 includes a case 74 that is coupled to the vehicle body, that houses the anti-vibration device main body 12, to which the outside attachment member 16 is fixed, and that is open at a side portion on an opposite side to the bracket 90 extension side, and a upper plate portion 78 that configures an upper portion of the case 74, that is formed with a through hole 80 through which passes the inside attachment member 14 that is coupled to the bracket 90 at the outside of the case 74, that is formed with an upper face 78A facing the bracket 90 to the outside of the case 74, and that is formed with a lower face 78B facing an extension portion 22 of the inside attachment member 14 toward an inner side of the case 74. |
| US09487068B2 |
Liftgate inner die cast profile
A liftgate for a vehicle and a method of making the liftgate are disclosed. The liftgate includes a die-cast inner panel. The die-cast inner panel includes an upper section and a lower section. The upper section has a header member and a pair of supports extending from opposite ends of the header member to partially define a window aperture. The lower section includes a pair of side portions and a base portion that define a generally “U” shaped aperture. Each side portion is coupled to a respective one of the supports and the “U” shaped aperture opens into the window aperture. |
| US09487057B2 |
Anti-skid chain comprising a plurality of interconnected modular rubber links
A chain to be used on vehicle wheels is provided to improve the tire grip in rugged ground and protect the tire against ground roughness. The chain is formed of special links. Each link has a U-shaped profile with a crossbar and lateral pillars. Top inner portion of each of the lateral pillars have a projection facing the central axis of the link which provides a male plug and defines a gap that provides a female cavity between the crossbar and the projection. A link at a position of 0° has a U-shaped flat profile. A link at a position of 180° has an inverted flat U-shaped profile. |
| US09487055B2 |
Vehicle theft alert system
A vehicle theft alert system includes a lock state determination portion and a transmission control portion. The lock state determination portion determines whether doors of a vehicle have entered locked states after main power of the vehicle is turned off. The transmission control portion switches from normal mode to alarm mode when the lock state determination portion determines that the doors are locked. When a change amount of an air pressure of a tire of the vehicle is greater than a first pressure range in the alarm mode, or when a change amount of an acceleration applied to the tire is greater than a predetermined acceleration range in the alarm mode, the transmission control portion controls a mobile communication apparatus equipped to the vehicle to transmit an alarm information to an external apparatus located outside the vehicle. |
| US09487052B1 |
Airless tire construction having multiple layers
A tire includes a wheel portion having an axis of rotation and an annular outer surface. The tire further includes a webbing extending from an annular inner surface of the wheel portion towards the axis of rotation. A stiffness of the webbing varies along the axial direction. |
| US09487050B2 |
Tire with tread having base layer comprised of diverse zoned rubber compositions
The invention relates to a tire having a rubber tread comprised of cap/base construction where the tread outer cap rubber layer contains the running surface of the tread and the tread base rubber layer underlies the tread cap layer wherein the base layer provides a transition zone between the tread cap layer and the remainder of the tire carcass and is not intended to be ground-contacting. For this invention, the tread base rubber layer is comprised of three distinct zones, namely a circumferential annular central rubber zone positioned between two lateral annular rubber zones. In one aspect, the rubber tread cap layer and zoned rubber tread base layer are co-extruded together to form an integral tread rubber composite. |
| US09487048B2 |
Film for a tire inner liner and preparation method therefor
The present invention relates to a film for a tire inner liner including: a base film layer including polyamide-based resin and a copolymer including a polyamide-based segment and a polyether-based segment; and an adhesive layer including a resorcinol-formalin-latex (RFL)-based adhesive, wherein there is little difference between properties in an MD (machine direction) and a TD (transverse direction), and a method for preparing a film for a tire inner liner, including melting the polyamide-based resin and the copolymer at 230 to 300° C., extruding the molten substance under specific die gap conditions to form a base film, and forming an adhesive layer including a resorcinol-formalin-latex (RFL)-based adhesive on the base film. |
| US09487047B2 |
Oil-extended natural rubber and method for producing the same and rubber composition and tire using the same
This invention relates to an oil-extended natural rubber capable of improving a tensile strength and a wear resistance of a rubber composition, and more particularly to an oil-extended natural rubber formed by adding an emulsified extension oil to a natural rubber latex and further coagulating and drying them. An amount of the extension oil added is preferable to be within a range of 5-80% by mass based on a rubber component in the natural rubber latex and the oil-extended natural rubber is preferable to have a weight average molecular weight as converted to polystyrene of a rubber component of not less than 1,500,000. |
| US09487046B2 |
Laminated non-pneumatic tire
A non-pneumatic tire may include a hub configured to be coupled to a machine, with the hub having a rotational axis about which the tire is configured to roll. The tire may also include a support structure including an inner circumferential portion associated with the hub and an outer circumferential portion radially spaced from the inner circumferential portion. The support structure may extend between opposed, axially-spaced side edges of the tire, and the support structure may include a plurality of cavities. The tire may also include a tread portion associated with the outer circumferential portion. The support structure may also include a plurality of layers of elastomeric material each having opposing faces lying in opposing planes substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis. At least some of the layers may include apertures corresponding to the cavities, and the layers may be chemically bonded to one another. |
| US09487045B2 |
Element having a decorative surface
An element which has a decorative outer surface comprising: a first region having a constant luminance that is equal to a first predetermined value; and one second region adjacent to the first region, wherein the second region has a variable luminance that depends on the viewing angle, the variable luminance of the second region being equal to the first predetermined value for a first given viewing angle. |
| US09487040B2 |
Methods of patterning a conductor on a substrate
A method of patterning a conductor on a substrate includes providing an inked elastomeric stamp inked with self-assembled monolayer-forming molecules and having a relief pattern with raised features. Then the raised features of the inked stamp contact a metal-coated visible light transparent substrate. Then the metal is etched to form an electrically conductive micropattern corresponding to the raised features of the inked stamp on the visible light transparent substrate. |
| US09487034B2 |
Medium holder, medium loading device, and recording apparatus
A medium holder is provided with a movement restriction section that restricts movement in a direction that is opposite to a side that holds the rolled medium during installation of a medium loading device in a medium loading section. |
| US09487032B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus is provided that includes a first operating portion which operates for the first regions at both outsides further than the discharging portion in the opening width direction of the discharged paper to be positioned on the lower side (first direction side) further than the pinched position which is pinched by the discharge driving roller and the discharge driven roller, in the recording surface intersecting direction (vertical direction) intersecting with surfaces which become the recording surface, and a second operating portion which operates for the second regions on each outside of the first region in the opening width direction of the discharged paper to be positioned on the upper side (second direction side) further than the first region. |
| US09487029B2 |
Method to control a substrate temperature, as well as printing system to print to a substrate
In a method or system to control a temperature of a substrate to be printed to and which exhibits said temperature during a traversal of a printing system, specifically selecting or controlling a fluid temperature of a liquid fluid to be applied onto the substrate to specifically influence the substrate temperature, the fluid being applied onto the substrate before the substrate is printed to. At least one of the fluid temperature and a quantity of the fluid applied onto the substrate per time unit at least depending on at least one of a first measurement value for a temperature of the substrate before the application of the fluid and a second measurement value for a surface temperature of the substrate after the application of the fluid. |
| US09487028B2 |
Drying device, image forming apparatus and computer readable medium
A drying device includes: a drying unit that includes a laser light source group in which a plurality of laser light sources are arranged two-dimensionally and that dries ink placed on a recording medium as a result of ejecting of ink droplets from an ejecting unit by irradiating the ink with laser light; a control unit that divides the laser light source group into unit-of-control laser light source groups that are arranged in a crossing direction that crosses a feeding direction of the recording medium and each of which has, as a unit of control, a plurality of laser light sources arranged in the feeding direction of the recording medium, and controls the drying unit using laser light irradiation profiles that are set for the respective unit-of-control laser light source groups; and a setting unit as defined herein. |
| US09487021B2 |
Adjustable stenographic keyboard device and method for electronically adjusting key depth sensitivity
A stenographic device includes a display, a memory, keys of a stenographic keyboard, each key having a resting position where the key is un-actuated, a depressed position where the key is actuated to register a key stroke, and a range of depression positions therebetween, and a processor communicatively coupled to the display, memory, and the keys. The processor causes the display to graphically show a respective depression indicator of a current one of the depression positions for each of the keys, stores in the memory a respective key-press registration point for each of the keys, the registration point being a depression position located within the range of depression positions and indicating when the respective key is in the actuated state, and causes the display to graphically show a respective registration indicator corresponding to the stored registration point for each of the keys. |
| US09487020B2 |
Adjustable height keyset for stenographic machine
A stenographic machine including a housing, a stenographic processing unit in the housing, and a stenographic keyboard at the housing and operatively connected to the stenographic processing unit to record stenographic dictation by a user. The stenographic keyboard has a plurality of adjustable key assemblies pivotally connected thereto. Each key assembly has a key cap having a first removable securing portion and a stenographic keyboard key lever having a second removable securing portion cooperating with the first removable securing portion to removably hold the key cap thereat over a variety of different positions, a lever connection end having a pivoting connection attached to the stenographic keyboard to move between a steady-state raised position and a depressed lowered position, and an extension portion extending away from the second removable securing portion and to the lever connection end. |
| US09487016B2 |
Fluid cartridge sub-assembly
A fluid cartridge sub-assembly comprising a first vent bore, an elongate air channel, a cover extending over the first vent bore and the air channel, and a second vent bore connected to the air channel. |
| US09487012B2 |
Ink tank unit, ink jet printer, and ink tank
An ink tank unit includes: an ink tank that is able to contain ink; an ink filling unit that is provided in a case of the ink tank and has an opening which enables the ink tank to be filled with the ink; and a second case that covers at least a part of a peripheral section of the ink filling unit, of a fifth wall of the case on which the ink filling unit is provided. A recessed section and a side wall which enables the ink to be guided to the recessed section are provided on at least one section of the peripheral section of the fifth wall and a section of the second case, which faces the peripheral section. |
| US09487010B2 |
InkJet printer with controlled oxygen levels
An in-line printing apparatus with an inerting station that delivers an atmosphere having an optimal composition to inert a layer of ink such that LED radiation adequately cures the ink. A process for configuring a printing environment for delivering an atmosphere having an optimal composition to inert a layer of ink such that LED radiation adequately cures the ink. |
| US09487008B2 |
Multichannel multinozzle printhead
A multichannel printhead is proposed having an array of fluid ejectors for applying a liquid coating material to a surface, characterized in, that each fluid ejector includes a fluid valve with a closing element such as an actuated membrane 8 or an actuated valve seal 11, interacting with a valve seat 10 connected to the valve opening 9, the fluid valve controlling the flow of the liquid coating material through the valve opening 9, that the valve opening 9 enters into multiple fluid outlets 6, that the fluid outlets 6 of all of the fluid ejectors are arranged within a regular array of at least one row, that the fluid ejectors are actuated as to discharge discrete amounts of the liquid coating material through the fluid outlets 6 to the surface according to the drop-on-demand principle, whereas the valve seats 10 and valve openings 9 of at least one fluid ejector are part of a first plate and the fluid-outlets 6 of at least one fluid ejector are part of a second plate. |
| US09487000B2 |
Liquid droplet ejecting device, inkjet recording apparatus, liquid droplet ejecting method, and storage medium for liquid droplet ejecting method
A liquid droplet ejecting device includes multiple pressure chambers communicating with multiple nozzles, to contain liquid; a vibration plate, disposed extending along the pressure chambers; multiple piezoelectric elements disposed facing the multiple chambers respectively via the vibration plate; a drive waveform generator to generate a drive voltage for the piezoelectric elements; a residual vibration detector to detect a residual vibration waveform occurring within the pressure chamber after the piezoelectric elements are driven; and a controller to calculate a damping ratio of the residual vibration waveform detected by the residual vibration detector; and to determine whether abnormal ejection occurs. |
| US09486997B2 |
Printing apparatus, control method for printing apparatus, and control program for printing apparatus
A printing apparatus includes a first piezoelectric element; a first cavity; a first nozzle; a second piezoelectric element; a second cavity; a second nozzle; a drive signal generating unit that generates a drive signal; a residual vibration detecting unit that detects the first residual vibration signal and the second residual vibration signal; a discharge state determining unit that determines the state of discharge from the first nozzle from the first residual vibration signal and determines the state of discharge from the second nozzle from the second residual vibration signal; and a setting unit that sets the frequency of detection of the first residual vibration signal to be higher than the frequency of detection of the second residual vibration signal. |
| US09486993B2 |
Method and device for setting ink-conducting rotational bodies of a printing press
Rotational bodies of a printing press with at least a first, a second and a third ink-conducting rotational body, which interact with each other in pairs, can be set in a thrown-on position. The second of the at least three rotational bodies can be set both against the first of the three rotational bodies and against the third of the three rotational bodies in order to form a two-sided thrown-on position. Tracking, coupled in a defined way, of the rotational axis of the second rotational body takes place at the same time as a radial positional change of the rotational axis of the first rotational body, by the superimposition of two movements along two non-congruent movement paths which run in a plane which is perpendicular with respect to the rotational axis. A device for setting rotational bodies of a printing press is also provided. |
| US09486992B2 |
Conveyor and method for changing the pitch of printed products
A printing press is provided. The printing press includes a print unit printing a stream of printed products having a first pitch, a pitch changing device and a controller. The pitch changing device includes an upper roller mounted on an upper axle, a lower roller mounted on a lower axle, the upper and lower rollers forming a roller nip and at least one motor driving the upper and lower rollers in opposite directions. The roller nip receives the stream of printed products. The controller is connected to the at least one motor and is configured to decrease an initial velocity of the roller nip to a final velocity using an electronic cam velocity profile and to increase the final velocity of the nip to the initial velocity after releasing the printed products over a longer period of a cycle of the electronic cam velocity profile than decreasing the initial velocity to the final velocity. A method is also provided. |
| US09486991B2 |
Manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method for cleaning web member
There is provided a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a cleaning web member by intermittently cutting a continuous web member at a product pitch in a transport direction, the continuous web member having a base sheet continuous in the transport direction and a fiber bundle placed on and secured to the base sheet with a direction of fibers being along the transport direction. The manufacturing apparatus includes: an intermittent transport mechanism; a cutter mechanism; a sensor; and a control section. The control section controls a transport amount related to the intermittent transport by the intermittent transport mechanism based on information of the displacement amount output from the sensor. |
| US09486988B2 |
Reduced cycle time manufacturing processes for thick film resistive devices
A process of forming a resistive device such as a load resistor or a heater is provided that includes forming a dielectric layer onto a substrate, a target, or an adjacent functional layer, wherein the dielectric layer in one form defines a single layer of dielectric tape. The dielectric tape is laminated to the substrate, the target, or the adjacent functional layer through a single predetermined cycle of pressure, temperature and time. A resistive layer is formed on the dielectric layer after the dielectric tape is laminated to the substrate. A protective layer is formed over the resistive layer. |
| US09486987B2 |
Partially opaque-partially clear laminates and methods thereof
The present relates a laminate comprising: an outer polyethylene (PE) layer; a first adhesive layer; a substrate layer with one side selectively vacuum metalized or selectively reverse printed and said printed or metalized side is toward first adhesive layer; a second adhesive layer; an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) polymer barrier film layer; an linear density polyethylene (LDPE) extrusion layer; and an inner polyethylene (PE) layer. The present disclosure further relates to tubes made of the partially opaque and partially clear laminate. The present disclosure also relates to a process of manufacturing of tubes using the said laminate. |
| US09486982B2 |
Method of manufacturing adhesive articles
The present application is directed to a method of manufacturing an adhesive article. The method comprises providing a first extrudable feedstock comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive and providing a second extrudable feedstock comprising a polyolefin polymer having a density of no greater than 0.91 g/cc. The first extrudable feedstock and the second extrudable feedstock are coextruded in contact with each other to form a coextruded film. The method also comprises cooling the coextruded film. |
| US09486979B2 |
Nonwoven fabric with surface uneven structure, and product using same
A nonwoven fabric having a surface concavo-convex structure, and a molded member and a wiping cloth that use the nonwoven fabric are provided. The nonwoven fabric having a surface concavo-convex structure is formed by pressing a planar element having a plurality of apertures against at least one surface of a nonwoven fabric that has been formed by passing hot air through a web including heat adhesive fibers so as to heat-bond interlacing points between the fibers. The pressing process is performed in a state where the nonwoven fabric retains heat in a degree that does not further promote the heat bonding. The nonwoven fabric having a surface concavo-convex structure is soft and exhibits high strength and sufficient resistance against stress. |
| US09486977B2 |
Multi-ply puckered films formed by discontinuous lamination of films having different rebound ratios
Methods of increasing the loft of a multi-ply thermoplastic film include stretching thermoplastic films with different rebound ratios, non-continuously laminating the films together, and releasing the films to create puckers in one or more of the films. The puckers can comprise billowing of one of the films. The non-continuous laminated areas can maintain the puckers in the films. The puckers can increase the loft of the film, improve the feel of the film, and/or modify the look of the film. The loft of such multi-ply puckered thermoplastics films vary independent of the basis weight of the films. Thus, multi-ply puckered thermoplastics films with increased loft of one or more implementations can look and feel thicker while using reduced amounts of thermoplastic material. |
| US09486974B2 |
Impregnated cloth
A knitted spacer fabric has a tightly knitted bottom layer, a more loosely knitted upper layer and linking fibers extending across the space between the lower and upper faces. Settable material, e.g. cement, is introduced into the space between the upper and lower faces and can be caused to set by the addition of a liquid, e.g. water. Until set, the fabric is flexible and can be shaped but after the material in space has set, the fabric is rigid and can be used as a structural element in a wide range of situations. The bottom layer has an extension that extends beyond the upper face and is connected to the upper face by elastic connecting fibers that draw the extension towards the other face, thereby at least partly closing the space at the edge of the cloth and preventing the settable material from spilling out. In addition, the packing of the settable material and maximum space between the faces are such that only a predetermined amount of liquid can be accommodated within the space and that amount is matched to the water required to set the cement. |
| US09486972B2 |
Bulk bin former apparatus and method
A machine for automated construction of a bulk bin includes an erecting and construction station, a collapsed body blank supply station and a bottom blank supply station. A body bank pick mechanism picks a collapsed body blank from the collapsed body blank supply station and moves the collapsed body blank into the erecting and constructing station. A body blank opening assembly at the erecting and constructing station opens the collapsed body blank and forms an opened body blank. A bottom blank pick mechanism picks a bottom blank from the bottom blank supply station. A conveying device moves the bottom blank to the erecting and constructing station and beneath the opened body blank. A bottom blank fixing system applies the bottom blank to the opened body blank with flaps of the bottom blank secured to side walls of the opened body blank to produce an open bulk bin structure. |
| US09486968B2 |
Surface covering with static control properties
The present invention relates to a substrate-free conductive surface covering, and a process to manufacture such covering, said surface covering comprising a core layer of sheet particles which are agglomerated and embedded in a polymer matrix, wherein the particles or the polymer matrix, or both, comprise an electrically conductive material. |
| US09486966B2 |
Filament winding apparatus
A filament winding apparatus includes a hoop winding unit that is configured to hoop wind a plurality of fiber bundles on an outer surface of a liner of a tank by rotating along a circumferential direction of the liner while moving back and forth along an axial direction of the liner. The hoop winding unit includes a fiber-bundle guide assembly that is configured to rotate along the circumferential direction of the liner during the moving back and forth of the hoop winding unit, and to guide the plurality of fiber bundles to the outer surface of the liner. The fiber-bundle guide assembly has a first fiber-turn section configured to change a moving direction of the plurality of fiber bundles from an approach direction to a turned direction perpendicular to the approach direction, wherein the plurality of fiber bundles are supplied to the fiber-bundle guide assembly in the approach direction with a state where the plurality of fiber bundles are arrayed in parallel with each other in a width direction perpendicular to the approach direction. |
| US09486965B2 |
Composite columnar structure having co-bonded reinforcement and fabrication method
A columnar structure comprises a generally hollow laminate core, an outer composite skin, and a sleeve-like reinforcement. The sleeve-like reinforcement surrounds the laminate core and is sandwiched between the laminate core and the outer composite skin for reacting compressive loads imposed on the columnar structure. |
| US09486964B2 |
Solid imaging apparatus with improved part separation from the image plate
A replenishing device in an additive manufacturing system is disclosed having a sweeper that extends to a base of a reservoir that holds a liquid resin and horizontally across at least a portion of a cure inhibiting layer located on the base of the reservoir that functions as an imaging plate, with the sweeper positioned across at least a portion of a side of the cure inhibiting layer to at least one of retard a flow of the liquid resin across a portion of a top surface of the cure inhibiting layer by providing a physical barrier to the liquid resin, remove debris from the cure inhibiting layer, and agitate the liquid resin. Other devices are also disclosed. |
| US09486961B2 |
Manufacturing device for three-dimensional laminate shaped object
The manufacturing device manufactures a laminate shaped object by supplying material powder to a molding chamber to form a powder layer and irradiating a surface of the powder layer with a beam to sinter the powder layer. The molding chamber has a molding space where the material powder is irradiated with the beam and the laminate shaped object is formed, and a non-molding space which is outside the molding space and in which the laminate shaped object is not formed. An elastic member is disposed in the non-molding space, and the elastic member extends or contracts to change volume along with change of a relative position of the table in a vertical direction. |
| US09486960B2 |
System for digital fabrication of graded, hierarchical material structures
A system to fabricate hierarchical graded materials includes a reservoir to contain a material to be deposited, a print head connected to the reservoir to allow the print head to receive the material to be deposited, the print head having a mixing section, and an actuator connected to the print head, the actuator configured to actuate the print head in six axes of motion. |
| US09486953B2 |
Imprint apparatus and imprint method
An imprint apparatus includes: a mold that forms a pattern in a resin on a base plate; a press unit that presses the mold against the resin; a flow channel that is formed by a wall of the mold and a surface of the resin, air flowing along the wall and the surface; a supply unit that supplies air to the flow channel; wherein the supply unit supplies air with a first pressure to the flow channel when the mold makes contact with the resin. |
| US09486952B2 |
Apparatus and method for expanding preforms into containers
The invention relates to an apparatus as well as to a method for expanding preforms into containers within a blow mold by means of a pressurized pneumatic medium, wherein a compressor piston unit for compressing the pneumatic medium is in flow communication with the blow mold, in order to introduce a volume flow of the pneumatic medium into an inner region of the blow mold, and wherein an actuator unit that can be activated by a hydraulic medium interacts with at least one element of the compressor piston unit, in order to drive the compressor piston unit during an expansion process of the container for compressing the pneumatic medium, and in order to be driven itself, during a relaxation process that temporally follows the expansion process, due to the returning volume flow of the pneumatic medium into the compressor piston unit. |
| US09486942B1 |
Mold interlocks
A mold bushing assembly includes a pin member for assembly to a first mold portion and a bushing member for assembly to a second mold portion. The pin member includes a projection that includes a land portion and a guide portion, with the land portion being cylindrical and having an axial length, and with the guide portion extending from the land portion and having a varying cross sectional diameter that decreases from the land portion. The bushing member includes a bushing cavity into which the projection at least partially extends when the first and second mold portions are engaged with at least a portion of the land portion extending into the bushing cavity to aid in accurate alignment of the mold portions. |
| US09486941B2 |
Production apparatus and a method for manufacturing elongated products such as wind turbine blades
An apparatus comprising elongated first and second moulds (2,3) extending in parallel, a drive mechanism (4) to move said second mould in relation to said first mould, from a first position to a second position so as to form a mould assembly, and a transport system comprising a movable part (5) movable along the first mould and/or the second mould and supported by an elongated intermediate support member (7) located between the moulds, the intermediate support member moving from a support position in which it supports the movable part, to a non-interference position in which interference with the moulds and/or the mould drive mechanism is avoided when said second mould is moved from the first position to the second position, the transport system comprising a securing device (71, 84, 83, 83a, 83b, 831, 83e) for locking the intermediate support member in the support position. |
| US09486939B1 |
Synthetic resin bottle having a gradation pattern, and process for injection molding the preform for use in such a bottle
The technical problem to be solved is to change the thickness of the colored resin layer of the preform gradually in the upward or downward direction, by utilizing a tendency of gradual decrease in the thickness of the colored resin layer caused by the flow of the main resin inside the preform mold when the main resin and the colored resin are injected into the mold. This involves adjusting the injection pattern including the time of starting and ending the supply of the main resin and the colored resin, and pressure or velocity profiles, reducing the thickness of the colored resin layer gradually upstream or downstream, injection-molding the preform in which a color-gradated portion associated with the thickness of the colored resin layer has been formed, and biaxially drawing and blow molding this preform into a bottle having a color-gradated portion. |
| US09486938B2 |
Waste water collection device
Provided is a waste water collection device for collecting waste water dispelled from a water cooled saw. The device has a trough defining an elongated opening through the top, center and bottom of the trough to allow a water cooled saw blade to pass through the opening and contact a ground surface to be cut. The trough is constructed to retain waste water leaving the water cooled saw during use. A saw connection is constructed for connecting the trough to a water cooled saw so that the saw is within the opening of the trough. A waste water outlet is constructed to remove waste water retained within the trough. A flexible hose is constructed to remove a slurry from a trench cut by the saw during use. A vacuum connector is constructed for connecting a vacuum source to the waste water outlet and flexible hose. Also provided is a method of collecting waste water dispelled from the water cooled saw cutting the ground using the device. |
| US09486935B2 |
Safety devices for power cutting tools
A safety system with a number of component devices that may be used alone or in combination to substantially reduce the risk of injury to the operator of the power cutting tool. The devices are designed for use with table saws, miter saws, jointers, routers, shapers and similar equipment. The devices secure a work piece against unanticipated movement and kickback while simultaneously protecting the operator's hands. The devices further enhance the capabilities of power equipment to make precise cuts safer, faster and easier. |
| US09486934B2 |
Accessory clamping mechanism and power tool having the same
An accessory clamping mechanism for clamping an accessory to a working mandrel having a mandrel flange. The accessory clamping mechanism includes: a fastening flange; a driving device for forcing the fastening flange to move between a released position in which the accessory can be removed between the mandrel flange and the fastening flange and a clamped position in which the accessory is clamped between the mandrel flange and the fastening flange; a pushing member connected to the fastening flange; and a first elastic member by which the fastening flange is biased towards the clamped position; wherein the pushing member is arranged on one side of the working mandrel. |
| US09486931B2 |
Device for the rough weeding of a multilayer sheet comprising a support liner and at least one adhesive film coupled with the liner
The present invention concerns the field of graphic apparatuses and in particular its object is an apparatus and a relative method for the so-called “weeding” of plastic or paper films having or more self-adhesive, double sided adhesive or electrostatic layers coupled with a support liner treated with a non-stick agent. The apparatus comprises a seizing head (21) with an air blower (28). |
| US09486925B1 |
Mechanical arm
A mechanical arm includes a frame with a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end. At least one gear may be rotatably connected to the frame. The gear may include a series of projections along its circumference. A pair of opposing jaw members may extend beyond the distal end of the frame. At least one jaw member may be connected to a corresponding gear. An elongate member may be slidably disposed on the frame. The elongate member may include a row of teeth configured to operatively mesh with the series of projections of the gear and may cause rotation of the gear upon translation of the elongate member. A handle may be disposed on the frame nearer the distal end than the proximal end. The handle may include an actuator connected to the elongate member. The actuator may translate the elongate member upon actuation. |
| US09486924B2 |
Remote control scheduler and method for autonomous robotic device
A method of scheduling a robotic device enables the device to run autonomously based on previously loaded scheduling information. The method consists of a communication device, such as a hand-held remote device, that can directly control the robotic device, or load scheduling information into the robotic device such that it will carry out a defined task at the desired time without the need for further external control. The communication device can also be configured to load a scheduling application program into an existing robotic device, such that the robotic device can receive and implement scheduling information from a user. |
| US09486921B1 |
Methods and systems for distributing remote assistance to facilitate robotic object manipulation
Methods and systems for distributing remote assistance to facilitate robotic object manipulation are provided herein. Regions of a model of objects in an environment of a robotic manipulator may be determined, where each region corresponds to a different subset of objects with which the robotic manipulator is configured to perform a respective task. Certain tasks may be identified, and a priority queue of requests for remote assistance associated with the identified tasks may be determined based on expected times at which the robotic manipulator will perform the identified tasks. At least one remote assistor device may then be requested, according to the priority queue, to provide remote assistance with the identified tasks. The robotic manipulator may then be caused to perform the identified tasks based on responses to the requesting, received from the at least one remote assistor device, that indicate how to perform the identified tasks. |
| US09486916B1 |
Push-pull tool
A push-pull tool is described that can assist a user with the pushing and pulling of objects, such as when loading, unloading, and moving objects in vehicle cargo areas. The tool includes a handle that is detachably connectable to various interchangeable components for pushing and pulling such objects. By using a suitable component of the push-pull tool, the user can easily and quickly push and pull many types of objects, including those that are unwieldy, heavy, or large. |
| US09486915B2 |
Pick up device with telescoping tube
This invention provides hand operated portable adjustable length devices for grasping and manipulation of objects as well as methods of their use. |
| US09486914B1 |
Plumber's creeper having improved height adjustment capability and providing enhanced upper body support
A plumber's creeper includes a lower body support having an inner frame with wheels and an outer frame telescopically received over the inner frame. The outer frame slides telescopically over the inner frame for adjusting the height of the lower body support. A height adjustment element coupled with the outer frame has a locked position for preventing height adjustment and an unlocked position for enabling sliding telescopic movement of the outer frame relative to the inner frame for adjusting the height of the lower body support. An upper body support is connected with the lower body support via a hinge that enables the upper body support to be folded over the lower body support. The plumber's creeper has an unfolded configuration in which the top surface of the upper body support and the top surface of the lower body support lie in a common plane. |
| US09486913B2 |
Fastener and storage systems
Fastener devices and methods are disclosed that may be provided in combination with attachments, retainer elements and peg board systems that are mounted to the surface of a wall or framing construction. The fastener devices and methods may be used or performed in combination with storage elements, as in traditional peg board hooks, clasps, hangers or rings, with fastener elements, as in screws, bolts, and nails, and retained elements generally, such as materials, tools, and other implements. The fastener device and method may correspond to at least one aperture and in some embodiments a plurality of apertures, each aperture extending from a first to a second surface of the fastener device and having configurations unique of the present invention. In some preferred embodiments, apertures are configured to correspond to one or more portions of the retainer element or elements, may be configured to correspond to other fasteners, and may even be configured for desirable adjustment of the retainer element or elements. In some embodiments, the present invention accommodates for the shape, size and configuration of the retainer element or elements. The fastener device and method may be removably engageable with the retainer element(s), fasteners, and the peg board, and may provide a conformable fastener that self adjusts for the shape and configuration of the retainer element or elements, and may be comprised of and function as an elastic or even an adjustable material. The invention may be utilized for different sizes, shapes and configurations of retainer elements, even providing for the invention to allow for a general configuration to accommodate other uses and applications after having been previously used to fasten retainer elements. Embodiments comprise fastener technologies that are resistant to permanent deformation or even fracturing when in removable engagement with a retainer element. Methods such as those corresponding to the devices and assemblies are also disclosed, as well as methods of doing business and methods of manufacture. Applications may include the implementation of additional storage to existing structures such as garages, sheds, off-site storage, and other storage solutions and may be provided in combination with traditional peg board technologies. |
| US09486909B2 |
Clamping device for a hand-held power tool
A clamping device for a hand-held power tool includes at least one clamping unit configured to clamp a processing tool in an axial direction and at least one operating unit configured to actuate the at least one clamping unit. The at least one operating unit has at least one jaw coupling element configured to couple the at least one operating unit to the at least one clamping unit in a rotationally fixed manner. The at least one jaw coupling element is supported so as to be movable at least substantially parallel to the axial direction. |
| US09486908B2 |
Rotary impact tool
In at least one illustrative embodiment, a rotary impact tool comprises a motor including a rotor and an input shaft coupled to the rotor for rotation therewith about an input axis, an anvil configured to be rotated about an output axis and including an output shaft, a carrier driven by the input shaft and having a passage extending through a distal end thereof, and a hammer supported and driven by the carrier and configured to impact the anvil to cause the anvil to rotate about the output axis. The anvil may comprise a blade coupled to the output shaft and configured to direct a lubricating fluid through the passage when the anvil or carrier rotates about the output axis. |
| US09486906B2 |
Lockout for fastener-driving tool
A combustion-powered fastener-driving tool includes a combustion-powered power source having a combustion chamber, a reciprocating piston and driver blade, and a valve sleeve reciprocable relative to the power source between a rest position and a firing position. The valve sleeve partially defines the combustion chamber. A lockout device is in fluid communication with the combustion power source and includes a reciprocating gas piston connected to a latch in operational proximity to the valve sleeve. The lockout device is configured such that upon combustion in the combustion chamber, gas from the combustion engages the gas piston and moves the latch to an engaged position in which the valve sleeve is prevented from moving to the rest position. |
| US09486904B2 |
Fastening tool nosepiece insert
A nosepiece assembly for a fastening tool that has a contact surface made of a contact material. The contact surface can provide the nosepiece assembly wear resistance against the action of nails and/or a driver blade of a nailer. The nosepiece assembly can optionally have one or more of a nosepiece insert, a nail stop and a blade guide, each of which can be made at least in part of the contact material. The contact material can be investment cast. |
| US09486900B2 |
Screw drive design
A screwdriver drive design for a screwdriver features an engagement end that is complementary to a fastening element drive design for a fastening element to be screwed. The fastening element drive design includes at least two drive surfaces formed on the fastening element for transmission of a torque suitable for rotation with a tool in a first rotation direction and transition surfaces disposed between these drive surfaces. The transition surfaces form a guide surface for the tool when rotating the tool in the first rotation direction and upon engagement of the tool in the other rotation direction causes an axial outward displacement of the tool, wherein the transition surfaces are formed as outside surfaces, and wherein the outside of the fastening element, outside the transition surfaces and the drive surfaces, lies in a cylindrical jacket forming a recess. |
| US09486898B2 |
Sliding head locking pin clamp
A sliding head locking pin clamp is provided having a housing with a housing bore extending axially therethrough along a first axis. An end cap has an end cap bore extending therethrough along the first axis, wherein the end cap is operably coupled to a first end of the housing. A shaft has a shaft bore extending through the shaft along the first axis, wherein an outer diameter of a first end of the shaft generally defines a first portion of a locating pin. The first portion of the locating pin is in axial sliding engagement with at least a first portion of the end cap bore. The shaft has a shaft hole extending radially through the shaft along a second axis, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis. The shaft further has a shaft guide rod generally fixedly positioned in the shaft hole. A piston is coupled to the shaft and is in sliding engagement with the housing bore to linearly translate the shaft between a first axial position and a second axial position along the first axis. A slider has a slider hole extending radially therethrough, wherein the shaft guide rod is in linear sliding engagement with the slider hole, therein providing a linear translation of the slider with respect to the shaft along the second axis between a first radial position and a second radial position. The slider has a rod member extending through a first end of shaft bore and comprising a tip having an engagement lip, wherein the tip of the rod member generally defines a second portion of the locating pin. A cam follower also extends radially from the slider. A cam block has a cam block bore extending into the cam block along the first axis, wherein the cam block comprises a cam channel defined in a sidewall of the cam block bore. A portion of the slider is configured to reside within the cam block bore and wherein the cam follower is in sliding engagement with the cam channel. In the first axial position and first radial position, the first and second portions of the locating pin are configured to pass through a locating hole of a workpiece. In the second axial position and second radial position, the rod member is configured to clamp the workpiece between the engagement lip and the end cap. The first radial position and second radial position are governed by the sliding engagement between the shaft guide rod and the slider hole, and the sliding engagement between the cam follower and the cam channel upon the linear translation of the shaft between the first axial position and second axial position. |
| US09486897B2 |
Foldable clamp for a mounting system
A foldable clamp suitable for use in a mounting system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the foldable clamp comprises a base member, a first jaw, and a second jaw. The first jaw is connected to the base member using a first hinge. The second jaw is connected to the base member using a second hinge and a ratchet. A mount for selective interconnection is provided on either the first jaw, the second jaw, or the third jaw. |
| US09486891B2 |
Method for polishing special-shaped face of marble
A method for polishing a special-shaped face of marble where a marble blank is placed into a vibration grinding machine and subjected to rough and fine grinding by adding thereto abrasive materials to obtain stone with an optimum polished effect. The method breaks the single mirror plane effect of conventional marble, can obtain polished faces of marble having various artistic visual effects and achieves the mechanical polishing of marble stone with improved polishing efficiency and greatly reduced costs of special-shaped marble stone. The method has a polishing cost of only a few tenths of a conventional method, can greatly reduce the cost of a product of special-shaped marble stone, so that the special-shaped polished stone product would possibly become a building material product which can be popularized, enriching the forms of appearance of special-shaped marble stone products and building decorating marble stone. |
| US09486886B2 |
Device for pivoting a rotor of a turbomachine from a first position into a second position
A device for pivoting a rotor of a turbomachine from a first—preferably horizontal—position into a second—preferably vertical—position is provided. The rotor includes a plurality of rotor discs held together by at least one tension rod, the device includes two sidewall elements arranged parallel to one another, a bridge element connecting the sidewall elements to one another, and a divisible turning ring for form-fittingly holding an axial section of the rotor to be positioned perpendicularly. The rotor further includes two pins rotatably seated in the sidewall elements and arranged flush to the turning ring in order to pivot the turning ring about a pivot axis parallel to the horizontal plane. The bridge element includes a disk, wherein the disk is movable perpendicularly to the horizontal plane in order to be bolted in a flange-like manner onto a rotor retained by the device. |
| US09486884B2 |
Excess flow valve with flexible sealing member
An assembly for limiting excess flow includes a seat that provides a sealing surface and a diaphragm that is coupled to the seat. The diaphragm includes a seal portion and at least one leg extending between the seal portion and the seat. The seal portion is spaced apart from the sealing surface during normal flow conditions and is in engagement with the sealing surface when a predetermined flow condition is exceeded. |
| US09486882B2 |
Nickel brazing material having excellent corrosion resistance
Provided is a nickel brazing material having a melting temperature of 1000° C. or less and acid corrosion resistance. It includes 15.0 to 30.0 mass % of Cr, 6.0 to 18.0 mass % of Cu, 1.0 to 5.0 mass % of Mo. 5.0 to 7.0 mass % of P, 3.0 to 5.0 mass % of Si, and 0.1 to 1.5 mass % of Sn, the remainder being Ni and inevitable impurities, and the total of Si and P being 9.5 mass % to 11.0 mass %. It can include additional element selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe, Mn, C, B, Al, and Ti. The content of Co is 5.0 mass % or less, the content of Fe is 5.0 mass % or less, the content of Mn is 3.0 mass % or less, the total content of C, B, Al, and Ti is 0.5 mass % or less, and the total content of these elements is 10.0 mass % or less. |
| US09486881B2 |
Aluminium alloy sheet product or extruded product for fluxless brazing
An aluminum alloy sheet product or extruded product for fluxless brazing, including an aluminum alloy core having on at least one face an aluminum filler clad layer containing 4% to 15% of Si, the filler clad layer having an inner-surface and an outer-surface, the inner-surface is facing the aluminum alloy core and the outer-surface is facing a coating layer of 2 to 45 mg/sq·m of Bi or of a Bi-based alloy. Furthermore, a method of brazing a brazed assembly incorporating at least one member made from the brazing sheet material. |
| US09486880B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving selective soldering
A method of assessing discrepancy between a target value and a measured value of a parameter of contact area produced between flow of solder ejected from a nozzle and a surface is defined in the present application. This method comprises the steps of: providing a surface of material through which contact area between solder ejected from a nozzle and a side of the surface can be visually detected, for example using a camera; flowing solder through a nozzle and then bringing the solder into contact with a side of the surface, thereby creating contact area between the solder and said side of the surface; detecting the contact area from the other side of the surface so that a value of a parameter of said contact area can then be measured; and assessing any discrepancy between the target value and the measured value so that any necessary compensation in order to achieve the target value can be programmed. |
| US09486878B2 |
Apparatuses, systems and methods for three-dimensional printing
The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) objects, 3D printing processes, as well as methods, apparatuses and systems for the production of a 3D object. Methods, apparatuses and systems of the present disclosure may reduce or eliminate the need for auxiliary supports. The present disclosure provides three dimensional (3D) objects printed utilizing the printing processes, methods, apparatuses and systems described herein. |
| US09486876B2 |
Apparatus to load electrode cap magazines
A device for rotating, positioning, and introducing electrode caps for welding electrodes into a magazine. A rotating electrode cap channel is connected to a spiral conveyor. The electrode caps stand on a cap end-face provided with a bore on the spiral conveyor end, and they are rotated by 90°. The other end of the rotating electrode cap channel is arranged relative to the upper end of the guiding shaft such that vibrations of the spiral conveyor are not transmitted to the rest of the system. The openings of the rotating electrode cap channel and the guiding shaft are arranged relative to one another such that the electrode caps can be reliably transferred, and the guiding shaft is connected to the magazine filling unit at the lower end of the guiding shaft. The magazine connection has locking lever sensors, which detect the correct fit of the magazine. |
| US09486874B2 |
Control assembly for a welding gun
A welding gun includes a control switch combined with a trigger. The control switch features a slide movable to at least first and second positions. In an operating mode, the control switch switches between two differing sets of welding parameters in the first and second positions. In another operating mode, the control switch operates a safety lock-out, allowing activation of the welding gun by the trigger in one position and preventing activation in the other position. For operator convenience, the control switch may be positioned to slide transversely relative to the wire passageway of the weld gun with which the trigger is generally aligned. |
| US09486872B2 |
Manufacturing method for advanced high-strength steel wheel and jig device thereof
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) wheel, comprising the following steps. Take an AHSS with at least 590 MPa of tensile strength for rolling to circular ring of a rim. Apply low heat input welding, such as the cold metal transfer (CMT) welding or the gas tungsten arc welding/tungsten inert gas arc welding (GTAW/TIG), at the junction of the rim to form a hollow cylindrical rim. Then perform hole expanding and spinning/roll forming operations to the rim. Take another AHSS with at least 980 MPa of tensile strength for pressing and forming a disk. Apply low heat input welding, such as cold metal transfer (CMT) welding, to the rim and the disk to produce a wheel. According to the present invention, the welding quality of products can be improved significantly; the fatigue lifetime of wheels can be enhanced; and wheels are lightweight. |
| US09486866B2 |
Power tool
A power tool includes a sawing working device of an at least partially flat form and at least one actuator. The sawing working device is configured to produce a sawing cut in a working direction. The at least one actuator is configured to produce at least one oscillation in the sawing working device. |
| US09486864B2 |
Pipe cutter
A power tool that includes a motor coupled to a drive mechanism, and a removable and rechargeable battery pack coupled to the motor to selectively provide power signals to the motor. The power tool also includes a controller configured to monitor a plurality of conditions of the power tool, such as battery pack voltage, battery pack temperature, operational current, and the like. The controller is also configured to detect one or more events related to the plurality of conditions of the power tool. If the operational current of the power tool exceeds a first threshold value, a power signal duty cycle is reduced from a first duty cycle value to a second duty cycle value to limit the amount of torque the power tool is able to generate. |
| US09486857B2 |
Finish-pressed/final-sintered blanking die and method for producing same
The invention relates to a ready-to-use ceramic blanking die (1), which is produced by sintering a blank, as an indexable insert, comprising an upper face and a lower face (2, 3) which each have a support surface (4) for installation in a tool holder of a cutting tool, lateral surfaces (5) that connect the upper and lower faces (2, 3), and cutting edges (6) for machining workpieces. In order to least partly avoid a finishing machining step after sintering at, utilize the advantages of the finish-pressed/final-sintered contact surfaces between the blanking die and the tool and assure optimal contact of the blanking die to prevent vibrations and the attendant micro-chipping/wear, a peripheral face (7) is arranged adjacent to the cutting edges (6) and the face (7) circumscribes the support surface (4), wherein the lateral surfaces (5), the cutting edges (6) and the faces (7) consist of the sinter skin created during sintering and have not been damaged by a material-removing machining process, and only the support surface (4) underwent a material-removing machine process and does not consist of the sinter skin created during sintering. |
| US09486856B2 |
System and method for manufacturing railcar yokes
A method for manufacturing railcar yokes includes providing a cope mold portion having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of at least two upper yoke mold cavities. The method further comprises providing a drag mold portion having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of at least two lower yoke mold cavities. A slab core is positioned within the drag mold portion. The slab core is configured to define at least in part perimeter boundaries of the at least two upper yoke mold cavities and the at least two lower yoke mold cavities. The cope and drag mold portions are closed with the slab core therebetween. The method also comprises at least partially filling the at least two upper and at least two lower yoke mold cavities with a molten alloy to form a first, second, third, and fourth yoke. |
| US09486855B2 |
Method of manufacturing caliper body of floating-type disk brake and the caliper body
A caliper body of a floating-type disk brake includes a cylinder-part constituent part including a cylinder bore into which a piston pressing brake pads against a disk rotor is disposed, a bridge part extending from the cylinder-part constituent part and including a through-hole, and a claw-part constituent part formed on a leading end side of the bridge part and disposed so as to be opposite to the cylinder-part constituent part. In a method of manufacturing the caliper body of the floating-type disk brake, a mold in which sprues are provided in at least two places spaced apart from each other in a disk rotor circumferential direction on a region corresponding to the claw-part constituent part is prepared. Molten metal is poured from the sprues of the at least two places of the mold, and starts to solidify from a side of the cylinder-part constituent part. |
| US09486854B2 |
Ceramic and refractory metal core assembly
A core assembly for forming a cast component includes a refractory metal core and a ceramic core element. The refractory metal core includes first and second ends and sides extending from the first end to the second end. The ceramic core element includes a slot positioned between first and second lands, each land having an inner surface facing the slot and an adjacent outer surface. The first end of the refractory metal core is secured within the slot with an adhesive, and the refractory metal core extends from the ceramic core element in both a longitudinal and a transverse direction. The slot, lands, and refractory metal core form a core assembly providing access paths to the sides of the refractory metal core. Surplus adhesive is removed from the refractory metal core via the access paths. Investment casting provides the component with an internal passage and an internal cooling circuit. |
| US09486850B2 |
Roller leveler
A roller leveler for leveling strips of metal has a frame, a bank of upper and lower work rolls journalled in the frame via a housing positioned toward an exit portion of the leveler. A bank of upper and lower back-up rolls is in contact with the upper and lower work rolls to support the work rolls. The bank of upper and lower back-up rolls mounted to the frame via back-up housings. A second bank of upper and lower work rolls is positioned near an entry portion of the leveler. The first bank of upper and lower rolls has rolls of different diameter than the second bank of upper and lower work rolls. A roll or rolls can be mounted in an eccentric fashion that is achieved by permanent or adjustable positioning of offset of the work roll with respect to adjacent rolls or by providing a work roll that is larger in diameter than its adjacent rolls. |
| US09486849B2 |
Double-action extrusion press
A double-action extrusion press obtains a tubular product, wherein the pressure-receiving surface area of a cylinder chamber on the side from which hydraulic oil is discharged from a container cylinder and the pressure-receiving surface area on the rod-side chamber of a piercer cylinder are set to be the same when a container moves in the extrusion direction, and the cylinder chamber on the side from which hydraulic oil is discharged from the container cylinder and the rod-side chamber of the piercer cylinder are connected by an oil pressure conduit and are in communication with each other when a billet is extruded from the extrusion stem after piercing has been completed. |
| US09486847B2 |
Cooling apparatus, and manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method of hot-rolled steel sheet
Provided is a cooling apparatus discharging water smoothly corresponding to increase of volume density of cooling water securing a high cooling capability. The apparatus disposed on downstream side from a row of hot finish rolling mill, supplying cooling water from above toward a pass line, includes a plurality of cooling nozzles arranged parallel in a pass line direction, and an upper surface guide disposed between the pass line and the cooling nozzles, wherein a predetermined relation is satisfied when defining: a volume density of cooling water sprayed as qm(m3/(m2·sec)); a pitch of the cooling nozzle in the pass line direction as L(m); a distance between a lower surface of the upper surface guide and the pass line as hp(m); a uniform cooling width as Wu(m); and a cross-sectional area of virtual flow path of discharging water flowing in a width direction of steel sheet as S(m2). |
| US09486845B2 |
Inner surface regulation tool, plug, mandrel, hot rolling mill, press piercing machine, and drawing machine
An inner surface regulation tool includes a mandrel, a plug which is detachably connected to the mandrel, and a connection member which connects the plug and the mandrel by a magnetic force. One of the plug and the mandrel includes a column-shaped portion which extends in an axial direction of the one, and the other of the plug and the mandrel includes a joining hole which extends in an axial direction of the other and into which the column-shaped portion is inserted. In addition, the connection member is a permanent magnet which is attached to at least one of the column-shaped portion and the joining hole. |
| US09486842B2 |
Ultraviolet light based cleansing method and cleansing device
The present invention provides an ultraviolet light based cleansing method and cleansing device. The method includes: (1) irradiating a substrate to be cleansed with ultraviolet light and controlling output energy of the ultraviolet light in order to control photon energy received by TFT component patterns formed on the substrate to be cleansed within an irradiation time period to be less than electron excitation energy that breaks down TFT component patterns; (2) cleansing the substrate to be cleansed with an alkaline solution; (3) cleansing the substrate to be cleansed with water/gas dual-fluid; (4) cleansing the substrate to be cleansed with deionized water; (5) drying the substrate to be cleansed with an air knife; and (6) subjecting the substrate to be cleansed to dehydration and drying to complete the cleansing operation, thereby improving product yield rate and cleanness. |
| US09486840B2 |
High-speed, triangulation-based, 3-D method and system for inspecting manufactured parts and sorting the inspected parts
High-speed, triangulation-based, 3-D method and system for inspecting manufactured parts and sorting the inspection parts are provided. A plurality of angularly-spaced, triangulation-based, sensor heads are located at an imaging station to simultaneously deliver focused lines of radiation onto a plurality of exterior side surfaces of the part during motion of the part relative to the focused lines to obtain corresponding arrays of reflected lines of radiation. The sensor heads simultaneously sense their corresponding arrays of reflected lines to obtain corresponding sets of 2-D profile signals. Each set of profile signals represent a 3-D view of one of the exterior side surfaces and the sets of 2-D profile signals represent a 360° panoramic composite 3-D view of the outer peripheral surface of the part. |
| US09486839B2 |
Scrap metal sorting system
An apparatus and a method for sorting scrap metal containing at least two categories of metals are provided. An x-ray beam is directed towards at least a portion of a particle of scrap metal. Backscattered x-rays, forward scattered x-rays, and transmitted x-rays from the particle are measured and input into a classifier, such as a database with a cutoff plane. The scrap metal is sorted into a first category and a second category on the scrap metal by a controller. An x-ray source for a scanning system is provided with an electron beam generator, an electromagnetic beam focusing coil, a pair of saddle shaped beam steering coils, and a target foil to create a scanning x-ray beam along a plane. |
| US09486837B2 |
Woven wire screening and a method of forming the same
A woven wire screening for use in classifying material flowing therethrough and a method of forming the same. The woven wire screening includes a plurality of warp wires and a plurality of weft wires. The plurality of warp wires and the plurality of weft wires are interwoven to form an integral wire cloth having a plurality of openings for permitting material to be classified to flow through the openings. The integral wire cloth includes an upper screening surface configured to enhance the tumbling action of product impacting the upper screening surface to improve throughput of the woven wire screening. |
| US09486834B2 |
Ferroelectric film and method for manufacturing the same
To produce a ferroelectric film formed of a lead-free material. The ferroelectric film according to an aspect of the present invention includes a (K1−XNaX)NbO3 film or a BiFeO3 film having a perovskite structure and a crystalline oxide preferentially oriented to (001) formed on at least one of the upper side and lower side of the (K1−XNaX)NbO3 film or BiFeO3 film, and X satisfies the formula below 0.3≦X≦0.7. |
| US09486833B2 |
Gasket with high temperature coating
A method of making a gasket having a high temperature coating that includes obtaining a substrate formed from a metallic material and having the shape of a gasket, applying a nanoparticle suspension over the outer surfaces of the substrate, and heating the substrate to a first elevated temperature to form an undercoat layer of a self-protective oxide coating. The method also includes applying a liquid comprising boron nitride over the undercoat layer and drying the boron nitride liquid at a second elevated temperature to form an overcoat layer. |
| US09486832B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming clad metal products
The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for forming a clad product, such as a clad pipe or tube. Particular embodiments include a method for metallurgically bonding cladding material onto a metal substrate, the method including a step of providing a metal substrate comprising a pipe or a tube having a cladding composition arranged along an interior surface of the substrate to form a coated substrate, the interior surface arranged within an interior cavity of the substrate. A further step includes inserting a heat source into an interior cavity of the substrate, the heat source comprising an infrared, microwave, or radio frequency heat source, the heat source being mounted on a heat source-retaining housing, the housing comprising a cantilevered structure. An additional step includes applying heat discharged from the heat source to the coated substrate along the coated interior surface until the cladding composition metallurgically bonds to the substrate. |
| US09486829B2 |
Applicator
An improved applicator for dispensing liquids and viscous fluids comprising an applicator body, an applicator tip or applicator assembly, and optionally a filter element wherein the applicator tip or assembly has at least one of several beneficial features including a receptacle for shards, a fluid rate controlling tip, and a bubble breaking design. |
| US09486826B2 |
Device for packaging and dispensing fluid products, having a manual pump
A device is provided for packaging and dispensing fluid products. The device has a manual pump fitted on a bottle or a pouch containing the product to be dispensed, and has a removable element interposed between the pump and the neck of the bottle. An open/close element is secured to the pump and is able to close the passage circuit for the product to be dispensed between the inside of the bottle and the pump when the removable element is in place. |
| US09486825B2 |
Control system for mobile fluid delivery machine
A control system is disclosed having at least one spray head, a fluid pump, and a power converter driving the fluid pump. The control system may also have an interface device to receive at least one parameter associated with a desired fluid delivery event, a pressure sensor configured to generate a first signal, a travel speed sensor configured to generate a second signal, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine a desired fluid pressure based on the at least one parameter, and determine a control command for the power converter based on the desired fluid pressure. The controller may be further configured to determine a feedforward gain parameter based on the at least one parameter and the second signal, determine a feedback gain parameter based on a difference between desired and actual fluid pressures, and adjust the control command based on the feedforward and feedback gain parameters. |
| US09486824B2 |
Dispenser device and container
One embodiment includes a dispenser device and container for mixing a chemical concentrate and a diluent to produce a diluted mixture. The dispenser device may include a housing, a slide, and an eductor. The container holds the chemical concentrate. The dispenser device communicates with the chemical concentrate and with the diluent. |
| US09486822B2 |
Devices for improved delivery of volatile liquids
An emanation system is described comprising and emanation device and a replaceable refill of liquid, wherein the refill comprises: a sealed reservoir of a liquid containing one or more active materials wherein the active material comprises at least one of: a fragrance; an insecticide; a fungicide; a pesticide; a sanitizing material; and/or a pharmaceutical; a porous wick having a length which extends from the interior of the reservoir to the exterior thereof; a reservoir seal having at least one aperture through which the porous wick extends; and a hollow liquid conduit housed within the wick having a length substantially identical to the wick; and wherein the device comprises: an air pump; a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the air pump such that, in use, air pumped by the pump will flow through the fluid conduit; a nozzle located at the end of the fluid conduit remote from the air pump; a ejector constriction provided in the fluid conduit adjacent or substantially adjacent the nozzle; a liquid conduit engaging member provided adjacent the ejector constriction and in fluid communication with the fluid conduit at one end thereof, and configured at the other end to, in use, engage the hollow liquid conduit in the refill; characterized in that a mechanism is provided to permit the liquid conduit engagement member to form a liquid tight seal with the liquid conduit. |
| US09486817B2 |
Ozone shower device
A fluid delivery assembly for a shower includes a waterway assembly, a spray head, and a water treatment assembly. The spray head is configured to receive fluid from the waterway assembly and deliver fluid from an outlet. The water treatment assembly is configured to provide a treatment to the fluid of the waterway assembly. |
| US09486815B2 |
Polyquaternary polymer as a depressant in a method for froth flotation of potash ores
The present invention relates to the use of a polyquaternary polymer obtainable by reacting i) a dialkylamine having the structure R1R2NH, where R1 and R2 independently are hydrocarbyl groups having 1-3 carbon atoms; ii) a difunctional compound selected from the group consisting of epihalohydrins, diepoxides, precursors of epihalohydrins and epoxides which under alkaline conditions are readily converted into the corresponding epoxy compounds, and mixtures thereof; and iii) optionally a polyfunctional amine selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary amines, alkylenediamines having 2-6 carbon atoms, and polyalkylenepolyamines having the structure H2N—[R3—N(R4)]y—R3—NH2, where y is an integer from 1 to 5, R3 is an alkylene radical having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and R4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group having 1-3 carbon atoms, and an ω-aminoalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; as a depressant in a method for froth flotation of potash ores. |
| US09486806B1 |
System and method for processing crop materials into livestock feed and the product thereof
A system and method for producing a feed product, and the product, are disclosed. A processor apparatus may comprise a housing and at least two rolls rotatably mounted on the housing, with a gap between the rolls through which the path of the crop materials passes. At least one roll may have alternating longitudinal ridges and grooves forming teeth on the surface of the roll. A rotating assembly may rotate the rolls with respect to the housing, and may rotate the rolls at different rotational speeds. A method may comprise cutting plants growing in a field, chopping the plants of the crop materials in a manner to produce pieces of the plants that have lengths of approximately 1 inch to approximately 2.5 inches long, and processing the plant pieces between the rolls rotating at a speed differential of at least 10 percent. |
| US09486804B2 |
Cone crusher
A cone crusher including a conical body; a mantle removably positioned over the conical body, and an assembly for securing the mantle on the conical body. The assembly includes a retainer for pressing the mantle onto the conical body, and an adapter located between the retainer and the conical body. The adapter is secured on the conical body and the retainer is movably mounted on the adapter. |
| US09486799B2 |
Glycidol functionalized anion exchange stationary phases
Treatment of anion exchange materials containing hydroxyl containing moieties in the beta position relative to the quaternary center in the hydroxide form with glycidol substantially alters the selectivity of the anion exchange material. Furthermore, sequential treatments of first a hydroxide containing solution to put the anion exchange material in the hydroxide form followed by treatment with glycidol in an alternating sequence progressively changes selectivity in a predictable manner allowing facile manipulation of selectivity. Unique to the selectivities achievable with this chemistry is the ability to reverse the elution order of sulfate and carbonate. With all other known systems, carbonate elutes ahead of sulfate and sometimes compromises the ability to quantitate sulfate. With glycidol treatment, carbonate can be moved after sulfate which eliminates interference issues for samples containing significantly more carbonate than sulfate. This modification is useful for columns operated with a hydroxide or carbonate eluent system. |
| US09486798B2 |
Method for making anion exchange and chelant resins including aliphatic amino functional groups
A method for making an anion exchange or chelant resin comprising a vinyl aromatic polymer including a repeating unit comprising an aromatic ring substituted with an aliphatic amino group, wherein the method comprises the step of reacting a vinyl aromatic polymer with a nitro compound comprising from 1 to 12 carbon atoms with the proviso that the α carbon includes at least one hydrogen. |
| US09486793B2 |
Start-up catalyst for use upstream of a gasoline particulate filter
The present invention describes a double-layer three-way catalyst on an inert catalyst support comprising a first layer in direct contact with the inert catalyst support, comprising active alumina, a cerium/zirconium mixed oxide and palladium and a second layer applied to the first layer and in direct contact with the exhaust gas to be purified, comprising active alumina and rhodium, characterized in that the second layer is free of cerium and cerium containing materials, the use of such catalyst for cleaning the exhaust gases of a motor vehicle equipped with a gasoline engine and an exhaust gas treatment system comprising such catalyst up stream of a gasoline particulate filter (GPF). |
| US09486787B1 |
Method and apparatus for chemical process intensification
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to methods and apparatus for simultaneous generation and separation processes. The apparatus provides a membrane module including a substrate, a catalytic layer and a membrane layer. The catalytic layer includes nano-sized sulfur-tolerant catalysts and/or particles. As a result, the apparatus can operate in sulfur-free and sulfur-laden (sour gas) environments for water gas shift (WGS) reactions while maintaining high reaction conversion. Methods for forming catalytic films are also disclosed herein. In one embodiment, methods of forming lanthanide containing oxysulfate nanocatalysts are provided. |
| US09486786B2 |
Highly dispersed metal catalyst
A supported catalyst having an atomic level single atom structure is provided such that substantially all the catalyst is available for catalytic function. A process of forming a single atom catalyst unto a porous catalyst support is also provided. |
| US09486785B2 |
Catalyst and process for the production of olefins from syngas
The present disclosures and inventions relate to a catalyst or catalyst composition and the methods of making and using the catalyst or catalyst composition. In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a catalyst composition that includes a catalyst having the formula CA CB Ox and a catalyst support; a) CA is CoaMnbXd, wherein X comprises Si, Ti, Cu, Zns Pd, or La or a combination thereof; a ranges from 0.8 to 1.2; b ranges from 0.1 to 1; and d ranges from 0 to 0.5; and b) CB is NieCufMghSim, wherein e ranges from about 0.8 to 1.2; f ranges from 0 to 1; h ranges from 0 to 0.5; and m ranges from 0 to 0.5; wherein Ox is determined by the valence requirements of the other elements present, wherein in the catalyst support consists essentially of magnesia, alumina, silica, titanic, carbon, or zeolite, or a combination thereof; and wherein the catalyst composition converts synthesis gas to at least one olefin. |
| US09486783B2 |
Systems and methods for using copper-manganese spinel as active phase for diesel oxidation applications
A diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) system for the treatment of exhaust gas emissions, including oxidation of nitrogen oxides (NO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC), and carbon monoxide (CO) is disclosed. Fresh and hydrothermally aged Zero-PGM (ZPGM) DOC samples are prepared and configured with an alumina-based washcoat on ceramic substrate, overcoat including doped Zirconia support oxide, and impregnation layer of Cu—Mn spinel of selected base metal loadings. Testing of fresh and hydrothermally aged ZPGM DOC system samples including Cu—Mn spinel is developed to evaluate the performance of Cu—Mn spinel active phase in oxidation CO, HC, and NO, as well as production of NO2. Key to improvement in light-off performance and NO oxidation is to have a diesel oxidation catalyst that is substantially PGM-free and available for a plurality of applications in lean burn engine operations. |
| US09486778B2 |
Super absorbent polymer and preparation method thereof
The present invention relates to a super absorbent polymer and a preparation method thereof. The super absorbent polymer includes surface crosslinked polymer particles prepared by surface crosslinking of particles of a base resin, wherein the base resin is polymerized from a monomer composition including water-soluble ethylene-based unsaturated monomers, and a water-soluble component, wherein the water-soluble component has a ratio (dwt/d(log M)) of 0.9 or less over molecular weights (M) ranging from 100,000 to 300,000 when measured from an eluted solution after swelling the super absorbent polymer for 1 hour, and wherein the content of the water-soluble component is 5% by weight or less, based on the total weight of the super absorbent polymer, when measured after swelling the super absorbent polymer for 1 hour. The super absorbent polymer has excellent liquid permeability even when swollen without a reduction in centrifuge retention capacity or absorbency under load while having improved permeability. |
| US09486777B2 |
Process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles
The invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising polymerization, drying the resulting polymer gel on a through circulation belt dryer, crushing the dried polymer gel, pre-grinding, separating of incompletely dried particles with a perforated plate, grinding and classifying the resulting polymer particles. |
| US09486775B2 |
Serpentine fluid reactor components
Some embodiments of the present invention provide components for a serpentine fluid reactor which is optimized for one or more objective functions of interest such as pressure drop, erosion rate, fouling, coke deposition and operating costs. The components are designed by computer modeling the components individually and collectively in which the cross section of flow path is substantially circular under industrial conditions to validate the model design and its operation. Then iteratively the component designs are deformed and the operation of the deformed part(s) is modeled and compared to values obtained with other deformed models until the value of the objective function is optimized (e.g. at an extreme) or the change in the objective function is approaching zero. |
| US09486774B2 |
System and process for thermochemical treatment of matter containing organic compounds
The present document describes a system and a process for the thermochemical treatment a matter containing organic compounds such as biomass, for the production of useful energetic products such as biochar, bio-oil and gases from non-condensed vapors. The system comprises a reactor comprising a feedstock reservoir having entry and exit, a thermochemical reaction chamber having an entrance disposed under and coupled to the reservoir exit, an exit, and a first heating means for thermal treatment of the matter to produce a solid and a vapor. The system also comprises a feeder having at least one substantially vertical auger operatively coupled to the feedstock reservoir and the thermochemical reaction chamber exit to drive the matter downwardly from the feedstock reservoir exit through the thermochemical reaction chamber. A chamber for separation of the solid from the vapor which maintains the vapor in a gaseous state has an entrance coupled to the thermochemical reaction chamber exit, and an exit for exit of said vapor. The system also comprises a controller, operatively coupled to the first heating means for controlling temperature of the thermochemical reaction chamber, and a pump operatively coupled to the separation chamber exit for maintaining a light vacuum within the reactor and for helping exit of the vapor. |
| US09486771B2 |
Electrochemical carbon monoxide production
A method and apparatus for producing a carbon monoxide containing product in which cathode and anode sides of an electrically driven oxygen separation device are contacted with carbon dioxide and a reducing agent, respectively. The carbon dioxide is reduced to carbon monoxide through ionization of oxygen and the reducing agent lowers the partial pressure of oxygen at the anode side to partially drive oxygen ion transport within the device through the consumption of the oxygen and to supply heat. The lowering of oxygen partial pressure reduces voltage and therefore, electrical power required to be applied to the device and the heat is supplied to heat the device to an operational temperature and to the reduction of the carbon dioxide occurring at the cathode side. The device can be used as part of an integrated apparatus in which the carbon dioxide is supplied from a waste stream of a process plant. |
| US09486767B2 |
Multi-tube radial bed reactor
The present invention concerns a radial bed reactor comprising a vessel provided with a reaction zone with a moving catalyst bed. The reactor further comprises, inside the reaction zone: at least two feed distribution tubes, each having a first end in communication with the feed inlet means and a second, closed end, the distribution tubes extending in a substantially vertical manner and being designed to allow the feed to pass through the reaction zone and to retain the catalysts; and at least two effluent collection tubes, each having a first end (14) communicating with the effluent outlet means and a second, closed end (15), the collection tubes extending in a substantially vertical manner and being designed to allow effluent to pass through the collection tube and to retain the catalysts. |
| US09486765B2 |
Ceramic oxygen transport membrane array reactor and reforming method
The invention relates to a commercially viable modular ceramic oxygen transport membrane reforming reactor configured using repeating assemblies of oxygen transport membrane tubes and catalytic reforming reactors. |
| US09486760B2 |
Fluid mixing device
A fluid mixing device includes a double pipe, a feed hopper, and a mixing chamber having a concave disc and a plurality of guide plateguide plates, wherein the double pipe has an inner pipe body, an outer pipe body, and a plurality of stoppers for forming a plurality of channel openings between the inner pipe body and the outer pipe body. The fluid flows through the double pipe and the feed hopper, and then lashes the concave disc in the mixing chamber to achieve a fast and uniform mixing effect. |
| US09486759B2 |
Aerosol can mixing device
An apparatus is provided that is configured for attachment to an aerosol can to permit mixing of contents therein. The apparatus includes a generally flat base portion coupled to a drive shaft orthogonally oriented relative to the base portion, and a securing strap attached to the base portion. The securing strap is configured to engage or grip a cylindrical end portion of an aerosol can to secure the aerosol can to the apparatus, whereby the drive shaft is configured to be mounted within a drill chuck to permit the mixing apparatus to rotate an aerosol can attached thereto for mixing contents within the aerosol can. |
| US09486753B1 |
Apparatus for aerating an aqueous solution
An aqueous stream is pumped through a vortex cylinder. The aqueous stream is rotated in a downwardly moving spiral stream within the vortex cylinder at a high downward velocity. The downward velocity of the aqueous stream increases as it flows through a discharge conduit concentrically located within a mixing chamber of the vortex cylinder. An adjustable inlet tube open to atmospheric pressure extends through the vortex chamber and into the discharge conduit. A negative pressure zone is created at the discharge end of the discharge conduit for drawing fluid into the aqueous stream for mixing therewith and dissolving oxygen in the aqueous solution. |
| US09486751B2 |
Mixing apparatus
A mixing apparatus in the form of an aerator for location within a body of water to be remediated by oxygenating the water, including an inlet through which water is pumped into the aerator, the inlet includes a branched distributor in which the inlet divides into four equal branches for forming four equal flow paths for the water. Each of the four equal pathways is provided with an air injector in the form of a venturi for introducing air into the water flow path in order to aerate the water. The advantage of the aerator is that the distributor is designed to have balanced flow so that equal flows of water pass through each flow path to introduce equal volumes of air, which increases the efficiency of the aerator. Forms of the aerator can have two or more distributors in which all individual flow paths are substantially equal to improve the efficiency of the aerator. |
| US09486744B2 |
Separation membrane manufacturing method
Provided is a separation membrane manufacturing method capable of easily manufacturing a dense separation membrane. The separation membrane manufacturing method comprises a membrane forming step of forming a separation membrane precursor containing a separation membrane precursor solution on the surface of cells formed in a porous monolith substrate; and a drying step of performing ventilation drying by passing hot air through the cells having the separation membrane precursor in the monolith substrate to dry the separation membrane precursor. During the ventilation drying in the drying step, the temperature of the monolith substrate having the separation membrane precursor is raised to 90° C. within 15 minutes from the start of the passing of the hot air at such a rate of temperature rise that an average rate of temperature rise is 7° C./min or more from the start of the passing of the hot air until the temperature reaches 90° C. |
| US09486742B1 |
Biomimetic membranes and methods of making biomimetic membranes
The present disclosure is directed to biomimetic membranes and methods of manufacturing such membranes that include structural features that mimic the structures of cellular membrane channels and produce membrane designs capable of high selectivity and high permeability or adsorptivity. The membrane structure, material and chemistry can be selected to perform liquid separations, gas separation and capture, ion transport and adsorption for a variety of applications. |
| US09486741B2 |
Hydrolysis-resistant polyacrylamide gels
Polyacrylamide gels that offer high resolution in protein separations and are more stable relative to hydrolysis than conventional polyacrylamide gels that rely on Tris or Tris-Bis as buffering agents are made by incorporating triethanolamine in place of most or all of the Tris or Tris-Bis. |
| US09486737B2 |
Absorbent tertiary monoalkanolamine solution belonging to the 3-alcoxypropylamine family, and method for removing acidic compounds contained in a gas effluent
The absorbent solution for removing acidic compounds contained in a gas effluent comprises water and at least one amine that is selected from among tertiary monoalkanolamines that contain an etheric function and belong to the 3-alcoxypropylamine family having general formula (A). The method for removing the acidic compounds contained in a gas effluent involves placing a gas effluent 1 into the column C1 together with the absorbent solution 4. |
| US09486729B2 |
Air filter element, filter housing and filter arrangement
An air filter element (10) with a cylindrical central pipe (11) is provided wherein at one end of the central tube (11) a device (18) for transmission of torque from a tool to the air filter element (10) is provided and at the other end of the central tube (11) a fastening device (14) for detachably mounting the filter element (10) within a cylindrical support body (21) by means of an insertion/rotation movement is provided. |
| US09486726B2 |
Separation, sedimentation and segregation chamber with dual pore-size filter
The present application discloses a method and apparatus for settling particles from waters that come out of plants that produce waste waters with hazardous components, utilizing vacuum power generated by vacuum generator down the waist water draining line. The method comprising a device with separation and sedimentation chamber, that allows phase separation through a unique cyclone-generating design, which leads to a filtering-chamber equipped with a dual pore-size filter that allows significant segregation of particles by particle size and mass, and thus allows highly efficient separation of hazardous particles from the waste water, which could exit the apparatus of present invention with significantly low content of hazardous particles. |
| US09486724B2 |
Filter device, in particular liquid filter
A filter device has, in a housing, a filter element and, downstream of the filter element, an outflow opening for discharging the cleaned medium. Between the filter element and the outflow opening there is arranged a diverting part, wherein on the diverting part there is formed an overflow region for the flow of the medium from the filter element to the outflow opening, and the outflow opening is situated at the same level as or below the overflow region. |
| US09486719B2 |
Filter element, device for folding a filter medium web and process for producing a zigzag-folded filter element
A filter element has a multi-layered filter medium web with several layers that is folded along folding lines. The filter medium web has at least one functional region in at least one section located between adjacent folding lines. The at least one functional region is a first embossment. The layers of the filter medium web are firmly bonded to each other along the first embossment. A device for folding a multi-layered filter medium web has an energy-introducing embossing unit that embosses the filter medium web fed by a feed unit to the embossing unit. A folding unit for folding the filter medium web along folding lines is provided. The energy-introducing embossing unit embosses and firmly bonds the layers of the filter medium web along at least one functional region in at least one section of the filter medium web located between adjacent folding lines. |
| US09486717B2 |
Purification columns and methods
Devices and associated processes suitable for small and large scale purification of molecules in a fluid, and provides embodiments that overcome the difficulties of transitioning purification from research stages to production scale-up. The invention relates to the formation and characteristics of substantially uniform, continuous, and homogeneous porous separation matrices. The matrices are in the form of a polymeric layer with substantially uniform thickness and porosity. The polymeric layer is formed for the purpose of providing convective flow through the separation matrix. |
| US09486713B2 |
Robotic activity system using position sensing
The robotic activity system described herein provides for efficient communications between the robotic device and the board without the establishment of a wired or radio-frequency connection. In particular, through the simulation of touch events by the robotic device on the touch display of the board using capacitive elements on the robotic device, information/data may be communicated from the robotic device to the board, including the location of the robotic device relative to the touch display, the orientation of the robotic device relative to the touch display, status information of the robotic device (e.g., battery level, motor voltages, or wheel speed), and/or other similar pieces of information. Since this information is communicated using the conductive elements, a dedicated data connection, including separate radios and/or interfaces, is not needed. This communicated information may be used for conducting an interactive game involving the robotic device and the board or another activity. |
| US09486712B2 |
Motion sensing remote control device
A motion sensing remote control device including a motion sensing module, a calculation unit, a motion setting unit, a transmit unit and a receiving unit is disclosed. The present invention controls a remote control car to perform various motions by sensing the user's gestures. The motion sensing module senses and converts the gestures into a voltage signal for the calculation unit to perform calculation. The motion setting unit generates a corresponding command based on the calculation result of the calculation unit, and transmits the command to the remote control car through the transmit unit and the receiving unit such that the remote control car executes the received command to perform the corresponding motion specified by the user. |
| US09486700B2 |
Video game incorporating safe live-action combat
Video games can be improved upon by combining traditional gameplay mechanics (e.g., a player's use of a controller) and live-action combat elements that may be measured and scored. For example, a player may fire projectiles at a target when prompted by a game, may have to dodge projectiles fired at the player as part of the game, may have to traverse the room to touch or move an object, and/or may have to strike a dummy or other object as instructed by the game. Such live-action combat aspects may be incorporated into a video game having otherwise traditional gameplay mechanics. |
| US09486692B2 |
Monitoring of physical training events
A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes instructing a human player to perform a plurality of different actions in a determined order with a physical basketball, including actions of bouncing the physical basketball, and obtaining, with one or more electronic sensors, data that characterizes motion of the physical basketball being handled by the human player who is performing the instructed actions at a location. The method also includes communicating the data from the sensors to a console videogame system that is proximate to the location, and graphically representing, in a videogame displayed on a display device, performance by the human player, the performance being affected by the captured data, the representation of performance by the human player being compared against a standard of performance. |
| US09486687B2 |
Self-compensating tire compression trainer
A self-compensating tire compression device is provided for use with a trainer. The device attaches to a frame, such as a bicycle, that holds the axis of a driving wheel fixed. The device has a pivoting portion that presses a driven portion of a resistance device against the driving wheel. The pivoting point of the pivoting portion is located on the trainer to provide a static contact pressure between the driving wheel and the driven wheel, and when the driving wheel begins to rotate and the resistance device begins to resist the rotation, the contact pressure between the driving wheel and the driven wheel increases to prevent slippage between the two wheels. |
| US09486686B2 |
Martial arts training bag
A martial arts training bag is provided having a substantially cylindrical upper portion and a tapered, e.g., frusto-conical, lower portion. The bag includes a central support and one or more training devices configured to be releasably connected to the central support. The bag includes at least four connectors to provide a four-point suspension. |
| US09486677B1 |
Weighted golf club head having composite tubes
A golf club head comprising a body, an elevated weight bar, and a plurality of carbon tubes is disclosed herein. The body comprises a hollow interior, a face section, a sole section, and a crown section, and the elevated weight bar bridges at least a portion of the sole and may be formed separately from the rest of the body and then affixed to the body by welding or a mechanical fastener. In one embodiment, each of the carbon tubes extends from the crown section and terminates at the elevated weight bar, while in another embodiment each of the carbon tubes extends from the crown section to the sole section and passes through the elevated weight bar without making contact with the floating weight bar. |
| US09486676B1 |
Golf club with drag reduction surfacing
A golf club producing less drag on a golf club during a swing than a conventional golf club with drag-reducing structures having different surface areas on specific portions of the golf club, the structures divided into a first portion on a shank, a peripheral portion surrounding a ball impact face, an upper surface, toe, hosel, rear face, sole, and heel of the club head; a second portion on a forward face outer portion; third and fourth portions on a respective impact face second ring and first ring; and a fifth portion centered on the impact face. The structure surface area progressively decreases from the fifth portion, to the fourth portion and then to the third portion. Each drag-reducing structure of the first and third portions has an equal surface area, while each structure of the second portion has a surface area larger than each structure of the first portion. |
| US09486674B2 |
Golf balls having a foam center
Multi-layered golf balls containing a dual-core structure are provided. The core structure includes an inner core (center) comprising a foam composition, preferably foamed polyurethane. The outer core layer is preferably formed from a non-foamed composition selected from thermoset compositions and thermoplastic compositions. The core layers have different hardness and specific gravity levels. The specific gravity (density) of the foam inner core is preferably less than the density of the outer core layer. |
| US09486673B2 |
Golf ball
An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having a low spin rate on driver shots and excellent in flight distance performance. The present invention provides a golf ball having a spherical core and at least one cover layer covering the spherical core, wherein the spherical core is formed from a rubber composition containing (a) a base rubber, (b) an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and/or a metal salt thereof as a co-crosslinking agent, (c) a crosslinking initiator, and (d) a salt of a carboxylic acid, provided that the rubber composition further contains (e) a metal compound in the case of containing only (b) the α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms as the co-crosslinking agent. |
| US09486671B2 |
Swimming goggles
Swimming goggles allow a swimmer to see the end of the pool without moving their head while swimming in backstroke. Using a light reflector, a swimmer can view through a backstroke viewing window to view along the backstroke moving direction. Swimmers wearing the goggles can therefore reduce the chance for injury while helping backstroke swimming efficiency. |
| US09486670B2 |
Exercise apparatus
An exercise apparatus (10) comprising a first rigid member (12) having a first surface (18) that rests on the ground in use and a second rigid member (14) having a first surface (18) on which a person can be supported. At least one resilient member (16) is provided to extend between a second surface (19) of the first rigid member (12) and a second surface (19) of the second rigid member (14). Recesses (20, 21) are provided in the second surfaces (19) of each of the first and second rigid members (12, 14) such that each of the resilient members (16) includes a first end portion (22) secured into the recess (20, 21) in the second surface (19) of the first rigid member (12) and a second end portion (23) secured into the recess (20, 21) in the second surface (19) of the second rigid member (14). |
| US09486669B2 |
Systems and methods for storing and analyzing golf data, including community and individual golf data collection and storage at a central hub
Systems and methods are described for providing coaching, training, or equipment specification information to individual golfers based on data generated during their individual golf swings. Additionally, data hubs are described that provide information and services to individuals based on data collected for a community of multiple golfers. Such community data hub systems and methods may provide one or more of the following: (a) storage of scoring data, swing data, ball flight data, and/or equipment data for multiple golfers; (b) at least some level of individual access to the stored data for the community; and/or (c) electronic interaction between golfers within the community. |
| US09486667B2 |
Bicycle trainer
Provided is a bicycle trainer that provides a riding sensation such as that when actually riding a bicycle outdoors. The bicycle trainer is for training by using a detachably installed bicycle (21) and is provided with the following: a main body (3) placed on the floor; a support shaft (5) in which one end is movably inserted into the main body and the other end is fixed to a fork end support means (7) that supports a fork end part (23) of the bicycle; and an elastic part disposed so as to surround at least a part of the support shaft from the center in the longitudinal center thereof to the other end. The support shaft elastically deforms due to the force imparted from the fork end part and therefore the bicycle can move forward and backward and incline to the left and right. |
| US09486657B2 |
Compositions comprising 2,3-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoropropane, 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoropropene, 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane or 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene
Disclosed are compositions comprising HCFC-243db, HCFO-1233xf, HCFC-244db and/or HFO-1234yf and at least one additional compound. For the composition comprising 1234yf, the additional compound is selected from the group consisting of HFO-1234ze, HFO-1243zf, HCFC-243db, HCFC-244db, HFC-245cb, HFC-245fa, HCFO-1233xf, HCFO-1233zd, HCFC-253fb, HCFC-234ab, HCFC-243fa, ethylene, HFC-23, CFC-13, HFC-143a, HFC-152a, HFC-236fa, HCO-1130, HCO-1130a, HFO-1336, HCFC-133a, HCFC-254fb, HCFC-1131, HFO-1141, HCFO-1242zf, HCFO-1223xd, HCFC-233ab, HCFC-226ba, and HFC-227ca. Compositions comprising HCFC-243db, HCFO-1233xf, and/or HCFC-244db are useful in processes to make HFO-1234yf. Compositions comprising HFO-1234yf are useful, among other uses, as heat transfer compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump systems. |
| US09486653B2 |
Emergency oxygen supply mask and emergency oxygen supply arrangement adapted for rescuing a passenger of an aircraft in an emergency situation, method of rescuing a passenger of an aircraft in an emergency situation
The invention relates to a method and an emergency oxygen supply mask adapted for rescuing a passenger of an aircraft in an emergency situation. In one example, the oxygen mask includes a mask body with a first opening for covering the mouth and/or nose of a passenger and with a second opening connecting the first opening for providing breathable supply air. In some cases, the emergency oxygen supply mask includes a physical reaction component connected to the mask body for receiving air and converting the air into supply air by a physical reaction between the air and a physical reaction material in the physical reaction component to produce oxygen-enriched air. The oxygen-enriched air may be supplied as the supply air to the first opening of the mask body. |
| US09486652B2 |
Gel composition and cosmetic
The present invention provides a gel composition having improved texture in use. A gel composition consisting of an organosiloxane derivative represented by the following formula (1) or (3), a monohydric aliphatic alcohol having 10 to 30 carbon atoms, and water. |
| US09486650B2 |
Particle beam therapy system
Plural equipment control devices of a particle beam therapy system comprise an equipment operation parameter calculation unit calculating equipment operation parameters based on data given by equipment data servers individually and an equipment operation verification data generation unit generating equipment operation parameter verification data for verifying soundness of the equipment operation parameters, an equipment data server comprises an equipment operation parameter integrating calculation unit calculating so as to obtain equipment operation parameters of each equipment, an equipment operation parameter verification data integrating generation unit generating an equipment operation parameter verification data of each equipment for verifying soundness of equipment operation parameters of each equipment, and a verification data comparison unit comparing equipment operation parameter verification data of each equipment which is received from plural equipment control devices with equipment operation parameter verification data of each equipment which is generated by the operation parameter verification data integrating calculation unit. |
| US09486649B2 |
Method and irradiation installation for irradiating a target volume
The present disclosure relates to a method and to an irradiation system for irradiating a moving target volume with an ion beam, in particular for tumor therapy, wherein ion radiography measurements of the target volume are performed and the irradiation for deposition purposes and for radiography purposes is performed with the same ion beam but consecutively in time by alternating the energy of the ion beam between a higher radiography energy and a lower deposition energy using, for example, a passive energy modulator proximal with respect to the patient. |
| US09486647B2 |
Vision system for radiotherapy machine control
In various embodiments, a system for controlling radiotherapy equipment in a treatment environment includes a controller for receiving, from one or more image capture devices, data indicating the position of one or more objects in the treatment environment. Based on the position data, the controller defines one or more exclusionary zones from which the radiotherapy equipment is excluded. Each zone has a buffer area surrounding one or more of the objects. The controller further directs the radiotherapy equipment such that a radiotherapy treatment plan is delivered without the equipment entering into the exclusionary zones. |
| US09486639B2 |
Trajectory-based deep-brain stereotactic transcranial magnetic stimulation
The present invention provides for Stereotactic Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (sTMS) at predetermined locations with the brain or spinal cord and incorporates an array of electromagnets arranged in a specified configuration where selected coils in the array are pulsed simultaneously. Activation of foci demonstrated by functional MRI or other imaging techniques can be used to locate the neural region affected. Imaging techniques can also be utilized to determine the location of the designated targets. |
| US09486636B2 |
Adaptation of the common notebook, laptop computer, netbook and tablet computer to enable each to be used as an automated external defibrillator (AED) to treat victims of sudden cardiac arrest
A notebook, laptop computer or tablet having an automated external defibrillator (AED) capability, and methods of utilizing the notebook, laptop computer or tablet defibrillator to treat victims of sudden cardiac arrest. A notebook, laptop computer or tablet having the technology to enable each to be used as an automated external defibrillator (AED). Methods and apparatuses for implementing the common notebook, laptop computer, tablet, common cell phone and the common personal digital assistant (PDA) as an automated external defibrillator (AED). |
| US09486631B2 |
Vagal nerve stimulator with mode switching
Various aspects of the present subject matter relate to an implantable device. Various device embodiments comprise at least one port to connect to at least one lead with at least electrode, stimulation circuitry connected to the at least one port and adapted to provide at least one neural stimulation therapy to at least one neural stimulation target using the at least one electrode, sensing circuitry connected to the at least one port and adapted to provide a sensed signal, and a controller connected to the stimulation circuitry to provide the at least one neural stimulation therapy and to the sensing circuitry to receive the sensed signal. In response to a triggering event, the controller is adapted to switch between at least two modes. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. |
| US09486628B2 |
Percutaneous access for systems and methods of treating sleep apnea
Systems and methods are described and illustrated for percutaneously implanting a stimulation lead for treating sleep-related disordered breathing. |
| US09486627B1 |
Functional electrical stimulus unit
A functional electrical stimulation method and device that starts electrical stimulation of a first leg of a person when a distance between a reference point on the person's first leg and the surface on which the person walks exceeds a first predetermined value and stops electrical stimulation of the first leg of the person when the distance between the reference point and the surface falls below a second predetermined value, wherein the first and second predetermined values are calculated from an initial measurement of the distance between the reference point and the surface when the person is standing still and the first leg is perpendicular to the surface. The first predetermined value is greater than the second predetermined value. The method and device produce a more natural gait in persons with drop foot, and minimize the time electrical stimulation is applied to muscles so as to minimize muscle fatigue. |
| US09486623B2 |
Electrical stimulation of a pancreas
Apparatus and methods are described, including a method that includes (i) identifying that it is desired to apply electrical stimulation to a pancreas of a subject, and (ii) in response to the identifying, placing an intravascular support structure within a blood vessel of the subject. The intravascular support structure has at least one electrode coupled thereto, the at least one electrode being configured to stimulate the pancreas of the subject by driving an electric current through tissue of the pancreas of the subject. Other applications are also described. |
| US09486622B2 |
Fixation and strain relief element for temporary therapy delivery device
A temporary neurostimulation lead may be secured relative to patient using a fixation device. The fixation device may include an attachment portion that is configured to be releasably fixated to the patient and a lead fixation portion that is configured to secure the temporary neurostimulation lead. The fixation device can be adhesively fixated to the patient via the attachment portion and the temporary neurostimulation lead can be fixated to the lead fixation portion of the fixation device. |
| US09486621B2 |
Implanting an electrode array against the spinal cord inside the dura for stimulating the spinal cord and treating pain
A method for treating intractable pain via electrical stimulation of the spinal cord. Remote, non-contact stimulation of a selected region of spinal cord is achieved by placement of a transceiver patch directly on the surface of that region of spinal cord, with said patch optionally being inductively coupled to a transmitter patch of similar size on either the outer or inner wall of the dura surrounding that region of the spinal cord. By inductively exchanging electrical power and signals between said transmitter and transceiver patches, and by carrying out the necessary electronic and stimulus signal distribution functions on the transceiver patch, the targeted dorsal column axons can be stimulated without the unintended stray stimulation of nearby dorsal rootlets. Novel configurations of a pliable surface-sheath and clamp or dentate ligament attachment features which realize undamaging attachment of the patch to the spinal cord are described. |
| US09486619B2 |
Interconnect devices, systems, and methods for bridging electronic devices
One aspect of the present disclosure can include an interconnect system for bridging electrical contacts. The system can include a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and an interconnect device that is coupled to and extends between the first and second electrical contacts. The interconnect device can include a flexible bridge and a non-linear conductive transmission line. The flexible bridge can have a length and an outer surface. The non-linear conductive transmission line can extend along, and encircle at least a portion of, the length of the bridge such that the non-linear conductive transmission line electrically connects the first electrical contact with the second electrical contact. |
| US09486616B2 |
Transdermal integrated actuator device, methods of making and using same
Providing a method for monitoring an analyte extracted from a patient and delivering a permeant composition to the patient. The method includes the steps of a) contacting a poration device to a tissue membrane of the patient, the poration device including at least one porator array; b) actuating poration of the tissue membrane using the at least one porator array in the poration device; c) extracting the analyte from the porated tissue membrane by way of the at least one porator array; d) analyzing the analyte to determine a concentration of the analyte within the tissue membrane; and e) delivering a permeant composition to the tissue membrane by way of the at least one porator array. |
| US09486614B2 |
Sinus dilation catheter
A balloon dilation catheter includes a substantially rigid inner guide member and a movable shaft coupled to a balloon that is slidably mounted on the substantially rigid inner guide member. To treat a sinus cavity of a subject using the balloon dilation the substantially rigid inner guide member is advanced into a drainage pathway of the sinus (e.g., frontal recess or maxillary sinus) of the subject via a nasal passageway. The shaft and balloon are advanced in a distal direction over the substantially rigid inner guide member to place the balloon in the drainage pathway. The balloon is inflated to expand or otherwise remodel the drainage pathway. |
| US09486612B2 |
Device for reducing axial shortening of catheter or sheath due to repeated deflection
A deflectable medical device incorporates a strut that is configured to reduce or eliminate axial shortening of the deflectable portion of the medical device, for example, the deflectable distal end portion of a catheter or access sheath. The strut may is coaxially disposed in the medical device in the section that is contemplated to undergo the repeated deflection. The strut provides improved column strength and axial restoration. The strut may be stent-like device, an elongate device having opposing ends coupled by a connecting lattice involving a plurality of helical connecting elements or a tube having a plurality of circumferentially-extending slots arranged in longitudinally-extending rows. |
| US09486608B2 |
Detachable tip microcatheter
A microcatheter for delivering embolic agent to a vascular site is provided. The microcatheter has a biocompatible or biocompatible and biodegradable tip which can be detachably engaged to the microcatheter body by a thermoplastic sleeve. Once the embolic agent is delivered to the desired vascular site, the tip of the microcatheter is often entrapped within the mass of the liquid embolic fluid. Using the microcatheter, the clinician can retract the microcatheter at a predetermined retraction force thereby disengaging the tip from the microcatheter body allowing for easier removal of the microcatheter. |
| US09486607B2 |
Treatment device
A treatment device is provided including a catheter having a lumen that is opened to a distal end of the catheter; a wire passing through the lumen so that the wire is inserted into or retracted from the lumen; and a piece disposed at a distal end of the wire and having the maximum width when the piece is protruded from the distal end of the catheter is set larger than the diameter of the lumen, wherein the piece body is formed of a deformable material having a broad curved surface shape that distributes concentration of pressure acting on tissues, and when the wire is pulled in toward the catheter, the piece being extended in the axial direction by the lumen and reduced in its outer diameter so as to be pulled into the lumen. |
| US09486600B2 |
Nasal cannula assembly with inhalation valves communicating with a deformable reservoir
The invention concerns a nasal cannula assembly (10) adapted to deliver gases to a patient comprising a first compartment (1) and a second compartment (2) separated by a separation wall (6); a pair of nasal prongs (5) in fluid communication with the first compartment (1); the first compartment (1) comprising a first inlet (11) for introducing a first gas into said first compartment (1); the second compartment (2) comprising a second inlet (2) for introducing a second gas into said second compartment (2); and the separation wall (6) comprising at least one valve element (3) for controlling the passage of gas from the second compartment (2) to the first compartment (1). The invention concerns also a breathing assistance apparatus comprising a source of NO gas, and said nasal cannula assembly (10) in fluid communication with said source of NO gas. |
| US09486591B2 |
Color changeable dyes for indicating exposure, methods of making and using such dyes and apparatuses incorporating such dyes
According to embodiments of the present application, a color changeable dye can comprise a redox indicator, a reduction reaction initiator, an electron donor, an oxygen scavenger, an indicator barrier agent, a thickening agent and an agent to facilitate mixing. The color changeable dye is a first color in the presence of oxygen, capable of changing to a second color upon reduction in a substantially oxygen free environment, and capable of changing back to the first color after exposure to oxygen for a period of time corresponding to the intended use time of a disposable or limited use product. Methods of making and using the color changeable dye and apparatuses incorporating such dye are also disclosed. |
| US09486588B2 |
Automatic injection device with reset feature
The present invention relates to a dose setting and expelling device comprising a drive member and a dose setting mechanism which simultaneously sets a given dose and stores the energy necessary for a subsequently driving the drive member in order to expel a dose of medicine from an injection device. According to the invention the dose setting mechanism allows adjustment in both directions, such that a given set dose can be reduced or cancelled by reversing the input motion, typically by rotating a setting member backwardly, this in contrast to the known devices which either requires an additional release mechanism or which cannot be reversed at all. |
| US09486586B2 |
Drug delivery device and method for detecting a contact
The present invention is directed to a drug delivery device with a drive mechanism including a piston rod with a bearing for driving a bung in a cartridge in a distal direction. A movable element is disposed displacably in an axial direction within the drive mechanism. The moveable element is movable between a first position in which a distal end of said movable element protrudes from said bearing and a second position in which a distal end of said movable element lies flush with the distal end of said bearing. The invention is further directed to a method for detecting the contact between the bearing and the movable bung. |
| US09486581B2 |
Injector device with force lock-out and injection rate limiting mechanisms
An injectable substance delivery device comprising a pen device body, a cartridge, a plunger, a drive mechanism, and at least one of a lock-out mechanism and a rate-limiting mechanism. The lock-out mechanism is provided through a ratchet engagement between the body and the plunger to restrict plunger movement and to ensure that the required needle puncture depth is realized prior to injection by locking out the injection mechanism from advancing until a specified force is applied to the skin. A rate-limiting mechanism is also provided through a user compressed plunger drive spring to ensure that a specific rate of injection is realized during the injection of a medicament. |
| US09486579B2 |
High pressure sensor for use with a fluid delivery system
A pressure sensor for use with a fluid delivery system having good sensitivity at low pressure, but also configured to remain in operating condition after being exposed to high pressures is disclosed herein. In one variation, the pressure sensor includes a fluid path set, a deformable element associated with the fluid path set and configured to deform in response to an external pressure, and a pressure transducer for monitoring deformation of the deformable element. In certain embodiments, the pressure sensor is configured to measure fluid pressure within the range of between about 0 mm Hg to about 300 mm Hg. However, the sensor pressure is also be configured to remain functional after being exposed to pressure in excess of about 60,000 mm Hg. |
| US09486573B2 |
Fluid delivery system and method of fluid delivery to a patient
A fluid delivery system includes a pressurizing mechanism. The pressurizing mechanism includes: a substantially cylindrical body having a movable member positioned therein that divides the body into a first chamber and a second chamber; a plunger rod connected to a first side of the movable member and extending through a substantially closed first end of the body; and an elongated member connected to a second side of the movable member and extending through a substantially closed second end of the body. The plunger rod configured to operatively engage a fluid container. Fluid is dispensed from the fluid container by forming a vacuum within at least the first chamber by moving the movable member toward the second end of the body, allowing atmospheric pressure to enter the second chamber, and actuating the pressurizing mechanism to cause the moving member to move towards the first end of the body. |
| US09486571B2 |
Safety processor for wireless control of a drug delivery device
A system and method provide for enhanced reliability and safety of programming and/or operating a medical device, such as an infusion pump, with a remote control device, such as a mobile phone (e.g., a smartphone). A safety processor acts as an intermediary device between the smartphone and medical device to review transmissions from the smartphone prior to the transmissions being delivered to the medical device. The safety processor can determine whether the smartphone is compatible with the medical device by checking the type and version of the smartphone as well as the versions of the operating software and/or firmware resident on the phone. The safety processor can also check whether the operating command entered into the smartphone is within acceptable parameters. |
| US09486570B2 |
Multipart fluid system and a system for regional citrate anticoagulation in an extracorporeal blood circuit
A method of treating blood withdrawn from patient including: simultaneously withdrawing blood and infusing withdrawn blood from and to the patient by flowing the withdrawn blood through an extracorporeal dialysis circuit including a dialyzer having a semi-permeable dialysis membrane and a dialysate side adjacent the membrane; feeding a dialysate containing 1 to 5 mM total calcium and 2 to 8 mM citrate to the dialysate side of the dialyzer, and introducing an anticoagulation fluid including at least 8 mM citrate into the arterial blood line. |
| US09486567B2 |
Method for assessing a patient's fluid status and/or sensitivity to fluid removal, controller, and devices
The present invention relates to a method for assessing a patient's sensitivity to fluid removal from the patient's vascular system or to fluid replacement or addition with regard to the patient's hydration state, the method comprising the step of determining a value reflecting the distribution of fluid between at least two distribution spaces of the body of the patient or changes thereof from measured or calculated values, and assessing whether the value fulfills at least one criterion. It also relates to a controller, an apparatus, a device, a digital storage device, a computer program product, and a computer program. |
| US09486565B2 |
Connecting element for mounting a blood pump or a cannula on a heart
A connecting element for connecting a blood pump or a cannula to a heart, the connecting element including a sealing element, which is designed to at least temporarily close an opening formed in the cardiac wall and to be opened via insertion of a preferably cylindrical object in the direction of an axis of the opening. |
| US09486560B2 |
Mesh pouches for implantable medical devices
Biodegradable polymer-coated surgical meshes formed into pouches are described for use with cardiac rhythm management devices (CRMs) and other implantable medical devices. Such meshes are formed into a receptacle, e.g., a pouch or other covering, capable of encasing, surrounding and/or holding the cardiac rhythm management device or other implantable medical device for the purpose of securing it in position, inhibiting or reducing bacterial growth, providing pain relief and/or inhibiting scarring or fibrosis on or around the CRM or other implantable medical device. Preferred embodiments include surgical mesh pouches coated with one or more biodegradable polymers that can act as a stiffening agent by coating the filaments or fibers of the mesh to temporarily immobilize the contact points of those filaments or fibers and/or by increasing the stiffness of the mesh by at least 1.1 times its original stiffness. The pouches of the invention can also provide relief from various post-operative complications associated with their implantation, insertion or surgical use, and, optionally, include one or more drugs in the polymer matrix of the coating to provide prophylactic effects and/or alleviate side effects or complications associated with the surgery or implantation of the CRM or other implantable medical device. |
| US09486557B2 |
Demineralized bone fibers having controlled geometry and shapes and methods thereof
A bone repair composition and methods thereof include elongated bone fibers made from cortical bone in which a plurality of approximately uniform bone fibers is made into various implant shapes conducive for various applications. The bone fiber compositions may be in the form of a cavity, ball, pellet, wrap, strip, cylinder, cone, putty, gel, or injectable slurry. |
| US09486548B2 |
System and method for reducing touch induced contamination
A contamination control system of an electronic device includes a touch-based surface, an ultraviolet (UV) light source operable to shine on the touch-based surface, a detection module, and a control module. The detection module detects a first event indicating that a user has interacted with the touch-based surface, sends a first indication based upon the first event, detects a second event indicating that a user is done interacting with the touch-based surface, and sends a second indication based upon the second event. The control module receives the first indication and the second indication from the detection module and turns on the UV light source to decontaminate the touch-based surface in response to the first indication and the second indication. |
| US09486547B2 |
Radiolabelled antibody and uses thereof
The present disclosure describes a radioconjugate of an anti-CD38 antibody and a radionuclide, e.g., Bi213. |
| US09486546B2 |
Methods and compositions for radiohalogen protein labeling
Methods and compositions are provided for labeling proteins with radiohalogen-label reagents. Radiohalogen-labeled proteins may be used for imaging studies, as therapeutics and in diagnostic tests. The [125I] HIP-DOTA label reagent 6 is prepared by an efficient and convenient process. |
| US09486539B2 |
Nipah virus envelope pseudotyped lentiviruses and methods of their use
The present invention relates to lentiviral particles which have been pseudotyped with Nipah virus (NiV) fusion (F) and attachment (G) glycoproteins (NiVpp-F/G). Additionally, the present invention relates to truncated NiV-F glycoproteins useful in producing such NiVpp lentiviral particles, as well as to additional variant peptides which enhance activity. Further, the present invention relates to methods of using such lentiviral particles or sequences, for example in the treatment of cancer or CNS disorders. |
| US09486536B2 |
Pro-drug form (P2PDOX) of the highly potent 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin conjugated to antibodies for targeted therapy of cancer
Disclosed are methods, compositions and uses of conjugates of prodrug forms of 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin (P2PDox) with antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof (ADCs), with targetable construct peptides or with other targeting molecules that are capable of delivering the P2PDox to a targeted cell, tissue or pathogen. Once delivered to the target cell, the ADC or peptide conjugate is internalized, a highly toxic 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin (2-PDox) is released intracellularly. The P2PDox-peptide or ADC conjugates are of use to treat a wide variety of diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune disease or infectious disease. |
| US09486534B2 |
Niacin conjugated fatty acid mixtures and their uses
The invention relates to niacin conjugated fatty acid mixtures; compositions comprising an effective amount of a niacin conjugated fatty acid mixture; and methods for treating or preventing an metabolic disorder comprising the administration of as effective amount of a niacin conjugated fatty acid mixture. |
| US09486522B2 |
Compositions including triciribine and trastuzumab and methods of use thereof
This application relates to combination therapies including triciribine and related compounds and trastuzumab or a salt thereof and compositions with reduced toxicity for the treatment and prevention of tumors, cancer, and other disorders associated with abnormal cell proliferation. |
| US09486520B2 |
Compositions comprising polyglutamic acid nanoparticles and CD40 agonists
The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising an immunostimulatory polypeptide and polyglutamic acid (PGA) nanoparticles, formulated in a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier or excipient. Such compositions have utility in stimulating the immune system in subjects, with the components capable of interacting synergistically. The invention further provides uses of the compositions of the invention, for example in the treatment of cancer, and kit and components for use in the same. |
| US09486518B2 |
Membrane proximal region of HIV GP41 anchored to the lipid layer of a virus-like particle vaccine
Disclosed herein are isolated immunogens including variant hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAgs). In an example, a variant HBsAg includes a HBsAg with one or more transmembrane domains of the HBsAg replaced with a gp41 antigenic insert. The antigenic insert can include an antigenic polypeptide fragment of gp41 including the membrane proximal region of gp41 and a transmembrane membrane region of gp41. The replacement of a membrane spanning domain of HBsAg with a membrane spanning domain of gp41 anchors gp41 into HBsAg in virtually the identical orientation as on HIV virions and correctly orients the nearby MPR on the lipid layer. Thus, the disclosed variant HBsAgs display the neutralization-sensitive MPR in association with a lipid layer, while presenting it at the most immunogenic site on HBsAg. Also disclosed are uses of these variant HBsAgs, and nucleic acids encoding variant HBsAgs, such as to induce an immune response to HIV-1. |
| US09486517B2 |
Viral particle released after infection of mammalian cells by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) containing a fusion protein and use thereof
The present invention is related to a viral particle released after infection of mammalian cells by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), wherein a) the particle is surrounded by a lipid membrane in which viral glycoproteins are embedded, b) the particle contains neither viral DNA nor capsids; and c) the particle contains a fusion protein comprising one or more parts of the T-cell antigen pp65 and at least one heterologous peptide, and wherein the at least one heterologous peptide is inserted at amino acid position W175 or A534 of the amino acid sequence of the T-cell antigen pp65. |
| US09486515B2 |
Immunogenic composition
The present application discloses an immunogenic composition comprising at least 2 different N. meningitidis capsular saccharides, wherein one or more is/are selected from a first group consisting of MenA, MenC, MenY and MenW which is/are conjugated to a protein carrier(s) wherein the saccharide:protein ratio (w/w) is between 1:2-1:5, and one or more different saccharides is/are selected from a second group consisting of MenA, MenC, MenY and MenW which is/are conjugated to a protein carrier(s) wherein the saccharide:protein ratio (w/w) is between 5:1-1:1.99. |
| US09486513B1 |
Immunization and/or treatment of parasites and infectious agents by live bacteria
Chimeric proteins are expressed, secreted or released by a bacterium to immunize against or treat a parasite, infectious disease or malignancy. The delivery vector may also be attenuated, non-pathogenic, low pathogenic, or a probiotic bacterium. The chimeric proteins include chimeras of, e.g., phage coat and/or colicin proteins, bacterial toxins and/or enzymes, autotransporter peptides, lytic peptides, multimerization domains, and/or membrane transducing (ferry) peptides. The active portion of the immunogenic chimeric proteins can include antigens against a wide range of parasites and infectious agents, cancers, Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases, and have enhanced activity when secreted or released by the bacteria, and/or have direct anti-parasite or infectious agent activity. The activity of the secreted proteins is further increased by co-expression of a protease inhibitor that prevents degradation of the effector peptides. Addition of an antibody binding or antibody-degrading protein further prevents the premature elimination of the vector and enhances the immune response. |
| US09486512B2 |
In situ antigen-generating cancer vaccine
The invention provides compositions and methods for utilizing scaffolds in cancer vaccines. |
| US09486510B2 |
Method to enhance an immune response of nucleic acid vaccination
A composition comprising liposomes associated with a nucleic acid operatively encoding an antigenic protein and with an assistor protein, wherein the assistor protein shares at least one epitope with the antigenic protein, and wherein the nucleic acid and said assistor protein are associated with the same liposomes is described. The composition provides an improved immune response compared to mixtures of liposomes some of which are associated with the nucleic acid and some of which are associated with the assistor protein. |
| US09486504B2 |
Regulation of food preference using GLP-1 agonists
GLP-1 agonists selectively decrease the amount of food intake, wherein the food has a high glycemic index or wherein the amount of mono- and di-saccharides together constitute a large proportion of the total amount of carbohydrates. |
| US09486499B2 |
Administration of FGF9 for treatment of anxiety
The present invention provides methods for diagnosing mental disorders. The invention also provides methods of identifying modulators of mental disorders as well as methods of using these modulators to treat patients suffering from mental disorders. |
| US09486494B2 |
Compositions useful for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders
This invention provides novel peptides and methods to prevent, control, and treat an inflammation, cancer and other disorders, particularly of the gastrointestinal tract and the lung by administering at least one agonist of guanalyte cyclase receptor either alone or in combination with a compound selected from i) 5-aminosalicyclic acid (5-ASA) or a derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; ii) mercaptopurine; or iii) an anti-TNF therapy. |
| US09486490B2 |
Composition for preventing or treating cancer containing extracts of artocarpus altilis fruits, leaves, or stems, or fractions thereof as active ingredients
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for preventing and treating cancer which comprises the extracts of Artocarpus altilis fruits, leaves, or stems, or the fractions thereof as active ingredients. The extracts of Artocarpus altilis fruits, leaves, or stems, or the fractions thereof, according to the present invention, suppress the activity of signal transducer and activator of transcription3 (STAT3) which plays an important role in the growth of a cancer cell line and in the immune function of the human body, and can thus be effectively used in the prevention and treatment of cancers such as colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, brain tumor, lung cancer, uterine cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, or pancreatic cancer. |
| US09486489B2 |
Method for producing dry extracts
The invention relates to a method for producing dry extracts of plants and to pharmaceutical preparations containing the same, more particularly phytopharmaceuticals, which contain at least one ethanolic/aqueous extract of a plant (drug), the plants being selected from the group consisting of: Rumicis herba; Verbena officinalis; Sambucus nigra; Primula veris; and Gentiana lutea and mixtures thereof. The invention further relates to a pharmaceutical for treating inflammatory and/or infectious diseases of the nose and throat area and/or the nasal sinuses, as well as the use thereof. |
| US09486483B2 |
Bone grafts including osteogenic stem cells, and methods relating to the same
Bone grafts and constructs including stem cells are provided. Example bone grafts include osteogenic stem cells seeded on a scaffold of osteoconductive cortico-cancellous chips and/or osteoinductive demineralized bone. Example constructs include extracellular matrix on a synthetic scaffold, in which the ECM is secreted from MSCs seeded onto the synthetic scaffold. Also provided are methods of making the present bone grafts and scaffolds. Further provided are methods of promoting bone healing and treating wound healing, by administering the present bone grafts and constructs to a mammal in need thereof. Also provided are kits that include the present bone grafts and/or constructs, or components thereof. |
| US09486480B2 |
Surface-modified heavy metal nanoparticles, compositions and uses thereof
Surface-modified heavy metal nanoparticles, including a heavy metal core and a coating layer, the coating layer having at least one ligand, conjugated to polyethylene glycol, the at least one ligand is selected from N-acetyl cysteine, albumin, cysteine, methionine, glutathione, amino thiols, thio-carboxylic acids, ammonia, amines, diamines or any combination thereof. Compositions including surface-modified heavy metal nanoparticles and uses thereof in treatment and diagnosis of various conditions. |
| US09486479B2 |
Antimicrobial solutions containing dichloride monoxide and methods of making and using the same
Methods and products are provided for treating a wound or infection in a mammal or disinfecting a surface with a hypochlorous acid solution that has been activated by a catalyst. Additionally provided is a process for preparing an antimicrobial product that produces an activated hypochlorous acid solution for use as an antimicrobial. |
| US09486478B2 |
Compositions and methods for preferential distribution of active agents to injury sites
Compositions are provided for preferential distribution of active agents to injury sites. Such compositions may comprise a ligand with hydrophilic properties and one or more active agents, such as compounds comprising hydrophilic metal ions. Because the delivery ligand and the active agent are specifically selected so the interactions between them are mainly of an ionic nature so that binding of the active agent to the delivery ligand and release of the active agent into the target site are not dependent on enzymatic activity. Methods of using such compositions are also disclosed. |
| US09486473B2 |
MicroRNAs and uses thereof
The present invention provides novel microRNAs and their uses. |
| US09486471B2 |
Combination therapy for the treatment of cancer
Described are methods and compositions for treating cancer that include a dopamine receptor (DR) antagonist such as thioridazine and a chemotherapeutic agent. Optionally, the chemotherapeutic agent is a DNA synthesis inhibitor such as cytarabine or a microtubule inhibitor such as paclitaxel or docetaxel. The methods and compositions are useful for the treatment of cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia. |
| US09486467B2 |
Method of treating colorectal cancer that expresses a mutated APC gene by administering erythromycin or tylosin
The present invention includes methods for treating or preventing a cancer in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a macrolide antibiotic such as tylosin, erythromycin, oleandomycin, spiramycin, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives thereof. |
| US09486466B2 |
Veliparib in combination with carboplatin for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer
The invention relates to a method for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of 2-[(2R)-2-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl]-1H-benzimidazole-4-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and an effective amount of carboplatin, in combination with standard of care. |
| US09486463B2 |
Chemosensory receptor ligand-based therapies
Provided herein are methods of modulating hormone concentrations in a subject comprising the administration of a composition comprising a chemosensory receptor ligand, wherein the composition is adapted to deliver the ligand to one or more regions of the intestine of said subject. Also provided are methods directed to the modulation of circulating concentrations of one or more of GLP-1 (total), GLP-1 (active), GLP-2, oxyntomodulin, PYY (total), PYY 3-36, CCK, GIP, insulin, C-peptide, glycentin, uroguanylin amylin, and ghrelin (total), ghrelin (active) and glucagon. |
| US09486462B2 |
Formulations of aminoglycosides and fosfomycin in a combination having improved chemical properties
The present invention is synergistic antibiotic compositions having pH adjusted profiles for manufacturing combination, and administration, particularly for patients at risk or suffering from ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and ventilator associated tracheal (VAT) bronchitis. Antibiotic compositions containing fosfomycin and aminoglycosides having individually predetermined and selected pH ranges are manufactured and stored for in combination prior to aerosolization, preferably with a specially designed in-line nebulizer attached to a ventilator. |
| US09486461B2 |
Methods and compositions for inducing apoptosis by stimulating ER stress
The present invention provides a method for inducing apoptosis in selected cells by aggravating ER-stress. The aggravation of ER-stress is achieved in a specific manner by inhibiting SERCA (sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase), leading to elevated level of cytoplasmic calcium concentration, yet without inhibiting the activity of COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) or triggering the release of histamine. Induction of apoptosis may be enhanced by first inducing or further aggravating ER-stress through inhibition of proteasome or proteases. Also provided are compounds and compositions useful as ER-stress aggravating agents, methods for screening, selecting, identifying and designing the same and methods for treating diseased conditions by inducing apoptosis through specific and selective aggravation of ER-stress. |
| US09486460B2 |
Bismuth containing liquid pharmaceutical suspensions
A liquid pharmaceutical suspension for oral administration containing a bismuth-containing pharmaceutical agent, a suspension system, and water. The suspension system can contain from about 0.001% to about 0.2% gellan gum and from about 0.001% to about 0.75% magnesium aluminum silicate. |
| US09486457B2 |
Use of cinnabarinic acid as a modulator of immune responses in autoimmune disorders
The present invention provides compounds and methods for preventing and treating an immune disorder in a subject. |
| US09486455B2 |
Compounds for modulating TRPV3 function
The present application relates to compounds and methods for treating pain and other conditions related to TRPV3. |
| US09486449B2 |
Cancer therapy
The subject invention provides for cancer therapy. |
| US09486446B2 |
Orally disintegrating solid preparation
The present invention provides an orally-disintegrating solid preparation comprising fine granules showing controlled release of a pharmaceutically active ingredient, wherein the outermost layer of the fine granules is coated with a coating layer comprising hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose and breakage of the fine granules during tableting is suppressed. |
| US09486444B1 |
Anti-cancer compound
Anti-cancer compounds include N-arylmethylidene piperidones having structural formula I: where R is a hydrogen, halogen, methyl, methoxy, or nitro group, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. |
| US09486438B2 |
Combination dosage forms and therapies for supporting bone health
Combined therapies and oral dosage forms based on genistein for the support of osteoporotic health. |
| US09486435B2 |
(Het)aryl-p-quinone derivatives for treatment of mitochondrial diseases
Methods of treating or suppressing mitochondrial diseases, such as Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactacidosis, stroke (MELAS), Kearns-Sayre Syndrome (KSS), are disclosed, as well as compounds useful in the methods of the invention, such as 2-(3-hydroxy-3-methyl-butyl)-6-(het)aryl-p-quinone or as 2-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-3-(het)aryl-p-quinone derivatives. Energy biomarkers useful in assessing the metabolic state of a subject and the efficacy of treatment are also disclosed. Methods of modulating, normalizing, or enhancing energy biomarkers, as well as compounds useful for such methods, are also disclosed. |
| US09486433B2 |
Compositions and methods for treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Compositions and method are disclosed comprising ethyl icosapentate for use in treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). |
| US09486430B2 |
Treatment of neurodegenerative disease
A method for reducing alpha-synuclein amyloid protein in a patient suffering from Parkinson's Disease comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of trans-resveratrol, a method for treating a neurodegenerative disease associated with amyloid proteins comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of trans-resveratrol, and a method for treating Parkinson's Disease comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a pharmaceutically effective amount of carbidopa, levodopa, and trans-resveratrol are described. More particularly, the effect of trans-resveratrol on reducing the pharmaceutically effective dose of at least one of carbidopa and levodopa in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease is described. In addition, a method of improving cognition, speech and/or movement in a patient suffering from Parkinson's Disease comprising administering to the patient carbidopa, levodopa and trans-resveratrol is described. |
| US09486428B2 |
Treatment of intrahepatic cholestatic diseases
Treatment of intrahepatic cholestatic diseases by therapy with MBX-8025 or an MBX-8025 salt. |
| US09486427B2 |
Administration of aerosolised iloprost
The present invention relates to novel methods, compositions and kits useful for the treatment of pulmonary diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension. In particular, aerosolisable compositions of iloprost are provided which are for use in inhalation therapy. The administration is by inhalation over a short period of time, which is patient-friendly, effective, and well tolerated. Inhalation may, for example, be achieved using an efficient nebulizer based on the vibrating mesh technology. |
| US09486421B2 |
Treatment of lung cells with histone deacetylase inhibitors
Lung disease, such as cystic fibrosis (CF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma or acute and chronic bronchitis, can be treated with an oxyamide-containing compound. |
| US09486419B2 |
CB2 receptor ligands for the treatment of psychiatric disorders
The present invention provides cannabinoid type 2 (CB2) receptor inverse agonists for treating or ameliorating psychiatric disorders. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising 4′-O-methylhonokiol for treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Tourette's syndrome. |
| US09486418B2 |
Method for treating or preventing dry eye disorders using alkylamino-polyhydroxyalkanes
Method for the treatment or prophylaxis of dry eye disorders by the administration of alkylamino-polyhydroxyalkanes and compositions thereof. |
| US09486417B2 |
Transdermal therapeutic system for administering lipophilic and/or sparingly skin-permeable active substances
A transdermal therapeutic system for administering lipophilic, poorly water-soluble and/or sparingly skin-permeable pharmaceutical active substances. The active substance is present in a multi-component enhancer system consisting of 4 components and each component of the multi-component enhancer system is selected from a different one of the substance groups: a) terpenes, b) cyclic glucitol ethers, c) medium-chain triglycerides of capric and caprylic acid and/or of linoleic acid; and d) longer-chain alcohols having a chain length of 8 or more carbon atoms. |
| US09486416B2 |
Emulsion-based process for preparing microparticles and workhead assembly for use with same
The present invention relates to emulsion and double-emulsion based processes for preparing microparticles. The invention also relates to workhead assemblies for in-line flow-through mixing devices that can be used for mixing two or more fluids. The workhead assemblies can be used with the processes for preparing microparticles. |
| US09486410B2 |
Pharmaceutical compositions of amorphous dispersions of drugs and lipophilic microphase-forming materials
A pharmaceutical composition comprises a solid amorphous dispersion comprising a low-solubility drug and a concentration-enhancing polymer and a lipophilic microphase-forming material. Alternatively, a solid amorphous dispersion comprising a low-solubility drug and a concentration-enhancing polymer is co-administered with a lipophilic microphase-forming material to an in vivo use environment. |
| US09486405B2 |
Methods for the treatment of pediatric otic disorders
Disclosed herein are methods for the treatment of pediatric otic diseases or conditions with antimicrobial agent compositions and formulations administered locally to an individual afflicted with an otic disease or condition, through direct application of these compositions and formulations onto or via perfusion into the targeted auris structure(s). |
| US09486402B2 |
Compositions containing berberine or analogs thereof for treating rosacea or red face related skin disorders
The invention pertains to topical pharmaceutical formulations of berberine and its biologically equivalent analogs, such as palmatine and coptisine, for the treatment of rosacea and other red face-related skin disorders. The topical pharmaceutical formulations of this invention contain purified berberine as the primary active drug ingredient at concentrations higher than 0.1%. The invention also pertains to methods of treating rosacea and other red face related skin disorders, such as steroid-induced rosacea-like dermatitis, comprising the administration of topical pharmaceutical formulations that contain berberine or its biologically equivalent analogs, such as palmatine. |
| US09486401B2 |
Use of cellular extracts for skin rejuvenation
The invention describes methods and agents for improving cosmetic appearance, for promoting, improving or restoring health of cells and tissues, preferably skin, and more preferably, for restoring aged or damaged skin to a healthy appearance. In preferred embodiments, the methods and agents comprise active extracts produced from fish eggs. The invention further provides processes for making active fish egg extracts. |
| US09486398B2 |
Composition
A composition that is useful in a skin function improving agent includes at least two of the following: vitamin K, a sapogenol, and a collagen hydrolysate. This composition can be used in a skin function improving agent and is particularly useful in a skin function improving agent for inhibiting transdermal moisture loss and/or for retaining the moisture in the stratum corneum. |
| US09486395B2 |
Synthetic spilanthol and use thereof
The present application provides a synthetic spilanthol flavor composition that includes (2E,6Z,8E)-N-(2-methylpropyl)-2,6,8-decatrienamide. The synthetic spilanthol composition can also contain, and at least one of (2E,6E,8E)-N-(2-methylpropyl)-2,6,8-decatrienamide and (2E,6Z,8Z)—N-(2-methylpropyl)-2,6,8-decatrienamide, the (N-(2-methylpropyl)-2,6,8-decatrienamide being present in amounts effective to impart a salivating or tingle effect while reducing the perception of off notes, as compared to the off-notes perceived upon consumption of natural spilanthol (e.g. spilanthol obtained from jambu oleoresin). Methods of increasing salivation and/or providing a tingling sensation upon consuming an orally consumable product that include adding to the product a synthetic spilanthol flavor composition are also provided. Synthetic spilanthol flavor compositions can be added to orally consumed products, such as, but not limited to, foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, or therapeutic compositions, oral personal care products, gums (e.g. chewing gum or bubble gum), candy or lozenges. |
| US09486392B2 |
Infant bottle assembly having a vented nipple
A nipple for use with a bottle assembly includes a base portion that has a bottom surface, a vent region that is coupled to and extends upward from the base portion of the nipple, and a nipple portion that extends upward from the vent region. The nipple portion includes an outlet opening therein, and the vent region includes a vent channel and an air valve substantially aligned with the vent channel. |
| US09486387B2 |
Myofascial roller wrap
The present invention provides in some embodiments, a cover for an exercise roller. The cover can include an elongate tubular structure defining a generally cylindrical elongate lumen extending through the length of the elongate tubular structure. A wall of the cover can have an inner face surrounding the generally cylindrical elongate lumen, which is configured to surround an outer surface of the exercise roller. The outer face of the elongate tubular structure can have a textured surface, and the elongate tubular structure has a density configured for myofascial release. Additionally, the inner face of the wall and the outer face of the wall define a thickness of the cover for an exercise device. |
| US09486382B1 |
Exercise machine
An exercise device having a rigid base includes at least one frame fixed with and extending upwardly therefrom. An outer barrel is rotationally fixed with the upper end of each frame at a tilt mechanism. Both an outer barrel and an inner barrel are open from a top side to a bottom side thereof for accommodating the person therein. At least one inflatable cushion is fixed with an inner side of the inner barrel. An adjustable leg support mechanism projects downwardly from the inner barrel and is adapted to support the person's feet and legs. An electric control console controls motorized tilt and spin mechanisms to tilt the outer barrel with respect to vertical and spin the inner barrel with respect to the outer barrel. Preferably the control console further includes at least a processor, a computer-readable storage medium, a display, an input interface, and a network interface. |
| US09486381B2 |
ALS treatment
A method for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a human subject is provided. A first vibration stimulation member is introduced into a posterior part of a first nasal cavity of the human subject. By means of the first vibration stimulation member, vibrations are imparted to the posterior part of the first nasal cavity at frequency in a range of from 60 to 70 Hz. A second vibration simulation member is arranged between the trapezius muscle and the sternocleidomastoid muscle on a first side of the neck of the human subject; and by means of said second vibration stimulation member, vibrations are imparted to the first side of the neck at a frequency in a range of from 30 to 50 Hz. |
| US09486376B2 |
Electrically-powered platform pool lift
Various embodiments include a system that provides assisted access to a pool. The system includes a platform that includes a frame, a deck, and one or more handrails. The deck is attached to the frame and sized to receive a wheelchair. The one or more handrails are attached to at least one of the frame and the deck. The system includes an upright lifting component case. The frame of the platform is substantially perpendicular to the upright lifting component case. The system includes lifting components that are at least partially disposed in the upright lifting component case and attached to the platform. The lifting components are operable to vertically move the frame between a top and a bottom of the upright lifting component case. The system includes an electrical power source operable to provide electrical power to at least a portion of the lifting components. |
| US09486371B2 |
Absorbent core for use in absorbent articles
An absorbent core for use in an absorbent article, the absorbent core including a first absorbent layer comprising a first substrate, a layer of first superabsorbent polymer particles deposited on the first substrate on a deposition area and a fibrous layer of thermoplastic adhesive material covering the layer of first superabsorbent polymer particles, and a second absorbent layer comprising a second substrate and a mixed layer comprising a mixture of second superabsorbent particles and cellulosic fibers deposited on the second substrate. The first and second absorbent layers are combined together such that at least a portion of the fibrous thermoplastic adhesive material of the first absorbent layer contacts at least a portion of the mixed layer of the second absorbent layer. |
| US09486370B2 |
Men's briefs with separate space for penis comprising absorbent receptacle
Men's briefs with separated space for penis has a flexible belt, panel, front outer insert and front inner insert, forming a separated space for a penis between the front outer insert and front inner insert. The front inner insert is formed from two overlapping sewed parts and having curved hems forming a circular adjustable orifice for inserting the penis into the separated space. The orifice encircles the penis and prevents it from falling out from separated space. The briefs are further provided with removable incontinence receptacle having an orifice, which is placed within front outer insert and front inner insert through an opening. The incontinence receptacle has the same shape and dimensions as the inserts so that the incontinence receptacle orifice aligns with the circular adjustable orifice of the inserts so that the incontinence receptacle receives the penis. |
| US09486369B2 |
Absorbent article having a folded waist
An article may include a chassis including an absorbent core that may extend from the front region to the back region. The article may also include a front panel and a back panel extending laterally outward beyond side edges of the chassis. The front panel and the back panel may abut to form a first seam and a second seam. At least one of the panels may comprise an elastic member. Further, at least a first outer nonwoven layer of the front panel and at least a second outer nonwoven layer of the back panel may be folded to form an upper edge in the front and back regions such that a distal end of each of the first and second outer nonwoven layer may be disposed between the upper edge and the front and back end edges of the absorbent core, respectively. |
| US09486366B2 |
Method of attaching grip tabs to the carrier layer of a film dressing
A method is provided to attach a grip tab along an edge of a carrier layer of a film dressing web, which includes a film layer coated with adhesive on a first side and a carrier layer releasably attached to the film layer on an opposed second side. The method includes choosing a material for the carrier layer that is heat welding incompatible with the film layer, feeding the web in a machine direction, applying a first strip of a material that is heat welding compatible with the carrier layer along part of an edge portion of the web extending parallel to the machine direction, and affixing the first strip to the carrier layer while simultaneously cutting away an outermost part of the web with the first strip applied thereto by passing the web through an ultrasonic welding device. |
| US09486364B2 |
Devices and methods for reshaping cartilage structures
Described are methods of reshaping a cartilage structure. One such method comprises creating a virtual three dimensional image of the cartilage structure; manipulating the virtual three dimensional image of the cartilage structure so as to obtain a virtual three dimensional image of a desired final shape of the cartilage structure; creating a virtual prototype of a device to hold the cartilage structure in the desired final shape of the cartilage structure; manufacturing the device; lasing the cartilage structure; and fitting the manufactured device to the cartilage structure (e.g., ear). |
| US09486361B2 |
Intraocular implants and methods and kits therefor
Devices, methods and kits are described for reducing intraocular pressure. The devices include a support that is implantable within Schlemm's canal and maintains the patency of the canal without substantially interfering with transmural fluid flow across the canal. The devices utilize the natural drainage process of the eye and can be implanted with minimal trauma to the eye. Kits include a support and an introducer for implanting the support within Schlemm's canal. Methods include implanting a support within Schlemm's canal, wherein the support is capable of maintaining the patency of the canal without substantial interference with transmural fluid flow across the canal. |
| US09486357B2 |
Ophthalmic drug delivery system and method
A method to provide a therapeutic agent to an eye of a patient by implanting or inject a device that stably fits a particular location or position in the eye. The method thus provides agent inside the eye for a longer duration of agent release over a space-occupying area inside the eye. |
| US09486342B2 |
Stent system, deployment apparatus and method for bifurcated lesion
A deployment apparatus and method for deploying one or more stents to a bifurcated vessel is provided. The invention is particularly suited for T-type bifurcated vessels where a side branch extends from a main branch. The deployment apparatus has a primary inflatable portion for engagement within the main branch and a secondary inflatable portion for engagement within the side branch. A main stent is arranged on the primary inflatable portion and radially expanded within the main branch while the secondary inflatable portion maintains registration with the side branch. A side branch stent is then arranged on the secondary inflatable portion and expanded within the side branch while the primary inflatable portion maintains registration with the expanded main stent. A bifurcated stent system suitable for bifurcated lesions is also provided comprising a side branch stent with a shaped end designed to engage a similarly shaped side opening in a main stent. |
| US09486341B2 |
Reduced-strain extra-vascular ring for treating aortic aneurysm
Apparatus (10) is provided that includes an extra-vascular ring (12) and an endo vascular stent-graft (14). The ring (12) comprises a structural member (30), which is configured to assume an elongate hollow shape (32), which has first and second longitudinal ends (40, 42), and is suitable for placement at least partially around an aorta (20) so as to provide a generally cylindrical landing zone. The endovascular stent-graft (14) is suitable for endovascular placement inside the aorta (20) such that a portion of the stent-graft (14) is positioned against an internal wall of the aorta (20) at the landing zone provided by the structural member (30). If the structural member (30) is unrolled to a planar shape (82), one side (90) of the planar shape (82) is defined by the first longitudinal end (40), and at least the first longitudinal end (40) has a profile that defines a series of curved portions and has no singularities or discontinuities, which profile extends along at least 50% of the first longitudinal end (40). |
| US09486335B2 |
Prosthetic device, system and method for increasing vacuum attachment
A prosthetic system includes a pump mechanism operatively connectable to a prosthetic foot. The pump mechanism has a housing defining first and second ports, a membrane having an outer edge portion secured to the housing, and a fluid chamber with a volume defined between the housing and a first side of the membrane. The fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the first and second ports. A connector is attached to a second side of the membrane opposite the first side. The connector operatively connects the membrane to the prosthetic foot such that when no weight is placed on the prosthetic foot the volume of the fluid chamber is zero or near-zero and when weight of a user is placed on the prosthetic foot the membrane deforms to expand the volume of the fluid chamber. |
| US09486333B2 |
Prosthetic socket apparatus and systems
A prosthetic sock for a patient to wear over a residual limb is provided. The prosthetic sock includes an inner layer configured to fit over at least a portion of the residual limb of the patient. A foam layer is disposed on an outer surface of the inner layer. The foam layer compensates for changes in shape or volume of the residual limb within the prosthetic sock by changing shape in a manner effective to maintain a secure fit between the residual limb and a prosthetic socket of a prosthetic limb. |
| US09486331B2 |
Prosthetic foot
A prosthetic foot is provided with a forefoot spring, a heel spring and a base spring. The base spring is connected to the heel spring and to the forefoot spring. The base spring has receiving means for the forefoot spring and the heel spring, into which receiving means the heel spring and the forefoot spring can be inserted. The heel spring is connected to the forefoot spring via a coupling element, and the coupling element extends forwards along the forefoot spring at least via one portion thereof. |
| US09486330B2 |
Minimally invasive method and surgical tools for trans-PSOAS approach
Methods, surgical tools and a surgical system for performing spinal fixation using a lateral trans-psoas approach through a vertebral body into the disc space between that vertebral body and an adjacent vertebral body are provided. The approach, tools and system are adapted for use in fixing the L-5 and S-1 vertebral bodies. It should be understood that the methods and tools described can also be used for disc fusion where insertion proceeds from an inferior vertebral body to a superior vertebral body, and also cases where the fusion occurs across multiple disc spaces fusing more than two vertebrae. |
| US09486326B2 |
Intervertebral implant
An intervertebral spacer for therapeutic treatment of a patient includes a link sized and dimensioned to fit within an intervertebral space in the patient, and is configured to maintain a separation of two adjacent vertebrae for a period of time. A rigid guiding object, which may be a tool or a successive link, is insertable into the patient, to guide the link into the patient using an MIS approach. A pivot is connected within the links configured to limit a relative range of angular orientation between the link and the guiding tool. |
| US09486324B2 |
Apparatus and method for stabilizing adjacent bone portions
A method and apparatus for stabilizing first and second adjacent bone portions. The method includes the steps of: providing a spacer; providing a stabilizer, with the spacer and stabilizer configured to be movable guidingly, one relative to the other, between a pre-assembly relationship and an operative relationship; and placing the spacer and stabilizer into an operative relationship with the first and second adjacent bone portions. As an incident of the spacer and stabilizer being changed from their pre-assembly relationship into the operative relationship with each other and the first and second bone portions, the spacer, stabilizer and first bone portion cooperate to cause the first bone portion and spacer to be urged towards each other. The method may be carried out by moving the stabilizer and spacer, and all auxiliary parts and handling and assembling instruments, substantially in a single plane along one line or parallel lines. |
| US09486322B2 |
Carpometacarpal prosthesis system and method of using same
A carpometacarpal prosthesis system generally includes a trapezial implant for replacing an excized trapezium within a human hand and a component stem implant for replacing a partially excized first metacarpal. The component stem implant is adapted to be press fit within the medullary cavity of the partially excized first metacarpal bone of the human hand; the component stem when so implanted is adapted to effect universal movement of the first metacarpal bone relative to the trapezial implant thereby providing a restructured thumb metacarpal joint that restores substantially normal thumb function in terms of strength and flexibility. |
| US09486319B2 |
Load transferring systems
Load transferring systems and related methods for transferring load in a joint are provided. The load transferring system may include two bases configured to couple to bones defining a joint and a spring configured to couple to the bases. The spring may be configured to exert a tensile force between the bases during flexion of the joint. The load transferring system may be employed to treat symptoms associated with osteoarthritis of the lateral compartment of the knee joint. Thus, the bases may respectively couple to the femur and tibia. The spring may exert tensile force therebetween during flexion of the knee joint so as to unload the lateral compartment of the knee joint by transferring load from the lateral compartment of the knee joint to the medial compartment of the knee joint. |
| US09486315B2 |
Valve repair instrument
A valve repair instrument and method of repair for the mitral valve of the heart is disclosed. The valve repair instrument includes an elongated body having two ends. One of the ends being configured to maintain a muscle portion of a valve repair device in an expanded position for attachment to the papillary muscle, the other end being configured to maintain a leaflet portion of a valve repair device in an expanded position for attachment to a valve leaflet. The valve repair device is attached to the diseased valve by suturing the leaflet portion to the affected leaflet and suturing the muscle portion to the affected muscle. |
| US09486311B2 |
Hydrophilic AIOL with bonding
An accommodating intraocular lens comprises a first lens component, a second lens component, and an adhesive between portions of the two lens components. The cured adhesive bonds the lens components to form a fluid chamber. The lens components are bonded to one another along a seam which extends circumferentially along at least a portion of the lens components. The lens components may comprise the same polymer material. The cured adhesive also comprises the polymer or a prepolymer of the polymer to provide increased strength. The polymer is hydratable such that the lens components and the cured adhesive therebetween can swell together to inhibit stresses between the lens components and the cured adhesive. |
| US09486310B2 |
Scleral prosthesis for treating presbyopia and other eye disorders and related devices and methods
A system includes a scleral prosthesis and an insert. The scleral prosthesis includes an elongated body having a first free end and a second free end opposite the first end. A maximum width of the body at each end is wider than a maximum width of the body between the ends. The body includes multiple first portions that form the first end of the body and a part of the body between the ends. The first portions are separated lengthwise along a substantial portion of a total length of the body. The first portions are biased so that they maintain separation from one another without external interference but are configured to be pushed towards each other. The insert is configured to be placed between the first portions to maintain a separation of the first portions. The body and/or the insert could be formed using one or more magnetic materials. |
| US09486309B2 |
Lighter weight implant
A breast implant is provided which includes a filling, or core having a lower overall density relative to silicone gel-filled or saline-filled implant. The core may be a composite including flexible, bodies, for example, air-containing, or gas-containing, bodies, and a gel medium between or around the bodies. |
| US09486308B2 |
Method of making a reinforced prosthetic implant with flexible shell
A fluid-filled soft prosthetic implant having a shell with a reinforced shell wall. The soft prosthetic implant may be for breast reconstruction or augmentation, or to restore the normal appearance of soft tissue in the buttocks, chin, calf, etc. The implants may be reinforced using several methods: reinforcement of the shell wall, non-homogeneous gel-filling, or both. At least a portion of the perimeter region desirably has a shell wall thickness greater than the average shell wall thickness of either the anterior face or the posterior face. The added material at the perimeter region strengthens that area in which a large percentage of implant ruptures occur. The reinforced perimeter also helps prevent the implant from collapsing or folding, which can cause undesirable rippling or wrinkling visible through the patient's skin. The remainder of the shell will desirably have a nominal wall thickness to retain the overall softness and supple feel of the implant. The implant shell may be filled with gels of different gel cohesiveness to counterbalance any reinforced area or to provide added reinforcement. |
| US09486297B2 |
Light for oral anesthesia injection syringe
A light for use with an oral anesthesia syringe that is received into a passageway of a barrel of the light. When the syringe is received into a first opening in a proximal end of the barrel's passageway, the needle of the syringe extends through a second opening at the proximal end of the barrel. A plurality of lamps at the distal end of the barrel illuminate the needle, the interior of a patient's mouth, and an injection site of the needle. A battery is included in the light for powering the lamps. Power is selectively applied to the lamps. A circuit may disable illumination after about ten minutes of use. |
| US09486296B2 |
Surgical assembly with flexible arm
A surgical assembly includes a tensioner having a first end and a second end. A tension member extends from the first end of the tensioner. A mounting member is connected to the second end of the tensioner. An arm extends from the first end of the tensioner and includes a series of relatively moveable links that define an axial bore configured for disposal of the tension member. Each link defines a first mating surface and a second mating surface disposed in a configuration such that tensioning of the tension member interlocks the first mating surface with the second mating surface of an adjacent link in the series to selectively fix the links in a selected orientation. |
| US09486290B2 |
Methods and systems for modifying a parameter of an automated procedure
A variety of systems and methods are described which enable quantitative information to be extracted regarding automated procedures, including those performed at a high speed that may require a user input, without having to interrupt the procedure. In addition, these systems and methods serve to provide information on one or more parameters of the automated procedure, whereby they may be modified, if required, to improve the automated procedure or the results from such a procedure. The systems and methods provided are especially useful in automated hair transplantation procedures. |
| US09486289B2 |
Apparatus for supporting and following movement of a part of person's body
An apparatus includes a brace being mounted on a person's body part and having a hard fitting surface. The apparatus also includes a load device, a support, a securing member, a brake, a switch device, and a soft film. The load device has a hard receiving surface receiving the fitting surface of the brace. The support movably supports the load device. The securing member secures the fitting surface to the receiving surface and enables the load device to move and follow movement of the person's body part and the brace against resistance applied from the support. The brake limits movement of the load device. The switch device switches operation modes of the apparatus, at least, between a free mode and a limiting mode. The soft film is arranged between the receiving and fitting surfaces for smooth movement of the person's body part on the load device in the limiting mode. |
| US09486288B2 |
Cable tensioning in a robotic surgical system
An apparatus, system, and method for setting, maintaining, and adjusting a cable tension in a telerobotic surgical system are provided. A cable tensioning apparatus includes, in one example, an arm, a pulley rotatably coupled to the arm, and a base operably coupled to the arm, the base including a translation mechanism for changing the position of the pulley to control a tension of a cable movable along the pulley. A termination block includes, in one example, a block including two cable pathways with each cable pathway having a retaining means for a ball fitting, and a support for moving a cable along the two cable pathways, the cable including a ball fitting in each of the cable pathways. |
| US09486287B2 |
Disposable protective covers and associated dispensing system for use on stethoscopes and other items
A protective cover used to cover the head of a stethoscope and other items that contact the human body. The protective cover is made from a substrate film. The substrate film has opposing curved edges and opposing flat edges. Tab material is applied to the substrate film proximate the opposing curved edges. A coating of tacky adhesive is applied to the bottom surface of the substrate film between the tab material and between the opposing flat edges. The protective covers can be interconnected as a continuous chain, whereby separate protective covers are torn away along perforations. The chain can be wound onto a roll. The roll is held in a box for storage and dispensing. A slot is formed in the box through which individual protective covers can be removed from the roll. |
| US09486283B2 |
Fluid-assisted electrosurgical device
The disclosure provides a fluid-assisted electrosurgical device. The device comprises a first electrode, a second electrode and at least one fluid outlet. In one embodiment, the first electrode has a distal portion with an electrically conductive spherical surface, the second electrode has a distal portion with an electrically conductive spherical surface, and at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode have a blade portion. |
| US09486280B2 |
Steerable ablation device with linear ionically conductive balloon
Devices, systems, and methods for performing ablation therapy on body tissue are disclosed. An example ablation device for treating body tissue includes an ionically conductive balloon and a radio-frequency electrode that delivers RF energy into a distal section of the balloon. The balloon can have a composite structure with a non-conductive section and a conductive section. The ablation device can have a steering mechanism configured to deflect the balloon. |
| US09486278B2 |
Methods and devices to treat nasal airways
Methods and devices for treating nasal airways are provided. Such devices and methods may improve airflow through an internal and/or external nasal valve, and comprise the use of mechanical re-shaping, energy application and other treatments to modify the shape, structure, and/or air flow characteristics of an internal nasal valve, an external nasal valve or other nasal airways. |
| US09486276B2 |
Devices and methods for fistula formation
Described here are devices and methods for forming a fistula between two vessels. In some instances, the fistula may be formed between a proximal ulnar artery and a deep ulnar vein. The fistula may be formed using an electrode, and may be formed with a first catheter placed in a first blood vessel and a second catheter placed in a second blood vessel. In some instances, access to the proximal ulnar artery may be achieved through a brachial artery, and access to the deep ulnar vein may be achieved through a brachial vein. |
| US09486274B2 |
Dissection handpiece and method for reducing the appearance of cellulite
A dermatological skin treatment device is provided. The device comprises a handpiece and a cutting tool, wherein the tool is inserted through the conduit and percutaneously inserted into a tissue disposed within a recessed area of the handpiece. The device and method cut the fibrous structures under the skin that cause cellulite at an angle substantially parallel to the surface of the skin and replace these structures with a non-cellulite forming structure by deploying a highly fibrous mesh through a single needle hole to create a highly fibrous layer directly or through wound healing processes. |
| US09486272B2 |
Force feedback device and method for catheters
An ablation apparatus includes a flexible probe adapted for insertion into a heart of a living subject. The probe has a distally disposed ablation electrode to be brought into contact with a target tissue in the heart, and has facilities for measuring contact force with the target tissue. The apparatus includes a transmitter, operative to transmit an indication of the contact force to a wearable device having an actuator operative to haptically stimulate the operator responsively to the indication. |
| US09486269B2 |
Electrosurgical systems and cartridges for use therewith
A cartridge for use with an electrosurgical system includes a housing, a conduit, and a conductor. The housing includes a path defined therein. The conduit is disposed at least partially within the housing such that the path is configured to position at least a portion of the conduit within the housing. A chamber of the path is configured to dampen shock forces on the conduit. The conductor is adapted to transmit energy is disposed within the housing. At least a portion of the conductor is disposed at least partially within the housing. |
| US09486267B2 |
Cryogenic treatment systems
Methods and apparatus for the treatment of a body cavity or lumen are described where a heated fluid and/or gas may be introduced through a catheter and into treatment area within the body contained between one or more inflatable/expandable members. The catheter may also have optional pressure and temperature sensing elements which may allow for control of the pressure and temperature within the treatment zone and also prevent the pressure from exceeding a pressure of the inflatable/expandable members to thereby contain the treatment area between these inflatable/expandable members. Optionally, a chilled, room temperature, or warmed fluid such as water may then be used to rapidly terminate the treatment session. |
| US09486266B2 |
Selective lung tissue ablation
Medical methods and systems are provided for effecting lung volume reduction by selectively ablating segments of lung tissue. |
| US09486265B2 |
Orthopedic bonding agent application tool
The present disclosure relates to a tool for injecting a bonding agent into the prepared end of a bone for bonding a joint replacement device to the bone. The tool incorporates vented cells for containing the bonding agent. Force is applied to the back of the tool, while placing the front of the tool filled with bonding agent against the prepared bone area. The force causes the cells to cut into the end of the prepared bone. The force also causes the bonding agent to be forced deep into the cuts and pores of the bone. |
| US09486264B2 |
Systems and methods for the fixation or fusion of bone using compressive implants
First and second bone segments separated by a fracture line or joint can be fixated or fused by creating an insertion path through the first bone segment, through the fracture line or joint, and into the second bone segment. An anchor body is introduced through the insertion path. The distal end of the anchor body is anchored in the interior region of the second bone segment. An elongated implant structure is passed over the anchor body to span the fracture line or joint between the bone segments. The proximal end of the anchor body is anchored to an exterior region of the first bone segment to place, in concert with the anchored distal end, the anchor body in compression, to thereby compress and fixate the bone segments relative to the fracture line or joint. |
| US09486261B2 |
Nail-plate combination
A device for treating a bone includes a plate having a connector opening and a first fastener receiving lumen extending therethrough, the first fastener receiving lumen being sized and shaped to receive therethrough a bone fastener and a nail sized and shaped for insertion in a medullary canal of a target bone, the nail including an elongate shaft and an opening extending through the shaft in combination with a connector sized and shaped so that, when the plate is positioned over a target portion of bone in a desired alignment with the nail, the connector may be passed into the target portion of bone via the connector opening and into the opening of the nail, the shape of the connector engaging the opening to form an angularly stable connection between the plate and the nail. |
| US09486259B2 |
Bone fixation device
A bone fixation device for repairing a fracture of the proximal femur is disclosed. It includes a jack tube, a compression screw and a nail. The jack tube is an elongated tubular member having a base plate and a side wall defining central passageway. The base plate is arranged to be secured to the femur by screws. The side wall of jack tube includes plural longitudinally extending slots. The nail is a tubular member having plural linear blades located in respective slots in the jack tube and plural spikes extending out of the distal end of the nail. The compression screw is arranged to be disposed within the nail to form a slidable unit and has internal threads to engage threads in the jack tube so that rotation of the compression screw slides the nail down the jack tube, with the blades and spikes digging into the surrounding bone. |
| US09486253B2 |
Laminoplasty fixation devices
Devices and methods for treating degenerative conditions of the spine or for alleviating pain or discomfort associated with the spinal column are disclosed. In particular, laminoplasty fixation devices and methods are disclosed. Also disclosed, is a vertebral implant comprising a first bone engaging portion configured for securing to a first cut portion of a vertebra and a second bone engaging portion configured for securing to a second cut portion of the vertebra. A body portion is provided for associating the first and second bone engaging portions at a preselected spacing from each other, wherein the implant is adjustable to select said spacing. |
| US09486252B2 |
Spinal correction system and method
A spinal construct comprises a longitudinal element including at least one part configured for connecting to tissue of a rib cage. A member is connected with the longitudinal element and configured for connection with a spinal implant fixed with vertebrae. Systems and methods are disclosed. |
| US09486247B2 |
Rod attachment for head to head cross connector
Exemplary spinal fixation devices, systems, and method are provided for stabilizing vertebrae in a patient's spine. In one exemplary embodiment, methods and devices are provided for coupling one or more bone anchors, such as hooks, screws, etc., and/or one or more spinal fixation elements, such as spinal rods, cables, plates, etc. In certain exemplary embodiments, a cross connector is provided for connecting and stabilizing two bone anchors, a bone anchor and a spinal fixation element, or a bone anchor and bone. |
| US09486243B2 |
Systems and methods for treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorders
An endoscopic procedure for the parasympathetic and sympathetic denervation of the nerves of the ovaries and uterus for management of endocrine dysphoric disorders. The tissues of selected inferior mesenteric and pelvic nerves are heated via introduction of radiofrequency energy at sufficient power and time to induce complete or partial nerve blockade while leaving the supporting tissue structurally intact. In some embodiments, the suspensory ligament of the ovary, the ovarian ligament, and/or the uterosacral ligament are heated to a range of 45° C. to 65° C. for a period of about 5 seconds to about 60 seconds. |
| US09486233B2 |
Tissue resecting systems and methods
A tissue resecting system includes an assembly having first and second tubular members. An electrical motor drive and controller moves the second member to resect tissue received in a window of the first member. A tachometer sends motor drive rotational signals to the controller, and the controller modulates a motor voltage in response to the signals from the tachometer both to drive the second member at a predetermined speed and to calculate resistance to driving the second member at the predetermined speed. |
| US09486231B2 |
Tool with a clasp useful for implanting a penile prosthetic cylinder
A tool for implanting an inflatable penile prosthetic cylinder includes a barrel and a clasp. The barrel extends from a proximal end to a distal end and has a solid central portion bounded by a curved exterior perimeter of the barrel. The clasp has a proximal end that is attached to the tool and a distal end that is free to move away from and towards the barrel. The clasp has an interior surface located adjacent to the curved exterior perimeter of the barrel and an exposed exterior surface opposite of the interior surface. The interior surface of the clasp is spaced a distance away from the barrel at locations between the proximal end and the distal end of the clasp. The interior surface of the clasp touches the barrel at the distal end of the clasp. |
| US09486228B2 |
Osteotomy below the tibial tuberosity by multiple drilling
Surgical devices, kits and methods of using thereof are described. Generally, the surgical kit includes an osteotomy guide device and/or a bone spacer guide device. The surgical kit can be used in a surgical method for correcting a malalignment of the knee joint that involves performing a fibular osteotomy and/or a tibial osteotomy, and/or administering stem cells. Generally, the osteotomy guide device is configured to allow drilling to occur around the tibia and across a horizontal cross-sectional plane of the tibia so that a direction of each of the drill holes that are formed in the tibia is substantially parallel to or on the same horizontal cross-sectional plane of the tibia. The osteotomy guide device allows drilling to be conducted efficiently and accurately. |
| US09486227B2 |
Robotic retractor system
The robotic mechanism may be used to position a tissue retractor assembly relative to body tissue. Once the tissue retractor assembly has been positioned relative to the body tissue by the robotic mechanism, the robotic mechanism effects operation of the tissue retractor assembly from a contracted condition to an expanded condition to move body tissue. This movement of body tissue may advantageously create a space for the performance of a surgical procedure by the robotic mechanism. Embodiments may facilitate the insertion of one or more surgical instruments through a cannula to a working space created by expansion of a balloon or bladder from the contracted condition to the expanded condition. As the bladder or balloon expands, portions of body tissue are deflected under the influence of force applied to the body tissue by the bladder or balloon. |
| US09486226B2 |
Tibial guides, tools, and techniques for resecting the tibial plateau
Various patient-specific tibial guide housings, patient-specific tibial guide boxes, and methods of resecting the tibial plateau are disclosed herein. |
| US09486220B2 |
Surgical tissue occluding device
A surgical instrument includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. In the approximated position, the jaw members cooperate to define a cavity that is configured to house tissue grasped between the jaw members. An injectable material configured for injection into the cavity defined by the jaw members is also provided. The injectable material is configured to substantially surround tissue housed within the cavity. The injectable material is transitionable from a first state, facilitating injection of the injectable material into the cavity, to a second state, wherein the injectable material forms about tissue housed within the cavity to occlude tissue. |
| US09486217B2 |
Magnetic wound closure device and method of use
A wound closure device using magnets to draw skin together without using stitches. When two skin adhering magnets are placed on opposite sides of a wound in a polar opposite configuration, the magnets attract each other, thus drawing the skin underneath the magnets together. Each device has a magnet, an insulation layer that separates the magnet from an absorbent layer that absorbs wound secretions, a polymer layer having a plurality of holes that allow drainage of potential build-up secretions away from the absorbent layer, and an adhesive layer on the bottom that allows the device to adhere to the patient's skin. The device may be enclosed within a polymer casing that use flexible magnets, or a plurality of segmented magnets to help align the device along a non-linear (curved) wound. |
| US09486216B2 |
Fastener apparatus for tissue and methods of deployment and manufacture
A device for connecting two tubular vessels together in a side-by-side or tangential manner is disclosed. The device has an annulus and at least one series of fingers connected to and extending away from the annulus. In the preferred embodiment there are two sets of fingers connected to and extending away from the annulus in opposite directions. Each finger is preferably biased into an arcuate shape. In use, a deployment apparatus is used to constrain the fingers of the device to be in a relatively planar configuration. The deployment apparatus containing the device is placed between and in contact with the two tubular vessels so that one tubular vessel is above the device and one tubular vessel is below the device and so that the fingers of the device come into contact with the tissue of the vessels. As the fingers penetrate the vessels the constraint on the fingers is removed so that the fingers can assume their biased arcuate shape. In this way, the fingers penetrate and grasp the tissue of the vessels so that the device grasps the vessels and pulls the vessels toward each other. |
| US09486213B2 |
Drive mechanism for articulating tacker
A tacker for applying a rotary tack, including a drive shaft coupled to a trigger assembly, wherein operating the trigger assembly causes rotation of the drive shaft, a distal portion of the drive shaft passing into an articulated arm that holds rotary tacks, wherein upon operation of the trigger assembly, the drive shaft rotates to cause deployment of the tacks distally out of the articulated arm, and wherein the drive shaft includes a cable on which are located a plurality of axially spaced drive links that transfer rotational motion of the drive shaft to rotation of the tacks. |
| US09486210B2 |
Suturing instrument and method for uterine preservation
A suturing instrument includes an elongate body member, a needle deployment mechanism, and a depth adaptor. The elongate body member includes a distal portion that defines an opening. The needle deployment mechanism is at least partially disposed within the elongate body member and moves the needle out of the suturing instrument and into tissue. The depth adaptor is disposed in the opening at the distal portion of the elongate body member and controls the depth that the needle penetrates into the tissue. |
| US09486209B2 |
Transmission for driving circular needle
A surgical suturing device comprises an arced needle track, an arced needle positioned in the needle track, and a length of suture connected to the needle. A reciprocating needle driver is operative to engage and move the needle in the needle track. A rotary input rotates about an axis. A link has a proximal end connected to the rotary input and a distal end connected to the needle driver. Rotation of the rotary input in a first angular direction translates the needle driver in a second angular direction opposite of the first angular direction. |
| US09486204B1 |
Suture assembly for cranial cruciate ligament surgery
A method of repairing a stifle, including a first stifle bone and a second stifle bone in engaged opposition to the first stifle bone. The method begins with screwing a first bone screw into the first stifle bone and screwing a second bone screw, having an aperture in its shank, into the second stifle bone. Next, a tension member is used to pull a suture loop, to engage a portion of the suture loop about the shank of the first bone screw. Then, the tension member is used to pull the suture loop through the aperture of the second bone screw and then into engagement about the shank of the second bone screw. |
| US09486201B2 |
Directionally specific bone anchors and method
A suture anchor and method is disclosed in which a pair of anchor elements connected by a flexible cord are passed through a piece of soft tissue and embedded deeply into a bone. The cord holds the soft tissue securely to the bone and the anchors are embedded into more dense bone away from the location where the soft tissue contacts the bone. |
| US09486200B2 |
Abdominal retractor
Devices and methods for retracting tissue, such as bowels and organs, within the body of a patient are generally disclosed. In particular, the present disclosure describes surgical retractors having a series of intersecting strands defining openings there between, wherein the openings are enlargeable by slidable passage of the strands relative to one another. The present disclosure also teaches surgical retractors having a frame that defines a central opening and a supporting structure extending across the central opening and defining a plurality of openings, wherein the frame extends through the openings. In some embodiments, a surgical retractor comprises a monolithic polymeric structure extending across the central opening defined by a frame. Other embodiments and methods are disclosed. |
| US09486194B2 |
Vascular closure device with improved side loading
A tissue puncture closure device includes a vessel locator and a sealing plug delivery member. The vessel locator includes an expandable member. The sealing plug delivery member includes a carrier tube, a sealing plug, and a locking member. The carrier tube includes a distal end and a side opening, the side opening extending proximally from the distal end along at least a portion of a length of the carrier tube to provide lateral insertion of the vessel locator into an interior of the carrier tube. The sealing plug includes a lumen and a slot extending from a distal end to a proximal end of the sealing plug, wherein the slot provides lateral access of the vessel locator into the lumen. The locking member is operable to retain the vessel locator within the sealing plug delivery member. |
| US09486188B2 |
Retrieval device
An endoscopic surgical device for retrieving severed tissue or foreign bodies from within a subject is disclosed. The device comprises a support unit and a tissue retrieving net system. The net system is carried by the support unit and may be inserted into the subject through an orifice or small incision and operated to retrieve tissue that has been severed by a conventional method. The net system comprises a net, a net actuator, a net deployment and retrieval assembly for transmitting motion between the net and its actuator. The net system further comprises at least one net connector disposed such that only one connector is within an articulation zone, defined by locations of severe bending of the device during operation. |
| US09486185B2 |
Tetherless biopsy device
A biopsy device comprises a body, a needle, and a cutter operable to sever tissue protruding through a lateral aperture of the needle. A vacuum pump is in fluid communication with the cutter. A fluid pump is in fluid communication with the needle. A fluid pump actuation assembly is operable to actuate the fluid pump to deliver a bolus of fluid to the needle based on movement of the cutter. A valve assembly responsive to cutter movement is operable to selectively couple the needle with the fluid pump, couple the needle with atmospheric air, or seal the needle relative to the fluid pump and atmospheric air. The fluid from the fluid pump and atmospheric air cooperate with the vacuum to urge severed tissue samples proximally through the cutter. Components operable to actuate the cutter and the fluid pump include coaxial lead screws having different pitch diameters. |
| US09486184B2 |
Biopsy sample storage
A biopsy device may be used to obtain and store multiple tissue samples. The device permits the tissue samples to be stored in a sequenced fashion within a generally transparent tissue storage chamber disposed at a proximal end of the biopsy device. The tissue samples can be stored on flexible tissue sample strips arranged around the circumference of a rotating vacuum manifold disposed within the chamber. |
| US09486181B2 |
Ultrasonic cellular tissue screening system
A system for screening breast tissue is disclosed. The system comprises an ultrasound probe and a carrier adapted to support the ultrasound probe and to progressively move the probe over the breast tissue. A pad is employed to cover the nipple of the breast tissue, and a fabric covering is adapted to hold the breast tissue and the pad in place as the probe is moved over the breast tissue. |
| US09486179B2 |
Multilayered phantom tissue test structure and fabrication process
A multilayered optical tissue phantom fabrication approach and inherently produced test target structure which address the issues of of optical conformity known in the art by controlling the formation of micrometer scale monolayers embedded with light-scattering microspheres. |
| US09486178B2 |
Radiation tomographic image generating apparatus, and radiation tomographic image generating method
This invention identifies a metal area of actual measurement projection data from the actual measurement projection data and an actual measurement reconstruction image obtained by image reconstruction of the actual measurement projection data, to acquire metal area identification data. In the actual measurement projection data, a resulting image has pixel values in the metal area such as of wire or screws, for example, not so different from pixel values of other areas, which makes it difficult to identify the metal area accurately. However, the metal area can be identified with increased accuracy. Based on the metal area identification data, data replacement of the metal area of the actual measurement projection data p1 is carried out with data obtained from pixels adjacent the metal area, thereby to acquire replacement projection data, which is put to image reconstruction to generate a replacement reconstruction image without the metal area. Since the metal area is identified with increased accuracy, the tissue adjacent the metal area of the tomographic image (replacement reconstruction image) can be restored with increased accuracy. |
| US09486176B2 |
Systems and methods for diagnosing strokes
The invention relates to systems and methods for diagnosing strokes. In particular, systems and methods for acquiring timely patient status information are described that enable a physician to make diagnostic and treatment decisions relating to ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. The systems and methods enable the efficient and quantitative assessment of arterial collaterals within the brain for aiding these decisions in the case of ischemic strokes. In the case of hemorrhagic strokes, the systems and methods are effective in determining if there is a leak and what is the rate of leaking. The systems and methods of the invention can be used to improve the accuracy and confidence of ASPECTS. |
| US09486169B1 |
Ketone measurement system and related method with accuracy and reporting enhancement features
A portable ketone measurement device measures ketone levels in breath samples or other bodily fluid samples of a user, and communicates the ketone measurements to an application that runs on a smartphone or other mobile device of the user. The application may communicate with, and report the measurements to, a remote server. One or more components of the system (e.g., the portable ketone measurement device, the mobile application, and/or the server) may, where appropriate, adjust the ketone measurements to compensate for ketone variations resulting from, e.g., the age of the user, a medical condition of the user, a missed medication event, or an interrupted sleep event. The application may, in some scenarios, withhold the display of a ketone measurement from the user until an authorization has been received from the server. |
| US09486166B2 |
Puncturing needle cartridge and puncturing instrument
A puncture needle cartridge (2) comprises: a columnar lancet body (6) having a puncture needle on the front end side and a puncture instrument mount (5) on the rear end side; a protective cap (13) covering the puncture needle and having a shape extending toward the front end; a skin contact part (10) placed in front of the tip of the puncture needle, having a planar shape perpendicular to the puncture needle, and formed with a through hole to put the protective cap (13) through; an elongate plate-like extension (9) extending from the skin contact part (10) toward the rear end; and an elastic object (8) for coupling the extension (9) to the lancet body (6) and making the tip of the puncture needle be biased to be located in the rear end side behind the skin contact part (10). |
| US09486165B2 |
Portable lancing device using laser and equipped with double safety device and disposable cap used therewith
A portable laser blood sampling device equipped with a dual safety device and a disposable cap used therewith are provided. Specifically, a portable laser blood sampling device equipped with a dual safety device which enables safe laser irradiation when a laser is irradiated to the outside by a laser module and a disposable cap used therewith are provided. |
| US09486163B2 |
Silicon-vacancy-doped nanodiamonds for molecular and cellular imaging
An imaging agent for detecting analytes in a biological environment includes functionalized, silicon vacancy center-containing nanodiamonds. Individual nanodiamonds of the imaging agent include at least one silicon vacancy center. The at least one silicon vacancy center can emit light having a wavelength in a narrow band in response to illumination having any wavelength in a wide range of wavelengths. The nanodiamonds are functionalized to selectively interact with an analyte of interest. The nanodiamonds can additionally include other color centers, and the imaging agent can include a plurality of sets of nanodiamonds having detectably unique ratios of silicon vacancy centers to other color centers. The silicon vacancy centers in the nanodiamonds can have a preferred orientation enabling orientation tracking of individual nanodiamonds or other applications. A method for detecting properties of the analyte of interest by interacting with the imaging agent is also provided. |
| US09486162B2 |
Spatial needle guidance system and associated methods
Methods and apparatus for positioning a elongate hollow member at a desired location in a body in a medical procedure are provided. A position marker is removably disposed within a sheath. The sheath may be disposable. The sheath and enclosed position marker may be inserted into a lumen of a member to be positioned. The position in space of the position marker may be monitored by a position sensor to provide real-time information regarding a position of the member. The spatial relationship between the position marker and member may be fixed by securing the mounting member to the sheath and securing the sheath to the member. |
| US09486161B2 |
Information processing system and method
An information processing system includes a sensor node and a server. The sensor node obtains acceleration data and transmits the data to the server. The server obtains and records the number of zero crossings from the acceleration data. The server obtains and records the frequency distribution of the number of zero crossings. The server obtains one or more of the following: the slope of the approximate line of the distribution; the linearity of the distribution; the inflection point; the slope of the approximate line in the zero crossing range below the inflection point; the slope of the approximate line in the zero crossing range above the inflection point; the linearity of the distribution in the zero crossing range below the inflection point; and the linearity of the distribution in the zero crossing range above the inflection point. Then, the server records the obtained value. |
| US09486159B2 |
Device and method for superimposing patterns on images in real time, particularly for guidance by location
The invention relates to a device for superimposing known patterns, characteristic of a region, on (real) images of said region. The device comprises , a memory in which patterns are stored, which are representative of a selected region, of known position and orientation with relation to a common reference and processing means, for determining a pattern representative of the selected portion in the memory, on receipt of the designation of at least one portion of an observed image of the selected region, taken at a selected angle and at least one representative attribute of said region, taking account of the attribute selected, then superimposing the determined pattern on the selected portion of the image taking account of the selected angle. |
| US09486151B2 |
Metrics of electrical dyssynchrony and electrical activation patterns from surface ECG electrodes
A method and system of cardiac pacing is disclosed. A baseline rhythm is determined using a plurality of body-surface electrodes. A set of baseline functional electrical metrics is determined in response to determining the baseline rhythm. Resynchronization pacing is delivered using a right ventricular electrode and a pacing left ventricular electrode or only with a left ventricular electrode. A set of functional electrical metrics relating to cardiac depolarization and repolarization is determined in response to resynchronization pacing. A determination is made as to whether relative reduction of at least one functional electrical metric from the set of functional electrical metrics exceeds X % of its corresponding value from the set of baseline functional electrical metrics. A determination is made as to whether an absolute value of at least one electrical metric from the set of the functional electrical metrics is less than Y ms. A determination is made as to whether a site is responsive to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). |
| US09486145B2 |
Multifunction feeding tube
A medical device comprises: a feeding tube (70) including a feeding lumen (80) with an opening (152) at a distal end of the feeding tube and an electrical lumen (84) having access openings (120) spaced apart along the feeding tube; a set of insulated electrical conductors (82) disposed in the electrical lumen, the set of insulated electrical conductors having electrically exposed portions (132, 132a, 132b) proximate to the access openings; and electrodes (72, 73, 74, 75, 78, 79, 140) comprising electrically conductive material portions (140) disposed in the access openings and electrically contacting the proximate electrically exposed portions of the set of insulated electrical conductors disposed in the electrical lumen. The electrodes include at least one upper or proximal electrode (74, 75, 78, 79) disposed above an expected patient heart electrical centerline (CL) and at least one lower or distal electrode (72, 73) disposed below the expected patient heart electrical centerline. |
| US09486143B2 |
Intravascular forward imaging device
The present invention generally relates to forward imaging devices for imaging the inside of a vessel and associated methods. The invention can involve an elongated body configured to fit within the vessel of a lumen and at least one imaging sensor located on the elongated body configured to image an object in a forward direction. |
| US09486139B2 |
Garment for monitoring physiological functions and method of use thereof
A plurality of sensors are embedded in a form fitting garment similar to exercise togs such that the sensors are held in contact with or close proximity to the body. The sensors are connected via a plurality wires to an electronics module which is unintrusive being literally in its ultimate configuration the size of a credit card. A range of thickness, from 6 mm (6 credit cards) down to 1 mm or less, is possible for the module inclusive of a rechargeable lithium polymer battery. The electronics module can be easily removed for garment maintenance (laundering). |
| US09486136B2 |
Apparatus for use in the measurement of macular pigment optical density and/or lens optical density of an eye
An apparatus for use in the measurement of the optical density of macular pigment in the human eye, and an apparatus for the use in measuring the lens optical density of a human eye. The apparatus is particularly applicable to flicker photometers, which are used to measure the macular pigment in the human eye. |
| US09486132B2 |
Access device for accessing tissue
A clip is provided for managing access through tissue. The clip is placed around an opening in tissue, although the opening may alternatively be formed after the clip is deployed. The clip can expand when medical devices are introduced through the clip and through the opening. When the medical devices are removed, the clip closed automatically to substantially close the opening. |
| US09486130B2 |
Trocar system
A trocar system, comprising a trocar having an optical channel extending coaxially in the trocar for receiving an optical unit, and a hollow transparent distal tip of the trocar, which can be observed from the interior. The distal working end of an instrument having two working parts movable relative to one another is formed on the distal tip, wherein a first working part is an integral component of the tip and the second working part is mounted movably on the tip, wherein an actuating channel is constructed in the wall of the trocar surrounding the optical channel, which channel extends axially parallel from the proximal end of the trocar into the distal tip thereof, and wherein an actuating element is received in the actuating channel such as to be axially displaceable. |
| US09486129B2 |
Method and apparatus for cleaning an endoscope
An apparatus for cleaning an endoscope that may include a handle, a rod insertable into a channel of an endoscope, the rod including a first end and a second end, the first end of the rod being attachable to the handle, a wiping tip insertable into the endoscope channel and attachable to the second end of the rod, and a wiping surface attachable to the wiping tip. |
| US09486123B2 |
Endoscope system which enlarges an area of a captured image, and method for operating endoscope system
An endoscope system includes an image acquisition section, an attention area setting section, and a scaling section. The image acquisition section acquires a captured image that includes an object image. The attention area setting section sets an attention area within the captured image based on information from the endoscope system. The scaling section performs a local scaling process that relatively enlarges the attention area as compared with another area. |
| US09486117B2 |
Refill article for wipes dispenser and assembly of both
An apparatus for refilling a cylindrical wipes dispenser. The apparatus includes a plurality of rectangular wipes configured in a flat stack and having packaging that contains an opening mechanism. The opening mechanism is operable for opening the apparatus to allow common removal of the plurality of rectangular wipes. The plurality of rectangular wipes are interleaved and folded to form an indentation along a longitudinal axis of the plurality of rectangular wipes. The plurality of rectangular wipes is operable to be folded along the indentation to form a V shape for insertion into a cylindrical dispensing container. The width of the rectangular flat stack wipes is slightly larger than the diameter of the dispensing cylinder. |
| US09486116B2 |
Dispenser for rolled product
There is provided herein a dispenser for a rolled product which has a center bore, comprising: a casing having walls and having a top with an opening; a first fastening means disposed on a first inner wall of said casing; a second fastening means disposed on a second inner wall of said casing, wherein said first inner wall is opposite said second inner wall, and said first fastening means is opposite said second fastening means; and an axle fastened to said first and second fastening means, wherein said axle can rotate when fastened. |
| US09486113B2 |
Bathtub apron assembly
An apron assembly may be designed for a bathtub having an above-floor drain. The apron assembly may include an apron attached to an upper surface of the bathtub, an apron extension which snaps onto a bottom portion of the apron, and an apron cover that snaps onto a front surface of the apron extension. |
| US09486112B2 |
Living hinge creation through extrusion of a thermoformable plastic sheet
A bathing vessel is made of a sheet of layered materials, which include a first layer of polyurethane material, a second layer of polyurethane material attached to the first layer, a third layer of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material attached to the second layer, and a fourth layer of acrylic material attached to the third layer. A first narrowed portion about which the sheet bends is provided. The bend defines a first wall and a second wall in the sheet. |
| US09486107B2 |
Brewer with air evacuation
A brewing system which uses an air pump to evacuate a dispensing line and a method of brewing in which a brewer includes an air pump to provide pressurized air at least at the end of a brew cycle to help evacuate moisture from a dispensing line. The brewing system includes a heated water reservoir which retains heated water for dispensing and a dispense line through which the water is dispensed. A vent is coupled to the reservoir. A controllable air pump communicates with the reservoir to controllably add air to the reservoir to drive water out of the reservoir. The vent is closed when the pump is used to add air to the system to allow for a build-up of air pressure in the reservoir and out through the dispense line. The controllable air pump controllably dispenses air into the upper portion. Both the air vent valve and air pump are controllably coupled to a controller. |
| US09486106B2 |
Device and method for retrieving a capsule from a beverage production apparatus
The invention aims to provide a device and a method for retrieving efficiently a capsule from a receptacle of a beverage production apparatus. In particular, the device allows retrieving a used capsule in safe conditions and without waiting time. The beverage production apparatus comprises a receptacle (1) with a cover (3) for receiving a capsule (2) containing beverage ingredient. The device comprises capsule extracting and guiding means consisting of a clamp (6) having members (6′, 6″) arranged on each lateral side of the cover (3) of the receptacle. The capsule (2) is provided with a rim (8) around its upper edge which is directed upwards when the capsule is inserted in the receptacle (1). At opening of the cover of the receptacle, the clamp (6) is activated in such a way to position its members under the rim (8) of the capsule which is lifted thanks to a spring (4) at the bottom of the capsule. |
| US09486105B2 |
Capsule for preparing a beverage with enhanced sealing means
The present invention relates to a capsule (1) for containing beverage ingredients intended to produce a beverage in a beverage preparation device (20) upon liquid injection into the capsule and by rotating the capsule around its central axis in the device (20), the capsule (1) comprising: a side wall (2a), a bottom wall (2b) and a flange-like rim (2c), an upper wall (3) attached to the flange-like rim (2c) and/or the side wall (2b) of the capsule (1), the upper wall (3) comprising a central liquid inlet (4) and peripheral outlet apertures (5), wherein the upper wall (3) further comprises an outwardly protruding sealing member (6) which is arranged at an annular portion (3a) of the upper wall (3) between the central liquid inlet (4) and the peripheral outlet apertures (5), and which is designed to at least significantly hinder, preferably prevent liquid from flowing at the outside of the capsule (1) from the liquid inlet (4) to the outlet apertures (5) when the sealing member is engaged by the beverage preparation device (20) and, wherein the sealing member (6) is located radially distanced from the liquid inlet (4). |
| US09486101B2 |
Modular appliance
Appliances comprising a base unit and a plug connector coupled to the base unit. The plug connector is configured to electrically couple the appliance to a first socket connector of an electrical receptacle. A channel is formed on or in a first sidewall of the base unit. The plug connector is disposed in the channel when in an engaged position. A defines a channel wall of the channel. The lever is configured to facilitate a transition of the plug connector between the engaged position and a disengaged position. The lever engages the plug connector when in the engaged position and does not engage the plug connector when in the disengaged position. |
| US09486099B2 |
Cooking device
A control device for a cooking appliance, the cooking appliance including a cooking chamber designed to receive at least one predetermined food or a plurality of ingredients of a predetermined recipe, a heating component for heating the cooking chamber, the control device including a control unit arranged to determine at least one combination of predetermined cooking parameters as a function at least of the specific surface area of the at least one unitary element of the at least one predetermined food or the at least one ingredient of the plurality of ingredients of the predetermined recipe inserted into the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance, the specific surface area being estimated from descriptive parameters of the at least one unitary element of the predetermined food or the at least one ingredient from among the plurality of ingredients of the predetermined recipe. |
| US09486093B2 |
Foldable picture frame with picture, blank and method for producing the same
A blank for forming a one-piece picture frame with picture includes a blank body having front and rear surfaces, a central rectangular picture portion formed thereon with a picture on the front surface. The blank further includes four wing portions extending from the four margins of the rectangular picture portion and the four wing portions are foldable into four rectangular tubular frame sections. Twelve locking mechanisms are used to lock the four frame sections in a folded position. A method of forming the picture frame with picture is also disclosed. |
| US09486090B2 |
Retail shelf
A retail shelf is provided. The retail shelf has a front side and a rear side. The retail shelf includes a fixed portion and a displaceable portion. The displaceable portion is configured to be moved between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration relative to the fixed portion. The fixed portion includes a coupling feature configured to couple the fixed portion to a retail display to maintain the location of the fixed portion relative to the retail display. The displaceable portion is configured to support a plurality of retail trays. |
| US09486088B2 |
Product management display system
A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes a divider secured to a support structure, a pusher to move product, a barrier, and a low product indicator device comprising a protruding portion. The protruding portion is configured to extend forward of the barrier when an amount of product positioned on the top surface of the divider floor or on the shelf is low. |
| US09486083B2 |
Floating lounge with improved back support
According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a recreational floatation device comprising a body portion comprising an inflatable member having a first inner perimeter surrounding a first inner area, a first support portion comprising a layer of material extending through the first inner area and attached to the inflatable member at its first inner perimeter to support a user of the device, a back support member located within said first inner area, a hinge mechanism coupled to the back support member and the first inner perimeter and configured to allow the back support member to rotate between a first position, wherein a substantial portion of the back support member extends generally away from the first inner area, and a second position, in which the back support member lies substantially within the first inner area. |
| US09486082B2 |
Hanger apparatus and method of hanging
A hanger apparatus (10) comprises an anchor (12), hook (14), fastener (16), second fastener (18), exterior casing or shell (20) and secondary fastener (22). The anchor (12) is attached to a vertical structure such as a wall by a series of the second fasteners (18). The anchor (12) includes an opening through which the first fastener (16) is disposed to securely attach the hanger (10) to a structural member, such as a wall. The hook (14) can be firmly attached to the shell (20) through the secondary fastener (22). |
| US09486081B2 |
Item of seating furniture, in particular office chair
The invention relates to an item of seating furniture (2), in particular an office chair, with a substantially curved supporting shell (14) which has two raised, curved, flexible curved arms (24) and a rigid central piece (16) arranged between said curved arms. Furthermore, the item of seating furniture (2) comprises a covering (30) which is clamped in the manner of a secant between the curved arms (24) of the supporting shell (14), wherein, when the covering (30) is loaded, at least one curved arm (24) is at least partially increasingly raised and/or is at least partially curved in the direction of the central piece (16). |
| US09486080B2 |
Body-shaping support structure
A body-shaping support structure includes a main body and a flexible body. The main body includes a shaping section. The shaping section is in a concave configuration. The main body has at least a portion including an elastic material and forming at least one adjustment gap to form a branch section and an adjustment section. The branch section is elastically deformable for adjustment. The flexible body is set to extend through and interlace the branch section and the adjustment section. The branch section is deformable and movable to achieve adjustment of the size of the shaping section. The flexible body connects the branch section and the adjustment section to each other so as to maintain effective fixation of the shaping section without changing the shape. The shaping section can receive a predetermined human body portion to be positioned thereon to enhance an effect of supporting and shaping the human body. |
| US09486075B2 |
Tool cabinet
A tool cabinet includes a cabinet housing, drawers disposed in the cabinet housing, a working platform unit, two slide rails, two lifting units, a linkage unit, and a drive unit. The cabinet housing includes a top cover formed with a storage groove. The working platform unit has a platform member disposed above the top cover, and two extension members extending from the platform member through the top cover. The slide rails are disposed at the cabinet housing, engage respectively and slidably the extension, members, and are interconnected by the linkage unit. The drive unit is drivingly connected to one of the lifting units, and is operable to drive synchronised movements of the lifting units to move the working platform unit along the slide rails. |
| US09486074B2 |
Enclosure for biometric sensor
An enclosure for a biometric sensor is described. The enclosure comprises a cabinet having a plurality of surfaces. The biometric sensor placed inside the cabinet on a holder fixed on a primary surface from amongst the plurality of the surfaces. A secondary surface from amongst the plurality of surfaces is opposite to the primary surface. The secondary surface is substantially transparent to electromagnetic rays emitted by the biometric sensor. |
| US09486071B2 |
360 desk/table: back and neck saver and pain reliever desk
The “360 DESK/TABLE: BACK & NECK SAVER and PAIN RELIEVER DESK” is a flexible desk designed to help people with spinal-cord problems by allowing them to work on a laptop, read a book or write while resting their backs flat on a floor or in a recliner chair. Flexible meaning that its desk deck(s) can be raised/lowered and rotated/tilted about an x-y axis to suit any height and angle of sitting/lying-back position, including sitting on a floor or a pillow, or lying-back flat. The “360 DESK” comes in two models: Single-Sided Model, which has one deck on one side only, and a Double-Sided Model with two decks, one on each side completely independent of each other. Either model is light in weight and does not require designated space in a room and can be easily moved by a child. |
| US09486067B2 |
Automatic punching machine for making brushes and method for automatically making brushes by punching
An automatic punching machine for making brushes comprises a slide connected to a first actuator for receiving bundles of fibers and feeding them to a brush body; a needle connected to a second actuator for inserting the bundles of fibers inside corresponding openings of the brush body; a first and a second sensor for detecting a first and second signal representing the position of the slide and of the needle; a memory containing data of a trend of a control parameter representing the position of the slide as a function of a synchronization parameter having a predetermined relationship with a parameter representing the needle position; a processor programmed for deriving in real time values of the synchronization parameter and for controlling the first actuator by feedback as a function of the first and second signals, the synchronization parameter and the data contained in the memory. |
| US09486065B2 |
Cleaning assembly
A cleaning assembly cleans and polishes a desired surface by using interchangeable cleaning attachments. The assembly includes a housing having a top wall and a perimeter wall attached to and extending downwardly from the top wall. A plurality of cleaning attachments is provided each having a first surface opposite a second surface. A selectable one of the cleaning attachments is removably coupled to the housing whereby the cleaning attachments are interchangeably couplable to the housing. A motor is electrically coupled to the selectable one of the cleaning attachments when the selectable one of the cleaning attachments is coupled to the housing for vibrating the selectable one of the cleaning attachments. |
| US09486064B2 |
Brush head component connection system
A brush head component connection system, applied in a personal care utensil, comprises: a brush head component and a motor bracket (11) mounted on a personal care utensil casing (13), a motor (10) disposed in the motor bracket (11), and a seal ring (12) located between the motor bracket (11) and the personal care utensil casing (13). A driving shaft of the motor (10) is disposed in holes at the center of the bottoms of the motor bracket (11), the personal care utensil casing (13) and the seal ring (12), and has an end connected to one end of an eccentric shaft (14). The other end of the eccentric shaft (14) deviates from the central position and is connected to the driving shaft connected onto the brush head component. In the brush head component connection system, the motor (10) is connected to the brush head component only through simple components such as the eccentric shaft (14) and the driving shaft, and the motor (40) drives the eccentric shaft to rotate through rotation of the driving shaft, so as to drive the brush head component to rotate; therefore, the energy consumption is low. |
| US09486062B1 |
Bristle for liquid-dispensing hairbrush
A bristle of a liquid-dispensing hairbrush designed to deliver low-viscosity liquids to a user's scalp during hair-brushing only by gravity and not capillary action. The bristle has a tube with an internal channel with a maximum diameter M and a length L. There is a roller-ball nozzle having a ball with diameter B and a ball seat into which the ball movable fits. The ball seat has radially spaced apart inwardly directed protrusion portions with protrusion portion spaces therebetween. The protrusion portions have apexes, wherein a central hole is defined by an imaginary circle which contacts the apexes of the protrusion portions, and the central hole has a diameter, and the ball seat has a minimum cross-sectional area S which is free for liquid flow. The protrusion portion spaces are large enough so that liquid can flow through the protrusion portion spaces and through the central hole only by gravity, and not by capillary action. A ratio of 8 |
| US09486060B1 |
Paint brush system
A paint brush system. A lower component has a handle with an axis and a lower disk. The lower disk has interior and exterior surfaces. The axis of the lower disk is at a right angle with respect to the axis of the handle. An upper component has a base with bristles in a bristle plane. The upper component has an upper disk with interior and exterior surfaces. The axis of the upper disk is at a right angle with respect to the axis of the base. An adjustment assembly is intermediate the upper and lower components. The adjustment assembly includes teeth projecting axially outwardly from one of the disks. An annular surface is radially exterior of the teeth. The adjustment assembly includes recesses projecting axially inwardly from the other disk. An annular surface is radially exterior of the recesses. |
| US09486058B1 |
Tool vest
A wearable upper-body garment has a plurality of first webbings secured to the garment front panel in a substantially parallel relation, each of the plurality of first webbings defining at least one passageway between the webbing and the front panel with the passageways extending perpendicular to the webbing. The first webbings extend upwardly and outwardly from a sternal region on the front panel that divides the garment front panel into a right half and a left half. |
| US09486054B2 |
Applying material extruding container
An applying material extruding container includes a movable body and a screw tube, and the movable body is moved forward by the screwing action of a screwing portion caused by the relative rotation of a filling member and a control tube in one direction. The screw tube includes a rear end tube portion, the control tube includes an internal tubular portion internally inserted into the rear end tube portion, on an outer circumferential surface of the internal tubular portion, a protrusion portion on one side that protrudes outwardly in a radial direction is provided, on an inner circumferential surface of the rear end tube portion, a protrusion on the other side that protrudes inwardly in the radial direction and that engages with the protrusion portion on one side in a rotation direction is provided and the protrusion on the other side has elasticity in the radial direction by cutouts therearound. |
| US09486053B2 |
Coating device
A coating device includes a body and a thermoelectric cooling plate. The body defines a receiving space and a storage groove and includes a contact plane and a feeding pipe. The contact plane includes a cooling region and a heating region which are cooled and heated by the thermoelectric plate, respectively. The storage groove is provided for storing a coating material. The storage groove communicates with outside of the body through the feeding pipe. When the body is moved from a first position to a second position of the target object, the coating material is heated by the heating region, cooled by the cooling region, and coated on the surface of target object. |
| US09486041B2 |
Jewellery item
A jewellery item, or a gold, silver, or costume jewellery item, accessories and the like include an annular band having a predetermined width and a plurality of modular elements of an elongated shape, at least one of the modular elements being connected to at least three additional modular elements by at least three connection points, the modular elements being hinged with each other about each connection point such that the jewellery item is adjustable between a contracted condition and an extended condition, wherein the width has different values along the overall extension of the jewellery item. |
| US09486037B2 |
Article of footwear with a sole structure having fluid-filled support elements
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure incorporates a support element that includes a fluid-filled chamber. The chamber may be bonded to other portions of the sole to secure the chamber within the sole. A surface of the chamber may also be angled to form a corresponding bevel in a lower surface of the sole structure, potentially in a rear-lateral area of the sole structure. A plate may also extend under a portion of the chamber. |
| US09486034B2 |
Footwear having a sole formed with a cavity receiving a highly viscous gel
A shoe has an insole having a heel in a customary supportive hard rubber-like material about 3 inches thick. The same rubber-like material surrounds the entire sole with a change in thickness beginning at the arch, where it slopes down, leveling out at a thickness of about 1¼ inches. This change in thickness creates a frontal recess, leaving a bead of rubber at the outer edge. This cavity holds a thick cushion of about 1¾ inches of highly viscous gel material held in place by the rubber lip and adhered to the elastic material. This creates a cushion when the foot applies weight. The front of the sole and the back of the heel are equal in height, giving the entire surface equal height planes for balance. The two materials are one rubber like, one gel like and slope toward each other at the arch in identical angles. |
| US09486033B2 |
Vapor-permeable shoe
A vapor-permeable shoe including an upper assembly that wraps around the foot insertion region and is associated, in its plantar region, with a sole that includes at least one vapor-permeable or perforated portion. The upper assembly includes a structural insert that includes at least one waterproof portion sealed impermeably to the sole, covering its vapor-permeable or perforated portion. The waterproof portion includes at least partly a waterproof and vapor-permeable functional element that is impermeable to water in the liquid state and is permeable to water vapor, at least one functional portion of the functional element having such a thickness as to give it a penetration resistance that is greater than approximately 10 N, assessed according to the method presented in chapter 5.8.2 of the ISO 20344-2004 standard. |
| US09486023B1 |
Artificial hair apparatus and method
An artificial hair apparatus comprises: a front region comprising an inner front surface, an outer front surface, a first mesh section and a second mesh section, the first mesh section comprising a first hair parting channel comprising a first predetermined length and a second hair parting channel comprising a second predetermined length, the first hair parting channel and the second hair parting channel protruding into the second mesh section such that the first predetermined length is different from the second predetermined length; a top region adjacent to the front region comprising an inner top surface and an outer top surface; a rear region adjacent to the top region comprising an inner rear surface and an outer rear surface; and a plurality of side regions adjacent to each of the front region, the top region and the rear region comprising an inner side surface and an outer side surface. |
| US09486022B2 |
Utility flap for worker pockets
A pocket such as for a garment for a worker, including a panel securable to an outer surface of the garment to define a pocket between the panel and the garment outer surface with a pocket opening defined along one side of the panel. First and second connectors on the panel and garment outer surface within the pocket may be connected together to retain an object in the pocket by pressing the panel against the garment, where the connection may be released both by pushing an object into the pocket, and by pulling a retained object from the pocket. A stiffened side of the second panel retains the second panel in a bowed configuration outwardly from the first panel at the pouch opening. |
| US09486021B2 |
Glove
A disclosed example glove of a glovebox type includes an identification means arranged at an end portion of a cuff of the glove. |
| US09486019B2 |
Protective undergarment
An protective athletic undergarment is provided. The undergarment has a moisture-wicking elastic fabric base layer configured to fit flexibly and snugly against the body of the wearer. A padding assembly has an inner polymer cushion with an interior surface attached to an outer surface of the base layer, and a rigid outer shell configured in a predetermined three-dimensional complimentary contour relative to an outer surface shape of an anatomical feature. The undergarment may include a system for sports performance monitoring of an impact event delivered by another participant or the object of a sporting event. |
| US09486018B2 |
Torso cooling unit for personal wear
A cooling unit that can be used with or without a garment, such as a ballistic vest, that covers a user's torso when worn by the user. The cooling unit includes a fan for blowing ambient air; a manifold for distributing to the torso the air that is blown by the fan; and a hose for connecting the fan to the manifold. The manifold may be formed of three overlying panels that are secured together, including an outer panel, a central panel, and an inner panel that is closest to the user's torso when the cooling unit is being worn. No modification of the vest is necessary to accommodate the cooling unit. |
| US09486016B2 |
Modesty bra for port under clavicle
A bra with breast region has a strap extending over a shoulder to the breast region. An outer layer of the bra is fixedly attached to the breast region, but removably attached to the strap. A removable pillow is within this outer layer. The fixedly attached portion of the outer layer attached to the breast region extends from the breast region up to a pocket housed within the outer layer, the pocket, in turn, being adapted to house the pillow. Then upward, the outer layer is free from attachment to the inner layer, though it is removably attached to the strap at a top side. |
| US09486003B2 |
Hypocaloric, high protein nutritional compositions and methods of using same
Nutritional compositions having reduced amounts of calories and high amounts of protein and methods of making and using the nutritional compositions are provided. The nutritional compositions may include a processed whole food component, a high amount of protein, and a reduced amount of calories in order to provide a patient with a pH-balanced formulation that includes the benefits of food bioactives beyond essential macro- and micronutrients without providing excessive energy. Methods of administering such nutritional compositions to patients in need of improved bone, muscle, neurological, immune, and/or overall health are also provided. |
| US09486002B2 |
Confectionery composition including an elastomeric component, a cooked saccharine component, and a functional ingredient
The present invention relates to confectionery compositions including cooked saccharide, elastomeric component, and a functional ingredient. |
| US09485999B2 |
Sea cucumber processing apparatus and method
An improved apparatus for processing sea cucumbers having stages for orienting/aligning, cutting, splitting, flattening, eviscerating and cleaning the sea cucumber, and for collecting the eviscerated innards. A method for the automated splitting and evisceration of sea cucumbers using the apparatus of the present disclosure. A flattening plate and trough during the orienting/aligning step relax the sea cucumber and discourage its defence mechanisms. A wedge shaped flattening plate splits and flattens the sea cucumber immediately after the incision. Pronged discs maintain positioning of the sea cucumber during an aggressive wash and brush cleaning cycle, which may be repeated. Optionally, a vacuum may suction off a portion of the innards prior to cleaning. |
| US09485998B2 |
Microbiological and environmental control in poultry processing
Poultry carcasses are contacted with water treated with one or more specified dihalodialkylhydantoin biocides in a processing operation downstream from a scalding tank. The aqueous effluent from that downstream operation or from any location further downstream is recycled to the scalding tank. Surprisingly, the bromine residues from the dihalodialkylhydantoin biocides are much more thermally unstable than, for example, the commonly used microbiocide, sodium hypochlorite. Thus, the effluent from the scalding tank has its active bromine content significantly reduced before it is sent to a water purification facility wherein microbial action is used to reduce the BOD of the waste water before its release to the environment. Thus, injury to this desired microbial action is reduced. In addition, the recycle reduces water consumption in the overall poultry processing operation. |
| US09485993B2 |
Nematicidal composition comprising Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis
The present invention refers to a composition comprising Bacillus subtilis (DSM 17231) and Bacillus licheniformis (DSM 17236) with nematocidal effect against phytonematodes on plants and/or its habitat, to its use and process for its preparation, use of Bacillus subtilis (DSM 17231) and Bacillus licheniformis (DSM 17236), processes for controlling, combating and conferring specific resistance to phytonematodes, and a kit. |
| US09485992B2 |
Bioprotection using Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains
The present invention is related to the field of bioprotection, in particular to the strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CHCC5366 with accession no. DSM23035. Furthermore, the present invention concerns an antifungal composition comprising the strain, an antifungal composition comprising the strain and at least one strain of Lactobacillus paracasei, food, feed and pharmaceutical products comprising such an antifungal composition, a method of manufacturing such food, feed and pharmaceutical products, a method for reducing the content of yeasts and molds of such food, feed and pharmaceutical products and uses of the antifungal composition. |
| US09485989B2 |
Method of controlling neonicotinoid resistant hemiptera
The invention relates to a method of controlling insects from the order hemiptera that resistant to neo-nicotinoid insecticides using spiroheterocyclic pyrrolidine dione derivatives. |
| US09485988B2 |
Turfgrass fungicide formulation with pigment
Oil-in-water fungicidal formulations are prepared having pigment dispersed therein, the pigment being stable within the oil-in-water emulsion as a result of the addition of suitable silicone surfactants and suitable emulsifiers. The formulations can be prepared either as a 2-pack formulation or as a single formulation. In the case of the single formulation polyethylene glycol is also added. In either case, the formulations show a synergistic effect through the addition of the pigment, the resulting formulations having an increased efficacy. Further, the formulations show a synergistic effect when mixed with conventional chemical fungicides, both being added in reduced amounts compared to recommended rates. |
| US09485981B1 |
Root-penetrating nozzle for herbicide applicator
The root penetrating nozzle for herbicide applicator is designed to penetrate and inject herbicide into the stem or root of a plant. The root penetrating nozzle for herbicide applicator comprises a penetrating tip that pierces the outer surface to penetrate the plant, an undulating tip that is used to deliver the herbicide, and a cap, coupling, and herbicide channel to connect the root penetrating nozzle for herbicide applicator to a source of herbicide. |
| US09485980B1 |
Fish hook removal apparatus and methods of use
An apparatus for removing a fish hook from the mouth of a fish and related methods of use. The apparatus comprises a rod slidably mounted within a housing for movement between an extended position and a retracted position. A spring biases the rod toward the extended position. In use, the rod is pushed into the housing and is locked in the retracted position. The fishing line attached to the fish hook is folded over to form a loop and the loop is threaded through an arcuate channel in a proximal tip of the rod. The apparatus is slid along the fishing line until the proximal tip engages the fish hook. A trigger handle on the apparatus is actuated to release the rod from the housing. The spring forcibly moves the rod into the extended position to remove the fish hook from the mouth of the fish. |
| US09485979B1 |
Multi-function integral fishing tool with dual fishhook removers, line knot maker, line clipper and hook sharpener
One embodiment of a portable and convenient fishing tool is structured with multiple fishing related tools integrated into a single apparatus. One elongated member of the embodiment functions as a dual type fishhook removers with an inherent additional capability as a line knot maker. The shank part of the elongated member is mounted to a handle that carries a line clipper tool and a hook sharpener. |
| US09485978B1 |
Pivoting fishing rod holder for a kayak
A pivoting fishing rod holder for a kayak having a structure pivotally holding a pair of existing fishing rods, the structure comprising, a pair of identical L-shaped mounts configured for spaced apart mounting to the existing kayak, a pair of identical upright members, pivotally affixed to the L-shaped mounts, a tubular rod holder affixed at an angle to a distal end of each upright member, the angle within a range of about 20-45 degrees upwardly from a horizontal, a pair of diametrically opposed rounded insets disposed within each holder outer end, and a horizontal crossbar connecting the distal ends. |
| US09485977B2 |
Fishing spinning reel
The present invention provides a fishing spinning reel in which handle operation in high load winding is smooth. Specifically, the fishing spinning reel includes: a pinion gear having a rotor fixed on an end of the pinion gear and meshing with a drive gear rotationally driven by rotational operation of a handle rotatably supported on the reel body; a spool shaft inserted through the pinion gear and having a spool mounted on a front end thereof, the spool holding a fishing line wound therearound; and an oscillation mechanism configured to reciprocate the spool shaft back and forth in accordance with drive of the drive gear, wherein the spool shaft is not supported at a region from a meshing region between the drive gear and the pinion gear to a rear end of the spool shaft where the spool shaft is supported by a slidable body of the oscillation mechanism. |
| US09485976B1 |
Telescoping multi-line fishing device
The telescoping multi-line fishing device including multiple fishing lines within an alternately expandable and collapsible structure that provides two telescopic sections connected to a center cylindrical casing with propeller power. Each section provides sliding tubes rotatably and slidably connected to each other. A quartet of spool housings in each section provides user settable timed fishing line and weighted leader release from a capsule. The spool housings features slow line extraction with automatic retraction upon a sharp tug from a fish. The fishing lines provide user set timed release. The device includes reeled retrieval. |
| US09485975B1 |
Lure with cyclically reversing blade rotation
A fishing lure comprises a spinning blade that rhythmically changes its direction of rotation. One or more unique link members enable more than 360 degree of blade rotation yet limit the total amount of blade rotation in either direction. The rotating blade causes the link members to wind up until they momentarily stop the rotation of the blade, at which point a hydrodynamic torque still trying to rotate the blade causes the lure to undergo a slight twist motion. The wound-up link members then begin to unravel due to a remaining hydrodynamic force still incident on the forward-moving lure. This winding-and-unwinding cycle automatically repeats as the lure moves forward. The cyclically rhythmic and alternating blade rotations, along with the corresponding twitching motions, result in a unique swimming motion of the lure that more effectively attracts fish and better mimics the random swimming behavior of real life prey. |
| US09485968B2 |
Beehive system
A beehive comprises a main housing, a primary entrance housing that is rotatably attached to the main housing, and a rotation element for rotating the main housing about its rotational axis between vertical and horizontal positions. The main housing includes chambers for holding honey frames and brood frames. The primary entrance housing includes a primary entrance slot that allows ingress and egress of bees into and out of the primary entrance housing. A primary entrance tube connects the main housing to the primary entrance housing. The primary entrance tube provides a path of travel for bees to move between the primary entrance housing and the main housing. In this configuration, the bees may freely move from the exterior of the beehive, through the primary entrance slot into the primary entrance housing, and through the primary entrance tube into the chambers of the main housing. |
| US09485967B2 |
Loading device for loading broilers into crates
The invention relates to a device for loading poultry supplied in supply stations located one above another at different heights into poultry holders placed in a loading station, wherein the device is provided with a frame, a first carriage movable on the side of the supply stations in vertical direction along the frame, a second carriage movable on the side of the loading stations in vertical direction along the frame and a transport element connected to the first and the second carriage, wherein the connection between the carriages and the associated end of the transport element is configured for relative rotation, wherein the connection between the transport element and either of the carriages is configured to allow a limited relative movement in horizontal direction and the first carriage is provided with a conveyor connecting to the supply stations for carrying the poultry onto the transport element in any position of the transport element. |
| US09485966B1 |
Device and method of animal reward
The invention describes an automated method, device and system for both husbandry and study purposes of animals by providing a heat reward for specific behavior. Embodiments include maintaining the cage temperature at a normal, comfortable temperature for the animals, such as mice, using radiant heat rather than conducted heat to provide the reward, using home cages for the animals, detecting the behavior fully automated, operating in animal darkness, and using cages that are free of electrical penetrations. Some embodiments have one animal in a cage. Some embodiments have or support multiple animals in a cage and include methods to detect automatically identify animals, locate animals in the cage and associate a behavior and reward for a specific animal. Some embodiments place all sensors and radiant heat sources outside the cage, or use infrared sources for both heating and for IR camera lighting. |
| US09485965B2 |
Canine restraint harness
A canine restraint harness for controlling pulling behavior by a dog while being led includes a cord having first and second ends, a clasp for attachment to a dog collar, a cam for receiving and clamping a segment of the cord to reduce the length thereof, a closed loop at the clamped segment of the cord for attachment to a dog lead, and a fastener for fastening the first and second ends of the cord together. The cord is adapted to extend from the dog collar, between the front legs of the dog, and around the back of the dog to the dog lead such that the cam is disposed close to the back of the dog with the cord adapted to apply a tightening force when the dog exhibits pulling behavior while being led. |
| US09485962B2 |
Dog boot
A dog boot is fabricated using a breathable substrate, preferably of durable material such as heavy nylon. Onto the substrate, various friction pads, wear pads, tensioning straps, and strategically located cushions are attached. Specially configured slits ensure that a wide range of leg sizes relative to paw sizes may be accommodated, while easing application of the boot and eliminating any risk of bunching. |
| US09485961B2 |
Fold up pet bowl or fountain pedestal
A collapsible pedestal is disclosed for use with a pet dish or fountain. The pedestal is made of several releasably attached legs. Preferably, all of the legs are of a substantially identical design. Each leg has a coupling hub that may be a pair of hinged, knuckle connection such that the legs may be freely rotatable. The pedestal can be collapsed into a collapsed condition, which accounts for a lesser volume than when the pedestal is in an operating condition. Additionally, the pedestal may be configured to be inverted such that different cradles can be used, each cradle configured to accommodate a bowl, dish, fountain, or other object of varying shapes or designs. Additional legs can be added to an existing pedestal. |
| US09485957B2 |
Pet kennel
System and method directed to the art of pet kennels, more particularly collapsible pet kennels, are provided. A collapsible pet kennel having a first framework and a second framework both rotatably attached to a base framework, a first swing arm pivotably attached to the first framework and removably engageable with the second framework, a second swing arm pivotably attached to the second framework and removably engageable with the first framework, and a covering which encloses the pet kennel. The pet kennel is capable of being collapsed without removing the covering. |
| US09485954B2 |
Spinach hybrid 51-324
The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and more particular to the development of a spinach plant that expresses a new resistance pattern against downy mildew (Peronospora farinosa f. sp. Spinaciae) strains Pf1-Pf12 and isolate PfsUA441), methods and compositions relating to plants, progeny, seeds and derivatives thereof and plants, progeny, seeds and derivatives thereof having all the morphological, physiological and/or genetic characteristics thereof. |
| US09485953B2 |
Method for treating tobacco plants with enzymes
A method of modifying the content of certain chemical compounds in tobacco materials is provided, the method including treatment of a tobacco plant or portion thereof with at least one enzyme. For example, the method may modify the content of tobacco smoke toxicant precursors in tobacco materials, which can result in a modification in toxicant production when the tobacco material is exposed to elevated temperatures. The type of tobacco plant or portion thereof treated according to the invention can be, for example, a tobacco seed, a tobacco seedling, an immature live plant, a mature live plant, a harvested plant, or a plant derivative. Smoking articles and other tobacco products including such enzyme-treated tobacco materials are also provided. |
| US09485948B1 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH006087
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH006087. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH006087, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH006087 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 CH006087. |
| US09485945B1 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH024432
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH024432. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH024432, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH024432 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 CH024432. |
| US09485944B1 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH146959
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH146959. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH146959, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH146959 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 CH146959. |
| US09485943B1 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH154032
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH154032. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH154032, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH154032 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 CH154032. |
| US09485942B1 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH156174
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH156174. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH156174, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH156174 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 CH156174. |
| US09485941B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV031822
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV031822. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV031822, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV031822 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV031822 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV031822. |
| US09485937B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV045443
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV045443. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV045443, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV045443 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV045443 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV045443. |