US07795799B2

A light-emitting device which can effectively be utilized as a surface light source for a full-color display, a back light or an illumination light source, or as a light source array in a printer, which shows an excellent light-emitting efficiency and light-emitting luminance, and which is particularly excellent as a white light source showing an excellent light-emitting efficiency and light-emitting luminance. The light-emitting device comprises a substrate having provided thereon at least an anode, an organic compound layer including a light-emitting layer, and a cathode, in which the light-emitting layer contains two or more different kinds of light-emitting materials, with at least one of the light-emitting materials being an orthometallated complex.
US07795790B2

A spark plug and method for making. The spark plug comprises a center electrode, an insulator surrounding the center electrode, and a metallic shell surrounding the insulator. The spark plug also includes a ground electrode engaged with the metallic shell. The ground electrode has a first surface facing the center electrode for defining a spark gap and a second surface opposite the first surface. A cross-section of the ground electrode between the first and second surfaces includes a first zone of a non-noble metallic base material extending a distance from the second surface toward the first surface and a second zone of a blend of the non-noble base material and a noble metallic material extending from the first zone to the first surface. A method of making the spark plug includes the step of disposing a quantity of noble metallic material on an electrode blank formed of a non-noble metallic base material. The method also includes the step of at least partially melting the quantity of noble metal with a beam emitted by a laser. The method also includes the step of sequentially moving the laser along the electrode blank in first and second opposite directions to enhance the distribution of the molten quantity of noble metal over the electrode blank.
US07795785B2

An ultrasonic sensor includes a cylindrical case with a bottom. A piezoelectric element is bonded to an inner side of a bottom portion of the case, and a felt is bonded to the piezoelectric element. A cap is fitted to an opening of the case. The cap includes a fixing portion and a substrate which is harder than the fixing portion. Terminals are press-fitted to the substrate. Wires are connected to the terminals, so that the terminals are electrically connected to the piezoelectric element. A through hole is provided in the fixing portion. Resin before being foamed is injected from the through hole and then foamed, so that the case is filled with foamable resin while an excess amount of foamable resin is pushed out from the through hole.
US07795769B2

A cover for the motor housing of a ceiling fan includes a flexible wrap for covering the motor housing and a magnetic assemblage for attaching the wrap to the motor housing. The cover can be insulating, have an outer decorative surface for aesthetic effects, or both. A ship lap joint may be included to secure the ends of the cover together.
US07795767B2

An aspect of the invention provides a motor that comprises: a stator including multiple motor coils; multiple bus rings configured to distribute currents of different phases to the motor coils; and a ring-shaped bus ring holder in which multiple holding grooves configured to hold the respective bus rings are formed, wherein: each of the motor coils includes an insulator around which a wound wire is wound; the insulator includes an outer flange formed at an outer side of the wound wire in a radial direction of the motor and extending in an axial direction of the motor; and the bus ring holder is arranged at an outer side of the outer flange in the radial direction of the motor, and contiguous to the outer flange.
US07795766B2

A motor includes a housing having a substantially cylindrical shape accommodating therein a stator portion and a rotor portion. The housing includes a housing body having an opening at an upper side thereof, and a lid portion arranged between an armature and a sensor so as to close the opening of the housing body. Since the lid portion is made of a magnetic material and is arranged between the armature and the sensor, a magnetic effect on the sensor caused by a magnetic force generated at the armature is minimized. By virtue of such configuration in which the lid portion of the housing functions as a magnetic shield, the motor can be smaller in the axial direction compared with a configuration in which an extra layer of magnetic shield is arranged.
US07795746B2

A method for providing power to a low current electronic device includes pivotably coupling a door to a door frame. A rotating member of an alternating current generator is coupled to either the edge surface of the door or the door-facing surface of the door frame. A stationary member of an alternating current generator is coupled to an other of the edge surface of the door and the door-facing surface of the door frame. The door is pivoted toward an open position to thereby rotate the rotating member and generate an alternating current. The door is pivoted toward a closed position to thereby rotate the rotating member and generate an alternating current.
US07795745B2

A fuel tank for a power generator set. The fuel tank includes an angled surface that directs cooling air from the power generator set at a direction out of the generator set enclosure. In some embodiments, the fuel tank is centrally located between a pair of generator sets within a single enclosure. The fuel tank is configured in some embodiments to direct air upward out of the enclosure.
US07795742B2

A semiconductor device having a semiconductor chip having an active surface with flip-chip contacts and a passive surface is disclosed. In one embodiment, the flip-chip contacts are surrounded by an electrically insulating layer as underfill material, the layer having a UV B-stageable material. The UV B-stageable material is applied on the active surface of the semiconductor wafer.
US07795728B2

An electronic component includes a multi-layer substrate having an upper side and under side, and at least one integrated impedance converter. The electronic component also includes at least one chip component having external contacts. The at least one chip component is disposed on the upper side of the multi-layer substrate, and is electrically connected to the at least one integrated impedance converter.
US07795727B2

The invention relates to a semiconductor module comprising stacked discrete components and a method for producing the same. In one embodiment, the semiconductor module has a semiconductor chip arranged on a wiring substrate. The discrete components are arranged and wired on an intermediate carrier, which is electrically connected to the wiring substrate and/or the semiconductor chip. The wiring substrate carries the semiconductor chip, the semiconductor chip carries the intermediate carrier and the intermediate carrier carries the discrete components.
US07795719B2

An electro component package is disclosed. The electro component package in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a first package substrate having a first chip mounted on an upper surface thereof, the first chip having a through-via formed therein; a second package substrate being separated from the first package substrate and having a second chip mounted on an upper surface thereof; and a connection substrate having one end connected with an upper surface of the first chip and the other end connected with an upper surface of the second chip, the connection substrate electrically connecting the first chip with the second chip.
US07795715B2

A leadframe design for forming leadframe-based semiconductor packages having curvilinear shapes is disclosed. The leadframes may each include one or more curvilinear slots corresponding to curvilinear edges in the finished and singulated semiconductor package. After encapsulation, the integrated circuit packages on the panel may be singulated by cutting the integrated circuits from the leadframe panel into a plurality of individual integrated circuit packages. The slots in the leadframe advantageously allow each leadframe to be singulated using a saw blade making only straight cuts.
US07795714B2

A molded secured digital (SD) card having a bottom plastic piece having a plurality of lateral sides, said bottom plastic piece further having a cavity interposed along said plurality of lateral sides, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The molded SD card further having a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly positioned in said cavity, one of said plurality of lateral sides of said bottom plastic piece having a notch recess, said molded SD card further having a male guide insertably positioned into said notch recess, said molded SD card further having a female switch clamped onto said male guide to form a write-protect switch.
US07795713B2

The semiconductor device includes a silicon interposer made of a semiconductor and a first semiconductor chip mounted on one surface of the silicon interposer. The semiconductor device is provided with a through electrode penetrating the silicon interposer and having a side surface insulated from the silicon interposer; and a wiring connecting one end of the through electrode and the silicon interposer. The through electrode is connected to a power supply wiring or a GND wiring provided on the first semiconductor chip.
US07795711B2

An apparatus and associated method to provide localized cooling to a microelectronic device are generally described. In this regard, according to one example embodiment, a cooling apparatus comprising a heat spreader and one or more thermoelectric cooler(s) thermally coupled to the heat spreader provides cooling to one or more hot spot(s) of a microelectronic device, the one or more thermoelectric cooler(s) having a single heat exchanging element of a single material.
US07795706B2

A stacked memory without unbalanced temperature distributions is disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, a through electrode in each layer is connected one after the other such that regions to be activated in neighboring layers do not overlap in a vertical direction. According to another aspect of the invention, each layer comprises an activation region distribution circuit for outputting an activation signal to, among the regions of the layer, a region having an address different from an address of a region to be activated in a layer adjacent to the layer in question.
US07795705B2

A semiconductor device includes an element formed on a substrate, at least one insulating film formed on the substrate, and a seal ring formed in the insulating film so as to surround a region where the element is formed and to extend through the insulating film. The semiconductor device further includes a void region including a void and formed in the insulating film in a region located outside the seal ring when viewed from the element.
US07795701B2

A first insulation film is provided on a semiconductor substrate. A high resistance element formed from polysilicon is provided on the first insulation film. A second insulation film is provided on the high resistance element. A hydrogen diffusion preventing film having a hydrogen diffusion coefficient smaller than that of the second insulation film is provided on the second insulation film. The hydrogen diffusion preventing film covers a part of the high resistance element.
US07795679B2

Device structures with a self-aligned damage layer and methods of forming such device structures. The device structure first and second doped regions of a first conductivity type defined in the semiconductor material of a substrate. A third doped region of opposite conductivity type laterally separates the first doped region from the second doped region. A gate structure is disposed on a top surface of the substrate and has a vertically stacked relationship with the third doped region. A first crystalline damage layer is defined within the semiconductor material of the substrate. The first crystalline damage layer has a first plurality of voids surrounded by the semiconductor material of the substrate. The first doped region is disposed vertically between the first crystalline damage layer and the top surface of the substrate. The first crystalline damage layer does not extend laterally into the third doped region.
US07795673B2

A manufacturing method of a vertical non-volatile memory is provided. A first semiconductor layer, a first barrier, a second semiconductor layer, a second barrier and a third semiconductor layer are formed on a substrate sequentially. The first and the third semiconductor layers have a first conductive state, while the second semiconductor layer has a second conductive state. Several strips of active stacked structures are formed by removing portions of the first, second and third semiconductor layers, and portions of the first and second barrier on the substrate. After forming a storage structure on the substrate, the storage structure is covered with a conductive layer filling spaces among the active stacked structures. A portion of the conductive layer is removed to form word lines across the active stacked structures.
US07795657B2

A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell portion, the memory cell portion including a ferroelectric capacitor and a memory cell transistor, the ferroelectric capacitor including a first electrode film on a semiconductor substrate, a second electrode film over the first electrode film, and a ferroelectric film between the first and second electrode films, and the memory cell transistor including a source and a drain between the first and second electrode films, wherein either the source or the drain connects to the first electrode film, and the other of the source or the drain connects to the second electrode film.
US07795656B2

An image sensor device includes an optical black pixel region and an active pixel region. The image sensor device includes a light receiving unit including a plurality of light sensitive semiconductor devices that are configured to detect light incident thereon, a pixel metal wire layer including a transparent material on the light receiving unit and including a plurality of metal wires therein, and a filter unit on the pixel metal wire layer. The filter unit includes a plurality of filters that are configured to transmit light according to a wavelength thereof. The filters of the filter unit in the optical black pixel region of the image sensor device have a single color. The image sensor device further includes a light blocking layer in the optical black pixel region between the filter unit and the light receiving unit. The light blocking layer is configured to block light that passes through the filter unit.
US07795654B2

In the solid-state imaging device of the present invention having a photoelectric conversion section and a charge transfer section equipped with a charge transfer electrode for transferring an electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion section, the charge transfer electrode has an alternate arrangement of a first layer electrode comprising a first conductive film and a second layer electrode comprising a second conductive film, and the first layer electrode and the second layer electrode are separated by insulation with an interelectrode insulating film having a two-layer structure comprising a sidewall insulating film consisting of a first insulating layer formed by a CVD method to cover the lateral wall of the first layer electrode and a second insulating film.
US07795650B2

The images sensor includes a readout circuit capacitatively coupled to a memory circuit. The readout circuit includes: (i) a photon detector to receive a plurality of photons and to provide a charge signal corresponding to the received photons, (ii) a resettable integrator that is reset multiple times over a single exposure time and provides an analog representation of the incident photons during the last integration cycle, and (iii) a comparator that monitors the integrator output and generates a reset pulse when the integrator reaches a built-in threshold value. The memory circuit includes: (i) a receiver circuit that detects the output of the digital driver in the front-end readout circuit via capacitive coupling and generates a digital voltage pulse for each received signal, and (ii) a digital counting memory to count the received pulses to provide a coarse digital representation of how many times the integrator is reset.
US07795649B2

Microfeature workpieces having microlenses and methods of forming microlenses on microfeature workpieces are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for forming microlenses includes forming a plurality of shaping members on a microfeature workpiece between adjacent pixels, reflowing the shaping members to form a shaping structure between adjacent pixels, depositing lens material onto the workpiece, removing selected portions of the lens material adjacent to the shaping structure such that discrete masses of lens material are located over corresponding pixels, and heating the workpiece to reflow the discrete masses of lens material and form a plurality of microlenses.
US07795644B2

Semiconductor devices with selective stress memory effect and fabrication methods thereof. The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate with a first region and a second region. Both the first region and the second region have a first doped region and a second doped region separated by an insulation layer. A PMOS transistor is disposed on the first doped region layer. An NMOS transistor is disposed on the second doped region. A first capping layer is disposed covering the NMOS transistor over the first region. A second capping layer is disposed covering the PMOS transistor over the first region. The thickness of the first capping layer is different from the thickness of the second capping layer, thereby different stress is induced on the PMOS transistor and the NMOS transistor respectively. The PMOS transistor and the NMOS transistor over the second region are silicided.
US07795642B2

III-nitride devices are described with recessed gates. In some embodiments, the material around the gates is formed by epitaxially depositing different III-nitride layers on a substrate and etching through at least the top two layers in the gate region. Because adjacent layers in the top three layers of the structure have different compositions, some of the layers act as etch stops to allow for precision etching. In some embodiments, a regrowth mask is used to prevent growth of material in the gate region. A gate electrode is deposited in the recess.
US07795641B2

A diode assembly comprising first and second diodes each having a different breakdown voltage, each of the first and second diodes comprising a semiconductor substrate; an electrically conducting channel layer on the semiconductor substrate; an upper semiconductor layer on the channel layer, the upper semiconductor layer comprising a recess; first and second ohmic contacts on the upper semiconductor layer on opposite sides of the recess, the ohmic contacts being connected together to form a first diode contact; a gate electrode within the recess, the gate electrode forming a second diode contact; characterised in that the area of the recess of the first diode covered by the first gate electrode is different to the area of the recess of the second diode covered by the second gate electrode.
US07795640B2

The invention relates to a photo-detector with a reduced G-R noise, which comprises a sequence of a p-type contact layer, a middle barrier layer and an n-type photon absorbing layer, wherein the middle barrier layer has an energy bandgap significantly greater than that of the photon absorbing layer, and there is no layer with a narrower energy bandgap than that in the photon-absorbing layer.
US07795632B2

An LED and light guide assembly has an LED with an output surface; a first power input lead electrically coupled to a first pole and having a first surface and a second surface; and a second power input lead electrically coupled to a second pole and having a first surface and a second surface. A unitary, molded light guide has an axially extending, light transmissive body with a light output window. An input window is formed with the unitary, molded light guide being aligned in a zero-gap relationship to capture substantially all the light emitted by the LED. A support is formed integral with the light guide and envelopes a portion of the first surface and the second surface of the first power input lead and the first surface and the second surface of the second power input lead to anchor the guide with respect to the power inputs.
US07795626B2

A flip chip type LED lighting device manufacturing method includes the step of providing a strip, the step of providing a submount, the step of forming a metal bonding layer on the strip or submount, the step of bonding the submount to the strip, and the step of cutting the structure thus obtained into individual flip chip type LED lighting devices.
US07795622B2

A compound semiconductor device having a transistor structure, includes a substrate, a first layer formed on the substrate and comprising GaN, a second layer formed over the first layer and containing InN whose lattice constant is larger than the first layer, a third layer formed over the second layer and comprising GaN whose energy bandgap is smaller than the second layer, and a channel region layer formed on the third layer.
US07795614B2

An electronic device including in any sequence: (a) a semiconductor layer; and (b) a phase-separated dielectric structure comprising a lower-k dielectric polymer and a higher-k dielectric polymer, wherein the lower-k dielectric polymer is in a higher concentration than the higher-k dielectric polymer in a region of the dielectric structure closest to the semiconductor layer.
US07795613B2

A structure with a transistor is disclosed comprising a substrate, a gas barrier layer on the substrate, and a transistor on the gas barrier layer. The transistor can include an oxide semiconductor layer. The oxide semiconductor layers can comprise In—Ga—Zn—O. A display, such as a liquid crystal display, can have such a structure.
US07795612B2

The present invention provides an organic semiconductor device, which can be produced uniformly on a large substrate, having a high mobility and capable of greatly modulating the drain current by varying the voltage applied to a gate electrode. The present invention provides an organic semiconductor device having at least a substrate, an organic semiconductor, a gate insulating film and conductors, and having electrodes for applying bias, wherein a polymer layer, which is different from the gate insulating film, is provided in contact with the organic semiconductor, and the polymer layer is formed of a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and divinylbenzene, or the like; a process for producing the organic semiconductor device; and an organic semiconductor apparatus using the organic semiconductor device.
US07795603B2

A map of the surface of a substrate is generated at a measurement station. The substrate is then moved to where a space between a projection lens and the substrate is filled with a liquid. The substrate is then aligned using, for example, a transmission image sensor and, using the previous mapping, the substrate can be accurately exposed. Thus the mapping does not take place in a liquid environment.
US07795595B2

A method for calibrating acquired spectra for use in spectral analysis includes performing Gaussian peak fitting to spectra acquired by a plurality of NaI detectors to define peak regions. A Na and annihilation doublet may be located among the peak regions. A predetermined energy level may be applied to one of the peaks in the doublet and a location of a hydrogen peak may be predicted based on the location of at least one of the peaks of the doublet. Control systems for calibrating spectra are also disclosed.
US07795593B2

A semiconductor wafer is radiated with an electron beam so that the inelastic scattering takes place in the narrow region, and current flows out from the narrow region; the amount of current is dependent on the substance or substances in the narrow region so that the analyst evaluates the degree of contamination on the basis of the substance or substances specified in the narrow region.
US07795592B2

In an image detector that includes the following layers arranged on top of another: a charge generation layer that generates charges when exposed to a recording electromagnetic wave representing image information; and a charge detection layer that includes multitudes of detection elements disposed two-dimensionally, each having a switch element and a pixel electrode used for reading out the charges generated in the charge generation layer, a smoothing layer formed by a wet coating process is provided between the charge generation layer and charge detection layer.
US07795591B2

A combination rigid grid positioning system, stereotactic gamma imager and an obturator for real-time localization of a region of interest during the performance of a surgical procedure including: a) a rigid grid positioning system including a mechanism for the acquisition of images useful in calculating the spatial location of a region of interest in a mass under study; and b) an obturator inserted through the rigid grid positioning system made up of: i) first and second generally parallel capillary tubes for the introduction thereto and the removal therefrom of a radioactive fluid interconnected at a point of connection; and ii) a reservoir for the radioactive fluid at the point of connection; wherein the reservoir is inserted into the mass containing a region of interest and the radioactive fluid provides a marker for the region of interest during subsequent imaging and thereby specific localization of the region of interest during subsequent procedures.
US07795587B2

A Terahertz scanning imaging device for imaging objects where the object is larger than the object to imager distance. The imager comprises scanning elements, sensors, and an image processor. The scanning elements are used to direct radiation to the sensors. Multiple scanning elements and sensors may be used, each scanning a portion of the field of view. The image processor, in communication with the sensors, generates a consolidated 2-dimensional image of a field of view.
US07795586B2

A device for detecting radiation signals and a device for measuring the concentration of a substance are described, a first detector and a second detector being provided on a first chip, and a first filter and a second filter being provided on a second chip, the first chip and the second chip being connected to one another in hermetically sealed fashion.
US07795576B2

Disclosed are various embodiments of high-speed, high-performance, low-noise optical encoders having various means for preventing undesired stray light from reaching light detectors incorporated therein. Structures employed to block stray light in the optical encoders include light barriers, air gap trenches, and coatings disposed between first and second sides of a substrate of the encoder. Also disclosed are compact single track optical encoders having a single dome lens disposed thereover, and dual track triple dome lens optical encoders. Methods of making such optical encoders are also disclosed.
US07795574B2

A low-light viewing device includes a housing, having mounted thereto: a lens, an electronic camera for receiving light focused by the lens and for providing an output signal; a display for receiving the output signal and displaying an image detected by the camera; a controller for controlling the camera and the display, and a user interface for operating the controller. The lens may be a fixed focus lens having an F number of less than about 1, and a T number of less than about 1.5. The display may have a resolution at least as great as the resolution of the camera. The device may have a processor programmed to provide control signals to the camera and display depending on a selected light environment.
US07795570B2

A self scanning photodiode array allows low signal pixels to accumulate charge for multiples of predetermined exposure time t0 before being read. The pattern of exposures, the integers Mi where I runs from 1 to N the number of pixels in the array, is chosen such that the pixels of interest accumulate as much charge as possible without exceeding saturation.
US07795562B2

A dual coil induction cooking system and method for heating ferrous and non-ferrous cooking vessels. The system includes a first resonant circuit for inducing a current in a ferrous metal cooking vessel at a first frequency and a second resonant circuit, wired in a parallel combination with the first resonant circuit, for inducing a current in a non-ferrous metal cooking vessel at a second frequency. The system also includes a power source for powering the parallel combination, so that one of the first and the second resonant circuits is coupled to supply power through the parallel combination to a respective one of the cooking vessels. A method for coupling power to a load includes sweeping a parallel combination of resonant circuits with a variable frequency power, detecting a resonant frequency response corresponding to a metallic composition of the load, and simultaneously powering the parallel combination of resonant circuits at a frequency corresponding to the detected resonant frequency.
US07795560B2

An apparatus for processing a work-piece (80) includes a laser source (102) and a first lens assembly (108). The laser source is configured for emitting laser beams. The first lens assembly is configured for adjustably focusing the laser beams onto the work-piece. The first lens assembly is disposed in optical alignment with the laser source and includes a first lens set having a positive refractive power and a second lens set having a negative refractive power. Because of the first lens assembly, the laser beams emitted from the laser source can be focused accurately onto the work-piece, and then the apparatus for processing the work-piece has accurately focused laser beams as a result.
US07795554B2

The present invention relates to an antistatic component and a method of manufacturing the same. An antistatic component of the present invention comprises buttons each of which includes a push portion 11 or 11′ formed at one end of the button and made of a first resin and a switch contact 13 or 13′ formed at the other end of the button and made of a second resin; and an elastically-deformable connection portion 15 formed integrally with the switch contact 13 or 13′ so as to connect the plurality of buttons to one another. The push portion is exposed outward to be pushed and has a plating layer 12 or 12′ formed thereon, and the switch contact selectively operates a tact switch 4 or 4′. The first resin comprises a plating material and the second resin comprises a non-plating material. The switch contact and the connection portion, and the push portion are formed integrally with each other by means of dual injection molding. With the antistatic component and the method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention constructed as above, penetration of static electricity is prevented while the durability and appearance of the button are maintained. Thus, there are advantages in that the appearance of a part can be sufficiently decorated, an internal system can be effectively protected, and a process of manufacturing a part can be simplified, resulting in improved productivity.
US07795549B2

A housing for a weighing indicator terminal, having a top cover and a base member attached to the top cover. The top cover and the base member have complimentary configurations whereby the top cover and the base member are attachable together in more than one configuration.
US07795545B2

A hot melt water-resistant structure includes: an object to be protected from water; and a resin cover for covering an outside of the object and made of hot melt resin. The object includes an exposed surface and a side surface with a sidewall. The exposed surface is exposed from the resin cover. The side surface surrounds the exposed surface. The sidewall protrudes from the side surface continuously or intermittently. The resin cover covers and contacts the side surface with the sidewall.
US07795541B2

Supports for high or medium voltage electrical conductors (6, 7) at potentials different from the potential of an enclosure (1) are supported by disc-shaped parts (4, 5) made from thermoplastic polyester, for example terephthalate polyethylene. The discs (4 and 5) provide good insulation without largely disturbing the electrical field around the conductors due to their fairly low dielectric constant. They are also compatible with use under SF6 gas.
US07795540B2

A cable includes an elastic member extendable and compressible in a first direction and a first conductor having a meandering portion embedded in the elastic member. The meandering portion meanders within the elastic member and extends in the first direction. It is preferable that a plurality of coating members are arranged in parallel in the first direction and coupled to a surface of the elastic member. In addition, it is preferable that each of the coating members is harder than the elastic member.
US07795529B2

Disclosed are an organic dye having a specific structure, a photoelectric conversion material containing the dye, a semiconductor electrode formed of a substrate having an electrically conductive surface, a semiconductor layer coated on the electrically conductive surface and the above dye adsorbed on the surface, and a photoelectric conversion device to which the above dye is applied.The present invention uses the above dye and can therefore provide a photoelectric conversion device excellent in photoelectric conversion efficiency, and the photoelectric conversion device is suitable for use in a solar cell or the like.
US07795527B2

A solar cell module includes photoelectric converters, and resin surface covering materials covering the light-incident side of photoelectric converters, trenches being formed in the surface covering materials. The trenches extend approximately in parallel to the horizontal plane for a certain length, and in parallel to each other, so as to facilitate, in repairing the damage therein, improving the adhesiveness between the module surface and the bonding portion of a repair material so as to prevent water and contamination from getting into the bonding portion, prevent the solar cell module properties from deteriorating, prevent any ground fault through the water, and prevent the repair material from peeling.
US07795518B2

An operating device for use with a musical instrument may allow for a supporting member configured to be supported by a user to be operatively connected to a percussion instrument with a case, which may contain an electronic circuit for processing a signal produced by striking a striking surface of the percussion instrument. The case may be arranged between the electronic percussion instrument and the supporting member. The case and the electronic percussion instrument may be configured to be moveable relative to the user.
US07795516B2

A bridge mechanism for keeping at least one string on a musical instrument at a desired tension, having: a first body having a string contact point located at an intonation harmonic; at least one other string contact point located at one of said intonation harmonic and between intonation harmonics wherein the string anchor point is located independently of the soundboard; and a string arranged between said string contact points, wherein the string changes longitudinal direction at least once.
US07795510B2

A novel inbred maize line designated PHCK5 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing inbred maize line PHCK5 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHCK5 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the inbred line PHCK5 or a trait conversion of PHCK5 with another maize line. Inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PHCK5, methods for producing other inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PHCK5 and the inbred maize lines and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US07795509B2

DNA encoding a plant quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase (QPRTase) enzyme, and constructs comprising such DNA are provided. Methods of altering quinolate phosphoribosyl transferase expression are provided.
US07795504B2

The present invention is directed to nucleic acid molecules and nucleic acid constructs, and other agents associated with simultaneous up- and down-regulation of expression of RNAs. Specifically it includes methods of simultaneously enhancing the expression of a first RNA at the same time as suppressing the expression of a second RNA. The present invention also specifically provides constructs capable of simultaneously enhancing the expression of a first RNA while at the same time suppressing the expression of a second RNA, methods for utilizing such agents and plants containing such agents. The present invention also provides other constructs including polycistronic constructs.
US07795501B2

A novel protein, ORE 15, responsible for the regulation of plant leaf longevity is disclosed. Also, a gene encoding the protein ORE15 is disclosed. The protein and gene can be used in the regulation of plant leaf longevity, including delayed senescence, growth promotion, leaf weight, an size increase.
US07795500B2

A transgenic plant transformed by a Transcription Factor Stress-Related Protein (TFSRP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Also provided are isolated TFSRPs, and isolated nucleic acid coding TFSRPs, and vectors and host cells containing the latter.
US07795493B2

The present invention is a porcine animal, tissue, organ, cells and cell lines, which lack any expression of functional alpha 1,3 galactosyltransferase (alpha1,3GT). These animals, tissues, organs and cells can be used in xenotransplantation and for other medical purposes.
US07795492B2

An absorbent article such as a nappy or an incontinence pad, with a liquid-permeable surface layer, a liquidtight surface layer, and a first absorbent body arranged between the surface layers and extending in longitudinal and transverse directions along the surface layers and also in a through-direction from the liquid-permeable surface layer towards the liquidtight surface layer. The first absorbent body has openings which extend in the through-direction. A second absorbent structure is arranged on that side of the first absorbent body facing away from the liquid-permeable surface layer. The liquid-permeable surface layer is attached to the second absorbent structure through the openings.
US07795490B2

In a process for converting methane to aromatic hydrocarbons, a feed containing methane is supplied to one or more reaction zone(s) containing catalytic material operating under reaction conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the methane to aromatic hydrocarbons; the reaction zone(s) being operated with an inverse temperature profile.
US07795485B2

Processing schemes and arrangements are provided for obtaining ethylene and ethane via the catalytic cracking of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock and converting the ethylene into ethyl benzene without separating the ethane from the feed stream. The disclosed processing schemes and arrangements advantageously eliminate any separation of ethylene from ethane produced by a FCC process prior to using the combined ethylene/ethane stream as a feed for an ethyl benzene process. Further, heat from the alkylation reactor is used for one of the strippers of the FCC process and at least one bottoms stream from alkylation process is used as an absorption solvent in the FCC process.
US07795484B2

A feedstock originating from renewable sources is converted to branched and saturated hydrocarbons without heteroatoms in the base oils distillation range by converting the fatty acids to olefins, which are subsequently oligomerised.
US07795480B2

The present invention relates to an improved method for manufacturing 2-chloro-3,3,3,-trifluoropropene (HCFC-1233xf) by reacting 1,1,2,3-tetrachloropropene, 1,1,1,2,3-pentachloropropane, and/or 2,3,3,3-tetrachloropropene with hydrogen fluoride, in a vapor phase reaction vessel in the presence of a vapor phase fluorination catalyst and stabilizer. HCFC-1233xf is an intermediate in the production of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf) which is a refrigerant with low global warming potential.
US07795476B2

Compositions comprising polytetramethylene glycol and a volatile material (e.g. a perfume) are able to sustainedly release said volatile material and are easy to disperse in liquid and cream products.
US07795474B2

This invention offers 6,8,10-undecatrien-3-one or 6,8,10-undecatrien-4-one which are represented by the following formula (1) [in the formula, either one of A and B stands for carbonyl group and the other stands for methylene group, and the wavy line signifies cis-form, trans-form, or a mixture of cis- and trans-form at an optional ratio] and which can reproduce an odor rich in naturality and freshness.
US07795470B2

A method for the heterogeneously catalyzed partial direct oxidation of propane to acrylic acid in the gas phase, in which the reaction gas inlet mixture comprises cyclopropane as an impurity and the acrylic acid, after it has been converted from the product gas mixture into the liquid phase, is operated from the other constituents of the liquid phase with the aid of a separation by crystallization.
US07795469B2

An improved process for the production of unsaturated carboxylic acids and unsaturated nitriles from their corresponding C3 to C5 alkanes, or mixtures of C3 to C5 alkanes and alkenes, that involves oxidation in the presence of a supported Mo—V-based mixed metal oxide catalyst in a multi-stage reaction system which employs both separation of the oxidation product from one or more intermediate effluent streams, as well as feeding additional oxygen to reaction zones subsequent to the first reaction zone.
US07795465B2

The invention relates to a process for preparing semicarbazone compounds of the formula I, where R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, halogen, CN, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkyl or C1-C4-haloalkoxy, and R3 is C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkyl or C1-C4-haloalkoxy, by reacting a hydrazone compound of the general formula II, where R is C1-C4-alkoxy, amino, C1-C4-alkylamino or di(C1-C4-alkyl)amino, and R1, R2 are each as defined above, with an aniline compound of the general formula III where R3 is as defined above.
US07795464B2

A method for efficiently producing L-2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-butanoic acid, useful as a herbicide, by a catalytic asymmetric synthesis reaction with a high asymmetric yield. The method includes a step in which a compound represented by the below formula (1) and a benzylamine are reacted in the presence of dehydrating agent, then the resulting mass is reacted with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of an asymmetric catalyst, followed by acid hydrolysis, further followed by elimination of a protective group. [chemical formula 1] (1) (where, R1 represents a C1-4 alkyl group).
US07795462B2

An aromatic silicon-containing compound has the formula: Ar—[X-L-SiRn(OR′)3-n]m where Ar represents an aromatic group, X represents a divalent or trivalent group; L represents a divalent linking group; R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; R′ represents an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; n is an integer of from 0 to 2; and m is an integer of from 1 to 5. The aromatic silicon-containing compound can be used in electrophotographic photoreceptors, particularly in outmost protective layers of such electrophotographic photoreceptors.
US07795457B2

Carbamate compounds having a structure represented by formula I (where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are as defined herein) are useful as anti-tumor agents.
US07795453B2

The invention relates to novel benzothiophene-, benzofuran- and indole ureas and to the use thereof for producing medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases and for improving perception, concentration, learning and/or memory.
US07795452B2

A charge-transporting organic material containing a compound with a 1,4-dithiin ring, which is represented by the following formula (1), is described. When using a thin film made of such an organic material in a low-molecular-weight organic EL (OLED) element and a polymer organic EL (PLED) element, EL element characteristics such as low drive voltage and high luminous efficiency can be improved. In addition, a charge-transporting varnish containing the compound with a 1,4-dithiin ring represented by the above formula (1) has good processing properties, and a thin film obtained therefrom has high charge-transporting characteristics and thus is effective for application to protective films for capacitor electrodes, antistatic films, solar cells or fuel cells.
US07795447B2

The present invention relates to compounds of the Formula I wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R7 and A are as defined. Compounds of the Formula I have activity inhibiting production of Aβ-peptide. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating diseases and disorders, for example, neurodegenerative and/or neurological disorders, e.g., Alzheimer's disease, in a mammal comprising compounds of the Formula I.
US07795439B2

A method for the in-situ treatment of a pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid ester with an oxidizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide, to improve product quality is provided. The method for the in-situ removal of impurities from a saponified solution of pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid ester comprises the steps of providing a solution of pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid ester, saponifying the solution with a base to form the corresponding pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid salt, reacting the solution with an oxidizing agent in an amount effective to remove impurities, acidifying the solution with an acid to convert the pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid into the corresponding pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid, and collecting a purified solution comprising pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid. Further provided is a method for the preparation of herbicidal 2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)nicotinic acids, esters, and salts by using a pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid salt prepared by the above method as an intermediate.
US07795427B2

The invention provides methods and compositions for modulating osteoclastogenesis and for treating bone diseases characterized by bone loss or a decrease in bone mass or density, by administering a compound or agent that modulates the adenosine A1 receptor, in particular, an inhibitor or antagonist of the A1 receptor.
US07795425B2

A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (Ia): includes: (i) contacting a compound of formula (III): with a compound of formula (IV): in the presence of a palladium catalyst, methanol and hydrogen gas, the step (i) preferably being conducted under basic conditions with acetic acid being added to the medium of reaction once the consumption of the hydrogen gas has ceased.
US07795423B2

The present invention provides a new labeling reagent for preparing modified oligonucleotides and processes for their production wherein these oligonucleotides contain at least once the structure P═N—SO2-benzole-L-M-X, characterized in that L is either —(CH2)n- or polyethylene glycol, M is selected from a group consisting of —NH—, —O—, —S—, and —COO—, and X is either a protecting group or a detectable unit. L is preferably either —(CH2)n- or polyethylene glycol.
US07795417B2

The invention provides methods of detecting West Nile virus and oligonucleotide reagents derived from a West Nile virus consensus sequence that are useful in the methods of the invention.
US07795414B2

The present invention is directed to novel nucleic acid and amino acid sequences associated with the metabolism of seed storage compounds in plants. More particularly novel lipid metabolism protein (LMP) sequences are provided herein. Preferably, the seed storage compounds are lipids, fatty acids, starches or seed storage proteins.
US07795410B2

The present invention relates to cupredoxin, specifically Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin, and/or Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c551 and their use in inhibiting of viral infection, and in particular infection of mammalian cells by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The invention also relates to variants and derivatives of cupredoxin and cytochrome c that retain the ability to inhibit viral infection, and in particular infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The invention also relates to research methods for studying viral and bacterial infection in mammalian cells.
US07795406B2

Use of a combination of DNA expression constructs for the production of a remedy for the immunization against infections with leishmaniasis, as well as a corresponding vaccine. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
US07795404B1

Novel soluble Notch receptor ligands and polynucleotides encoding such are disclosed, as well as methods for producing and using these novel nucleotides and polypeptides. These novel polypeptides or agonists or antagonists thereto modulate cellular activity, regulate the growth and division of cell, including stem cells, progenitor and precursor cells, are involved in cell fate decisions, and provide prophylactic or therapeutic benefits for treatment of human diseases. Expression systems are provided that facilitate the production, secretion, and purification of these molecules.
US07795403B2

The invention relates to antibodies directed against F1+2, to the preparation and use thereof, especially in therapy and diagnosis. The antibodies bind to an epitope on the N-terminal half of the F2 fragment of prothrombin.
US07795391B2

A novel gene (designated 101P3A11 or PHOR-1) and its encoded protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein 101P3A11 exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, 101P3A11 provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The 101P3A11 gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with 101P3A11 can be used in active or passive immunization.
US07795382B2

Peptide tags, referred to here as inclusion body tags, are disclosed and are useful for the generation of insoluble fusion peptides. The fusion peptides comprise at least one inclusion body tag operably linked to a peptide of interest. Expression of the fusion peptide in a host cell results in a product that is insoluble and contained within inclusion bodies in the cell and/or cell lysate. The inclusion bodies may then be purified and the protein of interest may be isolated after cleavage from the inclusion body tag.
US07795381B2

Methods and materials for inducing anti-tumor responses in melanoma patients are disclosed. These methods and materials involve gp100-derived polypeptides that contain both a helper T-cell epitope and a cytotoxic T-cell epitope.
US07795371B2

A grind resin, a pigment dispersion, and a coating composition are provided. The grind resin comprises a reaction product of a dibasic acid, optionally a polybasic acid, a diol, optionally a polyol, and a fatty compound. The fatty compound has a fatty chain and two reactive groups reactive with at least one of the dibasic acid and the diol provided that ≦5% of all acid groups are provided by the polybasic acid and <20% of all hydroxyl groups are provided by the polyol. The reaction product is substantially free from branching comprising the reaction product of acid groups or hydroxyl groups and the dibasic acid, polybasic acid, diol, polyol, or fatty compound. The pigment dispersion comprises a pigment and the grind resin. The coating composition comprises a vehicle resin, the pigment, the grind resin, and a cross-linking agent reactive with the vehicle resin and/or the grind resin.
US07795370B2

A tetracarboxylic acid compound of formula (1) or (2) wherein A represents a divalent group; X1, X2 and X3 respectively represent a hydrogen atom or the like; R1, R2, R3 and R4 respectively represent a carboxyl group or an acid anhydride group; n represents 1 or 2; and B represents a cyclic group.
US07795366B2

The present invention relates to a composition comprising more than 25 weight % (based on the weight of the composition) of one or more ethylene polymers having an Mw of 20,000 g/mole or more and at least 0.1 weight % of a liquid hydrocarbon modifier where the modifier has: 1) a viscosity index of 120 or more, and 2) an kinematic viscosity of 3 to 3000 cSt at 100° C., and 3) a pour point of −10° C. or less, and 4) a flash point of 200° C. or more; and wherein the modifier contains less than 5 weight % of functional groups selected from hydroxide, aryls, substituted aryls, halogens, alkoxys, carboxylates, esters, acrylates, oxygen, nitrogen, and carboxyl, based upon the weight of the modifier.
US07795359B2

The invention provides a continuous-flow process for producing a polymeric material. The process of the invention comprises the steps of: introducing at least two solutions, each comprising one or more reactants, into a microreactor to mix the two solutions to form a reacting solution, wherein the one or more reactants are selected from the group consisting of a monomer, an initiator, a coupling agent, a prepolymer, a macromer, and mixtures thereof; feeding continuously the reacting solution into a flow-through polymerization reactor in a coil form, wherein the flow-through polymerization reactor is capable of providing a residence time sufficient for (co)polymerizing the reactants to form a polymer with a desired polydispersity, wherein the flow-through polymerization reactor is immersed in an ultrasonic bath to minimize or substantially eliminate unwanted high-molecular-weight fractions of the polymer.
US07795357B2

Multiblock copolymers are described and contain the structural unit of formula I -A-O—R1—O—CO—(R2—CO—)m—X-D-X—(CO—R2)m—CO—X—  (I), where A is a radical derived from a homo- or copolyoxymethylene, R1 is an alkylene radical-having at least two carbon atoms or a cycloalkylene radical, R2 is a direct carbon-carbon bond, or an alkylene, cycloalkylene, arylene, or aralkylene radical, X is selected from —O—, —S—, or —NH—, D is a divalent radical B which is a radical of a hydroxy-terminated, mercaptan-terminated, or amino-terminated polymer which derives from polyalkylene glycols, polyvinyl ethers, polyvinyl ether-alkene copolymers, polyvinyl esters, polyvinyl ester-alkene copolymers, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol-alkene copolymers, polyvinylaromatics, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyacetals, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyamides, polyimines, polyetherester elastomers, polyetheramide elastomers, polyalkadienes, polyurethanes, polyureas, polysiloxanes, or a triblock copolymer radical -PAO-B-PAO-, where B assumes one of the above meanings and PAO is a polyalkylene oxide radical, and m is 0 or 1. The multiblock copolymers may be used to produce moldings.
US07795345B2

The invention relates to absorptive, crosslinked polymers which are based on partly neutralized, monoethylenically unsaturated monomers carrying acid groups, and have improved properties, in particular in respect of their capacity for transportation of liquids in the swollen state, and which has a high gel bed permeability and high centrifuge retention capacity.
US07795343B2

A polymer composition including polymer particles comprising a first polymer and a second polymer is disclosed. The first polymer optionally has a crosslinked core and has a glass transition temperature in the range of −30° C. to 100° C. The second polymer comprising select crosslinking groups has a glass transition temperature in the range of −10° C. to less than 18° C. A coating composition comprising the polymer composition is provided. The polymer composition has good low temperature film formation and provides a film with an acceptable level of hardness.
US07795342B2

The use is described of aqueous dispersions in combination with fluoropolymers for oil- and water-repellent finishing of fiber materials. These dispersions have a long shelf life and contain a composition which is preparable by reaction of polyfunctional isocyanates with a deficiency of comparatively long-chain monohydric alcohols, subsequent reaction with a deficiency of a ketone oxime and final reaction with polyhydric alcohols or amino alcohols.
US07795337B2

A thixotropy imparting composition. The composition comprises the reaction products of: one or more polyesters from one or more polyols having at least two hydroxyl moieties; and one or more polycarboxylic acids having at least two carboxylic acid moieties; and one or more basic compounds, wherein said polyesters have at least two active carboxylic acid moieties as end groups and at least a portion of said carboxylic acid moieties are in the carboxylate anion form. This composition may further comprise one or more diluents. The composition exists as a liquid. The composition may be used in a non-aqueous fluid system as a rheological additive in combination with one or more particulate materials, wherein said rheological additive imparts thixotropy to said system.A thixotropy imparting composition. The composition comprises the reaction products of: one or more polyesters from one or more polyols having at least two hydroxyl moieties; and one or more polycarboxylic acids having at least two carboxylic acid moieties; wherein said polyesters have at least two active carboxylic acid moieties as end groups. This composition may further comprise one or more diluents. The composition may exist as a liquid. The composition may be used in a non-aqueous fluid system as a rheological additive in combination with one or more particulate materials, wherein said rheological additive imparts thixotropy to said system.
US07795335B2

A conductive polymer gel contains water, as a main component, a conductive conjugated polymer, and a surfactant and/or an alcohol, and also it may contain an electrolyte. The conductive conjugated polymer may further be doped with a dopant. The conductive polymer gel is obtained by adding a surfactant and/or an alcohol to a conductive conjugated polymer colloidal dispersion and/or a conductive conjugated polymer solution and leaving the mixture to stand, thereby to gelatinize the mixture.
US07795334B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition which is excellent in antistatic property of a non-electrification-prevented adherend (subject to be protected) upon peeling, and has reduced stainability in an adherend and is excellent in adhesion reliance, and electrification preventing pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets using the same. There is provided a pressure-sensitive composition comprising an ionic liquid, and a (meth)acryl-based polymer containing, as a monomer component, 0.1 to 100% by weight of a (meth)acrylic acid alkylene oxide. There is provided a pressure-sensitive composition comprising an ionic liquid, and a polymer containing, as a monomer component, 0.5 to 30% by weight of a nitrogen-containing monomer and having a glass transition temperature Tg of no higher than 0° C. There is provided a pressure-sensitive composition comprising an ionic liquid, and a (meth)acryl-based polymer containing, as a monomer component, 0.01 to 20% by weight of a reactive surfactant.
US07795333B2

Thermoplastic polymer compositions, films, continues, closures, laminates can comprise a modified vinyl polymer said modified polymer having a moiety comprising a cyclodextrin compound. The cyclodextrin compound, locked into the polymer structure, can absorb impurities, permeants, or other undesirable volatile materials. The cooperation between the cyclodextrin grafted onto the thermoplastic polymer and the polymer structure can provide barrier properties to a film, web or other polymer structure. A permeant or a contaminant can be complexed or trapped within the polymer and held within the film or Web preventing the permeant or contaminant from passing into the interior of a container or enclosure.
US07795332B2

A method for removing a fluorinated carboxylic acid or salt thereof from an aqueous liquid by contacting the aqueous liquid with adsorbent particles. The fluorinated carboxylic acid or salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of partially fluorinated carboxylic acids or salts thereof and fully fluorinated carboxylic acids or salts thereof.
US07795331B2

A polyaniline/carbon black composite and a preparation method thereof are disclosed The polyaniline/carbon black composite is formed by polyaniline covering carbon black and is with core-shell structure while the polyaniline/carbon black composite contains 10˜30 wt. % of carbon black. The preparation method of polyaniline/carbon black composite includes the steps of: disperse carbon black into solution to form carbon black solution, add aniline into the carbon black solution to form a first solution; dissolve ammonium persulfate into acid aqueous solution to form a second solution; add the second solution to the first solution, after reaction, through filtering and grinding to produce polyaniline/carbon black composite.
US07795321B2

Rheology modification of an ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer is achieved by blending the interpolymer with at least one branched polyolefin. The polyolefins can be homopolymers or interpolymers and have a branching index of less than 1. The ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer is a block copolymer having at least a hard block and at least a soft block. The soft block comprises a higher amount of comonomers than the hard block. The block interpolymer has a number of unique characteristics disclosed here. Rheology-modified ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer, i.e., the resulting polymer blends, can be extruded or molded into many useful articles, such as films, sheets, profiles, gaskets, foams, etc.
US07795316B1

Ophthalmic pharmaceutical compositions containing tobramycin, dexamethasone and deacetylated xanthan gum are described. The compositions provide longer ocular retention for enhanced ocular bioavailability of tobramycin and dexamethasone. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions also provide for improved suspension of dexamethasone. The concentration of ionizable species in the compositions is controlled so as to prevent precipitation of the xanthan gum as a result of ionic interactions between tobramycin and xanthan gum, while allowing for a restoration of viscosity upon topical application of the compositions to the eye. The use of deacetylated xanthan gum is disclosed, so as to avoid formulation instability caused by pH drift during storage.
US07795315B2

The present invention provides novel compounds of the general formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, processes for the manufacture of these novel compounds and medicaments containing such compounds. The compounds of the present invention show anti-proliferative and differentiation-inducing activity, which results in inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis and inhibition of invasion. The invention also covers the use of such compounds for the treatment of diseases such as cancer and for the manufacture of corresponding medicaments.
US07795314B2

A method is described wherein semapimod is administered, or a salt thereof, or a combination of semapimod and a salt thereof, for the treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis.
US07795313B2

Disclosed are bis(thio-hydrazide amide) disalts, which are represented by Structural Formula (I): Y is a covalent bond or a substituted or unsubstituted straight chained hydrocarbyl group. R1-R4 are independently —H, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group, or R1 and R3 taken together with the carbon and nitrogen atoms to which they are bonded, and/or R2 and R4 taken together with the carbon and nitrogen atoms to which they are bonded, form a non-aromatic heterocyclic ring optionally fused to an aromatic ring. Z is —O or —S. M+ is a pharmaceutically acceptable monovalent cation and M2+ is a pharmaceutically acceptable divalent cation. Also, disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a bis(thio-hydrazide amide) disalt described above. Further disclosed are methods of treating a subject with cancer. The methods comprise the step of administering an effective amount of a bis(thio-hydrazide amide) disalt described above.
US07795301B2

The invention relates to compounds of general formula (I); in which R is an amino or guanidino group; R2 is acetyl or trifluoroacetyl; and n is an integer from 10 to 18 or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical formulations containing them or their use in the prevention or treatment of a viral infection.
US07795299B2

Compounds of Formulas I-II are described, along with methods of using such compounds for the treatment of cancer and pharmaceutical formulations thereof.
US07795298B2

Disclosed is an isomer, enantiomer, diastereoisomer or tautomer of a compound represented by Formula I: or a salt thereof, in which R1, R2, R100, R200, A, A1, B, B1, BG, n, Q and Q1 are substituents described. Also disclosed is the use of compounds of Formula 1 to treat proliferative disorders.
US07795291B2

Compounds are provided which have the structure of Formula (I): wherein R1 is halogen; and X is hydrogen or halogen, and salts thereof, which compounds are useful as anti-atherosclerotic, anti-dyslipidemic, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity agents.
US07795290B2

2-Amido-4-substituted-aryl-thiazole-based compounds exhibiting ATP-utilizing enzyme inhibitory activity, methods of using compounds exhibiting ATP-utilizing enzyme inhibitory activity, and compositions comprising compounds exhibiting ATP-utilizing enzyme inhibitory activity, are disclosed.
US07795274B2

Described herein are compounds and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, which modulate the activity of 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP). Also described herein are methods of using such FLAP modulators, alone and in combination with other compounds, for treating respiratory, cardiovascular, and other leukotriene-dependent or leukotriene mediated conditions or diseases.
US07795271B2

Disclosed are compounds Formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R4, and R5 are defined herein. These compounds are useful for treating diseases and conditions caused or exacerbated by unregulated p38 MAP Kinase and/or TNF activity. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, methods of preparing the compounds and methods of treatment using the compounds are also disclosed.
US07795262B2

Piperazinyl oxoalkyl tetrahydroisoquinolines and related analogues of the Formula: are provided, in which variables are as described herein. Such compounds may be used to modulate ligand binding to histamine H3 receptors in vivo or in vitro, and are particularly useful in the treatment of a variety of central nervous system (CNS) and other disorders in humans, domesticated companion animals and livestock animals. Compounds provided herein may be administered alone or in combination with one or more other CNS agents to potentiate the effects of the other CNS agent(s). Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating such disorders are provided, as are methods for using such ligands for detecting histamine H3 receptors (e.g., receptor localization studies).
US07795256B2

A series of thieno[2,3-b]pyridin-6(7H)-one derivatives, substituted in the 3-position by an arylcarbonyl or heteroaryl-carbonyl moiety, being inhibitors of p38 MAP kinase, are accordingly of use in medicine, for example in the treatment and/or prevention of immune or inflammatory disorders.
US07795246B2

A non-aqueous, particle-forming, fused pyrrolocarbazole-containing composition is disclosed. Upon contact with an aqueous medium, the particle-forming composition spontaneously disperses into suspended particles, thereby forming a stable suspension that provides greatly improved bioavailability of orally administered fused pyrrolocarbazole compounds.
US07795234B2

The invention provides a transgenic animal producing low-lactose milk, which is transformed with a gene encoding an extracellular lactase-hydrolyzing enzyme cloned from a human small intestinal cDNA library. The invention also provides a new extracellular lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (ecLPH) gene that can express human lactase-hydrolyzing enzyme in the mammary gland of animals. The invention can be used in the production of low-lactose milk.
US07795225B2

The invention provides inhibitors of chondrosarcoma cell growth that are useful as anti-cancer and anti-tumor agents. The inhibitors are peptides having sequences related to cleavage regions of the proenzyme forms of matrix metalloproteinases and that can inhibit the activity of matrix metalloproteinases. The peptide inhibitors of the invention can be formulated into therapeutic compositions, lotions, creams and wound dressings.
US07795207B2

The invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active agent a lipopeptide in a physiologically effective dose and a cyclodextrin or a cyclodextrin derivative.
US07795206B2

The present invention provides a method of selecting or designing a compound for the ability to regulate JAK activity. The method comprises assessing the ability of the compound to modulate the interaction of the pseudo-substrate loop (PSL) with the kinase like domain (KLD) of JAK. In addition the present invention provides compounds which inhibit JAK and methods of treatment of JAK-associated disease states.
US07795204B2

Food supplement compositions and their methods of use in increasing lean mass and/or muscle size and/or strength in individuals, particularly, athletes is described. The food supplements described comprise a substance which increases nitric oxide production in the body, and, a source of amino acids. Other food supplements described comprise a substance which can enhance and/or mimic insulin activity, and a source of amino acids. The food supplement compositions described are suitable for supplementing the diet of an athlete and particularly for enhancing an athlete's muscle size or strength.
US07795200B2

This invention includes a cleaning composition, the method of use of the cleaning composition, and a new use of a composition. The composition includes an oxidizing agent with a reduction potential of greater than about 0.1 E°(V) at 25° C., and is devoid of an oxidizing agent with a reduction potential of greater than about 1.5 E°(V) at 25° C. The oxidizing agent may be a salt of a nitrate or nitrite. The method includes applying the composition to a textile and working the composition. The composition may be effective in cleaning urine odors from textiles. The composition may remove odors from textiles without bleaching or discoloring the textile, even if the textile includes natural fibers such as wool.
US07795193B2

A base for electric insulating oil comprising an esterification product from a C8-C20 higher fatty acid and a C6-C14 branched aliphatic monohydric alcohol; or a base for electric insulating oil comprising an esterification product from a mixed fatty acid derived from palm oil and/or mixed fatty acid derived from soybean oil and a C1-C5 aliphatic monohydric alcohol or C6-C14 branched aliphatic monohydric alcohol. The thus provided base for electric insulating oil excels in viscosity, fluidity, chemical stability, etc. and is capable of satisfactorily exhibiting electrical characteristics of electric insulating oil.
US07795187B2

A method for plugging a permeable zone or leak in a subterranean formation comprises introducing into the formation a cross-linkable organic polymer and a cross-linking composition which comprises a zirconium triethanolamine complex, a tetra(hydroxyalkyl)ethylenediamine, water and optionally, a polyol. The method can be used for cross-linking organic polymers over a wide range of pH. By varying the composition and optionally adding a delay agent, the method provides flexibility in rate of cross-linking.
US07795186B2

Provided herein are methods and compositions for generating acids for use downhole, for example, to break fluid-loss control pills. The delayed-release acid breakers of the present invention comprise orthoesters and/or poly(orthoesters).
US07795185B2

One example of the many methods provided includes a method comprising: providing a fluid loss control pill that comprises an aqueous base fluid, a cellulose derivative and a dual functional component, the fluid loss control pill having a first viscosity; allowing the dual functional component to interact with the cellulose derivative in the fluid loss control pill such that the viscosity of the fluid loss control pill increases to a second viscosity, the second viscosity being greater than the first viscosity; placing the fluid loss control pill in a subterranean formation; and allowing the dual functional component to interact with the cellulose derivative so as to reduce the second viscosity of the fluid loss control pill to a third viscosity, the third viscosity being less than the second viscosity.
US07795184B2

A method of altering the properties of a drilling fluid includes adding effective amounts of crushed or whole oilseeds or mixtures of crushed or whole oilseeds to a drilling fluid. The crushed or whole oilseeds or mixture of crushed or whole oilseeds are selected to impart any one of or a combination of effects including but not limited to: an increase in drilling fluid emulsion stability in oil-based or invert emulsion fluids, decreased specific gravity of the drilling fluid, seepage loss control, filtration control, oil wetting and deflocculation/dispersion, of entrained solids and/or reduced torque and drag of the drilling string.
US07795182B2

A method for immobilizing biological polymers such as DNA or proteins, on a solid support, by ionocovalent bond, for making biochips, and the resulting chips obtained by the method.
US07795181B2

An oxide high temperature superconductor and method of making which includes a first buffer layer composed of CeO3 formed on a sapphire R (1, −1, 0, 2) face substrate for reducing lattice mismatch between the sapphire R (1, −1, 0, 2) face substrate and the oxide high temperature superconductor thin film, and a second buffer layer composed of such an oxide high temperature superconductor but in which Ba is substituted with Sr formed on the first buffer layer. The first buffer layer reduces the lattice mismatch between the sapphire R (1, −1, 0, 2) face substrate and the oxide high temperature superconductor thin, the second buffer layer prevents an interfacial reaction with Ba, thereby permitting the epitaxial growth of an oxide high temperature superconductor thin film that excels in both crystallographic integrity and crystallographic orientation.
US07795180B2

A new use of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid (HMTB) as an inducer, within the plant, of ethylene and polyamine synthesis, mainly putrescine, capable of regulating fruit maturation processes, both in relation to fruit abscission and in relation to color and sugar content, containing mineral elements such as phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen.
US07795171B2

The present invention provides a cerium-zirconium based compound oxide having a total pore volume of at least 0.4 ml/g, the volume of pores having a diameter of 10 nm to 100 nm of 0.25 ml/g or more, and the volume of pores having a diameter of 100 nm to 10 μm of 0.2 ml/g or less. The cerium-zirconium based compound oxide preferably has excellent thermal stability, which allows the desirable pore volume to be maintained even after conducting a further heat treatment at 1,000° C. for 3 hours.
US07795161B2

A fabric for airbags which comprises a synthetic fiber woven fabric and synthetic thermoplastic resin applied on at least one side of the synthetic fiber woven fabric, characterized in that, by applying the synthetic thermoplastic resin, both edgecomb resistance and tear strength of the synthetic fiber woven fabric become 1.3 times or more as large as respective values of the synthetic fiber woven fabric before applying the synthetic thermoplastic resin. Preferably, the fabric for airbags has low air permeability and self-extinguishing property, and is capable of being repelletized with ease.
US07795154B2

To provide a manufacturing apparatus of a semiconductor device, which does not use a stepper in a manufacturing process in the case where mass production of semiconductor devices is carried out by using a large-sized substrate. A thin film formed over a substrate having an insulating surface is selectively irradiated with a laser beam through light control means, specifically through an electro-optical device to cause ablation; accordingly, the thin film is partially removed, thereby processing the thin film in a remaining region into a desired shape. The electro-optical device functions as a variable mask by inputting an electrical signal based on design CAD data of the semiconductor device.
US07795152B2

A method for creating structures in a semiconductor assembly is provided. The method includes etching apertures into a dielectric layer and applying a polymer layer over the dielectric layer. The polymer layer is applied uniformly and fills the apertures at different rates depending on the geometry of the apertures, or on the presence or absence of growth accelerating material. The polymer creates spacers for the etching of additional structure in between the spacers. The method is capable of achieving structures smaller than current lithography techniques.
US07795147B2

The semiconductor storage device comprises memory cell transistors formed on a semiconductor substrate 10; first insulation films 42 covering the top surfaces and the side surfaces of gate electrodes 20 of the memory cell transistors; through-holes 40 opened on first diffused layers 24; a second insulation film 36 with through-holes 40 opened on first diffused layers 24 and through-holes 38 opened on second diffused layers 26 formed in; capacitors formed on the inside walls and the bottoms of the through-holes 40 and including capacitor storage electrodes 46, connected to the first diffused layers 24; capacitor dielectric films 48 covering the capacitor storage electrodes 46, and capacitor-opposed electrodes 54 covering at least a part of the capacitor dielectric films 48; and, contact conducting films 44 formed on the inside walls and bottoms of the through-holes 38, and connected to the second diffused layers. This structure of the semiconductor storage device makes it unnecessary to secure an alignment allowance for alignment of the through-holes 40 opened on the first diffused layer 24 and the through-holes 38 opened on the second diffused layer 26 with the gate electrode 20, which permits the semiconductor storage device to have a small memory cell area.
US07795140B2

A method of manufacturing a substrate, includes: (a) forming the through hole by etching the silicon substrate from a first surface of the silicon substrate by a Bosch process; (b) forming a thermal oxide film such that the thermal oxide film covers the first surface of the silicon substrate, a second surface of the silicon substrate opposite to the first surface, and a surface of the silicon substrate corresponding to a side surface of the through hole, by thermally oxidizing the silicon substrate where the through hole is formed; (c) removing the thermal oxide film; (d) forming an insulating film such that the insulating film covers the first and second surfaces of the silicon substrate and the surface of the silicon substrate corresponding to the side surface of the through hole; and (e) forming the through electrode in the through hole on which the insulating film is formed.
US07795131B2

A method of fabricating metal interconnects and an inter-metal dielectric layer thereof. A first metal interconnect pattern and a second metal interconnect pattern disposed thereon are formed on a substrate by plating processes. Subsequently, an inter-metal dielectric layer is formed on the substrate, the first metal interconnect pattern and the second metal interconnect pattern. The inter-metal dielectric layer is then planarized and the second metal interconnect pattern is exposed.
US07795130B2

A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. One method comprises forming a device region between a substrate and a bond pad. Patterning a conductor between the bond pad and the device region with gaps. Filling the gaps with insulation material that is harder than the conductor to form pillars of relatively hard material that extend through the conductor and forming an insulation layer of the insulation material between the conductor and the bond pad.
US07795128B2

There are included a semiconductor substrate provided with a desirable element region, an electrode pad formed to come in contact with a surface of the semiconductor substrate or a wiring layer provided on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a bump formed on a surface of the electrode pad through an intermediate layer, and a resin insulating film formed in at least a peripheral portion of the bump to cover an interface of the bump and the intermediate layer which is exposed to a side surface of the bump.
US07795123B2

The present invention discloses to a method of forming a gate electrode, the method according to the present invention comprises the steps of forming a lower amorphous silicon layer using silane (SiH4) gas and nitrous oxide (N2O) gas; forming an upper amorphous silicon layer on the lower amorphous silicon layer; and crystallizing the lower and upper amorphous silicon layers through a thermal process.
US07795120B1

A 13C diamond is doped by proton induced transmutation. P-type doping is achieved by the 13C(p,αγ)10B reaction. N-type doping is achieved by the 13C(p,γ)14N reaction. The transmutation reaction that occurs is determined by selection of proton beam energy. Stacks of junctions each calculated to be in the order of 10 nm thick have been achieved.
US07795115B2

The invention is directed to enhancement of reliability and a yield of a semiconductor device by a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device with a supporting body without making the process complex. A second insulation film, a semiconductor substrate, a first insulation film, and a passivation film are etched and removed in this order using a resist layer or a protection layer as a mask. By this etching, an adhesive layer is partially exposed in an opening. At this time, a number of semiconductor devices are separated in individual semiconductor dies. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, a solvent (e.g. alcohol or acetone) is supplied to the exposed adhesive layer through the opening to gradually reduce its adhesion and thereby a supporting body is removed from the semiconductor substrate.
US07795108B2

A method for determining the depth etch, a method of forming a shielded gate trench (SGT) structure and a semiconductor device wafer are disclosed. A material layer is formed over part of a substrate having a trench. The material fills the trench. A resist mask is placed over a test portion of the material layer thereby defining a test structure that lies underneath the resist mask. The resist mask does not cover the trench. The material is isotropically etched and a signal related to a resistance change of the test structure is measured. A lateral undercut DL of the test structure is determined from the signal and an etch depth DT is determined from DL. The wafer may comprise one or more test structures forming a bridge circuit; one or more metal contacts that electrically connect the test structures through contact holes: and resist layer including over the test structures.
US07795107B2

A trench is formed in the surface of a provided semiconductor body. An oxide is deposited in the trench and a cap is deposited on the oxide, wherein the combination of the cap and the oxide impart a mechanical stress on the semiconductor body.
US07795102B1

In a SiGe BJT process, a diode is formed by defining a p-n junction between the BJT collector and BJT internal base, blocking the external gate regions of the BJT and doping the emitter poly of the BJT with the same dopant type as the internal base thereby using the emitter contact to define the contact to the internal base. Electrical contact to the collector is established through a sub-collector or by means of a second emitter poly and internal base both doped with the same dopant type as the collector.
US07795096B2

An integrated circuit includes a transistor of a first type with a first gate electrode and a transistor of a second type with a second gate electrode. The first gate electrode is formed in a first gate groove that is defined in a semiconductor substrate, and the second gate electrode is formed in a second gate groove defined in the semiconductor substrate. The first gate electrode completely fills a space between two adjacent first isolation trenches, and the second gate electrode partially fills a space between two adjacent second isolation trenches, with substrate portions being arranged between the second gate electrode and the adjacent second isolation trenches, respectively.
US07795095B2

A silicon carbide substrate has a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface. A first conductive type impurity is diffused in the silicon carbide substrate. A method of producing a semiconductor device includes preparing the silicon carbide substrate forming a first conductive type impurity diffused region on the first main surface therein; preparing a silicon substrate having a third main surface and a fourth main surface opposite to the third main surface, said silicon substrate including a thermal oxidation film formed on the third main surface; and attaching the third main surface to the first main surface via the thermal oxidation film.
US07795088B2

A method for manufacturing memory cells is provided. First, a substrate is provided, wherein a liner layer and a material layer have already been sequentially formed on the substrate. Thereafter, a patterned mask layer is formed on the substrate. Then, the patterned mask layer is trimmed. Subsequently, a portion of the material layer, a portion of the liner layer and a portion of the substrate are removed by using the patterned mask layer as a mask to define a plurality of fin-structures in the substrate. Afterward, the patterned mask layer is removed and a plurality of isolation structures among the fin structures is formed. The surface of the isolation structures is lower than that of the fin structures. Following that, charge trapping structures are formed on the substrate, covering the fin structures. Succeeding, a portion of the charge trapping structures is removed to expose the material layer. Then, the treatment process turns the material layer into a protection layer. Subsequently, a gate is formed on the substrate and straddles the protection layer, the charge trapping structures and the fin structure. Afterward, source/drain regions are formed in the fin-structure exposed by both sides of the gate.
US07795076B2

A method, system, and apparatus for transfer of dies using a die plate having die cavities is described herein. The die plate has a planar body. The body has a plurality of cells or cavities which are open at the first surface of the body. Each cell has a hole extending from the bottom surface of the cell to a second surface of the body. A wafer or support structure can be positioned to be closely adjacent to each other. A suction can be applied to the second surface of the die plate so that a plurality of dies can be transferred into a plurality of cells of the die plate. The dies can subsequently be transferred from the die plate having die cavities to one or more destination substrates or surfaces, by a punching mechanism.
US07795074B2

The invention provides a Wafer Level Chip Size Packaging (WLCSP) target and a method for forming it. A WLCSP target is formed by recombining single chips, wafer parts each including two or more chips or half finished packaging targets which have been subjected to at least one previous step of packaging onto a first substrate, or bonding a wafer part which is formed by dicing a whole wafer and includes at least two chips to a second substrate for bonding. Thus, a wafer with a larger size can be packaged through the WLCSP on a WLCSP apparatus with a smaller size while benefiting from the advantages of the WLCSP, the WLCSP apparatus remains applicable within a longer period of time, the cost is lowered, and enterprises may keep up with the development of the market and the increase of the wafer size without having to update the WLCSP apparatus substantially.
US07795070B2

Provided is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor device, without limitation, includes forming a first semiconductor layer over a substrate, and forming a second semiconductor layer over the first semiconductor layer, wherein an amorphous nitrided silicon adhesion layer is located between and adheres the first and second semiconductor layers.
US07795063B2

A micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device includes a back-plate substrate, having an intended region formed with a plurality of perforating holes. A first structural dielectric layer, disposed on the back-plate substrate, wherein the dielectric layer having an opening above the intended region. An etching stop layer, disposed over the first structural dielectric layer. A second structural dielectric layer, formed over the back-plate substrate. The etching stop layer and the second structural dielectric layer form at least a part of a micro-machine diaphragm, and cover over the opening of the first structural dielectric layer to form a chamber between the micro-machine diaphragm and the back-plate substrate.
US07795057B2

A liquid crystal display (LCD) device and its fabrication method includes providing a substrate divided into pixel part and pad parts; forming a gate electrode and a gate line at the pixel part through a first masking process; forming a first insulation film; forming an active pattern and source and drain electrodes at an upper portion of the gate electrode of the pixel part and forming a data line substantially crossing the gate line to define a pixel region through a second masking process; forming a pixel electrode directly electrically connected with the drain electrode at the pixel region of the pixel part through a third masking process; and attaching first and second substrates. A pixel electrode is formed to directly electrically connect with a drain electrode by selectively etching a transparent conductive film without forming a contact hole.
US07795056B2

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. First, a first electrode is formed over a first region of a substrate. Then, a dielectric layer covering the first electrode is formed over the substrate. After that, a plurality of openings is formed on the first region of the substrate. Thereafter, a conductive layer covering the dielectric layer and the openings is formed over the substrate. Then, the conductive layer in the bottom of the openings is removed to form second electrodes. After that, the dielectric layer between the second electrode and the first electrode is removed.
US07795055B2

There is provided a method of manufacturing a light emitting diode chip, the method including: providing a light emitting diode chip; forming a phosphor layer on a top of the light emitting diode chip; and forming phosphors of a lattice structure on the phosphor layer by an inkjet process using an ink containing phosphor powder. There is also provided A method of manufacturing a light emitting diode package, the method including: forming a phosphor layer with a predetermined thickness; forming phosphors of a lattice structure on the phosphor layer by an ink jet process using an ink containing phosphor powder; and disposing the phosphor layer having the phosphors of the lattice structure formed thereon on a top of the light emitting diode chip.
US07795050B2

A nitride-based light emitting device is manufactured by using a single-crystal nitride-based semiconductor substrate. A seed material layer is deposited on a first substrate where organic residues including a natural oxide layer are removed from an upper surface of the first substrate. A multifunctional substrate is grown from the seed material layer. The single-crystal nitride-based semiconductor layer including a nitride-based buffer layer is formed on the multifunctional substrate. The seed material layer primarily assists the growth of the multifunctional substrate, which is essentially required for the growth of the single-crystal nitride-based semiconductor substrate. The multifunctional substrate is prepared in the form of a single-crystal layer or a poly-crystal layer having a hexagonal crystalline structure. The light emitting device employing the single-crystal nitride-based semiconductor substrate is used as a next-generation white light source having high capacity, large area, high brightness and high performance.
US07795042B2

The present invention provides novel, water-soluble, red-emitting fluorescent rhodamine dyes and red-emitting fluorescent energy-transfer dye pairs, as well as labeled conjugates comprising the same and methods for their use. The dyes, energy-transfer dye pairs and labeled conjugates are useful in a variety of aqueous-based applications, particularly in assays involving staining of cells, protein binding, and/or analysis of nucleic acids, such as hybridization assays and nucleic acid sequencing.
US07795039B2

The present invention provides a surface-substrate for adherence of cells thereto. The surface-substrate comprises at least one micronail structure protruding from the surface, at least a region of the micronail having cellular-internalization promoting properties. The invention also provides an electronic device comprising a transistor structure, in which a gate electrode is formed with the at least one micronail protruding from the surface thereof.
US07795036B2

A method for obtaining the contents of a fluid-holding vessel having a cap secured to an open end thereof. The method includes penetrating a surface of the cap with a fluid transfer device and forming one or more air passageways between the penetrated surface of the cap and the fluid transfer device to allow air to be vented from the vessel. At least a portion of the contents of the vessel is then drawn into the fluid transfer device before the fluid transfer device is removed from the vessel.
US07795031B2

The invention concerns the use of a nucleic acid/cationic polymer complex, preferably polyethyleneimine (PEI) for preparing a composition for intraventricular stereotactic screening of stem cells of the brain for preparing a medicine for treating neurodegenerative and/or demyelinating disease. The invention further concerns a method for obtaining an animal whereof the genome of stem cells of the brain are modified by using said complex. The invention also concerns a method for obtaining an animal for screening compounds designed to modify the disposition of stem cells of the brain.
US07795027B2

Described are preferred extracellular matrix composites including a first extracellular matrix material having a second extracellular matrix material deposited thereon. The preferred materials are made by culturing cells in contact with an extracellular matrix graft material in a fashion to cause the cells to biosynthesize and deposit extracellular matrix components on the material. The cells are then removed to provide the extracellular matrix composite material.
US07795024B2

The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for expansion of hematopoietic stem cell numbers. The stem cells are cultured and differentiated cells and endogenous growth factors are removed (depleted), permitting long term culture and expansion of the stem cells. The hematopoietic stem cells are used in numerous therapeutic procedures.
US07795020B2

An effective cancer cell vaccine for canines has been developed. The vaccine is prepared from autologous lymphoma cells transfected with emm55. Once an animal is vaccinated, the expressed Emm55 antigen stimulates an immunogenic response to the tumor cells resulting in significantly increased survival, strong autologous and cross reactive humoral and cell mediated responses in several breeds of dogs diagnosed with later stage lymphomas.
US07795019B2

Nucleic acids and vectors for interfering with the expression of membrane efflux transport proteins in cells that express such proteins are provided. Also provided are cells and cell lines comprising such nucleic acids and vectors. Methods for screening chemicals and biomolecules for gastrointestinal absorption in animals, and kits for practicing such methods are also provided.
US07795018B2

The present invention is to provide a multipotent cell wherein the sufficient amount necessary can be stably and conveniently supplied with a minimum invasion, that will not cause rejection at the time of cell transplantation, that has a potential to differentiate into various cells such as mesenchymal cells including bone, cartilage, skeletal muscle and fat, endothelial cells, myocardial cells, neurons, mesenchymal cells, myocardial cells, endothelial cells, neurons induced to differentiate from the multipotent cell, and a therapeutic agent/treating method comprising these as active ingredient. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBC) are cultured on fibronectin-coated plastic plates for 7 to 10 days. The generating cell population with a fibroblast-like morphology is derived from circulating CD14+ monocyte, with a unique phenotype of CD14+CD45+CD34+ type I collagen+. These cells have a potential to differentiate into mesenchymal cells including bone, cartilage, skeletal muscle and fat, endothelial cells, myocardial cells, and neurons under particular culture conditions.
US07795016B2

Plasmids containing sequences encoding different fragments of p185neu oncoprotein, able to induce an immune response against tumours expressing oncogenes of the ErbB family, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof.
US07795012B2

A device for investigating activities of cell cultures in a liquid culture medium includes a receptacle for the culture medium, and one or more sensors for measurement of cell culture activities. An opening for adding and removing liquid culture medium is provided. A separating element can be placed close to the receptacle bottom, forming a partial space with a small volume relative to the entire volume. A flow channel that communicates with the small volume and the reservoir and/or the sensors are placed in the small volume partial space. By adjustment of the separating element distance from the receptacle bottom, a microreaction volume exactly fitting the current requirements is obtained. For regeneration of the cell culture solution in the small volume partial space, the separating element can be elevated and depressed, or liquid can be injected into the small volume by the through-flow channel, providing convective mixing of fresh and spent medium.
US07795009B2

The invention generally provides three-component molecular biosensors. The molecular biosensors are useful in several methods including in the identification and quantification of target molecules.
US07795006B2

A support carrying an immobilized selective binding substance, that the support surface has a polymer containing the structural unit represented by the following General Formula (1) in an amount of 10% or more with respect all monomer units, and a selective binding substance is immobilized on the support surface by binding to the carboxyl group formed thereon via a covalent bond: (in General Formula (1), R1, R2, and R3 each represent an alkyl or aryl group or a hydrogen atom.)
US07795003B2

The present invention relates to an animal feed made of an amount of cereal grain and a peptide or polypeptide expressed by a transformed organism, whereby the transformed organism can be included in the animal feed composition. The present invention also relates to a method for forming the animal feed wherein the method includes forming a transformed organism by transforming a yeast cell by inserting a nucleic acid molecule which will express a polypeptide desired for use in the animal feed.
US07794998B2

Disclosed are compositions and methods related to the isolation and identification of the primate T-lymphotropic viruses, HTLV-3 and HTLV-4. The diversity of HTLVs was investigated among central Africans reporting contact with NHP blood and body fluids through hunting, butchering, and keeping primate pets. Herein it is shown that this population is infected with a variety of HTLVs, including two retroviruses; HTLV-4 is the first member of a novel phylogenetic lineage that is distinct from all known HTLVs and STLVs; HTLV-3 falls within the genetic diversity of STLV-3, a group that has not previously been seen in humans. The present disclosure also relates to vectors and vaccines for use in humans against infection and disease. The disclosure further relates to a variety of bioassays and kits for the detection and diagnosis of infection with and diseases caused by HTLV-3 and HTLV-4 and related viruses.
US07794996B2

This invention provides recombinant murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptases, genes encoding these proteins and expression methods. The said murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptases are a series of MLV-RT proteins wherein the 84th amino acid residue (Q84) from the N-terminus is replaced with amino acid X, which is an amino acid with a side chain shorter than glutamine. The said murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptases have higher enzyme activity and processivity than the wild type enzyme, and are expected to be widely used in the field of biotechnology for cDNA synthesis.
US07794987B2

The present invention concerns the use of compounds for treating central neuropathic pain.
US07794985B2

A method for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid template (110) in a sample includes the steps of combining the sample in a reaction vessel with a first primer (112F) and a second primer (112R) having a first section (114), a second section (118) and a spacer (116). The method also includes one or more of the steps of extending the first section (114) with additional nucleotides, binding the first primer (112F) to the extended first section, extending the first primer (112F) with additional nucleotides and terminating extension of the first primer (112F) with the spacer (116). The first section (114) includes a plurality of nucleotides that bind with a portion of the nucleic acid template (110). The second section (118) is spaced-apart from the first section (114) and includes a plurality of nucleotides that do not bind with the nucleic acid template (110). The spacer (116) couples the first section (114) to the second section (118). The invention is also directed toward the second primer (112R).
US07794976B2

Recombinant expression vectors are provided comprising a 3′UTR of a light chain and an Epstein-Barr virus origin of replication. Also provided are host cells comprising such vectors and methods of producing recombinant protein with such vectors. Additional methods of producing a recombinant protein involve contacting cells with a first and second vector, each of which encode a different polypeptide chain, and wherein the second vector is present in an amount which is about 1.5 to 2.5 times as much as that of the first vector. Cells also can be transfected with a recombinant transient expression vector encoding a protein and are cultured in a medium in a membrane-enhanced culturing vessel to produce recombinant protein.
US07794971B1

The present invention provides compositions and methods for controlling the copy number for a broad range of plasmids and uses thereof. Disclosed is a host cell for conditional control of copy number of a plasmid, which host cell comprises a poly(A) polymerase gene that is operably joined to a conditionally inducible promoter, and a method for cloning and stably maintaining a DNA sequence encoding a heterologous polypeptide in the host cell.
US07794964B2

The present invention relates to a biochip for detecting phosphorylation and a method for detecting phosphorylation using the same, more precisely a biochip prepared by integrating a protein produced from the recombination of a substrate of kinase selected from the group consisting of PKC (Protein Kinase C), cdc2-PK (cdc2 Protein Kinase) and DNA-PK (DNA-dependent Protein Kinase) and the elevated protein such as Selenomonas ruminantium membrane protein on a matrix surface coated with an active group, a kit for detecting phosphorylation composed of the said biochip and a cofactor labeled with a radio-isotope and a method for detecting phosphorylation using the same. The biochip for detecting phosphorylation of the present invention using a radio-isotope facilitates the detection of phosphorylation with a minimum amount of a sample by simple processes, compared with the conventional method using an antibody. Since this method can analyze a large amount of samples in a shorter period of time, it can be effectively used for the analysis of kinase activity.
US07794955B2

A method for screening compounds for their ability to interact with transmembrane proteins is provided. Also provided is a method for determining whether proteins such as transmembrane proteins are able to oligomerise. The method uses a transmembrane protein that comprises a nuclear localisation sequence (NLS).
US07794947B2

The invention provides methods of detecting polypeptides in a sample. The method can include the steps of cleaving polypeptides in a test sample to generate peptides; adding a predetermined amount of isotopically labeled peptide standards to the cleaved test sample, wherein the peptide standards correspond to peptides cleaved with the same reagent used to cleave the test sample; contacting the cleaved test sample containing peptide standards with an array of immobilized binding agents specific for the peptide standards; washing the array to remove unbound peptides, thereby retaining affinity captured sample peptides and standard peptides; analyzing the affinity captured peptides using mass spectrometry; and determining the presence of bound test peptides and standard peptides. The method can further include the step of quantifying the amount of the test peptides by comparing the ratio of test peptide to corresponding standard peptide.
US07794940B2

This document provides methods and materials related to detecting t(1;19) as well as methods and materials for identifying or assessing cancer within a mammal (e.g., a human). For example, methods for assessing the aggressiveness of a low-grade glioma in a human are provided.
US07794939B2

The present invention provides for methods of DNA methylation detection. The present invention provides for methods of generating and detecting specific electronic signals that report the methylation status of targeted DNA molecules in biological samples.Two methods are described, direct and indirect detection of methylated DNA molecules in a nano transistor based device. In the direct detection, methylated target DNA molecules are captured on the sensing surface resulting in changes in the electrical properties of a nano transistor. These changes generate detectable electronic signals. In the indirect detection, antibody-DNA conjugates are used to identify methylated DNA molecules. RNA signal molecules are generated through an in vitro transcription process. These RNA molecules are captured on the sensing surface change the electrical properties of nano transistor thereby generating detectable electronic signals.
US07794938B2

Described are kits and methods useful for detection of seven agricultural pathogens (BPSV; BHV; BVD; FMDV; BTV; SVD; and VESV) in a sample. Genomic sequence information from 7 agricultural pathogens was analyzed to identify signature sequences, e.g., polynucleotide sequences useful for confirming the presence or absence of a pathogen in a sample. Primer and probe sets were designed and optimized for use in a PCR based, multiplexed Luminex assay to successfully identify the presence or absence of pathogens in a sample.
US07794934B2

A method for predicting a negative symptom change in a subject during drug therapy is provided. The method comprises isolating genomic DNA from a sample of the subject, and genotyping a T5988C marker of GRIN2B gene. A GRIN2B 5988 T/T genotype is predictive of a negative symptom improvement in the subject in response to drug therapy. The drug therapy may be clozapine therapy. Also provided is a method of identifying a polymorphism in a nucleotide sequence of interest that is predictive of response to drug therapy comprising the steps of assessing negative symptom improvement in a plurality of subjects during the course of drug therapy, isolating a sample comprising DNA from each subject, genotyping one or more nucleotide sequences of interest in the DNA of each subject to identify one or more polymorphisms that exist in the one or more nucleotide sequences of interest, wherein correlation of a significant improvement of negative symptoms with one or more polymorphisms is predictive of response to drug therapy.
US07794924B2

In a developing method for performing developing treatment of a substrate by supplying a developing solution onto a resist film formed on a surface of the substrate, the present invention controls a zeta potential of the surface of the substrate at a predetermined potential in the same polarity as that of a zeta potential of insoluble substances floating in the developing solution, thereby preventing or reducing the adhesion of the insoluble substances to the resist film and the substrate. This remedies the occurrence of development defects. The adhesion of the insoluble substances to the resist film and the substrate can also be prevented or inhibited by supplying an acid liquid to a liquid on the substrate, or controlling a pH value of the liquid on the substrate to control an absolute value of the zeta potential of the insoluble substances.
US07794921B2

A photolithographic method uses different exposure patterns. In one aspect, a photo-sensitive layer on a substrate is subject to a first exposure using optics having a first exposure pattern, such as an x-dipole pattern, followed by exposure using optics having a second exposure pattern, such as a y-dipole pattern, via the same mask, and with the photo-sensitive layer fixed relative to the mask. A 2-D post pattern with a pitch of approximately 70-150 nm may be formed in a layer beneath the photo-sensitive layer using 157-193 nm UV light, and hyper-numerical aperture optics, in one approach. In another aspect, hard baking is performed after both of the first and second exposures to erase a memory effect of photoresist after the first exposure. In another aspect, etching of a hard mask beneath the photo-sensitive layer is performed after both of the first and second exposures.
US07794919B2

There is provided an underlayer coating forming composition for lithography that is used in lithography process of manufacture of semiconductor device; and an underlayer coating having a high dry etching rate compared with photoresist. Concretely, it is a composition for forming an underlayer without use of crosslinking reaction by an strong acid catalyst, and an underlayer coating forming composition containing a component having an epoxy group (a polymer, a compound) and a component having a phenolic hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a protected carboxyl group or an acid anhydride structure (a polymer, a compound).
US07794917B2

According to the present invention, there is provided a curable composition, containing a compound (A) having at least one ethylenically unsaturated double bond, a photopolymerization initiator (B), a coloring agent (C), an alkali-soluble resin (D), and a compound (E) having in the molecule a partial structure of urethane, amide or urea.
US07794911B2

A toner having a core with a first latex having a specific glass transition temperature, and further having a shell surrounding the core with a second latex having a specific glass transition temperature and possessing functional groups, and processes for producing the same.
US07794910B2

In one aspect of the present system and method, a method for enhancing a chargeability of a liquid developer includes presenting a liquid developer and combining a Group 3 based charge adjuvant with the liquid developer.
US07794882B2

The invention relates, among other things, to an electrode for a lithium battery with an electrode element of a material consisting of or comprising: 2-10parts by weightof a conductivity additive containing carbon, based on an anisotropic expanded graphite; 0-5parts by weightof a plate-shaped, spherical or potato-shaped graphite; 1-8parts by weightof a binding agent; and 77-97parts by weightof an active material selected from the group metal, transition metal oxide and metal phosphate, said active material being capable of intercalating lithium ions in a crystal lattice.
US07794881B1

An electrode for a lithium battery having a thin film composed of active material capable of lithium storage and release, e.g., a microcrystalline or amorphous silicon thin film, provided on a current collector, the electrode being characterized in that a constituent of the current collector is diffused into the thin film.
US07794878B2

A negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery including the negative electrode. The negative electrode includes a sheet-like current collector and an active material layer being carried thereon and including silicon atom. The active material layer includes a plurality of columnar particles, and in each columnar particle, at least a portion forming the columnar particle is grown to tilt with respect to the direction normal to the current collector. In the thickness direction of the active material layer, porosity Pc of the current collector side lower half of the active material layer and porosity Ps of the surface side upper half of the active material layer satisfy Pc
US07794874B2

A positive electrode and a gelled negative electrode are stored with a separator interposed therebetween in a battery case and an opening portion of the battery case is sealed with a gasket. The battery case is formed so that a thickness of a body portion thereof is smaller than a thickness of an opening portion thereof, the gasket includes a center portion, an outer circumference portion and a connection portion, an edge portion of the separator is in contact with the connection portion and bent toward the center portion and contact part of the edge portion with the connection portion has a length in a range of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. Furthermore, part of the separator which is not in contact with the positive electrode and the connection portion has a length of 1.5 mm or less.
US07794860B2

It is an object of the invention to provide a tool for precision finishing and grooving of quenched steel by thinning a coating film of a CBN sintered compact tool.The invention provides a surface-coated high hardness material for tool comprising a cubic boron nitride sintered compact (CBN sintered compact, hereinafter) as a substrate and at least one coating film layer formed on the surface of the substrate wherein said coating film layer has thickness of 0.1 μm or more and less than 1 μm and comprises, as main component, a compound having at least one kind of element selected from C, N and O, and Ti and Al. If this material is used as a grooving tool, excellent performance is exhibited. Examples of the coating film are an intermediate layer, a wear-resistant film, a surface layer and the like.
US07794859B2

A rare-earth magnet having a protective film for enhancing a corrosion resistance is provided. The protective film is a three-layer film including a first protective layer with a crystalline structure α (for example, a polycrystalline structure), a second protective layer with a crystalline structure β (for example, a columnar-crystalline structure), and a third protective layer with the crystalline structure α from the side near a magnet body. Since the adjoining first and second protective layers have different crystalline structures from each other, and the adjoining second and third protective layers have also different crystalline structures from each other, compactness among the three layers in the protective film may be improved. Therefore, development of a pinhole is restrained, and corrosion of the protective film can be restrained.
US07794849B2

A film structure including at least a base layer containing a thermoplastic polymer and at least an outer layer containing a low melting point polymer. Methods of manufacturing the film structure, including the steps of coextruding melts corresponding to the individual layers of the film structure through a die and thereafter: simultaneously biaxially stretching the coextruded film sheet; or sequentially biaxially stretching the coextruded film sheet, wherein the machine-direction orientation (MDO) is performed with a radiant-heated MDO stretcher. An extrusion-coated film structure exhibiting strong bond adhesion, and a method of manufacturing the same are also provided.
US07794839B2

This invention is directed to coated water-swellable materials, typically solid, particulate, water-swellable materials, i.e. materials that comprise hydrogel-forming polymers, whereof at least a part is coated with a coating, which substantially does not break when the polymers swell, as set out in the method herein. Said coating is present at a level of at least 1% by weight of the water-swellable material.The coating comprises preferably an elastomeric polymeric material. The invention also relates products, e.g., disposable absorbent articles, comprising such coated water-swellable material.
US07794834B2

A method of making a liquid crystalline fiber is disclosed. A copolymer having a liquid crystalline side group and a crosslinking side group is crosslinked. A fiber of the crosslinking copolymer is drawn before the crosslinking reaction is complete.
US07794831B2

An anti-reflection coating comprising a first polymeric layer having a refractive index between about 1.64 and about 1.85 is disposed on a substrate. A second polymeric layer is also provided having a refractive index between about 1.29 and about 1.55, and overlies the first polymeric layer. An inorganic metal oxide layer 30 also overlies the first polymeric layer.
US07794829B2

The invention pertains to a reflector comprising a substrate capable of reflecting light, characterized in that the reflector exhibits a gloss of less than 10% as determined when a light source is projected on the surface of the reflector at 60 degree.The reflector of the invention allows the light to be reflected uniformly and possesses a high reflectivity.
US07794825B2

Prefabricated, lightweight, modular, concrete structures, such as columns and a variety of end caps, have a strong, chip resistant surface exhibiting ornamental designs that include projections and impressions. The high strength of the surface layer is due to reinforcement of the concrete with alkali resistant short length (0.125-0.25 inch) glass fibers that allow replication of fine surface details in the column surface. The surface layer is supported by a second glass fiber reinforced concrete layer that incorporates long length (0.5-1.5 inch) alkali resistant glass fibers. In combination, the first and second layers are about 0.25 to 0.5 inches thick, and the lightweight column is readily handled by forklift trucks or economically transported on flat bed trucks without surface chipping or breakage. The modular concrete structures include concrete columns, end caps and arches, as well as other geometrically decorative assemblies. They fit into each other and are conveniently and efficiently assembled in the field to form column-like structures that embody a wide variety of geometrical shapes.
US07794819B2

An elastic composite includes a first nonwoven, a second nonwoven, and two elastic films sandwiched between the first and second nonwoven. The elastic composite also includes a lateral edge portion where the first nonwoven is bonded to the second nonwoven, a lane between the elastic films that is free of the elastic films, and a first bond joining the first nonwoven to the elastic film, and a second bond joining the second nonwoven to the elastic film. The elastic composite may be used as a component of a disposable garment.
US07794818B2

A self-supporting adhesive web 10 having a uniform thickness profile across at least 20% of its width as shown by areas A and B and a wedge-shaped thickness profile in areas C and D. As shown in FIG. 2, a laminate comprises sheets of glass 12 and 14 having sandwiched therebetween adhesive interlayer 16. Interlayer 16 has a uniform thickness profile extending from edge 18 to point 20 and a wedge-shaped thickness profile from point 20 to edge 22.
US07794815B2

A honeycomb structure 20 is provided with multiple honeycomb units 10 having multiple through holes 12 arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction, and a seal layer 26 for joining the units 10 via the outer faces 13 on which the through holes 12 are not opened. The honeycomb structure satisfies the expression 2≦A/B≦0.0002×C+5 (about 28000≦C), where A (g/cm3) represents a product of the apparent density of the honeycomb unit 10 and volume ratio of the honeycomb unit 10 to the whole honeycomb structure, B (g/cm3) represents a product of the apparent density of the seal layer 26 and volume ratio of the seal layer 26 to the whole honeycomb structure, and C (m2/L) represents a specific surface area per unit volume of the honeycomb structure 20.
US07794800B2

In order to achieve micro alloying of protective coatings for components such as turbine blades in a turbine engine, a base metal is splutter coated by deposition of a trace element to a desired proportion. A protective layer of the base metal is then applied over the trace element to prevent further reaction or oxidation of the trace elements. A coating consumable is therefore formed from the base metal and the trace element. The consumable may be produced immediately prior to coating of the component or may be inertly stored for subsequent use. The consumable is applied by laser deposition techniques whereby a coating is formed in the melting process.
US07794794B2

An antifogging composition for food packaging containers comprising (i) an antifogging nonionic surfactant blend comprising a fatty acid ester and an ethoxylated compound and (ii) acetone. An antifogging composition comprising (i) an antifogging nonionic surfactant blend comprising a fatty acid ester and an ethoxylated compound and (ii) a solvent selected from methyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, and mixtures thereof. A method of defogging a food packaging container surface comprising defogging a food packaging container surface comprising selecting a surface; providing (i) an antifogging nonionic surfactant blend comprising a fatty acid ester and an ethoxylated compound and (ii) a solvent selected from methyl acetate, isopropyl applying the antifogging composition to the surface.
US07794791B2

A method for treating textile fabrics is described in which there is applied to a fabric a first treatment composition comprising a fluorochemical textile treating agent. A second treatment composition is applied to one side of the fabric such that a layer of the second treatment composition is formed on that side subsequent to a drying step. A polymeric film is then adhered to the formed layer. The process and the resulting product are characterized in that no formaldehyde of formaldehydic compounds are used in the treatment compositions or the film, and a formaldehyde scavenger is included in at least one of the treatment compositions. The resulting fabric is environmentally friendly and exhibits a high degree of soil and water resistance without sacrificing aesthetic qualities.
US07794790B2

The invention relates to a method for printing a fluid material using a continuous jet printing technique, wherein the material is passed under pressure from a reservoir through a channel to at least one outflow opening of the channel, after which the material is passed through the outflow opening, whereby the pressure in at least a part of the channel upstream of the outflow opening is in the interval of 15-600 bars [≡15·105 to 600·105 Pa], and whereby the fluid material comprises a curable composition which comprises: a) a component A in an amount in the range of from 1-15 wt % which component A has a dielectric constant larger than 15 (at 0° C.); b) an ionically dissolved lipophilic salt in an amount in the range of from 1-15 wt %, c) optionally (a) coating additive(s) in an amount of at most 10 wt %, and d) for the remaining part a liquid component B which comprises a curable monomer and/or a curable oligomer, which liquid component B has a low shear viscosity (at 22° C.) in the range of from 50-1500 mPas, whereby liquid components A and B are compatible with each other, and all amounts are based upon total composition. The invention further relates to said curable composition and articles comprising said composition.
US07794788B2

A method for pre-conditioning a film precursor vaporization system configured to supply a film precursor vapor to a deposition system for performing a deposition process is described. Prior to the deposition process, the gas pressure within the film precursor vaporization system is adjusted to a pre-determined target pressure. For example, the gas pressure within the film precursor vaporization system can be adjusted to a pressure consistent with a flow of process gas containing the film precursor vapor and a carrier gas to the deposition system at a flow rate utilized during the deposition process without introducing the process gas to the deposition system prior to the deposition process.
US07794787B2

The invention includes methods of utilizing supercritical fluids to introduce precursors into reaction chambers. In some aspects, a supercritical fluid is utilized to introduce at least one precursor into a chamber during ALD, and in particular aspects the supercritical fluid is utilized to introduce multiple precursors into the reaction chamber during ALD. The invention can be utilized to form any of various materials, including metal-containing materials, such as, for example, metal oxides, metal nitrides, and materials consisting of metal. Metal oxides can be formed by utilizing a supercritical fluid can be utilized to introduce a metal-containing precursor into reaction chamber, with the precursor then forming a metal-containing layer over a surface of a substrate. Subsequently, the metal-containing layer can be reacted with oxygen to convert at least some of the metal within the layer to metal oxide.
US07794784B2

A method of forming a nanowire comprising: providing nanoparticles of a metallic material; providing a vapor of fluorocarbon molecules by heating a solid polymer; depositing at least some of the carbon of said molecules onto an exterior of one of said particles to form a deposit of carbon which surrounds at least part of the exterior of said one particle and assembling further of said particles with said one particle to form an elongate configuration of material in the form of a nanowire. Similar methods of production of nanotubes are also disclosed.
US07794783B2

A wear-resistant article of manufacture, such as a screen, is produced by the method of providing a screen having a front face, a rear face, and openings extending through the screen from the front face to the rear face, contacting at least a portion of the screen with a coating material comprising ferromagnetic or paramagnetic hard particles and a braze material, subjecting at least a portion of the screen to a magnetic field during at least a portion of the contacting step, and transforming the coating material to a wear-resistant coating comprising the hard particles distributed in the braze material.
US07794770B2

An improved protein beverage/drink composition which may provide a relatively high protein content, ranging from about 0.01% by weight to about 15% by weight, while optionally employing a carbonation concentration between about 0.1 volumes of carbonation (per volume of liquid drink solution or liquid drink suspension) to about 6 volumes of carbonation. Preferably the protein is a protein, such preferably as whey protein, or others. The protein beverage may contain juice and/or an additive which provides energy generation enhancement. The protein beverage may be heat treated to inactivate pathogenic microbes in the presence of the carbonation which may be used to provide taste and mouth feel for the drink. Typically, the treatment for pathogenic microbe inactivation is carried out in the individual package used for storage and handling of the protein drink.
US07794755B2

A process for producing microspheres was developed that provides microspheres with new combined properties of high density, low fracture, high swell capacity, rapid swell, and deformability following swell. The process is reliable and high yielding, and makes use of a low temperature azo initiator and a small molecule chlorinated solvent as the organic phase. The microsphere preparation made using the process is particularly useful in medical treatments such as embolization.
US07794750B2

The present invention includes a controlled-release composition having a matrix. The matrix contains a pharmaceutically effective amount of an active agent or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, an ionic non-gelling matrix polymer, and a pH modifier. The ionic non-gelling matrix polymer is practically insoluble and unswellable at a first aqueous fluid pH and is soluble at a second aqueous fluid pH. The pH modifier is present in an amount to control the release of the active agent from the composition. The controlled-release composition is substantially free of a gelling or swellable excipient and does not contain a functional coating or a lipophilic component. The present invention also provides methods of making and using the controlled-release compositions.
US07794748B2

This invention is aimed to provide a stabilized formulation of ramosetron or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof under a temperature/humidity condition, especially at a low content and relates to a stable oral solid drug composition of ramosetron or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is characterized by containing one or two or more members selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic carboxylic acid or an ester thereof, a hydroxycarboxylic acid or an ester thereof, an acidic amino acid, an enolic acid, an aromatic carboxyl compound or an ester thereof, and a carboxyl group-containing high-molecular substance, and to a stabilization method of the same. Also, this invention relates to a therapeutic agent of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome containing from 0.002 to 0.02 mg of ramosetron hydrochloride as a daily dose or an equivalent molar amount of ramosetron or its pharmaceutically acceptable other salt as an active ingredient.
US07794742B2

In one aspect, the present invention provides a biomaterial having at least one biocompatible surface. The biocompatible surface comprises a plurality of immobilized Notch ligand molecules, wherein the plurality of immobilized Notch ligand molecules are capable of promoting differentiation in one or more epithelial cells. In another aspect, the present invention provides an implantable medical device comprising a layer of a biomaterial. Another aspect of the invention provides methods for promoting epithelial cell differentiation. The methods of this aspect of the invention include the step of contacting one or more epithelial cells with a biomaterial comprising an amount of immobilized Notch ligand molecules sufficient to promote differentiation in the one or more epithelial cells.
US07794736B2

The present invention provides vectors that contain and express in vivo Leishmania KMP11 or an epitope thereof that elicits an immune response in a dog against Leishmania, compositions comprising said vectors, methods of vaccination against Leishmania, and kits for use with such methods and compositions.
US07794728B2

Attenuated Listeria bacteria are provided. The subject bacteria are characterized by having a mutation in a gene chosen from the IpIA gene and the hly gene. The subject bacteria find use in a variety of applications, where representative applications of interest include, but are not limited to: (a) use of the subject bacteria as adjuvants; (b) use of the subject bacteria as delivery vectors for introducing macromolecules into a cell; (c) use of the subject bacteria as vaccines for eliciting or boosting a cellular immune response; etc.
US07794727B2

A chimeric polyvalent recombinant protein for use as a vaccine and diagnostic for Lyme disease is provided. The chimeric protein comprises epitopes of the loop 5 region and/or the alpha helix 5 region of outer surface protein C (OspC) types. The OspC types may be associated with mammalian Borrelia infections.
US07794725B1

The present invention relates to peptides which exhibit potent anti-retroviral activity. The peptides of the invention comprise DP178 (SEQ ID NO:1) peptide corresponding to amino acids 638 to 673 of the HIV-1LAI gp41 protein, and fragments, analogs and homologs of DP178. The invention further relates to the uses of such peptides as inhibitory of human and non-human retroviral, especially HIV, transmission to uninfected cells.
US07794713B2

Monotherapies and combination therapies for treating hyperproliferative disorders are described, as are compositions for performing such methods.
US07794709B2

Apparatus suitable for use in the prevention and treatment of burn induced compartment syndrome facilitates the rapid and efficient deployment of enzymatic compositions to the affected limb or limbs of a burn victim suffering from a circumferential burn. The apparatus includes a flexible, water-impermeable generally cylindrical covering layer. The covering layer has an inner surface facing the limb and an outer surface. The covering layer has a proximal sealable open end through which the burned limb is inserted and a distal closed end. An enzymatic escharotomy agent is contained within the covering layer. The covering layer retains the enzymatic escharotomy agent in close proximity to the burned limb, and the apparatus is enclosed within a sterile sealed package evacuated from moisture. In use, the burned limb is enclosed within the apparatus, and the enzymatic escharotomy agent is activated in situ by contacting the agent with hydrating fluid, thereby inducing enzymatic escharotomy of the circumferential burn.
US07794702B2

This invention provides a composition for delivery of a gene to a syncytial structure comprising stem cells incorporated with the gene. This invention also provides a composition for ion channel transfer which comprises stem cells incorporated with a compound in an amount sufficient to create ion channels. This invention also provides for a method of expressing a functional gene product in a syncytial structure comprising administering a composition, comprising stem cells that have been incorporated with a gene, to the syncytial structure. This invention further provides a method of expressing a functional ion channel in a syncytial structure comprising administering a composition, comprising stem cells that have been incorporated with a compound in an amount sufficient to create ion channels, to the syncytial structure. This invention also provides a composition for delivery of small molecules comprising stem cells incorporated with the small molecules or genes encoding the small molecules.
US07794700B2

Disclosed are conjugates exhibiting VLA-4 antagonistic properties. Certain of these conjugates also inhibit leukocyte adhesion and, in particular, leukocyte adhesion mediated by VLA-4. The conjugates of this invention are characterized as containing more than one VLA-4 inhibiting compound covalently attached to a bio-compatible polymer, such as polyethylene glycol. Conjugates of the invention are defined by formula I, wherein A, B, and q are described in the specification. Such conjugates are useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases in a mammalian patient, e.g., human, such as asthma, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, AIDS dementia, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, tissue transplantation, tumor metastasis, and myocardial ischemia. The conjugates can also be administered for the treatment of inflammatory brain diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
US07794698B2

A method of generating a change in a cellular process of a target cell is disclosed. The method comprises contacting the target cell with a solid buffer, so as to alter an intracellular pH value in at least a portion of the cell, thereby generating the change in a cellular process of a target cell of a multicellular organism. The method may be used to kill either eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells. Pharmaceutical compositions and devices are also enclosed.
US07794683B1

The present invention relates to methods for the preparation of a carbon nanotube from an amino-functionalized carbon nanotube via an amino oxidation reaction. The carbon nanotube includes nitrogen based functional groups that are covalently attached to lattice carbons of the carbon nanotube, directly or via a chemical linker. The synthetic methods of the present invention allow the nitrogen based functional groups to be attached selectively to one of two distinct regions of the carbon nanotube, and thus enable the synthesis of a carbon nanotube having nitrogen based functional groups substantially concentrated on the ends and/or the sidewall of the carbon nanotube.
US07794676B2

Reactor for a catalytic conversion reaction comprising within a catalyst housing a perforated catalyst support plate supporting a catalyst bed, the perforated catalyst support plate being supported by a plurality of elongated support elements, and catalyst particles in the catalyst bed being placed outside the elongated support elements, the perforated catalyst support plate being attached to the lower ends of the elongated support elements, the perforated catalyst support plate being divided into a plurality of perforated catalyst support plate segments, at least one perforated catalyst support plate segment being supported by an elongated support element.
US07794674B2

A consolidated vacuum sublimation module (VSM) can comprise an upper body portion, a middle body portion, a lower body portion, a bushing, and a seal. A vapor director cartridge can be loaded with a crude material and manually inserted into a cartridge-holding member of the lower body portion. Assembly of the middle and upper body portions form a structural unit that can compressively and sealably connect to the lower body portion. During sublimation, heat is effectively transferred to the lower body portion that contains the crude material. A substantial fraction of the middle body portion is conically tapered about a central longitudinal axis to promote desublimation. The middle body portion is a unitary structure that consolidates valving, cooling, and desublimation functions. Following completion of an operational cycle, the vacuum sublimation module is inspected for sublimate presence, then valve-isolated, suitably cooled, detached, opened to a preferred gaseous atmosphere, disassembled, and manipulated for solids recovery.
US07794673B2

A lamp assembly comprising one or more lamp clusters. Each lamp cluster comprises one or more electrodeless UV lamps which are excited by microwaves emitted from a microwave generator. The microwave generator and power supply are enclosed within a housing that is integral with the lamp clusters. The lamp clusters are wholly surrounded by a waveguide. The waveguide, comprising a flange and a distal end cap connected by a mesh, forms an enclosure. The waveguide is essentially UV transparent to allow UV light to pass through but effectively opaque to microwaves in order to substantially contain the microwaves within the waveguide enclosure.
US07794670B2

Method and apparatus of producing polymers in a gas phase polymerization reactor, which has an elongated reactor body, and an essentially vertically disposed central axis. The reactor comprises an upper part and a lower part, which are separated by a distribution plate, which promotes distribution into the fluidized bed of monomers flowing from the lower part into the upper part. According to the invention, at least a part of the gas stream fed into the lower part of the reactor is conducted along the inside of the reactor walls past the distribution plate to prevent the formation of stagnant zones in the fluidized bed at the reactor walls in the vicinity of the distribution plate.
US07794666B2

Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of one or more reaction vessels in a bio-chemical analyzer comprises a heat-exchange block, preferably made of cast aluminum or the like, and a thermoelectric device for heating or cooling the block to within a desired temperature range. The heat-transfer block cradles one or more reaction vessels in a thermal energy-transferring relationship, and further supports, in a thermal energy-transferring relationship, one or more fluid conduits serving to transmit a liquid or gas to the interior of the reaction vessels. Preferably, the heat-transfer block is cast from aluminum, and the fluid conduits are disposed inside the casting. By supporting the reaction vessel(s) and fluid conduit(s) in a common block, a single thermoelectric device and controller can be used to simultaneously control the respective temperatures of multiple fluid reagents and/or gases, as well as one or more reaction vessels, thereby reducing the power requirements of the thermal control system.
US07794662B2

An apparatus and system for measuring the presence or absence of reaction between a first and second material of interest by measuring osmotic pressure changes of reaction detector. The reaction detector is capable of measuring the small changes in pressure that occur due to osmotic pressure shifts during a catalytic or binding reaction at species concentrations down to approximately 10−7 M.
US07794659B2

An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in reaction receptacles. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, incubating the sample, preforming an analyte isolation procedure, ascertaining the presence of a target analyte, and analyzing the amount of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the reaction receptacles from one station to the next. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte, and, in one embodiment, a method for real-time monitoring of the amplification process.
US07794647B1

A method of providing improved powder materials for selective laser sintering (SLS). and related sintering including High Speed Sintering and Selective Inhibition Sintering, processing by orienting a polymer material. The improved materials increase the melting temperature thus increasing the process temperature window, reduce or eliminate amorphous regions thus reducing water absorption, reduce the toughness thus making size reduction easier, and increase heat of fusion. The orientation may be accomplished by deforming the polymer by drawing, rolling, machining, equal channel angular extrusion or similar processes, or by a high shear two roll mill.
US07794632B2

A process is described for preparing aryllithium compounds by reaction of metallic lithium in an ether-containing solvent with an aryl halide, wherein prior to or at the beginning of the reaction a catalyst is added, the catalyst containing a halogen-free, polynuclear aromatic (aryl catalyst) or consisting of such a compound.
US07794630B2

Mixtures are provided of lithium salts with reducing agents for lithium evaporation. The mixtures may be particularly used in the manufacture of electroluminescent organic displays. Lithium dispensers based on the use of these mixtures are also provided.
US07794628B2

A chip-shaped electronic component includes a substrate and an end face electrode layer provided on an end face of the substrate, in which the end face electrode layer contains a mixed material. The mixed material includes as a conductive particle, a carbon powder, a whisker-like inorganic filler coated with a conductive film, and a flake-like conductive powder. Additionally, an epoxy resin has a weight-average molecular weight between 1,000 and 80,000.
US07794625B2

A method for preparing a composition including mineral particles, that is swelling TOT-TOT interlayer particles, formed by interlayering between: at least one non-swelling mineral phase formed by a stack of elementary laminae of the phyllogermanosilicate 2/1 type and of formula —(SixGe1−x) 4M3O10(OH)2—, and at least one swelling mineral phase formed by a stack of elementary laminae of the phyllogermanosilicate 2/1 type and at least one interlaminar space between two consecutive elementary laminae, the swelling mineral phase being of formula —(SixGe1−x)4M3−εO10(OH)2, (M2+)ε′.nH2O. The composition is prepared by subjecting a gel containing silicon, germanium and metal, of chemical formula —(SixGe1−x)4M3O11,nH2O—, in the liquid state to a hydrothermal treatment which is carried out over a defined period of time and at a temperature of between 150° C. and 300° C., the time and temperature being selected according to the desired structural characteristics for the swelling TOT-TOT interlayer particles to be prepared.
US07794617B2

A plasma etching method includes the step of: etching a silicon layer of a target object by using a plasma generated from a processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas, a hydrofluorocarbon gas, a rare gas and an O2 gas and by employing a patterned resist film as a mask. The target object includes the silicon layer whose main component is silicon and the patterned resist film formed over the silicon layer.
US07794616B2

An etching gas for etching an oxide film formed on a substrate, includes a main gas composed of an unsaturated fluorocarbon-based gas; and an additive gas composed of a straight-chain saturated fluorocarbon-based gas expressed by CXF(2X+2) (x represents a natural number of 5 or larger). The additive gas is C5F12 gas, C6F14 gas or C7F16 gas. Another etching gas includes a main gas composed of an unsaturated fluorocarbon-based gas; and an additive gas composed of a cyclic saturated fluorocarbon-based gas expressed by CXF2X (X represents a natural number of 5 or larger). In this case, the additive gas is C5F10 gas or C6F12 gas.
US07794615B2

A plasma processing apparatus includes an upper matching unit 44 which is a variable matching unit whose impedance can be varied, and a main controller 100. The upper matching unit 44 includes a controller 104 for variably controlling the impedance positions of a variable reactance element of a matching circuit 102, a RF sensor for measuring a load impedance including the matching circuit 102, and a VPP measuring circuit 112 for measuring a peak value (peak-to-peak value) of a radio frequency voltage in a waveguide line at the output side of the upper matching unit 44. The main controller 100 executes and controls an autorunning of the matching units 44, 88 for optimizing an off preset of the impedance positions thereof. The plasma can be readily get ignited without requiring to set or change special processing conditions while influencing none of the processes.
US07794600B1

The present invention relates to a method of processing nanocrystals. The method comprises providing a mixture comprising nanocrystals, contaminants and a first solvent in which the nanocrystals are soluble, and using chromatography to reduce the amount of contaminants in the mixture. The method optionally comprises isolating the nanocrystals after chromatography. The method allows for the production of nanocrystal compositions having a total amount of surfactant associated therewith, the amount of surfactant comprising an amount of bound surfactant and an amount of free surfactant in the solvent, the amount of free surfactant being less than about 1% of the total amount of surfactant in the solvent. The present invention, accordingly, also relates to such compositions and corresponding composites of nanocrystals in organic polymer matrices.
US07794593B2

Liquid-liquid extraction elements are described. A liquid-liquid extraction element includes a first layer pair and a second layer pair disposed adjacent the first layer pair forming a stack of layers. The first layer pair includes a first polymeric microporous membrane, and a first flow channel layer oriented in a first flow direction having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet disposed on first opposing sides of the extraction element. The second layer pair includes a second polymeric microporous membrane and a second flow channel layer oriented in a second flow direction different than the first flow direction and having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet disposed on second opposing sides of the extraction element. The first microporous membrane is disposed between the first flow channel and the second flow channel. Methods of extracting a dissolved solute from a first liquid to a second liquid are also described.
US07794586B2

A method for upgrading the viscoelastic properties of a heavy oil by altering its elastic modulus. An effective amount of one or more elastic modulus lowering agents are used, wherein preferred elastic modulus lowering agents include mineral and organic acids and bases, preferably strong bases, such as hydroxides of metals selected from the alkali and alkaline-earth metals.
US07794571B2

A procedure and arrangement to control the lamella of a headbox's lip channel, when the mass flow goes in the headbox (3) through the lip channel (2), in which case single mass flows are held separate from each other with the lamella (1) before the flows are united after the lamella. The lamella's dimensions, mechanical characteristics and/or dynamic characteristics are changed at least in the lamella's border area with an active structure, which is active and/or passive active tool and/or active and/or passive active material.
US07794560B2

A method and system for binding of sheets includes providing an adhesive layer supported on a first side of a backing material. Plural sheets are accumulated against the adhesive layer, and heat is applied to a side of the adhesive layer adjacent the backing material to locally melt only a portion of the adhesive layer in a vicinity of an additional sheet accumulated against the adhesive layer.
US07794556B2

A filter and method of making is provided. The method comprising: forming a plurality of sheets of filter media, each sheet of filter media having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein each of the plurality of sheets of filter media are formed by the steps of: thermoforming a first layer of filtration media to have a plurality of channels, the first layer having an upper surface and a lower surface; sonically welding a portion of a second layer of filtration media to the first layer of filtration media to form the sheet of filtration media, the sheet of filtration media having a plurality of fluid channels each having an inlet opening at one end of the sheet and a sealed end at another end of the sheet; and securing the plurality of sheets together by applying a strip of adhesive between each upper surface of each first layer facing the second layer of another sheet of filter media stacked upon the upper surface of the first layer of the filtration media.
US07794553B2

High strength, thermoplastically processable (TPF) amorphous alloys composed of Beryllium and at least one ETM and at least one LTM, as well as methods of processing such alloys are provided. The TPF alloys of the invention demonstrate good glass forming ability, low viscosity in the supercooled liquid region (SCLR), a low processing temperature, and a long processing time at that temperature before crystallization.
US07794547B2

The present invention is directed to an automatic washer system mounted within a maple sugar evaporator above the rear flue pan for removing niter and sediment built up during the boiling of sap. The evaporator comprises a furnace, a steam hood, a pan and a nozzle for washing the pan. The steam hood extends over the furnace. The pan is mounted to the furnace and under the steam hood. The nozzle is mounted over the pan. Cleaning fluid is sprayed from the nozzle to clean the pan by an automated process.
US07794546B2

A method, computer readable medium, and system for treating a substrate in a process space of a processing system that is vacuum isolated from a transfer space of the processing system is described. A sealing device is disposed between a first chamber assembly configured to define the process space and a second chamber assembly configured to define the transfer space. When the sealing device is engaged, vacuum isolation is provided between the process space and the transfer space. The sealing device comprises two or more contact ridges with one or more pockets formed therebetween. When the sealing device is engaged between the first chamber assembly and the second chamber assembly, gas is trapped in the one or more pockets. This trapped gas assists the release of the sealing device upon disengagement of the sealing device between the first chamber assembly and the second chamber assembly.
US07794545B2

Provided is a mask which is used to form on the surface of a substrate a plurality of linear film members disposed in parallel to each other by fixing one surface of the mask to the substrate and supplying a film material through the other surface of the mask by the use of a vapor process. The mask includes: a mask body having a plurality of openings corresponding to patterns of the linear film members; and reinforcement ribs which are disposed to cross the openings and which have a function of preventing deformation of the mask body due to the weight thereof. Here, the reinforcement ribs are disposed close to the other surface of the mask in the thickness direction of the openings.
US07794536B2

A method is provided for pigment dispersion. The method includes preparing a solution in which the pigment is dissolved in an organic acid, preparing a reaction liquid capable of decreasing the solubility of the pigment in the solution, and mixing the solution and the reaction liquid in the presence of an additive represented by a General Formula (1) below, CmH2m+1(OCH2CH2)nOH  (1) wherein m is an integer higher than 14 and lower than 18, and n is an integer equal to or higher than 15 and equal to or lower than 25.
US07794533B2

The present invention provides an ink composition containing an olefinic wax dispersion added so as to impart smooth writing properties without causing starving at the starting of writing, and the ink composition has noticeably improved stability over time. The present invention provides an oil-based ink composition comprising a solvent selected from the group consisting of a monohydric alcohol, a polyhydric alcohol and glycol ether, and a colorant selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a dye, and a mixture of the pigment and the dye, the oil-based ink composition further comprising a dispersion of reprecipitated olefinic wax particles.
US07794529B2

An exemplary air filtering system is for filtering air passing through a ventilating opening of an electronic device casing. The air filtering system includes an air filtering unit, an actuating unit, and a monitoring and controlling unit. The air filtering unit includes a flexible air filtering mesh, a driving shaft and a following shaft. The driving and following shaft are rotatably positioned at opposite sides of the ventilating opening. The air filtering mesh is wrapped around the driving and following shafts with opposite ends thereof positioned to the driving and following shaft respectively. A portion of the air filtering mesh between the driving and following shafts covers the ventilating opening. The actuating unit is connected to the driving shaft of the filtering unit. The monitoring and controlling unit is configured to monitor a temperature in the electronic device casing and control the actuating unit according to the temperature.
US07794520B2

A discontinuously reinforced metal matrix composite wherein the reinforcing material is a particulate binary intermetallic compound is described along with methods for preparing the same. The binary intermetallic compound includes the same type of metal as is the principal matrix metal in combination with one other metal. The particle size of the particulate binary intermetallic compound may be less than about 20 μm and may be between about 1 μm and about 10 μm. The intermetallic particles may be present in the discontinuously reinforced metal matrix composites in an amount ranging from about 10% to about 70% by volume. The discontinuous reinforced metal matrix composites of the invention may be used in structures requiring greater strength and stiffness than can be provided by matrix metal alone. The materials of the invention may be used for vehicle parts, structural materials, and the like.
US07794519B2

A graphite electrode for an electrothermic reduction furnace is formed from anode grade coke and graphitized at a graphitization temperature below 2700° C. The resulting electrode is particularly suited for carbothermal reduction of alumina. It has an iron content of about 0.05% by weight, a specific electrical resistivity of above 5 μOhm·m, and a thermal conductivity of less than 150 W/m·K. The graphite electrode is manufactured by first mixing calcined anode coke with a coal-tar pitch binder, and a green electrode is formed from the mixture at a temperature close to the softening point of the pitch binder. The green electrode is then baked to carbonize the pitch binder to solid coke. The resultant carbonized electrode, after further optional processing is then graphitized at a temperature below 2700° C. for a time sufficient to cause the carbon atoms in the carbonized electrode to organize into the crystalline structure of graphite.
US07794515B2

A cyclone separating apparatus for a vacuum cleaner includes a first cyclone with an air entrance disposed on a lower portion of the first cyclone and an air exit disposed at an upper portion of the first cyclone; a first contaminants chamber substantially enclosing the first cyclone to collect contaminants discharged from the first cyclone; a plurality of second cyclones above the first cyclone, the plurality of second cyclones being substantially perpendicular to a center axis of the first cyclone; and a second contaminants chamber disposed outside the first contaminants chamber to collect contaminants discharged from the plurality of second cyclones.
US07794511B2

A battery separator for a lithium battery is disclosed. The separator has a microporous membrane and a coating thereon. The coating is made from a mixture of a gel forming polymer, a first solvent, and a second solvent. The first solvent is more volatile than the second solvent. The second solvent acts as a pore former for the gel-forming polymer.
US07794493B2

A biocompatible solid-solution alloy may be formed into any number of implantable medical devices. The solid-solution alloy comprises a combination of elements in specific ratios that make it magnetic resonance imaging compatible while retaining the characteristics required for implantable medical devices. The biocompatible solid-solution alloy is a cobalt-chromium alloy having substantially reduced iron, silicon, phosphorus and sulfur content.
US07794487B2

A reduced deployment force delivery apparatus having an outer sheath with two layers that move relative to one another so as to reduce the deployment force necessary for deploying a stent, stent graft or other intraluminal device.
US07794483B2

A compression bone screw is described, with a shank having two opposite shank sections along its axial extent, a first thread being connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the shank in the region of the first shank section. The shank has at least one latching element for rotatably coupling a threaded component bearing a second thread to the second shank section. The invention furthermore relates to a screwdriver blade for the compression bone screw.
US07794479B2

The present invention is directed to a spinal support coupling device (10) comprised of first and second radial frames (44A and 44B), each pivotably coupled to a center pivot hinge (30). A traveling arm (20) is provided, coupled to the first and second radial frames (44A and 44B) at the center pivot hinge (30). The traveling arm (20) is configured to rotate with respect to the first and second radial frames (44A and 44B) around the center pivot hinge (30). A coupling rod (80) is attached to the traveling arm (20) and configured to connect a first and a second surgical screw (60A and 60B), placed into a patient. The first and second radial frames (44A and 4413) are configured to retain corresponding first and second extension rods (64A and 64B), extending away from the top of the first and second surgical screws (60A and 60B).
US07794478B2

A connector device for a spinal stabilization apparatus comprises a first elongated member having first and second ends, and is adapted to engage a first spinal stabilizer rod proximal to the first end of the elongated member and is further adapted to engage a spinal cross connector rod proximal to a second end of the first elongated member. The first end of the first elongated member comprises a hook shape and a ferrule and may engage the first spinal stabilizer rod within about 20 degrees of perpendicular to the spinal stabilizer rod in any direction. The ferrule is adapted to be seated within the hook shape and is further adapted to engage the first spinal stabilizer rod. A second elongated member substantially similar to the first may additionally be used in a spinal stabilization apparatus. The connector device may be used in a method of treating a patient.
US07794475B2

A staple having a crown, a deformable leg extending from the crown, and a spring extending from the crown configured to compress tissue between the spring and the deformable member. Owing to the flexibility of the spring, the staple can accommodate a wide range of tissue thicknesses while still compressing the tissue captured therein. As a result, a single staple design can be used in a wide variety of surgical procedures thereby reducing the amount of staple designs that must be provided to the surgeon. In at least one embodiment, the staple includes a crushable member. This crushable member can include a plastically deformable first portion and an elastically deformable second portion. The present invention can also include, in various embodiments, a crown, a first deformable member extending from the crown, and means for compressing the tissue against the first deformable member.
US07794474B2

The present invention concerns a flexible stapling device (1). More particularly, this invention concerns a flexible endovascular stapling device (1) for an intravascular procedure such as patent foramen ovale closure, which is designed to avoid open heart surgery by permitting the closure of the defect utilizing a stapling means (26) which is positioned by using a flexible shaft/guidewire system.
US07794466B2

A method and apparatus for performing a multidirectional tibial tubercle transfer, comprising: positioning a jig against the anterior portion of the tibia, the jig comprising first and second cutting guides which simultaneously converge towards one another as they extend distally down the tibia and posteriorly towards the tibia; cutting first and second saw cuts into the tibia; attaching an extender to the jig, wherein the extender comprises a third cutting guide which simultaneously converges towards the first cutting guide as the third cutting guide extends distally down the tibia and posteriorly towards the tibia; cutting a third saw cut into the tibia; freeing a first and second bone block from the tibia; freeing a second bone block from the tibia; and transferring the position of the first bone block relative to the tibia.
US07794463B2

Methods and apparatus for forming one or more trans-sacral axial instrumentation/fusion (TASIF) axial bore through vertebral bodies in general alignment with a visualized, anterior or posterior axial instrumentation/fusion line (AAIFL or PAIFL) in a minimally invasive, low trauma, manner and providing a therapy to the spine employing the axial bore. Anterior or posterior starting positions aligned with the AAIFL or PAIFL are accessed through respective anterior and posterior tracts. Curved or relatively straight anterior and curved posterior TASIF axial bores are formed from the anterior and posterior starting positions. The therapies performed through the TASIF axial bores include discoscopy, full and partial discectomy, vertebroplasty, balloon-assisted vertebroplasty, drug delivery, electrical stimulation and various forms of spinal disc cavity augmentation, spinal disc replacement, fusion of spinal motion segments and implantation of radioactive seeds. Axial spinal implants and bone growth materials can be placed into single or multiple parallel or diverging TASIF axial bores to fuse two or more vertebrae, or distract or shock absorb two or more vertebrae.
US07794444B2

This is a method and an apparatus for the introduction of therapeutic compounds into tissue, particularly cardiac tissue. The apparatus includes a catheter having an elongated flexible body and a tissue infusion apparatus including a hollow infusion needle configured to secure the needle into the tissue when the needle is at least partially inserted into the tissue to help prevent inadvertent removal of the needle from the tissue. This permits the selected therapeutic compound to be delivered to a specific site. The catheter may also include a visualization assembly including a transducer at the distal end of the body.
US07794438B2

A bandage has a first sheet overlying a wound and located adjacent to it and a top sheet overlying the first sheet. The first sheet has a plurality of discrete passageways overlying the wound and adapted to communicate negative pressure established by a negative pressure source to the wound.
US07794425B2

An enteral feeding unit or system that minimizes the occurrence of gastro-esophogeal-pharynegal reflux during feeding is described. The enteral feeding unit or device includes an automatable feeding pump with a feedback sensor for sensing a relative pressure in a patient's stomach and esophagus, and a regulator system for controlling or monitoring feeding rate to said patient as a function of said relative gastro-esophageal pressure. The system includes a stomach probe that has a fluid-tight closure of the esophagus. The stomach probe, according to the invention, is characterized by a tampon-bladder for watertight closure of the esophagus, in which the tampon-bladder forms from flexible and/or elastic material at least a closed inner cavity for the reception of a fluid medium, through a means (11) of establishing a prescribed pressure for the medium in the tampon-bladder (16) by an inner lumen forming the actual stomach probe, from which an outer hose-like lumen (18) extending to the tampon-bladder (16) is so arranged that between the outer lumen (18) and the inner lumen (17) a channel is formed connected to the inner cavity of the tampon-bladder (16) arranged on the outer lumen (18) by a number of openings (20), whereby the inner cavity of the tampon-bladder (16) is connected via the canal formed between the inner and outer lumina (17, 18) with the means of production of pressure in the tampon-bladder, that is, with a suitably graded reservoir or equalizing vessel (11) for the liquid medium situated above the tampon-bladder and outside the patient.
US07794424B2

A transformable catheter includes a sheath having a length which is a substantial fraction of the entire length of the transformable catheter and a bore therethrough. A preformed inner catheter having a complex curve formed into the distal end thereof is disposed in the sheath bore. By axially moving the inner catheter with respect to the sheath, various tip shapes may be achieved. At least one wire runs from the proximal end of the sheath to the vicinity of the distal end of the sheath to selectively deflect the distal tip of the sheath as desired by the user to assist in reformation and transformation of the tip of the catheter. By suitable manipulation of the wire and of the inner catheter with respect to the sheath, the shape of the exposed portion of the distal end of the inner catheter may be transformed to any of a variety of shapes.
US07794421B2

The present invention provides a coupling device for attaching a sleeve (40) to a surgical aspirator tip (10) that allows airflow between the external environment and the interior of the sleeve (40). The coupling device includes a male member (26) attached to the tip (10) and a female member (42) formed in the proximal end of the sleeve (40). The male member (26) includes at least one longitudinal groove (100). When the male member (26) is received into the female member (42), at least one venting channel (80) is defined between at least one longitudinal groove of the male member (26) and the inner surface of the female member (42). Venting channel (80) permits airflow between the external environment and the interior of the sleeve (40).
US07794420B2

A process for treating the hemorrhage fluids of a patient at the time of a surgical procedure with the aim of carrying out an autotransfusion, includes a stage for recovering the hemorrhage fluids with simultaneous introduction of agents such as anticoagulant and/or diluting agents, at least one stage for the mechanical separation/concentration of this hemodiluted hemorrhage fluid in order to concentrate its content in red blood cells and partially purify it, this phase being collected in a sterile manner so as to be fit for injecting back to the patient. Also described is the related device.
US07794417B1

Footwear has strap for medially directing the big toe. The footwear may be in a form of a sandal; the strap may be adjustable; and a bunion deformity may be addressed.
US07794409B2

A multiple biopsy device has a number of chambers into which tissue samples are received. A cutting mechanism, such as a blade, moves relative to the chambers to cut a tissue sample that is within a chamber. In one embodiment of the invention, the multiple biopsy device is removably secured to the distal end of an endoscope/bronchoscope.
US07794406B2

A method for diagnosis includes receiving from a sensor coupled to a body of a patient a photoplethysmograph signal, which is indicative of blood flow in the body. The photoplethysmograph signal is processed so as to identify at least one irregularity in a heart rhythm of the patient. A record indicating a time of occurrence of the at least one irregularity is made and processed so as to diagnose a pathological cardiac condition of the patient.
US07794398B2

Quantified measures of a volumetric object in the body can be made ultrasonically by acquiring concurrent biplane images of two different image planes of the object. Corresponding borders of the volumetric object are traced using automatic border detection. The border tracings are used in their planar spatial relationship to compute a graphical model of the volumetric object. The volume of the graphical model may be computed by the rule of disks, and a graphical or numerical display of the changing volume with time displayed. A user interface comprises both real time biplane images, the real time graphical model, and the quantified measures.
US07794394B2

An imaging device captures both a visible light image and a diagnostic image, the diagnostic image corresponding to emissions from an imaging medium within the object. The visible light image (which may be color or grayscale) and the diagnostic image may be superimposed to display regions of diagnostic significance within a visible light image. A number of imaging media may be used according to an intended application for the imaging device, and an imaging medium may have wavelengths above, below, or within the visible light spectrum. The devices described herein may be advantageously packaged within a single integrated device or other solid state device, and/or employed in an integrated, single-camera medical imaging system, as well as many non-medical imaging systems that would benefit from simultaneous capture of visible-light wavelength images along with images at other wavelengths.
US07794388B2

A method for generating at least one section of a virtual 3D model of a body interior, in particular a hollow organ, uses data that are provided by at least one endoscope introduced into the body interior. The data comprise at least one position and orientation of the endoscope, the at least one position and orientation being assigned at least one distance between the endoscope and the at least one point on a surface of the body interior, and at least one endoscopic image of the surface of the body interior in the region of the at least one point on the surface of the body interior. From the said data relating to a number of different positions and orientations of the endoscope is/are generated the section or sections of the 3D model in superposition with the associated endoscopic image. An appropriate apparatus is also described.
US07794387B2

Tissue stabilizers including a clamp assembly, a turret assembly, an articulating arm having a tension element extending therethrough, a collet assembly and a head-link assembly are disclosed. Methods of stabilizing tissue are also disclosed.
US07794370B2

An exercise unit (20) and system (104) comprising a target (22) having at least one area (24) to be struck by a user and at least one sensor (26) located at the area (24) is disclosed. The sensor (26) generates an electrical signal in response to being struck by the user. A processor (48) is in operative communication with the sensor (26) and a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) converter (50) is disposed between the sensor (26) and the processor (48). The MIDI converter (50) converts the electrical signal from the sensor (26) to a MIDI signal and transmits the MIDI signal to the processor (48) for generating a MIDI strike track (52). The MIDI strike track (52) is used to determine an accuracy and a force of the strike by the user to provide interaction and feedback to the user to continue to help motivate the user.
US07794367B2

A foot, toe, and ankle exercise device provides variable resistance to movements in multiple directions. The device comprises a flexible forefoot support to allow for full toe and foot range of motion. The forefoot support includes a raised surface under the toes used to help align anatomical landmarks to delineate the resistance for the toes from that of the foot/ankle. Resistance may be provided by elastic banding or tubing that is mounted on an octagonal frame. Tensioners are provided to adjust the magnitude of the resistance. A height adjustable heel cup is mounted on a horizontal track to adjust the apparatus for use by different users with different size feet. A vertical track is provided to raise or lower the forefoot support and system of elastic banding or tubing so that full range movements are possible. In another version of the invention, inelastic banding along with weights is used to provide resistance.
US07794356B2

When a vehicle speed V is out of a non-rotational synchronizing range, V≦Vref1 or Vref2≦V, in a neutral state of a transmission set in response to an operation of a gearshift lever to an N (neutral) position during operation of an engine, the engine and a motor MG1 are controlled to make a ring gear shaft rotate at a target rotation speed Nr*, which is expected in response to an operation of the gearshift lever to a D (drive) position or an R (reverse) position, and to enable self-sustained operation of the engine at the greater rotation speed between an idle speed Nidl and a minimum engine speed Nmin calculated from a minimum rotation speed Nm1min of the motor MG1. Such control effectively reduces a potential shock occurring in the case of the operation of the gearshift lever from the N position to the D position or the R position without causing negative overspeed of the motor MG1.
US07794343B2

A takraw ball is woven from takraw ball strips of springy material having soft material pads mounted into recesses in a strip face, the pads are, at least in part, bounded by strip face parts which function to lend stiffness to the strip, and/or protect pad edges and/or assist in mounting pads onto the strips.
US07794325B2

Background audio for a game being played in a video game system is provided via streaming from an outside source. The background audio played is based on details regarding the state of the video game system, including information regarding the game being played on said video game system. The user can select from among several possibilities for background music, and the selection is then streamed to the video game system from the music service. Enforcement of digital rights and purchasing of tracks streamed from the music service are provided for.
US07794324B2

A system and method for providing an electronic card game of the present invention includes a table having a table top with a playing surface and a plurality of electronic player interaction areas (EPIAs) located around the playing surface. Each electronic player interaction area is designed to provide a player interface for interaction with one of the players. A wager options buttons, such as “Raise”, “Fold”, and “Check” buttons are defined in each EPIA to allow the players to make pre-selected wagering action in advance as the electronic card game proceeds. A game computer is coupled to the plurality of EPIAs for administering the electronic card game and for determining when the player is allowed to activate on of the wager options buttons.
US07794323B2

A gaming apparatus may comprise a display unit, a value input device, and a controller having a processor and a memory that stores first gaming data and encrypted gaming data that was generated by doubly encrypting gaming data utilizing an encryption key of a gaming data authoring organization and an encryption key of a gaming regulatory organization. The controller may be programmed to doubly decrypt the encrypted gaming data utilizing an encryption key of the gaming data authoring organization and an encryption key of the gaming regulatory organization to form decrypted gaming data, to check to determine if the first gaming data is authorized based on the decrypted gaming data and the first gaming data, and to cause, if the first gaming data is authorized, the display unit to generate a game display.
US07794319B2

Presented is a system and method for generating bingo game bonuses that are non-banked, for use with pooled bingo games. The system generates pools of money for use in bingo games by deducting a percentage of the amount used to purchase bingo cards (in the present invention, virtual bingo cards). Each bingo game automatically enrolls active players in one or more bonus games, exemplified by “4 corners,” where the amounts to be given away to players as bonuses are calculated to be equal, over time, to the amount taken in from players buying bingo cards. The house has no stake in the bonus awards.
US07794312B2

A covering apparatus for an enclosure presenting a ventilating barrier curved with respect to a barrier axis includes a segmented panel member having a plurality of louvered areas. Respective adjacent louvered areas of the plurality of louvered areas are separated by a respective bend structure. Each respective bend structure has a first section departing in a first direction from a first bend axis and a second section departing in a second direction from a second bend axis. The first and second bend axes are generally parallel with the barrier axis. The first direction is generally away from the second bend axis. The second direction is generally away from the first bend axis. The bend structure further has a third section extending from the first and second bend axes to a third bend axis. The third bend axis is non-coplanar with the first and second bend axes.
US07794306B2

An apparatus and method for surface finishing a workpiece is disclosed as including a workpiece supporting mechanism supporting a workpiece having a target shaped periphery with a given width to be surface finished and a tool holder holding a surface finish tool in abutting contact with the target shaped periphery of the workpiece. A pressure applying mechanism is operative to apply a pressure force to the surface finish tool through the tool holder to cause the surface finish tool to be held in pressured contact with the target shaped periphery, with the pressure force exhibiting a given distribution pattern depending upon an axial direction of the workpiece. A drive mechanism rotates the workpiece to allow the surface finish tool to surface finish the target shaped periphery into a given geometrical profile, variably contoured along an axis of the workpiece depending on the given pressure distribution pattern.
US07794305B2

A portable electric grinder with an air cooling system and connected to a remote stationary voltage supply means (19, 20) via a cable (16), wherein a cooling air duct (21) is provided to connect cooling air passages (23a, b) in the grinder housing (10) to a stationary air pumping device, and the air pumping device is provided with a filter unit (24) for preventing dust and other undesirable particles from entering the air duct (21) and reaching the cooling air passages (23a, b) of the grinder housing (10).
US07794304B2

A foldable one-piece insert worn between the bra and the body having irritation reducing and/or absorbent material portions which line the bra cup and that lie under the supported breast, and portions which extends toward the torso rear under the bra side straps and a portion extending below the bra line along the torso. The invention further includes a material tab disposed between the material portions lining the bra cups, which can optionally be worn up to bridge the area between the bra cups for added protection, comfort and absorption of perspiration, or be folded down and out of sight when worn with lower cut neckline outer garments.
US07794302B2

A rotating flying vehicle in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention includes a hub having an outer perimeter, an outer ring having a diameter greater than the outer perimeter, a plurality of blades extending outwardly and downwardly connecting the hub to the outer ring, and a plurality of rotor assemblies. Each rotor assembly further includes a motor to spin a propeller, where the propellers are positioned beneath the plurality of blades. The propellers when spinning will cause the hub, blades, and outer ring to sufficiently rotate and generate lift such that the vehicle will fly. The vehicle also includes a system for determining a directional point of reference for the rotor assemblies when the vehicle is rotating and includes a control system to fly the vehicle in a specified direction relative to a remote controller.
US07794300B2

A toy vehicle includes a central housing having first and second oppositely disposed sides. A first wheel is rotatably mounted on the first side of the housing, and a second wheel is rotatably mounted on the second side of the housing. Each of the first and second wheels has a central hub and a plurality of individual vanes rotatably attached to the hub. Each hub has a center disposed along a first axis of rotation. Each vane is rotatable about a second vane axis extending transversely with respect to the first axis. An end of each vane distal to the hub forms a circumferential surface portion of one of the first and second wheels.
US07794297B1

A sectionalized surfboard, which can be dismantled into sections and rejoined for use. The sections are joined using one or more metal hooks and metal plates with slots in each section on the bottom of the board. On the top of the board there are one or more pairs of top metal plates in each section joined by a vertically installed bolt(s). Inserting the hook(s) into the slot(s) in the bottom metal plate(s) connects the bottom of the board. The top of the board is connected by a bolt passing vertically through a hole in one section's top metal plate and screwed into a threaded hole in the other section's top metal plate. The metal plates extend into the board and are securely bonded to the skin and foam of the boards. The metal plates can also be bonded to any board stringers. In a second version the top is joined using two bolts. Both sections have threaded holes in their top metal plates. A separate third metal plate with two holes is used with the two bolts to join the top of the board. By using different sets of metal plates with a different spacing in the holes, the rocker of the board can be adjusted.
US07794294B2

A water intake grill for attachment to a water intake port of a jet watercraft. The water intake grill comprising a plurality of elongate members situated in between and mounted to fore and aft mounts. The fore mount comprising a base having an angularly orientated bottom surface for receiving and attaching first ends of the elongate members and an angularly orientated top surface for optionally situating atop thereof a removable key element having an overall geometric structure substantially coinciding with the geometric configuration of a mount socket integral to a forward wall section of the water intake port. The aft mount comprising a horizontally positioned base having rearward and forward sections for optionally accepting and resting atop of each thereof at least one removable spacer and an angular edge for receiving and attaching second ends of the elongate members. Each elongate member comprising a teardrop geometric profile incorporating an outward bottom section having a general rounded appearance and a tapered top end having sides commencing from an apex and extending angularly outward therefrom toward the outward bottom section, a geometric profile of which effectively reduces the amount debris into the water intake port while allowing continued passage of water into the water intake port to yield sustained operating performance of the jet watercraft and maintain effective cooling of the combustion engine generally associated therewith.
US07794291B2

An electrical conductor repair device for restoring mechanical and electrical integrity to a compromised section of an electrical conductor. The device includes a body that serves as an electrical shunt and a mechanical support. The body includes a first end section for attachment to the conductor at a location on one side of the compromised section, and a second end section for attachment to the conductor at a location on the other side of the compromised section. The end sections are connected by an intermediate section.
US07794290B1

A communications connector includes an electrically non-conductive connector body having a terminal face. A plurality of connector terminals are positioned on the terminal face and arranged in a plurality of Tip/Ring terminal pairs, which are positioned substantially linearly with each other along the terminal face and arranged in alternating vertical and horizontal orientation of Tip/Ring terminal pairs and spaced to each other such that crosstalk among the Tip/Ring terminal pairs is cancelled.
US07794279B1

A plug connector connected with a cable has a base and an insertion portion at a front of the base. A terminal is fixed to the base, having a soldering slice connecting with the cable. A first shell is coupled with the insertion portion. A second shell coupled with the base has a lip plate covering a top surface of the base. An edge of the lip plate is extended to form a lateral plate at a front thereof, attached to a side of the base, and a connecting arm at a rear thereof and extending apart from the lateral plate. An opposite edge of the lip plate is extended to form a parcel plate bent around the base to connect the lateral plate. The parcel plate has a support arm extending beneath the connecting arm to form a passageway for allowing the cable to pass therethrough.
US07794274B2

An RF connector assembly has a first connector housing with a first end constructed for connectably receiving a terminal end for a first coaxial cable and a second connector housing with a first end constructed for connectably receiving a complementary terminal end for a second coaxial cable. The terminal end and complementary terminal end are complementarily constructed for engagement to each other. The first and second connector housing are constructed at their respective second ends to connect to one another. The first connector housing receives a tubular shield mounted about and connected to the respective terminal end. The tubular shield has a set of resilient radially inwardly extending contact fingers for electrically connecting about the complementary terminal end when the second connector housing is connected to the first connector housing.
US07794273B2

A cable connector assembly (100) comprises an insulative housing (1), a plurality of contacts (2) received in the housing (1), a plurality of wires (3) electrically connecting to the contacts (2) and a fastening device (7). The housing (1) defines at least a through hole (107) in a lateral side thereof. The fastening device (7) comprises a bolt (71) matching with a nut (72) received in the through hole (107), the nut (72) has an engaging portion (723) split into at least two deformable pieces (7230), and the bolt (71) is slidably received in the nut (72) to urge the deformable pieces (7230) splaying when the bolt is pushed in; a stopper is arranged between the bolt and the nut to prevent the bolt from sliding out of the nut.
US07794265B2

A battery post electrical terminal assembly includes: an electrical terminal configured for coupling with an electrical conductor; and a retainer snap-fittingly engaged with the electrical terminal and including a plurality of fingers, the plurality of fingers configured for frictionally engaging a battery post of a battery and thereby configured for mechanically and electrically coupling the retainer with the battery post.
US07794258B2

A card socket assembly includes a base, two latching mechanisms, and an elastic member. The base includes a mounting surface. The two latching mechanisms are oppositely fastened to the mounting surface. The two latching mechanisms and the mounting surface cooperatively enclose a card slot, used to receive a data card therein. The elastic member is disposed adjacent to the card slot and exposed within the card slot. The elastic member elastically biases the data card against the latching mechanisms.
US07794255B2

An electrical connector forms electrical contact by tightening of a movable, electrically-conductive spiral around un-insulated wire or wires. The spiral coils around the wire multiple times and tightens on the wire(s) when either one or the other end, or both ends, of the spiral is/are rotated relative to the other. One region of the spiral is preferably fixed to an insulating housing, while another region of the spiral may be rotated for the tightening on the wire and then preferably latched to the housing so that/the spiral remains in the tightened condition. A terminal end may extend from the spiral, or connectors without a terminal end may be used to electrically connect wires to each other that extend from and to other equipment not located on the connector itself. Multiple spirals may be provided in one connector, including spirals that tighten around separate wires at opposite ends of the connector. The connectors may be tightened quickly by hand, without tools, as one hand may grasp the housing or a housing portion, while the terminal end or another housing portion fixed to an end of the spiral (and consequently the spiral coils along with it) is twisted by the other hand.
US07794251B2

An electronic device includes a main body, a plug and a fixing member. The main body includes a plug-receiving portion and a plurality of conductive portions. The plug-receiving portion is defined by a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a bottom surface. The first sidewall is opposed to the second sidewall. The bottom surface is connected to the first sidewall and the second sidewall. An inclined angle between the bottom surface and at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall is smaller than 90 degrees. The plug includes a plurality of conductive terminals, a first slant corresponding to the first sidewall, and a second slant corresponding to the second sidewall. The fixing member is used for facilitating fixing the plug in the plug-receiving portion of the main body such that the conductive terminals of the plug are electrically connected to the conductive portions of the main body.
US07794249B2

A card connector (100) for connecting an electronic card (200) includes an insulative housing (1), a plurality of contacts (2) retained in the insulative housing (1), and an ejector (3). The insulative housing (1) defines a receiving space (10) for receiving the electronic card (200). The ejector (3) includes a slider (31) retained in the insulative housing (1), a spring (32) and a pole (33) mounted between the slider (31) and a rear end of the insulative housing (1). The slider (31) has an inner side wall (310), an inclined face (3100) angled with respect to the inner side wall (3100) to abut against the electronic card (200), and a protrusion (3102) projecting inwardly from the inner side wall (310) to resist the electronic card (200) sideward. Thereby the electronic card (200) can be inserted in or ejected from the card connector (100) smoothly.
US07794243B1

A ground connector including a first section and a second section. The first section includes a first member with a threaded post, a second member pivotably connected to the first member, and a pusher on the first member. The second member includes a stepped surface configured to be engaged by the pusher to clamp a pedestal directly between the first and second members. The second section is movably located on the threaded post and configured to directly contact and clamp a conductor towards the pedestal.
US07794240B2

An electrical interconnection system with high speed, differential electrical connectors. The connectors are formed with columns of conductive elements, some of which carry signals some of which act as ground conductors. The conductive elements may contain projections to secure the conductive elements in a housing or to facilitate desirable current flow patterns. To avoid impedance discontinuities caused by the projections, adjacent conductive elements may be formed with complementary portions to provide a relatively uniform edge-to-edge spacing between signal and ground conductors along the length of the signal conductor. To manufacture such a connector in which both the signal and the ground conductive elements contain projections, the conductive elements carrying signals may be inserted into a housing from one side and the conductive elements acting as ground conductors may be inserted from an opposite side.
US07794228B2

A nozzle body defines an upstream channel. A downstream bracing portion has a lateral bore. A nozzle tip extends laterally through the lateral bore of the bracing portion and has a sealing surface for engaging a gate component that defines a mold gate. The runnerless nozzle further includes a securing component inserted into the bracing portion to hold the nozzle tip against the bracing portion. The bracing portion or the securing component defines a lateral channel in communication with the upstream channel for delivering molding material to the nozzle tip. The nozzle tip can be removed by removing the securing component.
US07794225B2

A fine mold comprises a regeneration target film forming a convex part of a formation surface, and a light shielding unit that is configured deeper than a bottom of the formation surface and that regenerates the regeneration target film. A manufacturing cost of a product having a three-dimensional structure can be reduced.
US07794221B2

An embedment device for use in a cementitious panel production line such as a structural cementitious panel (SCP) production line wherein hydraulic cement slurry is transported on a moving web on a support frame, and chopped fibers are deposited upon the slurry. The device includes as one embodiment, a wire grid structure mounted on a reciprocating shaft driven by a piston which moves the grid down into the slurry and then up out of the slurry transverse of the travel of the slurry layer on the web. An alternative embodiment device includes a grid cell structure with thin walls extending upward from the grid surface in contact with the slurry that is moved up and down in a reciprocating motion transverse of the travel of the slurry layer on the web. The intermeshing relationship of the grid cell with the fiber and slurry enhances embedment of the fibers into the slurry and also prevents clogging of the device by fibers and prematurely set slurry particles.
US07794215B2

A high pressure slurry plunger pump is described which provides a clean fluid buffer around the suction and discharge valves of the pump and in some cases in the vicinity of the plunger seal mechanism in order to displace erosive slurry material and thus extend the life of the pump and improve pump efficiency.
US07794212B2

A pump/compressor that utilizes a wedge at a fixed angle to operate the pump's pistons at a fixed stroke. Alternatively the wedge can be moved axially to increase or decrease the clearance volume. Variable fluid flow at any clearance volume is achieved by rotating the wedge with respect to the port plate thereby changing the timing of the pistons with respect to the fixed port plate which changes the timing of the intake and output cycles. This results in a portion of the intake charge being breathed back into the intake port and a portion of the output charge being breathed back from the outlet port. This causes the pistons to not take in a full charge from the inlet port and to not pump out a full charge into the outlet port. Thus, fluid flow is varied. The design results in a smaller pump as the wedge is supported by the pump housing rather than a mechanical linkage required of prior adjustable angle swashplate designs.
US07794211B2

A self priming pump system that includes a motor coupled to a centrifugal pump for driving the centrifugal pump. A separator having a reservoir is provided for storing a limited amount of pumped fluid in advance of the centrifugal pump. A vacuum source provides a vacuum suction to the reservoir to draw pumped fluid into the reservoir to prime the pump. To increase the reliability of the vacuum pump system, a deflector and/or extension may be provided in the reservoir to help prevent pumped fluid from entering the vacuum pump input. Also, the configuration of a tank used to store liquid for the vacuum pump system may be configured to separate and collect sediments near a drain port, which then can be easily drained. For positive head pressures, one or more valves may be used to prevent pumped fluid from escaping the reservoir, if desired.
US07794206B2

The invention relates to a radial fan impeller (1), in particular for using in gas fans with a steep fan characteristic curve, with the following features:with a plurality of blades (2) distributed around the periphery;viewed in the radial direction, the blades (2) extend from an inner inlet region (4) to an outer discharge region (6);the blades (2) extend axially, i.e. viewed in the direction of a rotation axis (14), between an inlet side (16) and an axially opposite hub side (18);on the inlet side (16), the blades (2) are connected by means of their radial extension as far as the discharge region (6) to a covering disc (20) which has a central inflow opening (22) opening out into the inlet region (4);on the hub side (18) the blades (2) are only connected with their radial inner end regions to a central hub (24);the blades (2) and the covering disc (20) define an outer fan impeller diameter (D) which is at least ten times an axially measured flow discharge width (B) of the blades (2) provided in the discharge region (6).
US07794202B2

A turbine blade is provided, comprising a stator-side end located toward a stationary stator cylinder of the turbine, a rotor-side end located toward an axial rotor of the turbine, a leading edge located between the stator-side end and the rotor-side end, a trailing edge located between the stator-side end and the rotor-side end and located down-stream of the leading edge with respect to a fluid flow direction, wherein the rotor-side and stator-side ends have a negative sweep angle as measured between the instantaneous tangent of the blade surface and the fluid flow direction. Also, a turbine blade is provided, comprising a stator-side end located toward a stationary stator cylinder of the turbine, a rotor-side end located toward an axial rotor of the turbine, a delivery side located between the stator-side end and the rotor-side end, a suction side located between the stator-side end and the rotor-side end and located down-stream of the leading edge with respect to a fluid flow direction, wherein the rotor-side end is inclined toward the delivery side and the stator-side end is inclined with respect to a fluid flow direction.
US07794200B2

A turbocharger comprises a center housing (3) and a turbine housing (1) with a variable nozzle device arranged there between. The turbocharger further comprises an annular arrangement of adjustable vanes (7) interposed in an annular nozzle (9) for defining a plurality of nozzle passages, wherein the vanes (7) are axially resiliently supported on the center housing (3) or the turbine housing (601), respectively.
US07794199B2

A submersible pump, and method of making the submersible pump, is disclosed. The pump comprises a housing, a plurality of impeller stages serially disposed in the housing from a bottom impeller stage to a top impeller stage, an impeller stage bypass hole extending through one of the diffusers and a housing bypass hole extending through the housing radially outwardly from one of the impeller stages.
US07794196B2

Guide case (24) for use in conjunction with a water turbine (20), with a helical top wall (35) of the annular chamber (27) extended downstream of the inner wall (39) of the inlet port (30). The extension is wetted on its downstream side by the top water entering the inlet port, and on its upstream side by the bottom water. The extension serves to keep the top water separate from the bottom water until the velocity vectors of the two water streams have been aligned, therefore reducing turbulence at the point where the waters mix and merge, and enabling more of the energy to be extracted from the water.
US07794186B2

A gear cutting machine wherein a chamfer/deburr device and tool are fastened to a fixed component of the gear cutting machine. In this way, it is possible to adjust the chamfering/deburring tool into the working position in a simple and dependable manner to remove the edges from a gear. The device preferably has a linear track as well as a pivot axis, which can position the tool into the optimum position for the chamfering and/or deburring of the gear.
US07794184B2

A dust catcher has a contact element configured to catch abraded material that is produced by a power tool on a workpiece, and the contact element includes a handgrip element for holding the contact element on the workpiece.
US07794183B2

A burrless, flexible track drilling system employing a counterweight tool balancing subsystem. The counterweight tool balancing subsystem provides essentially a “weightless” feel to a machining subassembly of the system that carries a drill and an electromagnet. This enables an operator to move the machining subassembly vertically with only a very minimal degree of effort being required. The machining subassembly also includes a plurality of lifting subassemblies that aid the user in lifting and lowering the electromagnet away from and toward a pair of panels on which a drilling operation is being performed. This also significantly reduces operator fatigue and contributes to a highly ergonomic system.
US07794178B2

An extension for a dock including a platform having a one or more sleeves in which accessory members can be inserted and secured/locked. The platform is pivotally attached to a foundation member, which may be engaged to a pier or a dock, so that the platform from rotate from a operating position, parallel to the dock or pier's surface, to a stored position, perpendicular to the dock or pier's surface.
US07794170B2

A joint for use in electrochemical devices, such as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), oxygen separators, and hydrogen separators, that will maintain a hermetic seal at operating temperatures of greater than 600° C., despite repeated thermal cycling excess of 600° C. in a hostile operating environment where one side of the joint is continuously exposed to an oxidizing atmosphere and the other side is continuously exposed to a wet reducing gas. The joint is formed of a metal part, a ceramic part, and a flexible gasket. The flexible gasket is metal, but is thinner and more flexible than the metal part. As the joint is heated and cooled, the flexible gasket is configured to flex in response to changes in the relative size of the metal part and the ceramic part brought about by differences in the coefficient of thermal expansion of the metal part and the ceramic part, such that substantially all of the tension created by the differences in the expansion and contraction of the ceramic and metal parts is absorbed and dissipated by flexing the flexible gasket.
US07794161B2

A camera control system in which operations intended by clients can be carried out by a camera server by appropriately managing and controlling every client that wishes to control a camera. Operation commands are issued to the camera server from only one client at any given time. The camera control system includes a camera server that controls a camera whose angle can be freely controlled; and a plurality of clients that control the camera and display images transmitted from the camera server on a display screen. The camera server includes a notifying unit operable when the camera server has received a control authorization acquisition request for camera control that has been issued by one client to notify the client of time information including a waiting time before the camera control is possible and a permitted control time during which the camera control is permitted for a fixed period after the waiting time has elapsed.
US07794160B1

A support system is provided for a user operating a camera attached to a stabilizing device. The support system includes a waist belt adapted to secure around a waist of the user. A mounting bracket is secured to the front section of the waist belt and is attached to a socket block. A first brace support bar is positioned substantially along a horizontal plane through a bore in the mounting bracket. The first brace support bar has opposed ends separately secured to a first pair of end brackets. A pair of second brace support bars separately extend downwardly from the first pair of end brackets. A lower end defined in the second brace support bars are then secured to one of a second pair of end brackets. Lastly, a pair of forks are separately secured to the second pair of end brackets, each fork receiving a wheel.
US07794159B2

A beam coupler assembly for a fiber laser is disclosed. The assembly includes a housing having a sidewall with an interior surface, an exterior surface, a first end and a second end. A first seal extending from the interior surface of the tubular housing and dividing the housing into a first section and a second section is also provided. The first section and second section are environmentally isolated from one another. However, the first seal is substantially optically neutral. An input collimator unit received within the first end of the sidewall of the housing and into the first section and is releasably coupled thereto. An output collimator unit received within the second end of the sidewall of the housing and into the second section and is also releasably coupled thereto.
US07794153B2

An axle differential mechanism includes a carrier, a bearing supporting the carrier in rotation about an axis, a bearing adjuster including a adjuster sleeve held against rotation and axial displacement, and an adjuster nut formed with first teeth, and engaged by screw threads with the adjuster sleeve such that rotation of the adjuster nut about the axis causes the adjuster nut to contact the bearing and produce a preload force on the bearing between the adjuster nut and the carrier, and a locking device secured against displacement for engaging the adjuster nut, said engagement preventing rotation of the adjuster nut relative to the bearing and maintaining the preload on the bearing.
US07794137B2

A tourbillon is disclosed which presents a carriage comprising an upper bridge 1, a lower bridge 2 and an escapement bridge 3 supporting a balance spring 4, an escapement wheel 5 and a pallet assembly 6, the lower bridge 2 presenting a circular periphery designed to fit into a groove on the outer edge of three pivoting rollers positioned between a plate and bridges of a corresponding timepiece.
US07794131B2

A new and useful illumination device, designed especially for input/output panels that are often operated in less than favorable ambient lighting conditions, is provided. The illumination device is designed to be integrally connected with an input/output panel and is selectively actuatable to a condition in which it directs light over a predetermined portion of the panel. When actuated, the illumination device is effective to direct light at the panel that illuminates the entire panel, or at least a predetermined portion of the panel that is sufficient to enable the user to fully operate the panel. The illumination device is particularly useful with portable input/output panels (i.e. input/output panels such as (a) remote controls, (b) PDA's, (c) laptop computers, (d) cell phones, etc. that are intended to be carried about by a user and operated in the ambient lighting conditions about the user). In addition, the illumination device is particularly configured as an “aftermarket” type of device, which can be selectively attached to an input/output panel, and configured to easily, effectively and conveniently direct light to illuminate a predetermined area of the input/output panel. Still further, the illumination device is designed to be compact, easy and efficient to attach to the panel and to operate, effective to illuminate the panel (or at least the part of the panel that needs to be illuminated in order for the panel to be conveniently operated, and is designed to be cost efficient to commercially exploit).
US07794129B2

The optical element apparatus for two-dimensional controllable localized partition backlight module is disclosed. The optical element apparatus comprises of a plurality of optical units which include a plurality of point light sources, light guides and collimating sheets. The point light source is located at the center of the light guide. The light guide includes the incident surface, the bottom place connecting with the light incident surface, and the light output surface. There are micro structures on the bottom place of the light guide and the top surface of the collimating sheet.
US07794120B2

One embodiment of a method for configuring consumption of service includes identifying a service to be consumed by a user, identifying a plurality of bearer technologies across which at least one electronic device can access the service, selecting one of the plurality of bearer technologies for use in configuring the at least one electronic device, and configuring the at least one electronic device for the service using one of a plurality of management frameworks according to the selected bearer technology.
US07794118B2

An LED assembly (10) includes an LED (12) and a lens (16). The lens covers on an outer periphery of the LED. The LED has an encapsulant (125) and an LED chip (121) received in the encapsulant (125) and having a light emitting surface (122). The lens has a light output surface (161) over the light emitting surface. The light output surface defines a plurality of annular, concentric grooves (163). Each groove (163) is cooperatively enclosed by a first groove wall (165) and a second groove wall (166). The first groove wall is a portion of a periphery of an imaginary cone and a conical tip of the imaginary cone is located on the light emitting surface of the LED chip.
US07794114B2

A solid state lighting subassembly or fixture includes an anisotropic heat spreading material. A heat spreading layer may be placed between a light emitting diode (LED) and luminaire or reflector and serves to spread heat laterally away from the LED. Low profile, low weight heat spreading may be utilized both to retrofit existing light fixtures with LEDs or to replace existing incandescent and fluorescent fixtures with LED based fixtures.
US07794112B2

It is a lighting apparatus 10 that has a light emitting element 16, a light emitting element housing 15 having a concave portion 28 that accommodates the light emitting element 16, and an optically transparent member 18 that airproofs a space B formed by the concave portion 28 and transmits light emitted from the light emitting element 16. The concave portion 28 is shaped to become wider toward the optically transparent member 18 from the bottom surface 28A of the concave portion 28. The lighting apparatus 10 is provided with a light shielding member 12 for shielding a part of light emitted from the light emitting element 16 is provided on the optically transparent member 18.
US07794105B2

A light fixture includes a plurality of fluorescent bulbs wherein a light intensity of each of the plurality of fluorescent bulbs is related to the operating temperature of the fluorescent bulbs, a sensor for sensing a physical parameter related to the light intensity, and a circuit adapted for monitoring the sensor and controlling the operating temperature of the fluorescent bulbs to maintain the operating temperature of the fluorescent bulbs within a range having a lower temperature and an upper temperature. A method of maintaining light intensity of fluorescent bulbs in an environmental chamber includes monitoring a physical parameter associated with the light intensity of the fluorescent bulbs in an environmental chamber and adjusting temperature of the fluorescent bulbs in the environmental chamber to maintain an optimum light intensity of the fluorescent bulbs in the environmental chamber.
US07794104B2

A multi-functioned flashlight for vehicle rescue use is comprised of a cylinder body with lighting components installed inside its cylinder head, whereof its cylinder head is externally installed with a protruded knocking cone piece and a dismountable cone cover. Its cylinder body is installed with a flash bulb and its flash circuit internally and a flash transparent piece externally. The tail part of the cylinder body is installed with a guard piece with a blade installed in-between with its cutting edge facing outwards. Thereof, it is characterized in that a micro-generator and its gear transmission set are installed inside the cylinder body; the output ends of the micro-generator are electrically connected with the charging circuit and its charging batteries; and the cylinder body is externally installed with a swing arm whose rotating head is through the mounting hole on the cylinder body to engage with the gear transmission set.
US07794102B2

An apparatus produces a “dazzling” effect: disorientation and temporary and fully reversible blindness in subjects for the purpose of threat deterrence in both civilian law enforcement and military engagements without the use of lasers. A plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) capable of intense illumination is provided. Light emitted by each LED is pulsed and focused by reflective optics to produce a pulsed beam of sufficient intensity that the combined effect of the beams from the LEDs induces dazzling in subject viewers in the target range. Further included in or ancillary to the invention are a power source for powering the LEDs a signal source and controller for controlling their illumination and pulsing, and a shield suitable for protecting a user against projectiles.
US07794095B2

A sanitary fitting includes a light-permeable water-carrying outflow pipe that has (i) an exposed end face and (ii) an input face located upstream of the exposed end face. A light source, preferably including light emitting diodes (LED), inputs light into the outflow pipe through the input face. The light emerges from the outflow pipe at the end face, and may also emerge at an exposed outer peripheral surface area of the outflow pipe. The outflow pipe has a stationary first outflow pipe piece with the input face and a rotatable second outflow pipe piece with the exposed end face.
US07794094B2

A system and method of multi-directional projection in which the optical output from a projector is modified in response to characteristics of nearby surfaces, upon which projection can be directed. The multi-directional projection system can provide beneficial output as a primary indicator or a secondary indicating device that can be controlled by itself or synchronously with other devices, such as output from a computer monitor. One implementation incorporates an optical sensor coupled to the projector for registering object characteristics (e.g., distance, reflectance, texture, color, and ambient lighting), such as during a mapping operation performed across the pan and tilt range of the projector. The projection system preferably incorporates a focusing assembly and may include other controllable optical elements such as zoom. Control is preferably provided through commands within an application programming interface (API), such as executing on a personal computer or other form of computer device.
US07794093B2

A projection display apparatus includes a light source, a light intensity equalizing element, a reflective light valve, a relay optical system, and a projecting optical system; the light intensity equalizing element being an optical device in which a cross-sectional shape in a direction orthogonal to a central axis of the light has four corners; the cross-sectional shape of the light intensity equalizing element being determined in accordance with a rectangular ideal illumination area determined so as to include the image forming area on the reflective light valve, an illumination area on the reflective light valve when a reference light intensity equalizing element is assumed to be used, the reference light intensity equalizing element being rectangular in a cross-sectional shape in a direction orthogonal to the central light ray, and the cross-sectional shape of the reference light intensity equalizing element.
US07794089B2

A liquid crystal projection system includes a light source module, a light management module, an image signal module and a projection lens. The light source module provides an illumination light beam of first polarization state. The light management module includes a color separator for separating the illumination light beam into a first color light beam and a bichromatic light beam, first and second reflectors for respectively reflecting the first color light beam and the bichromatic light beam, a phase plate for converting the polarization of the bichromatic light beam, a first PBS for receiving the first color light beam, a second PBS for receiving the bichromatic light beam, and a dichroic prism for separating the bichromatic light beam into second and third color light beams. The image signal module includes three image modulation units for transforming the polarizations of the first, second and third color light beams and modulating them into image light beams carrying corresponding image signals. The projection lens projects the first, second and third color light beams carrying corresponding image signals from the second PBS to a screen.
US07794087B2

An optotype presenting apparatus capable of presenting an optotype having a high degree of flexibility to an examinee's eye while a production cost of the apparatus is curbed comprises a main body comprising an optotype forming unit comprising first and second displays displaying optotypes, and a beam combiner combining optical paths of the displays, the optotype forming unit adjusting, if optotype light bundles have polarizing axes, the axes, and providing, if optotype light bundles have no polarizing axis, polarizing axes to the bundles, whereby the bundles form optotypes having the perpendicular polarizing axes, and a projection optical system for projecting the light bundles onto the eye at a test distance, an optotype selecting unit, and a display control unit controlling the displays to display binocular-vision-test optotypes if they are selected, and controlling one of the displays to display a visual-acuity-test optotype if it is selected.
US07794075B2

Ultraviolet ray irradiation devices are attached to a carriage having a print head that ejects ultraviolet curable ink, and include a plurality of ultraviolet light sources and that irradiate ultraviolet rays onto an ink coating ejected on a print sheet by a print head. An ultraviolet ray that is irradiated onto the print sheet in the vicinity of the print head has a wavelength longer than an ultraviolet ray that is irradiated onto the print sheet apart from the vicinity of the print head along the moving direction of the carriage. The ultraviolet ray irradiation devices are capable of sufficiently curing ultraviolet curable ink without the problem of only the surface of the ink being cured in a print process (for example, a monochrome print process) when the ink coating adhered to the recording medium is relatively thick.
US07794071B2

Provided is an ink supply bag for a printhead cartridge. The supply bag includes two profiled panels arranged generally coplanar and co-terminally attached to form an ink holding chamber, along with a folded leaf spring biasing said chamber into an expanded position. The supply bag further includes a connector assembly operatively arranging said chamber in fluid communication with ink supply channels of the printhead cartridge.
US07794070B2

An inkjet printer that has a printhead and a plurality of printing fluid reservoirs, each of the printing fluid reservoirs storing a different type of printing fluid. A refill interface on the printer allows the printing fluid reservoirs to be refilled by docking with a range of refill dispensers. Each of the refill dispensers in the range contains one of the types of printing fluid stored in one of the printing fluid reservoirs. The docking interface has docking formations for engagement with complementary formations on each of the refill dispensers in the range respectively such that the refill interface can dock with only one of the refill dispensers at any one time. The refill interface also having an array of printing fluid inlets, each of the printing fluid inlets being in fluid communication with one of the printing fluid reservoirs respectively and being individually positioned with respect to the engagement formations such that they form a fluid connection with only the refill dispensers holding printing fluid of the type corresponding to the printing fluid reservoir to which it is connected. Individually refilling the printing fluid reservoirs can be more economical and better suited to individual usage profiles. A single refill interface simplifies the refill process for the user while the individualized fluid inlet positions avoid ink contamination from user error.
US07794068B2

A method of regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead is provided. The method comprises withdrawing a volume of ink from an ink chamber and simultaneously bubbling air bubbles into the chamber via a bubble outlet to balance the withdrawn volume of ink. Each air bubble is defined by an air cavity trapped inside a film or a body of ink. The bubble outlet is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of the air bubbles, thereby regulating a hydrostatic pressure of the ink.
US07794066B2

A printhead structure is provided comprising a moulding, silicon wafer and a plurality of microelectromechanical ink ejection devices. The moulding at least defines a fluid reservoir and a first passage in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir. The silicon wafer at least defines a second passage spaced from the first passage and a third passage arranged to provide fluid communication between the first and second passages. The microelectromechanical ink ejection devices are in fluid communication with the second passage.
US07794062B2

An ink-jet printer head comprises a plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of restricting passages which are arranged in parallel and are respectively connected to the plurality of pressure chambers, and a dummy restricting passage provided to be located adjacent a restricting passage located at an end in a direction in which the restricting passages are arranged. The pressure chambers other than the pressure chamber located at an end in which the pressure chambers are arranged are respectively configured to at least partially overlap with passages connected to their adjacent pressure chambers as viewed from above, and the dummy connecting passage forms an inner space at least partially overlapping with the pressure chamber located at the end as viewed from above.
US07794057B2

A fluid ejection device having firing cells, signal lines configured to receive a series of pulses, and an address generator configured to receive pulses from the series of pulses and generate a set of address signals in response to the received pulses, wherein the set of address signals is adapted to enable the firing cells for activation.
US07794055B2

A thermal bend actuator, having a plurality of elongate cantilever beams, is provided. The actuator comprises: a first active beam for connection to drive circuitry, the first beam being defined by a tortuous beam element, the tortuous beam element having a plurality of contiguous beam members; and a second passive beam mechanically cooperating with the first beam. When a current is passed through the first beam, the first beam expands relative to the second beam, resulting in bending of the actuator. The plurality of contiguous beam members comprises a plurality of longer beam members extending along a longitudinal axis of the first beam, and at least one shorter beam member extending across a transverse axis of the first beam and interconnecting longer beam members.
US07794053B2

Inkjet printheads with high nozzle areal density are disclosed. Various structures are shown where the areal density of nozzles is greater than 200 million per square meter.
US07794045B2

An ink-jet recording apparatus capable of high-quality recording without smudging recording media and the interior of the recording apparatus even when a frameless recording operation using reactive ink that coheres with each other when mixed together is performed. The ink-jet recording apparatus includes a recording head having a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array, and an ink absorbent facing the nozzle arrays. The first nozzle array discharges a first ink, and the second nozzle array discharges a second ink. The first and second ink is a reactive ink that coheres with each other when mixed together. During the frameless recording operation on a front edge of the recording medium, some of the first and second ink discharged from the respective nozzle arrays of the recording head adheres to the front edge, and some of the ink adheres to separate positions on the ink absorbent.
US07794038B2

There is provided an ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead. The regulator comprises: an ink chamber having an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line; an air inlet; a regulator channel having a first end communicating with the air inlet and a second end communicating with a headspace of the chamber, the second end defining a bubble outlet; and a wetting system for maintaining at least some liquid in the regulator channel, thereby ensuring that air entering the headspace first passes through the liquid. The regulator channel is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn from the bubble outlet as result of supplying ink to the printhead, thereby regulating a hydrostatic pressure of the ink.
US07794037B2

A method for reducing the strikethrough effect in inkjet printing on thin substrates is disclosed. The method includes determining a normal print quality; determining a normal quantity of ink which would be used for inkjet printing of a certain print image on a strikethrough-resistant substrate, based on the normal print quality; determining a minimal print quality for the print image to be printed; determining a maximal value for the strikethrough effect; reducing the normal quantity of ink to a reduced quantity of ink, so that the print image has at least the minimal print quality and the maximal value of the strikethrough effect is not exceeded.
US07794032B2

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head that can eject liquid; a pressure pump that discharges pressurized air during operation; at least one liquid container that contains liquid; a pressurized-air feed channel that feeds the liquid container with the pressurized air discharged from the pressure pump; a liquid feed channel that feeds the liquid ejecting head with the liquid discharged from the liquid container in accordance with the pressure of the pressurized air that is fed to the liquid container through the pressurized-air feed channel; a hydraulic-pressure measuring device disposed in a no pressure region that is not under the pressure of the pressurized air, for measuring the pressure of the liquid fed from the liquid container to the liquid ejecting head; a determining section that determines, if the hydraulic-pressure measuring device detects a value lower than a threshold hydraulic pressure predetermined as the lower limit of the hydraulic pressure necessary for feeding the liquid from the liquid container to the liquid ejecting head during the period from the start to the end of the operation of the pressure pump or immediately after the operation stops, that the liquid container has run out or is about to run out of liquid; and a controller that controls the operation of the pressure pump on the basis of the measurement of the hydraulic-pressure measuring device.
US07794028B2

A cupboard-shaped piece of furniture (1) includes side walls (2), on each of which a control mechanism (4) for the displacement of a door leaf (7) is arranged, whereby the control mechanisms (4) are connected by means of a synchronisation rod (10) for the synchronised movement thereof. The synchronisation road (10) includes a fixing device (12) on at least one end region for the detachable connection of the synchronisation rod (10) to a rotating piece (17) of the control mechanism (4), the fixing device (12) being embodied such that the synchronisation rod (10) may also be connected to the rotating piece (17) when the rotating piece (17) is already pre-assembled on a side wall (2) of the piece of furniture (1).
US07794020B2

The invention relates to a vehicle seat wherein the vehicle seat includes a back rest frame and a seat frame, which can be fastened to each other via a fitting. During assembly, mutually corresponding fastening points on the fitting and on at least one of the frame parts are brought to overlap in order to connect the two frame parts to each other with the aid of fastening elements. For the assembly, assembly aids are provided on the frame part and fitting. The assembly aids engage one inside the other in a form-fitting manner and are configured so that the two frame parts are held in an assembly aid position in which the mutually corresponding fastening points are aligned with respect to each other.
US07794006B2

A bow-formed bumper beam for a vehicle has a hat profile with a central flange (11), two webs (12,13), and side flanges (14,15). The beam has fastening portions (20,21) at its sides where the side flanges form fastening areas (30-33) for fastening the beam to the vehicle with the central flange facing outwards. The profile height of the beam decreases continuously from the fastening portions towards the center so that the profile height is less than two third of the highest profile height at the fastening portions. The central flange is wider at its center than at its fastening portions and has a stiffener in the form of an elongate depression (16) that extends from the center of the beam towards the fastening portions. In the area between the fastening portions, the side flanges have bent edges (26,27) and in association with the beginning of the bent edges, the side flanges have transverse dents.
US07794003B2

A modular storage system for use with a utility vehicle is disclosed. The modular storage system can extend across the floor of the utility vehicle and have a central elongated bin that is located between two wheel wells and extends generally between a front wall and a rear door of a utility vehicle storage space. A side bin can be included and be located between the central elongated bin and one of the side walls of the storage space.
US07793996B2

A bumper beam is fastened to a bumper beam (11) of a vehicle (13) with intermediate crash boxes (12). Each crash box comprises a left member (20) and a right member (21) formed of sheet metal, which are jointed together and have top portions (24,25) overlapping each other and bottom portions (22,23) overlapping each other to form double-sheet tabs (34,35). These tabs extend out over the top and bottom surfaces of the bumper beam and are fastened to these surfaces.
US07793982B2

A device for tightening a seat belt has a piston (2) drivable linearly in a piston guide (1) by the gas pressure of a propellant gas. A gearing (3) is also caused to move by the piston (2), the gearing serving the transmission of the piston movement to a pinion (4). The pinion (4) is connected to, or configured to be connected to, a belt spool of a seat belt retractor (13) in a manner whereby rotation of the pinion causes rotation of the belt spool. The gearing (3) on associated with the piston (2) is mounted displaceable transversely to the piston's direction of movement and meshes with the pinion (4) as a result of gas pressure in an expandable bladder (24).
US07793977B2

A side airbag apparatus includes an inflator and an airbag. Gas discharged from the inflator inflates and deploys the airbag in a space between a vehicle door and an occupant seated on a front seat in a passenger compartment. The airbag has a tether that limits the thickness of the airbag when the airbag is inflated and deployed. The airbag has a pair of inner surfaces that face each other along the direction of the thickness. The tether bridges the inner surfaces of the airbag. A vehicle exterior joint portion, which couples the tether to the inner surface of the airbag located close to an inner surface of the body side portion, is located closer to a center of the airbag than a vehicle interior joint portion, which couples the tether to the inner surface of the airbag located far from the inner surface of the body side portion.
US07793975B2

A passenger-seat airbag (32) includes a pair of left and right airbags (44, 46), and a root portion (48) that is connected to both of the left and right airbags (44, 46). When the passenger-seat airbag (32) is provided in a vehicle, an airbag folded portion (62) that forms the left and right airbags (44, 46) is positioned closer to the rear of the vehicle than the root portion (48) is, and a slack portion (49) that forms the root portion (48) is made upright along the airbag folded portion (62), and is positioned closer to the front of the vehicle than the airbag folded portion (62) is. Thus, the slack portion (49) is expanded and deployed toward a windshield earlier to form “a wall”. Then, the left and right airbags (44, 46) are stably deployed toward a passenger seat (toward the rear of the vehicle).
US07793972B2

A vehicular interior trim piece with a tether for use with a side curtain airbag. The tether is attached to an integral first panel portion and a second panel portion which rotates about a hinge out of the path of the airbag. The tether prevents complete detachment of the second panel from the first panel.
US07793958B2

Device includes plates which are connected by an axle that extends through a guiding piece and a ball joint element positioned at the ends of a column tube. Rotating elements are disposed in the plates and enable same to rotate around the axle which is blocked in rotation by the guiding piece. The guiding piece has a concave spherical surface coupled to the convex surface of the eccentric which is equipped with a bore that is off-centre in relation to the vertical axis of the spherical surfaces and a flat surface which is perpendicular to the axis of the bore. An eccentric pivots in the bore and on the surface via a cylinder and a surface. The eccentric is equipped with a bore that is off-centre in relation to the cylinder. The combined reverse rotation of the eccentrics enables the assembly to pivot around the axis.
US07793950B2

An inter-convertible single person type transporting aid (10) comprises a multi directionally propellable wheeled carrier frame (12) that is fitted with drive wheels (14) that are independently drivable via motors (16) and situated to enable aid central axis turning. The frame (12) is constituted from an upper frame part (20) displaceably mounted to a wheeled base frame (22) fitted at its outer corners with castors (24). The upper frame part (20) is biased in the direction of arrow (30) relative to the base frame (22). The aid (10) is re-arrangeable into a walk supporter or walker (38), a sitting transporter and a standing transporter by the removable fitting of a seat and a standing platform respectively.
US07793943B2

A metal gasket is formed by first and second metal base plates laminated together. The first metal base plate includes one first half bead around the hole, and a first outer sub-bead section. The first outer sub-bead section is smaller than the first half bead, and is provided outside the first half bead. The second metal base plate includes one second half bead around the hole to project in a direction opposite to the first half bead, and a second outer sub-bead section smaller than the second half bead and provided outside the second half bead. The second outer sub-bead section projects in a direction opposite to the second half bead. When the first and second metal base plates are assembled, the first and second half beads face opposite to each other, and the second outer sub-bead section abuts against the first outer sub-bead section.
US07793935B2

A feeding paper apparatus includes a rod having a fulcrum member thereon, and two pressing unit disposed on the opposite ends of the rod. Each pressing unit has a connecting device disposed on the rod, a buffering device movably and pivotally disposed on the connecting device, and a pressing wheel rotatably disposed on the buffering device. The pressing wheels provide the same component force on the corresponding feeding paper wheel so as to improve the quality of feeding paper. Furthermore, a method for using the feeding paper apparatus is disclosed.
US07793932B1

The present invention provides a paper collecting tray that reduces or eliminates paper curling. The collecting tray has a wire structure using springs or movable bands to support various size papers. These springs are provided in one embodiment to support paper sheets having 8.5 inch widths, 24 inch widths and 36 inch widths. These are configured to provide substantial support for the sheets and configured to prevent paper curling when the paper is passed to the collecting tray.
US07793929B2

A magazine pressure control is provided with pressure control wheels that are designed to regulate pressure on carton blanks being fed to a folder/gluer in a carton forming operation. These wheels are disposed around the periphery of the carton blank to urge the edges of the cartons forward and to straighten misaligned cartons. A separately controlled motor operates each half of the magazine pressure control. Each motor is controlled by a pressure sensor assembly and regulates the progression of the carton blanks through the magazine pressure control to equalize the pressure around the periphery of the carton blanks as they are presented to the pick face of the folder/gluer.
US07793923B2

A wave coil spring includes: a spring main body which has a spiral structure of a wave-shaped spring material, the spring main body bearing an axial compressive load in such a state that surfaces of the spring main body which face each other are brought into contact with each other at a plurality of contact portions, the plurality of contact portions including: a first contact portion where a component of force is produced with application of the compressive load, which attempts to cause the spring main body to slide in a direction in which the coil main body is wound spirally; and a second contact portion where a component of force is produced with application of the compressive load, which attempts to cause the spring main body to slide in a direction in which the spring main body is unwound spirally.
US07793921B2

A motion-restraint arrangement (48) with elongate lines of elements (10), wherein each line of elements (10) has a number of individual elements (12) which can be erected by spring elements (20) from a small-volume thin storage condition into a large-volume active condition. Each respective individual element (12) has flexible lateral edge elements (16, 18), which in the active condition define a parallelepiped. The spring elements (20) extend in spatially diagonal relationship between the corners (22) of the respective parallelepiped (14). A motion-restraint arrangement (48) which is easy and inexpensive to produce and which has optimum restraint properties is obtained in that the spatially diagonal spring elements (20) are formed by spring wires (24), which extend in a zigzag shape in the longitudinal direction of the respective line of elements (10).
US07793899B2

A suction device is provided, including a suction unit, a fixing unit, a press unit and a linkage positioning unit. The fixing unit is located on top of the suction unit. The press unit is restricted between the area close to circumference of the fixing unit and the top surface of the suction unit. The linkage positioning unit is fixed to above the fixing unit and performs linked movement with the pulling element of the suction unit. When the fixing unit tilts partially by the exerted force of a hanging object, the press unit can still press tightly against the area close to the circumference of the suction unit to maintain a strong suction hold and improve the suction durability.
US07793894B1

A retaining system having a member, a first clip and a second clip. The first clip is integrally formed on the member. The first clip has two spaced first clip walls in which at least one of the walls includes a detent. The second clip is integrally formed on the member. The second clip has two spaced clip walls. Both of the second clip walls have a detent.
US07793893B2

A clevis hanger assembly supports a pipe insulation coupling member along a support structure. The clevis hanger assembly includes an upper bracket adapted to be secured to the support structure. The upper bracket includes a base extending between spaced apart downwardly extending flanges. The clevis hanger assembly also includes a lower bracket having spaced apart upwardly extending flanges disposed alongside the spaced apart downwardly extending flanges. The lower bracket includes an arcuate segment extending between the spaced apart upwardly extending flanges and defines coupling slots for receiving the pipe insulation coupling member.
US07793880B2

At least two or more flat rectangular wires having been fed separately or simultaneously (two or more are superimposed) are integrated by being pinched in a width direction and a thickness direction by at least two or more pairs of rollers and are rolled and formed simultaneously in a forming part to be formed into two or more flat rectangular electric wires. The two formed electric wires are stacked in layers in a wind-up part while being wound into a disk shape to provide a multi-stage coil. Two or more systems up to the forming part of the winding apparatus may be disposed in a planar layout. Each system may supply one flat rectangular electric wire separately, and the supplied electric wires may be stacked in layers in the wind-up part while being superimposed. The coil may be molded entirely.
US07793878B2

A fishing reel comprises a cylindrical handle shaft that rotatably retains a high-speed driving gear and a low-speed driving gear. Inside the handle shaft, a switching shaft is fitted slidably along the axial direction. The fishing reel includes a switching member inside the handle shaft that is selectively engageable with the high-speed driving gear for high-speed winding or the low-speed driving gear for low-speed winding in response to an axial movement of the switching shaft. The switching member having at its one end adjacent to the handle a projection extending inside the handle shaft.
US07793872B2

The invention relates to a device for comminuting all types of parts, in particular plastics, preferably hollow plastic bodies, such as for example plastic bottles. The device comprises a feeding device, and a comminuting unit, the feeding device having at least one transport unit and the comminuting unit having a rotor, which is provided with tools and rotates in a housing. The device is characterized in that the transport unit transports the parts at an angle of between 45° and 90° to the rotor axis, at least in the region lying directly in front of the rotor.
US07793871B2

The invention comprises a process for activating drugs by means of high-energy co-grinding of the drug with a pharmaceutical carrier, characterized by the use of a vibrational mill equipped with means that regulate the vibration frequency. The process, performed by modifying the frequency of vibration and keeping its amplitude constant, produces drug/carrier composites with a constant particle size in which the degree of drug activation increases in proportion to the frequency applied. The invention also includes a vibrational mill suitably modified to perform the process described.
US07793870B2

The invention relates to a method and a device for husking and degerminating grains of maize. The aim of the invention is to provide an efficient and simple degermination of maize. To this end, during a wet degermination process, cleaned maize is wetted, and then husked and degerminated, and directly supplied to the comminution stage.
US07793868B2

A flow shut off or throttling valve is provided in a sprinkler nozzle housing to enable a nozzle to be changed without having to turn off a flow pressure source. The valve intersects a flow path through the nozzle housing and has an opening such that when the opening is aligned with the flow path, a flow stream can flow unobstructed through the flow path. The valve is movable between a fully open position in which the opening is aligned with the flow path and a closed position which blocks the flow stream from flowing to a nozzle disposed at an outlet passage of the flow path. The valve may be constructed to be either slidable or rotatable between the two positions, and is actuated by a gearing arrangement which is operable at the exterior of the nozzle housing. The external valve actuator may function as a physical barrier to retain the removable nozzle in the nozzle housing when the valve is open and to disengage the nozzle when the valve is closed.
US07793866B2

The present invention provides a perfume spray head with leakproof feature comprising a spraying unit and an annular pad, wherein spraying unit has a holding groove with an aerator, a nozzle and a 1 flow passage, a protrudent docking stem with a locking dented ring as well as a curved anchoring trough and an air inlet, and annular pad has an anchoring hole with an anchoring pin, a docking pit, a perforated positioning hole with a positioning and locking pin, an air intake passage and a flow path connected with a liquid feeding channel, as well as a coupling bushing; Thereby, the spray head is switched into “ON status” or “OFF status” when the spraying unit is turned to the position where the flow passage in or out of alignment with the flow path so that effects in component simplification, assembly easiness and cost reduction are achieved.
US07793865B2

Systems according to embodiments of the present invention include an antifreeze manifold carrying pressurized antifreeze liquid, the pressurized antifreeze liquid having a foam surfactant, an air manifold carrying pressurized air, a junction of the antifreeze manifold and the air manifold, the junction configured to combine the pressurized antifreeze liquid and the pressurized air to form antifreeze foam, a foam generator configured to enhance bubble formation, and an outlet conduit to receive the foam. Methods according to embodiments of the present invention include storing an antifreeze liquid having a foam surfactant, pressurizing the antifreeze liquid to a first pressure, pressurizing a gas to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is different from the first pressure, combining the antifreeze liquid at the first pressure with the gas at the second pressure to form an antifreeze foam, and injecting the antifreeze foam into a conduit to displace freezable fluid in the conduit.
US07793862B2

A servo valve (7) for fuel control is provided with an actuator (14) and a valve body (8, 28), which is set in a fixed position and has a stem (33) that extends along a longitudinal axis (3) and defines an internal passage (26); said internal passage (26) has at least two radial channels (39), which give out into an outlet through an outer lateral surface (34) of the stem (33) and have respective first portions (43) of calibrated length and cross section; said first portions (42) are followed by respective second portions of larger diameter; the servo valve (7) is provided with an open/close element (17), which is coupled to the outer lateral surface (34) of the stem (33) substantially in a fluid-tight way and is axially movable under the action of the actuator (14) for opening/closing the internal passage (26) of the stem (33); in the closing position, the open/close element (17) is subject to a zero axial resultant force by the pressure of the fuel.
US07793855B2

A substrate having a position-coding pattern disposed on its surface thereof. The position-coding pattern has a plurality of target elements defining a target grid. The target grid includes a plurality of cells and each cell has a target element positioned at its corners so that neighboring cells share target elements. A plurality of tags are contained with the position-coding pattern, each tag being defined by a plurality of contiguous cells. Each tag contains respective location data encoded by a respective set of data elements.
US07793853B2

A method of reading and decoding scrambled and encoded two-dimensional data represented on a sheet of media as a dot matrix includes the step of detecting a data area on the sheet of media by detecting targets on the sheet of media. A bit pattern represented by the dot matrix is detected and written to generate a byte pattern. The byte pattern is descrambled to generate coded data and the data is decoded.
US07793852B2

A region defined in relation to a surface, and a method for defining such a region; coded data being disposed within the region, the coded data being indicative of an identity of the region; in one embodiment, the coded data comprising a plurality of tags which substantially cover the region, the tags being usable to uniquely identify the region or at least distinguish it from other regions defined in relation to the surface.
US07793851B2

A dynamic credit card is provided in which a secure credit card number (e.g., a secret/hidden credit card number) is encoded based on a timing signal (e.g., an internal counter) to provide a dynamic credit card number. This dynamic number may be displayed to a user via a display (e.g., so that online purchases can be made) or written onto a magnetic stripe such that the number may be processed by traditional credit card merchants (e.g., swiped). At a remote facility, the dynamic number may be decoded based on time (and/or a counter/key number/equation) Thus, a dynamic credit card number may change continually or periodically (e.g., every sixty seconds) such that credit card numbers may not be copied by thieves and used at later times. A dynamic verification code may also be utilized in addition to, or in lieu of, a dynamic credit card number.
US07793846B2

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for forming a full color laser engraved image on an ID card. As described below, a special image capable layer is prepared that is addressable by one or more near infrared (NIR) lasers. Each type of particle contained within the image capable layer is associated with a particular color (e.g., cyan, magenta, or yellow) and is responsive (i.e., can selectively absorb) a particular wavelength of laser energy to form a laser engraved pixel in that respective color. In one embodiment, the particles are selected such that the wavelengths that they respond to do not overlap significantly. By providing discrete physical particles and preventing a given particle from responding to more than one laser wavelength, it can be possible to minimize so-called “cross talk” between the cyan, magenta, and yellow centers and minimize contamination and/or chemical mixing of image formers. This helps to ensure image accuracy and quality.
US07793845B2

A method for facilitating biometric security in a smartcard-reader transaction system is provided. The method includes determining if a transaction violates an established rule, such as a preset spending limit. The method also includes notifying a user to proffer a biometric sample in order to verify the identity of said user, and detecting a proffered biometric at a sensor to obtain a proffered biometric sample. The method additionally comprises verifying the proffered biometric sample and authorizing a transaction to continue upon verification of the proffered biometric sample.
US07793828B2

A cash dispensing automated banking machine, such as an ATM, has leveling legs. The legs are also used to fasten the ATM to a shipping pallet. Each leg has a support foot and an opposite free end. The free end is inserted through an opening in an intermediate shipping plate. With the shipping plate situated between the foot and the ATM underside, the free end is screwed into an underside opening. The leg is rotated until the plate is raised to be secure against the underside. The plate is then set on the pallet and fastened thereto by lag screws. The pallet includes horizontally adjustable stabilizing feet at sides thereof. The pallet feet can be extended outward to decrease the ability of a supported ATM to tip over. When not needed, such as during pallet storage, the feet can be retracted inward to reduce pallet size.
US07793817B2

To provide an electronic component placing apparatus and an electronic component mounting method that can prevent a cold joint from occurring when an electronic component likely to cause warp deformation is mounted by means of soldering. In the electronic component placing apparatus for placing the electronic component 16 with a plurality of solder bumps 16a formed on a lower surface on a board, a film 7a having a film thickness distribution for transferring a desired transfer amount of solder paste according to a state of warp deformation to each of the plurality of solder bumps is formed in a paste transfer unit 24, based on the component warp information indicating the state of warp deformation in a reflow process of the electronic component. Thereby, it is possible to prevent a cold joint from occurring when the electronic component likely to cause warp deformation is mounted by means of soldering by additionally supplying a just enough amount of solder to each solder bump 16a.
US07793811B1

A fastener driving apparatus includes a power source, a control circuit, a motor, a first cylinder, a first piston, a linear motion converter, a second cylinder, a second piston, an anvil, a valve arrangement and at least one sensor. During a compression stroke, the first piston is configured to compress gas in a first cylinder to a predetermined pressure. At the predetermined pressure, the valve arrangement assumes an open position for communicating the compressed gas to the second cylinder, thereby causing the second piston to move linearly and enabling the anvil to drive the fastener into the workpiece. During a return stroke, at a predetermined position of the first piston in the first cylinder, the valve arrangement assumes the open position for communicating a vacuum created in the first cylinder to the second cylinder and thereby causing the second piston and the anvil to retract to their initial positions.
US07793802B2

A viscous material container evacuator comprises a chamber to hold a container and a plunger axially and slidably accommodated within the chamber to express material from the container; and at least one hinged closure that closes to define the chamber and to securely enclose the container; and at least one motor activated fastener that secures the closure around the container. A method to secure a closure of a viscous material container evacuator, comprises activating a motor drive shaft to drive a connected threaded shaft into a complimentary threaded channel of a clamp block that comprises an opposing nub wall; and driving the threaded shaft to impose upon a first lug of an evacuator and to foreshorten a distance between a head of the threaded shaft and the opposing nub to impose the nub against a second lug of a closure to secure the lugs together to secure the container.
US07793800B2

The inventive multicomponent cartridge (1) for separately storing and for jointly pressing out at least two components of a free-flowing substance comprises at least one cylinder (2) for holding the substance with at least one pressing plunger (4) for pressing out the substance and at least one outlet (5) for the substance. The components of the substance are stored in separate chambers (8, 9) inside the cylinder (2) that extend in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder (2). An inner area (12) of a film (7) forms a partition (13) of the cylinder (2) between the chambers (8, 9) of the multicomponent cartridge (1). An outer area (11) of the film (7) is integrally joined to the cylinder. According to the inventive method for producing the inventive multicomponent cartridge (1), the outer area (11) of the film (7) is encapsulated during the injection molding of the cylinder (2) for the multicomponent cartridge (1).
US07793787B2

One object of the present invention is to provide polymers suitable for use as medical materials. The present invention provides a polymer useful as a medical material having the general formula -(A)l-(B)m-(C)n-  (I) in which A is derived from a non-ionic monomer; B is derived from a monomer containing a primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary amine group; C is derived from a monomer containing an acid group; and l+m+n=100, 0
US07793786B2

Systems; articles of manufacture, and methods to coat vehicular plastics with an epoxy are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention provide an extremely durable epoxy coating on various plastic parts of a vehicle. One embodiment includes a system that may be used to remove damaged plastic and any existing hard coat material, such as silicone, from the surface of a vehicular plastic. Such embodiments may also include the epoxy coating and tools necessary for applying the epoxy. Another embodiment discloses a process for preparing and sealing a vehicular plastic with an epoxy coating.
US07793764B2

A wet brake system for a vehicle including a case; an internal operation lever disposed inside the case; a hydraulic cylinder which is integrally mounted to the case and is configured to actuate the internal operation lever; and a brake mechanism configured to be operated by the actuation of the internal operation lever by the hydraulic cylinder to apply a braking force to an axle of the vehicle.
US07793754B2

An electric steering system includes a device for measuring a steering input into a steering system; a device for measuring a steering speed; a section for computing a target current based on the steering input; and a control section for applying a steering power to the steering system by driving a motor according to the target current, and applying damping to the steering system based on the steering speed. A rate of increase in a damper gain defined when the steering speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined value is higher than that defined when the steering speed is less than the predetermined value, or the damper gain defined when the steering speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined value has a constant value increased in a step form from values of the damper gain defined when the steering speed is less than the predetermined value.
US07793753B2

In a power-assisted steering system or power steering system having an electric motor, which drives a worm gear mechanism that has a composite gear wheel in the form of a worm wheel, the worm wheel includes a ring gear connectible to a hub via a first disk, and an annular projection of the first disk axially engages with the ring gear.In order to improve the centering of the component parts of the composite gear wheel in the tangential direction, and in order to render the power transmission in the gear wheel uniform, the annular projection on the first disk is provided with one or more depressions in the axial direction to form tooth-like projections, which form a drive-type toothed section and engage with depressions on an axial side face of the ring gear.
US07793752B2

A method of determining a direction of a power boost applied to a power cylinder of a variable effort power steering system includes measuring a pressure of a hydraulic fluid between a pump and a control valve. A first position of the hand wheel is detected and initialized when the pressure is within a pre-defined equilibrium pressure range. A second position of the hand wheel is detected in response to rotational movement of the hand wheel. The first position and the second position of the hand wheel are measured in cumulative degrees rotated left or right of a on-center orientation of the hand wheel. The second position is subtracted from the first position to obtain a differential value representing the direction of the power boost. A negative differential value represents a first direction and a positive differential value represents a second direction of the power boost.
US07793749B2

A method for operating a drive train of a vehicle with a drive engine, a brake system, at least two vehicle cross-shafts of a first vehicle axle with at least two wheels. The cross-shafts being actively connected via a transverse distributor gear and being driven by the engine. The vehicle also possibly having a second vehicle axle with at least two wheels. Frictional shift elements of the first vehicle axle, between the wheels of the first vehicle axle and the transverse distributor gear, are provided for variable distribution, to the first vehicle axle, of the fraction of the drive torque from the engine in the transverse direction of the vehicle between the two wheels. A desired yaw torque is determined. The drive engine, brake system and shift elements are controlled such that the desired yaw torque is produced essentially without changing the positive forward drive of the vehicle.
US07793744B1

A cart apparatus includes a frame for receiving game. The frame includes a pair of side supports and a plurality of lateral supports that are attached to and extend between the side supports. A netting material is attached to the frame and extends between the side supports. An axle is rotatably coupled to the frame. The axle extends between the side supports and has a pair of opposite ends. A pair of wheels is attached to the axle. Each of the wheels is positioned adjacent to one of the opposite ends. A motor is mounted to the frame. A drive shaft is mechanically coupled to the motor and to the axle. The motor rotates the wheels when the drive shaft is engaged.
US07793743B2

Disclosed is a crawler robot which, even of a small size, can climb over a high step and which can perform various aspects of operations. Rollers, are arranged at apexes of triangular frames, and elastic crawlers are wrapped around the rollers, with the two frames being connected by a central support shaft. Rotatably provided to the central support shaft is a one-joint link composed of a first link and a second link connected together by a rotation shaft. An end portion of the second link is rotatably connected with a front shaft of a subordinate crawler device equipped with crawlers wrapped around rollers. As a result, the crawler robot is composed of a triangular crawler device and the subordinate crawler device connected together by the one-joint link. The crawler robot can be operated by rotating and bending the link and by rotating the crawler devices in arbitrary directions.
US07793733B2

An actuator device for setting a downhole tool comprises a piston disposed in an upper reservoir of the device, the piston comprising two actuation areas upon which pressure acts to move the piston. The upper reservoir is in fluid communication with a lower reservoir through a valve that initially restricts the flow of fluid from the first reservoir to the second reservoir. In setting a downhole tool, fluid pressure initially acts on the first actuation area to slowly move the piston toward a set position. After a predetermined length of movement of the piston, the second actuation area is placed in fluid communication with a pressure such that the valve no longer restricts the flow of fluid through the valve, i.e., the total pressure acting on the piston is increased. This increased pressure rapidly moves the piston to actuate, or set, the downhole tool.
US07793727B2

A dewatering device is provided that can be inserted concentrically within the production tubing string of a natural gas-producing wellbore. The dewatering device includes a pressure-isolating chamber that is provided with a fluid inlet valve and a fluid outlet valve and associated gas lift valves. Compressed gas and soap are used to form a foamy liquid mixture that is lifted out of the chamber.
US07793720B2

Methods and apparatus relate to controlling location of inflow into a production well during in situ combustion. The production well includes intervals closable to the inflow at identified times. Once a combustion front from the in situ combustion passes one of the intervals, a blockage conveyed from surface into the production well forms a barrier to the inflow at the interval that has been passed by the combustion front. An example of the blockage includes a cement plug delivered through coiled tubing into the production well, which may include production tubing that defines the intervals based on at least two consecutive alternating lengths of solid wall sections and slotted or perforated sections of the production tubing.
US07793719B2

A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.
US07793714B2

A fracing and production configuration including a tubular having a plurality of openings. The openings having a beaded matrix therein, a valve sub in operable communication with the tubular and an underminable plugging material plugging each of the beaded matrixes. A method for fracing and producing from a wellbore in a formation.
US07793712B2

A downhole tool, configured to be suspended in a borehole traversing an earth formation, includes a downhole data acquisition system placed in the tool body and electrically connected to an electric power generator at the formation surface. The downhole data acquisition system includes a sensor for detecting local conditions in the borehole, and a transducer for transducing the voltage of an input signal from high to low or low to high. The transducer having a gallium nitride or silicon carbide based discrete semiconductor device.
US07793709B2

A jet generating device includes a vibrating member which vibrates gas, a driving unit which drives the vibrating member, and a housing which has a first opening and a first chamber connected to the first opening and containing the gas. The housing supports the vibrating member, and is such that, of sounds generated as a result of vibrating the vibrating member, the sound having a maximum noise level has a predetermined frequency. In addition, the housing discharges the gas as pulsating gas through the first opening as a result of driving the vibrating member.
US07793706B2

An HVAC assembly including an HVAC case disposed in a passenger compartment of a vehicle includes a first air mix door. The first air mix door is movable between open and closed positions and adapted to adjust a temperature of air blown into a front passenger compartment. A second air mix door is movable between open and closed positions and adapted to adjust a temperature of air blown into a rear passenger compartment. The HVAC assembly further includes a motor and a mechanical linkage operably coupling the motor with the first and second air mix door whereby movement of the motor corresponds to movement of both the first and second air mix doors.
US07793703B2

The present invention relates to a metal matrix composite (MMC) and the method of manufacturing the MMC. The MMC includes a preform formed from a composition having ceramic particles and ceramic fibers. The metal matrix composite also includes a support element formed from a metal where the metal impregnates through the preform. The method of forming the MMC includes the step of extruding the composition through a multi-screw extruder to form an extrudate. The method also includes the step of heating the preform and positioning the preform within a mold. The method further includes the step of heating the metal for forming a molten metal and injecting the molten metal into a cavity of the mold under pressure for infiltrating the preform with the molten metal. The method also includes cooling the molten metal to solidify the molten metal and form the metal matrix composite and removing the metal matrix composite from the mold.
US07793702B2

A guide system for a roller blind of a sliding roof system has a guide rail and a slider that is fixed on the roller blind. The slider is accommodated in the guide rail such that the slider is displaceable in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and carries the roller blind. A pretensioning device is arranged between the guide rail and the slider. The pretensioning device presses the slider outwards transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in order to tension the roller blind.
US07793701B2

A operation wand assembly of a curtain a curved connection member adapted to be connected to the lower rail of the curtain and having a top recess. A through hole is defined through the curved connection member and communicates with the top recess. An engaging member is received in the top recess and has a tubular portion engaged with the through hole of the curved connection member. The tubular portion includes an open bottom and two connection grooves are defined through a wall of the tubular portion. An operation wand has two radial rods extending from a top thereof and the top of the operation wand is removably inserted into the open bottom of the tubular portion. The two radial rods are engaged with the connection grooves. The operation wand can be hooked to a positioning member on a wall when not in use.
US07793694B2

It is to solve problems in a safety tire in which hollow particles also referred to as the foamable compositions are filled in the hollow ring-shaped partition wall and to provide a safety tire having a partition wall structure capable of sufficiently developing the function of the hollow particles.In a safety tire comprising a tire/approved rim assembly constructed by assembling the tire onto the approved rim, a hollow ring-shaped partition wall disposed inside the assembly to define a chamber extending in a circumferential direction along the rim, and thermally expandable hollow particles filled in the chamber and each consisting of a continuous phase of a resin and a closed cell(s), wherein the partition wall is provided with a filter selectively passing only a gas emitted when the hollow particles are thermally expanded.
US07793692B2

A pneumatic tire tread has tread elements formed by circumferential and/or lateral grooves. At least one tread element has a sipe that devolves from a constant width sipe having a three dimensional aspect in at least a portion of the radially outer portion of the sipe to a wider width groove at the base of the tread feature.
US07793689B2

A heat tracing device has one or more heating elements positioned adjacent to a heatable surface, an aerogel high temperature insulation layer adjacent to the one or more heating elements, a low temperature insulation layer adjacent to the aerogel high temperature insulation layer and a locking mechanism effective to fix the position of the low temperature insulation layer to the aerogel high temperature insulation layer.
US07793688B1

Disclosed is a system to winterize a recreational vehicle having plumbing lines. A hose may be attached to an air compressor and a recreational vehicle winterizer fitting may be attached between the hose and a freshwater inlet connection port of the recreational vehicle. The winterizer fitting may include a nib, a landing, a first transition, a second transition, and a body having a male connector and a fifth chamber. A pressure gage, a butterfly valve, and an antifreeze additive system may be attached to the body of the winterizer fitting.
US07793682B2

A valve assembly (10) able to be mounted with a liquid container, the valve assembly comprising: a housing (20) having a passageway (60) that extends through the housing; a breather float valve (80) mounted within the housing, the breather float valve movable between an open position to allow gas to pass through the passageway and a closed position that prevents liquid from passing through the passageway; a liquid inlet (30), forming part of the housing, the liquid inlet allowing fluid to pass into the housing; and an inlet float valve (41) mounted within the housing, the inlet float valve movable between an open position that permits the flow of liquid through the liquid inlet and a closed position that prevents the flow of fluid through the liquid inlet.
US07793675B2

Method for supplying a high purity gas product comprising providing a first gas stream including a major component and at least one impurity component, determining the concentration of the at least one impurity component, and comparing the concentration so determined with a reference concentration for that component. When the value of the concentration so determined is less than or equal to the reference concentration, the first gas stream is utilized to provide the high purity gas product. When the value of the concentration so determined is greater than the reference concentration, a second gas stream comprising the major component is provided and the first and second gas streams are mixed to yield a mixed gas stream having a concentration of the at least one impurity component that is less than the reference concentration. The second gas stream is provided by dividing the first gas stream into a first substream and a second substream, removing at least a portion of the at least one impurity component in the first substream to provide a purified substream, and mixing the purified substream with the second substream to provide the high purity gas product. The mixed gas stream is utilized to provide the high purity gas product.
US07793674B2

A portable sun and weather shelter is provided. The shelter comprises an umbrella foldable between open and closed positions. The umbrella has a center post, a canopy, and a frame to fold the canopy up and down. A pair of wings are attached to the perimeter edge of the canopy and can be extended outwardly beyond the canopy so as to increase the coverage area of the shelter so as to protect two or more people from the sun and rain.
US07793657B1

A facemask snorkel is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the facemask snorkel includes a facemask having a facemask interior, a snorkel disposed in pneumatic communication with the facemask interior and a resilient mouth seal disposed in pneumatic communication with the facemask interior.
US07793656B2

A swim and skin-dive snorkel for providing positive end-expiratory pressure for pressure-balanced exhalation.The snorkel may include inhalation and exhalation conduits. Air can be exhaled into a chamber and released when exhalation pressure within the chamber exceeds a threshold pressure. The threshold pressure that must be overcome to achieve exhalation may be balanced against the compressive forces of the ambient water pressure acting against the user's chest and lungs, which may greatly reduce the resting expiratory flow rate, the minute respiratory rate, and therefore the overall work of breathing. The exhalation pressure may be linearly matched to the ambient water pressure as a function of dive depth, thereby discouraging exhalation while diving. A purge valve may also be placed at the lower aspect of the snorkel.
US07793655B2

A cartridge for propellant-free administration of a liquid pharmaceutical composition by inhalation includes: an elongate displacing device including an upper end and a lower end, the lower end for at least partial insertion into a container; a cartridge chamber disposed at the lower end of the displacing device and operable store a pharmaceutical formulation, the cartridge chamber including at least one pierceably sealed opening; and a cannula guide extending from the upper end of the displacing device to the cartridge chamber, wherein insertion of a cannula through the guide pierces the sealed opening and releases the pharmaceutical formulation into a liquid solvent in the container to form the liquid pharmaceutical composition.
US07793652B1

A free-floating, integrated, solar operated water heater appliance, for heating the body of water includes a flotation device for buoyantly supporting the appliance in the body of water. A water heater element, fueled by solar energy, heats water pumped through the heater element by an integral pump, driven by solar energy. A solar energy reflector/container supports the heater element and concentrates solar energy onto the outer surface of the heater element. A parabolic dish reflector concentrates solar energy onto the inner surface of the heater element. Water is circulated through the heater element and returned, in elevated temperature, to the body of water.
US07793648B2

A heating cooker includes a top panel for placing a load thereon and touch operation parts for allowing the user to operate the heating of the heater to heat the load. The operation display parts of the touch operation parts each include display characters disposed under the top panel and a backlight which emits light through the top panel so as to display the display characters in lighting. When not displayed, the operation display parts including the display characters are entirely unlit and made inoperable. This provides a user-friendly heating cooker.
US07793646B2

A bowstring suppression device can be coupled to a bow to reduce the sound produced by the bowstring when the bow is drawn and released. The bowstring suppression device may include a cushion portion that is positioned adjacent to the bowstring when the bow is in an undrawn configuration. When the bow is drawn and released, the bowstring contacts the bowstring suppression device thereby deadening residual movement of the bowstring and reducing the sound generated by the bowstring.
US07793639B2

An apparatus which reduces engine noise caused by vibration of the fuel rail in a direct injection internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a holder which supports a fuel inlet end of the fuel injector in the fuel cup on the fuel rail so that the fuel injector is in alignment with the direct injection fuel port in the engine head. A vibration isolator is sandwiched in between the holder and either the engine head or the fuel cup to reduce the transmission of vibration from the fuel rail to the engine head.
US07793634B2

An electro-magnetic internal combustion engine having means to operate in an electro-magnetic configuration, in an internal combustion configuration, and in an electro-magnetic internal combustion combination configuration.
US07793633B2

A switching resonance intake system is provided an internal combustion engine with a first and a second cylinder bank. The cylinder banks are each coordinated with a resonance container with a group of swing pipes leading to the cylinders, and the resonance containers are joined together by resonance pipes provided with switching valves. In the intake system, the swing pipes coordinated with the one cylinder bank are connected to the resonance container adjacent to the other cylinder bank. The intake system is intended for use in an internal combustion engine with cylinder banks having a V-layout.
US07793632B2

An ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine is small in size and has high reliability capable of withstanding or enduring a vibration environment of a vehicle to which the ignition apparatus is installed. The ignition apparatus includes a spark plug that has its tip end portion presented in the interior of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine main body, a high voltage generation power supply that serves to apply a high voltage to the spark plug, a microwave oscillation device that has an amplifying element for generating a microwave, and a microwave antenna that is mounted on the spark plug, irradiates the micro wave generated from the microwave oscillation device to the interior of the cylinder, thereby forming a plasma generation region around discharge electrodes of the spark plug. The microwave oscillation device is made into a solid state.
US07793631B2

A fuel ignition system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel ignition system is adapted to allow a photocatalyst to ignite a mixture by using a light energy irradiated from a light generator. The fuel ignition system includes: a combustion chamber; the photocatalyst provided in the combustion chamber; and a light generator for flatly irradiating the light energy to the photocatalyst.
US07793630B2

A switchable component (1) for a valve train of a combustion engine is provided, such as a roller tappet, with a housing (2), in whose borehole (3) an inner element (4) runs that can move relative to the housing in the axial direction. At least one coupling element (6) is allocated to the inner element (4), wherein this coupling element, in the decoupled case, lies with its outer end (7) directly in front of an annular surface (8) between both components (2, 4) and, in the coupled case, engages in some sections with a driver surface (9) in the borehole (3) of the housing (2), and wherein, between the components (2, 4) there is a lost-motion spring element (10) forcing these components away from each other in the axial direction. As the coupling element (6) there is at least one sickle-shaped ratchet that can pivot outward and that sits at least indirectly in an opening (11) in the outer shell (5) of the inner element (4) and that is connected to the inner element (4) in an articulated way at one end (12). An annular groove is present as a driver surface (9) in the borehole (3) of the housing (2) and the coupling element (6) can pivot outward in the coupling direction via the force of a mechanical spring (13) and can pivot inwardly in the decoupling direction via hydraulic medium guided into the driver surface (9) in front of its outer end (7).
US07793627B2

A variable valve lift apparatus includes a lift body that contacts a cam and a valve. The lift body has a first hole for receiving hydraulic pressure and a second hole for exhausting the hydraulic pressure. A spring is provided in the lift body. A hydraulic pressure supplying portion supplies the hydraulic pressure to the first hole, and a hydraulic pressure exhausting portion receives the hydraulic pressure from the second hole.
US07793626B2

A hydraulic cam follower (1), such as a roller tappet, is provided. This is used for the actuation of two identically operating gas-exchange valves and should be installed inclined to the direction of the force of gravity. The cam follower (1) comprises a pot-shaped housing (2), whose bottom (3) is provided with a roller as a cam contacting element (4). In the housing (2), two guides (5) extending parallel to the direction of the internal combustion engine are provided, in each of which a pressure piston (6) is arranged so that it can move axially, whose end (7) away from the housing is constructed as a support for contact with a respective tappet pushrod. Each pressure piston (6) encloses a reservoir (11) for hydraulic medium. For each pressure piston (6), an opening (13) extends from the outer casing (12) of the housing (2) for feeding hydraulic medium to the reservoirs (11), wherein the openings (13) are arranged on a peripheral segment of the outer casing (12) lying at the top viewed in the direction of the force of gravity. Thus, a so-called double roller tappet is provided as a cam follower (1), which can store a sufficiently large amount of hydraulic medium despite its inclined installation.
US07793622B2

A gas engine has a first fuel feed system, a second fuel feed system and a third fuel feed system. The gas engine is operated by introducing combustion air into a combustion chamber of the engine. In a first mode of operation of the engine, gaseous fuel is added to the combustion air via the first fuel feed system and ignition fuel is injected into the mixture of gaseous fuel and combustion air via the second fuel feed system. In a second mode of operation of the engine, gaseous fuel is added to the combustion air via the first fuel feed system and ignition fuel is injected into the mixture of gaseous fuel and combustion air via the third fuel feed system.
US07793619B2

An animal garment article and method are provided herein.
US07793618B2

A dual-purpose packaging for a pet-related product includes a flexible, non-toxic and bite-resistant enclosure filled with a pet-related product. The enclosure includes a retractable valve for selectively dispensing the pet-related product from within the enclosure. The packaging may further include a set of squeak elements associated with a corresponding set of air-filled chambers coupled to the enclosure. Accordingly, the enclosure may be reutilized as a pet chew toy once the pet-related product is substantially dispensed from within the enclosure.
US07793609B2

Provided is a coating and developing apparatus composed of an assembly of plural unit blocks. A first unit-block stack and a second unit-block stack are arranged at different positions with respect to front-and-rear direction. Unit blocks for development, each of which comprises plural processing units including a developing unit that performs developing process after exposure and a transfer device that transfers a substrate among the processing units, are arranged at the lowermost level. Unit blocks for application, or coating, each of which comprises plural processing units including a coating unit that performs application process before exposure and a transfer device that transfers a substrate among the processing units, are arranged above the unit blocks for development. Unit blocks for application are arranged in both the first and second unit-block stacks. Unit blocks for application which a wafer goes through are determined depending on the layering positional relationship between an antireflective film and a resist film. An exposed wafer goes only through the unit block for development without going through any one of the unit blocks for application.
US07793608B1

A sheet material supply roll wrapped on a core tube including a reserve segment of sheet material spirally wrapped around the core tube with a supply segment of sheet material spirally wrapped on top of the reserve segment of sheet material. Different methods for placement or attachment of the roll ends are provided including perforated, overlapping, spaced, and integrated flap methods and apparatus. Further, a cross oriented low supply indicator is provided on the supply roll to provide a quick indicator of the end of roll without disrupting the remaining integrity of the supply.
US07793602B2

A method and apparatus for detecting longitudinal thread motion in a quilting/sewing machine for controlling the actuation of a fixedly located stitch head. A preferred detector comprises an optical sensor which directly senses the longitudinal movement of a thread as it moves along a guide path from a supply source toward a stitch head needle.
US07793598B2

A plastic panel which may be used as a production pallet in the production of unitary concrete masonry products includes first and second joinable portions. The portions each comprise a support backing including an outer surface and an inner face, and a plurality of ribs extending outwardly away from said inner face. The ribs of a first grouping thereof are parallel with one another and extend across a first area of the face in a first direction, and the ribs of a second grouping thereof extend across a second area of the face in a second direction which is not parallel with said first direction. The panel portions are configured, disposed and arranged so as to join with one another in generally overlapping and mated relationship with the outer surfaces disposed in spaced apart opposing relationship, with the first groupings of ribs of the respective portions disposed in intermeshing and mating relationship with each other, and with the second groupings of ribs of the respective portions also disposed in intermeshing and mating relationship with each other whereby to present said plastic panel.
US07793596B2

A retractable step for a rail vehicle includes a treadable region having lateral guides, a front edge, a guide region, a first roller disposed on the rail vehicle, and a second roller disposed in a guide. The guide has a configuration that is one or more of oblique, curved or bent. Also included is a transition area between the treadable region and the guide region. The transition area is configured to have one or more of a bend and a curvature and has an upwardly convex shape.
US07793591B1

A modified projectile round which is configured to function with a propellant cartridge such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,074. The projectile assembly uses a High-Low gas pressure cartridge to launch the projectile. When the high pressure cartridge is ignited, hot propellant gases rupture a burst cup and shoot propellant gases toward the aft end of the projectile. The hot propellant gases impinge against a delay carrier located in the aft end of the projectile. The contents of the delay carrier are thereby ignited. The delay carrier includes one or more delay columns ultimately terminating in an igniter charge. The delay columns burn as the projectile is in flight. A specified amount of time later, the igniter charge ignites an ignitable payload—such as a marker flare candle.
US07793577B2

A cooling system for a Gatling machine gun can be use to retrofit an existing machine gun or can be incorporated in a newly manufactured gun. The system directs fluid through the housing assembly of the machine gun to a location intermediate barrels of the gun, and discharges the fluid to cool the barrels.
US07793572B2

An attachment for a power tool has a tool receptacle for receiving a tool bit, a locking unit which is detachably mountable on a housing of a power tool, an output shaft, which is connectable to a drive shaft of the power tool in a manner fixed against relative rotation, and a device for adjusting the torque.
US07793565B2

A reach-adjustable lever assembly that is mountable to a handlebar for actuating one of a gear-change and braking device. The lever assembly includes a lever with a finger grip pivotably connected to a housing and a reach adjust mechanism. The reach adjust mechanism includes a cam actuator and a cam. The cam actuator is rotatably supported by one of the housing and the lever. The cam is threadably connected to the cam actuator and is configured to engage the other of the housing and the lever. The cam is displaceable upon rotation of the cam actuator to pivot the lever to position the finger grip relative to the handlebar.
US07793564B2

A parallel mechanism which has a holding bracket; a movable platform; and three branch joint assemblies of the same structure that are spatially arranged symmetrically about an axis disposed between the holding bracket and the movable platform. Each branch joint assembly has a connecting rod, a linear guide, a driving device and a carriage. The linear guide and the driving device both are secured on the connecting rod. One end of the connecting rod is connected with the movable platform through a hinge having three rotational degrees of freedom. The carriage and the linear guide are connected with each other by a sliding joint, and the carriage is connected with the holding bracket by a hinge having one rotational degree of freedom.
US07793557B2

The submarine phenomenon can be prevented and the accuracy of a passenger's weight measurement is improved.A vehicle seat 1 comprises a pair of fixed lower rails 3 fixed on the floor of a passenger compartment, a pair of movable upper rails 4 which are engaged with the fixed lower rails 3 so as to be slidable in a front-and-rear direction with respect to each of the fixed lower rails 3, a sub frame 110 which is disposed at an upper side of the movable upper rails 4, load sensors 50, 60, 70, and 80 which lie between the sub frame 110 and the movable upper rails 4, brackets 8 and 9 which are disposed so as to erect them on each of the movable upper rails 4, and a submarine pipe 11 which is crossed between the brackets 8 and 9. The submarine pipe 11 is disposed to be slidable in a left-and-right direction with respect to the right bracket 9.
US07793556B2

A torque sensor for a steering wheel with a center axis has an input member, an output member, the input and output members being rotatable about the common center axis, and a spring member that is arranged in a flow of force between the input member and the output member, the spring member is configured as a flat spring member extending in a plane perpendicular to the center axis.
US07793554B2

Methods and apparatuses for detecting the flow volume of a fluid using alternating vortices.
US07793538B2

A diagnostic apparatus monitors a pressure difference detection apparatus that detects the pressure difference across an engine exhaust gas cleansing device in an exhaust gas system, with the diagnostic apparatus recognizing a condition of impeded transfer of gas between the pressure difference detection apparatus and the exhaust gas system, based upon a manner of convergence of successive detected pressure difference values that are produced by the pressure difference detection apparatus following a change in the exhaust gas flow rate.
US07793537B2

The disclosure is directed to a method to determine oil consumption in an internal combustion engine that does not require extended operation of the engine in the files and is adaptable to be useful at production facilities for testing of sample engines from the line without installation of the engine into a vehicle and operating the vehicle in order to determine oil consumption of the engine during operating conditions.
US07793533B2

This invention relates to a test device for metal detector portal structure, characterized by the fact that it comprises a removable rack (10) comprising support and guide means (300) for displacement of a panel (400) capable of carrying a reference sample.
US07793530B2

The invention involves a forming tool for a machine tool. The forming tool can be used, for example, to create various large forms in sheet metal or other workpieces.
US07793529B2

A method for producing a formed body including the steps of introducing a fluid material supplied from two or more material supply holes of a rectification plate into a drawing die, homogenizing the flow rate distribution of the fluid material in the drawing die using one or more wires stretched from the material supply holes to near the exit section of the drawing die, and extruding the fluid material from the exit section of the drawing die in which a prescribed forming pattern is formed by two or more wires. The wires form hollow holes through the formed body.
US07793519B2

An improved prong for use in a retaining device such as a jewelry setting is disclosed. The prong includes a riser section, an engagement section and a lever section. The riser section may include one or more indents and a longitudinal groove to aid in engagement of an object such as a gemstone. The engagement section may include diverging tines configured to match the contour of a gemstone. The present invention also provides a jewelry setting which includes the prongs.
US07793513B2

A refrigerant PTAC system, such as those commonly found in hotel rooms, can be selectively configured in a hardwire or wireless configuration with respect to its thermostat. The system is controlled in response to the better of two temperature sensors, which is determined based on the PTAC's configuration and the validity of the readings provided by the sensors. While the PTAC is controlled in response to a preferred temperature sensor, the alternate sensor may be monitored for diagnostics or other reasons. In the event that the preferred sensor fails to provide valid readings, the controller automatically switches to controlling the system in response to the alternate sensor. To minimize manufacturing costs and the variety of stocked parts, the PTAC's controller preferably includes two substantially identical transceivers.
US07793510B2

Various thermostat embodiment are provided that includes at least a first sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the temperature within the space, and at least a second sensor configured to communicate information indicative of the humidity within the space. The thermostat further includes a controller in communication with the at least first and second sensors, for controlling the thermostat's operation. The controller is configured to operate in a first mode in which the controller operates the air conditioner when the sensed temperature of the space is above a temperature set-point or when the sensed humidity level is above the humidity set-point. The controller is further configured to operate in a second mode in which the controller operates the air conditioner when the sensed temperature is below a set-back temperature set-point, or when the sensed humidity is above a set-back humidity set-point.
US07793506B2

A method and apparatus for reducing the emission of pollutants resulting from static test firings of rocket and jet engines. The apparatus comprises a test stand for capturing the exhaust gas from an engine undergoing a static test. The test stand includes a duct system for guiding the exhaust gas from a duct inlet to a duct outlet through stages that reduce the exhaust gas pollutants. Liquid oxygen (“LOX”) is introduced into the duct system to interact with the engine exhaust gas stream. By introducing LOX, the pollutant CO is converted to non-pollutant carbon dioxide (“CO2”) as the exhaust stream moves through the duct system.
US07793504B2

One embodiment of the present invention includes a nozzle defining a passage to receive and discharge working fluid to produce thrust. The nozzle includes the first wall structure opposite a second wall structure. The first wall structure includes a first convergent flap pivotally connected to a first divergent flap. The second wall structure includes a second convergent flap pivotally connected to a second divergent flap. The first wall structure and the second wall structure define the throat along the passage and are reconfigurable to adjust dimensional area of the throat. One or more control valves modulate flow of the pressurized fluid into the passage through a first opening in the first wall structure and a second opening in the second wall structure approximate to the throat to change effective area of the throat by fluidic control.
US07793497B2

An actuator comprises an elongated shape-memory element wound around a first element and having one first end connected to the first element and one second end connected to a second element. Heating means are provided for heating the shape-memory element in order to obtain a displacement of one of the ends thereof. The elongated shape-memory element is guided so that it can slide within a closed channel made of a material having a low coefficient of friction, for example defined by a sheath.
US07793496B2

An infinitely variable transmission for use with an internal combustion engine is provided. Specifically, a prime mover is provided for driving a first hydraulic machine. The first hydraulic machine is arranged to drive a second hydraulic machine via a fluid line that connects the first and second hydraulic machines. The second hydraulic machine is operatively connected with an output element, such as a wheel to drive a vehicle. Each of the first and second hydraulic machines have electronically controllable valves for varying the speed and/or the torque of the first and second hydraulic machines thereby providing an infinitely variable transmission.
US07793494B2

The invention relates to a static mixer for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The mixer has a wall structure that is arranged across the directional of flow in a pipe and has several layers of a corrugated sheeting material laying across one another in the direction of flow. The cells through which the flow can pass in the direction of flow are provided between the sheeting material of neighboring layers. The sheeting material has baffles for all or several of the cells. The baffles are arranged on the sheeting material so that they are arranged on their outgoing flow side in the case of said cells and extend in the direction of flow and across it.
US07793491B2

When concentration of reducing agent stored in reducing agent container deviates from predetermined range or when residual amount of reducing agent becomes equal to or smaller than predetermined amount, it is judged that liquid in reducing agent container is different aqueous solution or reducing agent is deficient (abnormal judgment). Upon restarting of engine operation, if abnormal judgment is made and vehicle's travel for a predetermined distance or more occurs after abnormal judgment, restarting of engine operation is inhibited. At this time, if elapsed time until restarting of engine operation is performed from stopping moment of engine operation is less than predetermined time, engine operation is judged to be unintentionally stopped, and restarting of engine operation is permitted enabling a prompt action in emergency. But, even when abnormal judgment is made, if vehicle travels a distance less than predetermined distance after abnormal judgment, restarting of engine operation is permitted enabling vehicle to travel to reducing agent replenishing point.
US07793482B2

A wall fastener that attaches a wallboard member to a mounting track in a manner that allows for relative movement between an overhead roof structure to which the mounting track is secured and a non-load bearing wall. The wall fastener holds the wallboard in a fixed position relative to the wall and the overhead structure to maintain a fire barrier.
US07793474B2

A quoin formed of individual over-mount corner units constructed as simulated brick to match the adjoining wall panels forming the exterior cover of an exterior wall of a building is provided. The corner units are formed with a front portion configured as courses of brick separated by mortar joints joined to a rear plate that provides a support frame for the corner unit. Multiple standoffs are positioned on the rear plate opposite mortar joints formed on the front portion to provide a location for driving fasteners to mount the corner unit onto the building substructure. The overlapping nature of the corner units with respect to the wall panels allows the wall panels to be cut imprecisely at the exterior corner. The standoffs maintain a predetermined spacing between the building substructure and the rear plate to establish a channel for the drainage of moisture due to condensation or rain infiltration.
US07793473B2

An article for engaging a sheathing of a sheathed portion of a tendon has a tubular body having an inner surface and outer surface and a first end and a second end, fins extending radially outwardly from the outer surface, a longitudinal split extending through a wall of the tubular body and extending from the first end to the second end, locking ribs extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of the tubular body, and a collar formed adjacent the second end of said tubular body. Each of the locking ribs extends parallel to the other locking ribs. The locking ribs are equally spaced along the inner surface of the tubular body. Each of the fins extends parallel to the other fins. Each of the fins have a height increasing from the first end to the second end of the tubular body.
US07793471B2

A floating floor assembled from an array of interconnected subunits, each of which includes a stone, ceramic or porcelain tile and a one-piece polymeric plastic substrate to which the stone, ceramic, or porcelain tile is bonded. Each substrate is injection molded from certain polyolefin polymers and incorporates the interlock structure and certain other features of the modular sports tiles of U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,286. The substrates of the present invention, however, differ in that each substrate incorporates a vertical stabilization system, the plastic support grid is formed by three sets of mutually intersecting walls, with each set being angularly offset from the other two by 120 degrees, and each substrate is sized to precisely fit a stone, ceramic or porcelain tile, which is accurately positioned by tile locator tabs on a pair of intersecting sides of the substrate.
US07793469B2

A sanitary cove base including an outer wall and an inner wall that are separated from each other by a plurality of longitudinally-extending web members creating a plurality of hollow channels between the inner wall and outer wall is disclosed. Each of the hollow channels is separated from the next adjacent hollow channel by one of the web members.
US07793464B2

A multifunctional support for use in a motor vehicle includes a retaining section for fastening the multifunctional support to an assembly support of a door of the motor vehicle. The multifunctional support further includes a longitudinal window guide linked with the retaining section for guiding a window pane, and fastening locations for fastening a door lock to the multifunctional support. The retaining section is linked with the window guide along a longitudinal subsection of the multifunctional support. The retaining section, in a terminal zone of the longitudinal subsection, is linked with the window guide in a substantially rigid manner and is linked with the window guide in another terminal zone of the longitudinal subsection in a flexible manner.
US07793440B1

A snowplow assembly may include a moldboard frame and a moldboard. The moldboard frame may include an angle member operatively connected to a top member, wherein a space is defined between the angle member and the top member. The moldboard frame may also include a first stop member. The moldboard may include a first recess near a top portion of the moldboard. The top portion of the moldboard is positioned within the space between the angle member and the top member. The first stop member is positioned in the first recess.
US07793439B2

A snowshoe apparatus having a frame assembly, a pivot assembly pivotally attached to the frame assembly, and a binding assembly pivotally attached to the pivot assembly is disclosed. The snowshoe apparatus may also include first and second crampons pivotally attached to the frame assembly, with the first crampon configured to pivot relative to the frame assembly substantially independent of the second crampon. In addition, at least one of the first crampon and the second crampon may be laterally movable relative to the frame assembly. The snowshoe apparatus may also comprise a resilient heel support assembly coupled to the frame assembly. A corresponding method of assembly is also disclosed.
US07793433B2

Individually formed footwear such as shoes and insoles for correcting the feet position and alleviate related problems. The shoe or insole comprises at least one layer made of thermoplastic material, which material is advantageously chosen from a group of ABS, PVC, A-PET and PETG. A method for providing such footwear to a client at a retail store is likewise presented.
US07793432B2

An element forming at least part of a midsole for footwear includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and at least two strut members disposed between the top and bottom plates for supporting the top plate a distance away from the bottom plate. The top, bottom and struts may be formed of different materials. Adjacent strut members have a C shaped cross-section facing in the same direction when the midsole resting its top or bottom portion is viewed from the side. The midsole element may further comprise a heel cleft to increase the flexibility of the sole. In a preferred embodiment, the strut members on the medial side are arranged at an angle to the strut members on the lateral side of the sole. The directional design provides flexibility and stiffness anisotropically to the sole in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the sole respectively.
US07793431B2

Footwear including a foot support member and a sole assembly, the sole assembly having a first end and a second end, comprising a plurality of separate insole segments attached to the foot support member for bending the sole assembly, an outsole portion forming the base of the sole assembly, and a plurality of springs engaged between the insole segments and the outsole portion. The springs are arranged in a continuous series across the sole assembly from the first end to the second end, such that the springs exert a constant rebounding force on and across the sole of a user in series throughout a pace cycle.
US07793429B2

A shoe including an insertable midsole orthotic located within a structure formed by a combination of a bottom sole and a portion of a shoe upper attached to the bottom sole. Both the inner and outer surfaces of the sole include rounded portions which together define a rounded portion of the shoe sole located between the rounded surfaces, and at least a rounded part of each rounded portion of the sole has a uniform thickness extending at least from a lowest point of the sole to at least a sidemost extent of the side of the sole, all as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition. The shoe sole can also include at least one compartment containing a liquid, gas, or gel, or include at least two computer controlled compartments and a duct providing fluid communication between them.
US07793426B2

A self-ventilating shoe assembly including an upper having an outer layer, a porous middle layer, and an inner layer; and a sole including an outsole; is provided with one or more passageways or chambers connecting between the outsole and the porous middle layer of the upper. One or more external vent openings are in fluid communication with the one or more passageways or chambers. Cooling ambient air is moved by convection and by a pumping action from the external vent openings through the passageways or chambers up through the porous middle layer of the upper, and optionally, the insole, providing cooling and reducing moisture in the cavity containing the wearer's foot.
US07793424B2

A positioning device comprises a frame (60); a motor (61) having a drive shaft; a spindle (63) having a first end (71) and a second end (76) and being rotatable in relation to the frame (60); a coupling (62) resiliently connecting said drive shaft to said first end (71) of said spindle (63) such that the spindle (63) rotates when the drive shaft of the motor (61) rotates; and a support assembly (72, 74, 75) elastically supporting at the frame (60) at least one of the second end (76) of the spindle (63) and the motor (61).
US07793421B2

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for drawing an instrument across a curve in a surface for constructing an arch. The apparatus comprises a base member having a pivot and a plurality of first indicators and a slidable member having a plurality of second indicators. The slidable member is slidably positionable on the base member. The method comprises pivotably securing the base member to a surface, selecting one of the plurality of first indicators corresponding to the chord height and selecting one of the plurality of second indicators representing the chord height and length of the arch to be scribed. The method further comprises aligning the first and second selected indicators, and rotating the apparatus about the pivot hole so as to draw across an instrument located at a distal end of the slidable member across an arc so as to define the arch.
US07793409B2

A method forming at least a portion of a cable comprises providing at least one cable conductor core, extruding at least an inner layer of a polymeric insulation material over the at least one conductor core, providing a plurality of strength members having a coating of the polymeric insulation material, heating the at least one cable conductor core and the strength members, embedding the strength members into the inner layer of the cable conductor core, and extruding an outer layer of the polymeric insulation material over the cable conductor core and the plurality of strength members and bonding the outer layer to the inner layer and the coating to form the cable and provide a contiguous bond between the inner layer, the strength members, and the outer layer, wherein the polymeric insulation material of the inner layer, the strength member coating, and the outer layer are amended to enable the inner layer and the outer layer to melt at a greater rate than the strength member coating.
US07793408B2

The apparatus for transferring the semiconductor chip includes: a holder member including a first vacuum hole connected to a vacuum line; a plate member including at least one second vacuum hole corresponding to the first vacuum hole and redistributed to edges of the plate member, the plate member combined with the holder member; and an absorption member including at least one third vacuum hole corresponding to the second vacuum hole and a groove connected to the third vacuum hole, the absorption member combined with the plate member and the holder member.
US07793404B2

A resonant-oscillating-device fabrication method for integrally forming a structure comprising a support, a beam vibratably extending from the support, and an oscillating element which is supported by the beam so as to oscillate in resonance with the vibration of the beam at a desired resonant frequency, by using a substrate. The resonant-oscillating-device fabrication method having a thickness measurement step of measuring the thickness of the substrate, an etching condition determination step of determining conditions of etching a portion forming the beam in the substrate to provide the desired resonant frequency, in accordance with the thickness of the substrate measured in the thickness measurement step, and an etching step of etching the substrate in accordance with the etching conditions.
US07793403B2

A method of manufacturing an optical component or a molding die for the optical component, the method comprising the steps of: cutting a surface of a work with a tool by rotating the tool around its axis with a cutting edge facing outward and moving in a circle to cut the work surface at a point of the circle while relatively moving the tool and the work in a line direction crossing to the axis of the tool at a predetermined feed speed; and cutting the work surface in a next line after relatively moving the tool and the work in a pitch direction perpendicular to the line direction by a pick feeding distance in such a condition that: tool rotation speed (S): 10000 to 30000 rpm; feed speed (F): 300 to 2000 mm/min; rotating radius (D) of a cutting edge of a tool: 5 to 15 mm; pick feeding distance (f): 0.01 to 0.04 mm; nose radius (r) of a cutting edge of a tool: 5 to 20 mm. The method allows to form a surface of a work into a free-form surface having a surface roughness of approximately 10 nm or less.
US07793390B2

An apparatus for connecting pond covers, which includes a shaft having an exterior surface, a first end and a second end. An engagement profile is positioned on the exterior surface at a first end of the shaft. A cable guide is positioned in an intermediate position between the first end and the second end of the shaft, the cable guide being oriented transversely to the shaft. A cable is prevented from removal from the cable guide by the second end of the shaft.
US07793387B2

A door check including an arm with an arm mount is provided for mounting the arm to a vehicle door or frame. The arm includes a first surface and an oppositely disposed second surface. The door check further includes an arm guide including a housing, including a guide mount for mounting the housing to the vehicle door or frame, and a guideway for receiving the arm. The arm guide also includes two generally facing arm engaging structures mounted within the housing for receiving the arm therebetween. Each arm engaging structure faces its respective arm surface. The arm guide includes a spring between the housing and the second arm engaging structure. The spring biases that structure towards the first arm engaging structure to urge these structures into contact with the respective arm surfaces restricting longitudinal movement of the arm through the guideway.
US07793383B2

A windshield wiper arm including a rear end segment fixed to a shaft driving the windshield wiper arm in an alternating wiping movement about the global and vertical axis, a free front segment for supporting a wiper blade, and an intermediate segment with a longitudinal orientation which is at least partly elastically deformable and which links the rear end segment to the free front segment, wherein the intermediate segment includes a longitudinal central web which is covered with an outer sleeve, wherein at least one portion of the longitudinal central web includes a multilayer plate made of globally horizontal superimposed layers of different materials and thickness, and wherein the multilayer plate comprises at least one layer made of a composite material.
US07793378B1

A combination tool having utility in tile installation procedures includes a wide blade adapted to remove excess grout and caulk in relatively large quantities, a four-armed cement remover and grout joint spacer, a spherical grout packer and a “V”-shaped grout and caulk profiler adapted to be secured to a hollow handle in varying combinations. In a first embodiment, the wide blade is attached to a first end of the handle and the four-armed cement remover-grout joint spacer and the spherical packer are releasably secured to a second end of the handle. A second embodiment includes the blade at the first end and the “V”-shaped profiler at the second end in lieu of the cement remover and packer. The hollow handle provides a storage compartment for additional packers. The tool may be made of material that floats in water. The handle may also have a non-hollow web construction.
US07793371B1

This invention relates generally to a body pillow and support system. Due to the need for additional support, pregnant women often encounter difficulty sleeping. The support pregnant women typically need is not just for their head, but for their abdomen, back and/or legs. Many pregnant women find themselves hot or cold as well as hot on one part of their body and cold on a different part of their body. All of these conditions are usually met by the pregnant woman finding several pillows and stuffing those same pillows all around her when she is trying to get some rest. This invention also is useful for a diverse group of people who need soft support to rest or recuperate and is not limited to women who are pregnant.
US07793365B2

Disclosed is a water discharge device (1) provided with a device body (2) and a connector (4) and adapted to be attached to a feedwater pipe (6). The water discharge device comprises fixing means (8) for fixing the device body to the connector at a given installation position. The connector has a feedwater-pipe-joining portion (4a) adapted to be joined to the feedwater pipe, and a connector-side engaging thread portion (4b), and the device body has a body-side engaging thread portion (14) positioned in such a manner as to be engaged with the connector-side engaging thread portion once during an operation of attaching the device body to the connector, and located beyond the connector-side engaging thread portion after the device body is fixed at the installation position. The water discharge device of the present invention can reliably prevent falling-off of the device body.
US07793363B1

An apparatus and method to assure that the lid of a toilet is always in the down position when the toilet is flushed. This will prevent the toilet lid being left in an open position. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for connecting the toilet lid to the flushing mechanism of a toilet so that the toilet lid must be in the down position for the toilet to be flushed.
US07793361B2

An article of apparel is disclosed that includes an electronic device. The apparel is at least partially formed from a material element that defines an aperture. The electronic device is locatable within the aperture and removably-securable to the material element. The electronic device may be a timing device, such as a watch, or a global positioning system unit. The apparel may be a wristband formed from a textile material or any of a variety of other types of apparel.
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