US07834455B2
The reliability of a semiconductor device which has the semiconductor components which were mounted on the same surface of the same substrate via the bump electrodes with which height differs, and with which package structure differs is improved. Semiconductor component 2 of WPP structure is mounted on the main surface of the interposer substrate which forms a semiconductor device via a plurality of bump electrodes. Semiconductor component 3 of CSP structure is mounted on the main surface of an interposer substrate via a plurality of bump electrodes with larger diameter and contiguity pitch than the above-mentioned bump electrode. And under-filling 4a and 4b mutually different, are filled up between the facing surfaces of this interposer substrate and semiconductor components 2, and between the facing surfaces of the interposer substrate and semiconductor components 3, respectively.
US07834454B2
Forming an electronic structure may include forming a seed layer on a substrate, and forming a mask on the seed layer. The mask may include an aperture therein exposing a portion of the seed layer, and a barrier layer may be formed on the exposed portion of the seed layer. A bump may be formed on the barrier layer, and the mask may be removed. In addition, portions of the seed layer may be selectively removed using the barrier layer as an etch mask.
US07834451B2
A film tray for fabricating a flexible display, the film tray preventing a flexible substrate or film from sagging. The film tray includes a support plate and at least one pair of clamps, each clamp of the at least one pair of clamps located along an opposite edge of the support plate to fix a flexible film. A first clamp of the at least one pair clamps is aligned with a second clamp of the least one pair of clamps. Each clamp includes an open-shut part adapted to be opened to receive the flexible substrate or film and adapted to be shut to fix the flexible substrate or film and a support part separated from the open-shut part by a predetermined space to support the flexible substrate or film at a predetermined level when the open-shut part is closed.
US07834445B2
A heat dissipating structure includes: a heat spreader; and a plurality of compliant beams attached to the heat spreader. The beams are formed of a high-conductive material such that a maximum stress of each beam is less than a fatigue stress of the high-conductive material; said beams are placed at an angle relative to a chip surface such that the beams are able to exert bending compliance in response to x, y, and z forces exerted upon them. The structure also includes a thermal material interface for bonding said structure to the chip surface. Both the heat spreader and the compliant beams can be machined from a copper block. An alternative heat dissipating structure includes compliant beams soldered to the chip surface.
US07834441B2
A multilayer substrate includes an insulating base member having a plurality of resin films, an electric element embedded in the insulating base member, and a spacer. The resin films are made of a thermoplastic resin and stacked and attached to each other. At least one resin film has a through hole for inserting the electric element. The one resin film further has a plurality of protruding members. One protruding member opposes to another one protruding member so that the one and the another one contact and sandwich the electric element. The spacer is arranged between the one resin film and an adjacent resin film and is disposed at a base portion of one of the protruding members.
US07834431B2
A packaged electronic device (20) includes a die pad (30), leads (32) arranged around the die pad (30), and a die (24) attached to an upper surface (34) of the die pad (30) and electrically connected to the leads (32). A packaging material (28) encapsulates the die pad (30), the die (24), and the leads (32). The die pad (30) includes indentations (42) formed in the upper surface (34) along a sidewall (38) of the die pad (30). The die pad (30) further includes indentations (44) formed in a lower surface (36) of the die pad (30) along the sidewall. The packaging material (28) fills the indentations (42, 44) thereby promoting adhesion between the die pad (30) and the packaging material (28) so that the die pad (30) and packaging material (28) cannot readily delaminate.
US07834425B2
The present invention relates to a hybrid orientation semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate structure that contains a base semiconductor substrate with one or more first device regions and one or more second device regions located over the base semiconductor substrate. The one or more first device regions include an insulator layer with a first semiconductor device layer located atop. The one or more second device regions include a counter-doped semiconductor layer with a second semiconductor device layer located atop. The first and the second semiconductor device layers have different crystallographic orientations. Preferably, the first (or the second) device regions are n-FET device regions, and the first semiconductor device layer has a crystallographic orientation that enhances electron mobility, while the second (or the first) device regions are p-FET device regions, and the second semiconductor device layer has a different surface crystallographic orientation that enhances hole mobility.
US07834424B2
Extendable connectors are facilitated. According to an example embodiment, an integrated electrical circuit uses a connector that has first and second connected ends. The connector is unbundled from an initial state in which the first and second connected ends are separated by a first proximate distance and applied in an extended state in which the first and second connected ends are separated by a second distance that is greater than the first proximate distance.
US07834415B2
A semiconductor device has: a substrate provided with a trench; and a device isolation structure formed in the trench. The device isolation structure has: a silicon oxynitride film formed on a surface of the substrate through an interfacial oxide film; and an embedded insulating film formed on the silicon oxynitride film.
US07834413B2
The present invention relates to a semiconductor photodetector and the like that can be made adequately compact while maintaining mechanical strength. The semiconductor photodetector includes a structural body of layers and a glass substrate. The structural body of layers is arranged from an antireflection film, a high-concentration carrier layer of an n-type (first conductive type), a light absorbing layer of the n-type, and a cap layer of the n-type that are laminated successively. The glass substrate is adhered via a silicon oxide film onto the antireflection film side of the structural body of layers. The glass substrate is optically transparent to incident light.
US07834410B2
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor memory device. The device includes a bottom electrode over a semiconductor substrate; an anti-ferromagnetic layer disposed over the bottom electrode; a pinned layer disposed over the anti-ferromagnetic layer; a barrier layer disposed over the pinned layer; a first ferromagnetic layer disposed over the barrier layer; a buffer layer disposed over the first ferromagnetic layer, the buffer layer including tantalum; a second ferromagnetic layer disposed over the buffer layer; and a top electrode disposed over the second ferromagnetic layer.
US07834389B2
Provided is a semiconductor device including a substrate. A gate formed on the substrate. The gate includes a sidewall. A spacer formed on the substrate and adjacent the sidewall of the gate. The spacer has a substantially triangular geometry. A contact etch stop layer (CESL) is formed on the first gate and the first spacer. The thickness of the CESL to the width of the first spacer is between approximately 0.625 and 16.
US07834386B2
A memory system is disclosed that includes a set of non-volatile storage elements. Each of the non-volatile storage elements includes source/drain regions at opposite sides of a channel in a substrate and a floating gate stack above the channel. The memory system also includes a set of shield plates positioned between adjacent floating gate stacks and electrically connected to the source/drain regions for reducing coupling between adjacent floating gates. The shield plates are selectively grown on the active areas of the memory without being grown on the inactive areas. In one embodiment, the shield plates are epitaxially grown silicon positioned above the source/drain regions.
US07834384B2
Disclosed are a semiconductor structure and a method that allow for simultaneous voltage/current conditioning of multiple memory elements in a nonvolatile memory device with multiple memory cells. The structure and method incorporate the use of a resistor connected in series with the memory elements to limit current passing through the memory elements. Specifically, the method and structure incorporate a blanket temporary series resistor on the wafer surface above the memory cells and/or permanent series resistors within the memory cells. During the conditioning process, these resistors protect the transition metal oxide in the individual memory elements from damage (i.e., burn-out), once it has been conditioned.
US07834381B2
Layout of power source regions and power switch regions in a semiconductor integrated circuit device
Repeaters are arranged at arbitrary positions to substantially improve transmission speed of a signal. In the semiconductor integrated circuit device 1, repeater regions 10 where repeaters are provided as relay points for wiring are provided in the central parts of the core power source regions 2, 3 and 5, on the left side of the core power source regions 4 to 8 and at the upper and lower parts of the semiconductor integrated circuit device 1. A power switch region for repeater 11 is formed so as to surround the core power source regions 2 to 8 and the repeater regions 10. The power source lines of the reference potential connected to the repeater regions 10 are laid out at equally spaced intervals throughout the core power source regions 2 to 8, which enables the repeater regions 10 to be flexibly laid out. This permits the repeaters to be more effectively arranged, which improves the performances of semiconductor integrated circuit device 1.
US07834374B2
An LED having vertical topology and a method of making the same is capable of improving a luminous efficiency and reliability, and is also capable of achieving mass productivity. The method includes forming a semiconductor layer on a substrate; forming a first electrode on the semiconductor layer; forming a supporting layer on the first electrode; generating an acoustic stress wave at the interface between the substrate and semiconductor layer, thereby separating the substrate from the semiconductor layer; and forming a second electrode on the semiconductor layer exposed by the separation of the substrate.
US07834371B2
A semiconductor light emitting device manufacture method is provided which can manufacture a semiconductor light emitting device of high quality. A first substrate of an n-type ZnO substrate is prepared. A lamination structure including an optical emission layer made of ZnO based compound semiconductor is formed on the first substrate. A p-side conductive layer is formed on the lamination structure. A first eutectic material layer made of eutectic material is formed on the p-side conductive layer. A second eutectic material layer made of eutectic material is formed on a second substrate. The first and second eutectic material layers are eutectic-bonded to couple the first and second substrates. After the first substrate is optionally thinned, an n-side electrode is formed on a partial surface of the first substrate.
US07834366B2
A semiconductor device has a substrate, a first Group III nitride semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, a first oxide layer formed in proximity to the upper portions of defects present in the first Group III nitride semiconductor layer, and a second Group III nitride semiconductor layer including a positive layer and formed over each of the first Group III nitride semiconductor layer and the first oxide layer.
US07834364B2
The present invention relates to an AC light emitting diode. An object of the present invention is to provide an AC light emitting diode wherein various designs for enhancement of the intensity of light, prevention of flickering of light or the like become possible, while coming out of a unified method of always using only one metal wire with respect to one electrode when electrodes of adjacent light emitting cells are connected through metal wires. To this end, the present invention provides an AC light emitting diode comprising a substrate; bonding pads positioned on the substrate; a plurality of light emitting cells arranged in a matrix form on the substrate; and a wiring means electrically connecting the bonding pads and the plurality of light emitting cells, wherein the wiring means includes a plurality of metal wires connecting an electrode of one of the light emitting cells with electrodes of other electrodes adjacent to the one of the light emitting cells.
US07834359B2
The invention enhances a production yield of a display device (an electro-optical device). The invention provides a method of manufacturing an electro-optical device including a display region in which a plurality of basic pixels are arranged, each basic pixel including a plurality of color pixels. The method includes: forming on a first substrate lines to drive a plurality of electro-optical elements respectively constituting the color pixels, correspondingly to the arrangement of the basic pixels; forming on a second substrate, as a chip to be transferred to each basic pixel, a drive circuit to drive the plurality of electro-optical elements which constitutes the plurality of color pixels of the basic pixels to obtain a plurality of basic-pixel driving chips; and transferring step of transferring the respective basic-pixel driving chips from the second substrate onto the first substrate, and connecting the drive circuits to regions of the lines corresponding to the basic pixels.
US07834354B2
A pixel structure of a fringe field switching liquid crystal display (FFS-LCD) and a method for manufacturing the pixel structure are provided. Compared to the conventional method of using seven photolithography-etching processes for manufacturing a pixel structure, the method of the present invention uses only six photolithography-etching processes that save manufacturing costs and time. Furthermore, the pixel structure thereby only comprises two insulating layers, and thus, the light transmittance thereof can be increased in comparison to the conventional pixel structure comprising three insulating layers.
US07834351B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed. The device includes a substrate and a first wiring layer overlying the substrate. The first wiring layer comprises a first wiring area surrounded by a first seal ring. The first seal ring comprises a first monitor circuit isolated by a first dielectric layer embedded in the first seal ring. The first monitor circuit is responsive to a predetermined amount of deformation occurs in the third dielectric layer.
US07834350B2
A semiconductor device includes at least one first type of pad and at least one second type of pad having a different area from the first type of pad. A pad connection unit electrically couples the at least one second type of pad to an integrated circuit of the semiconductor device during a test mode, and disconnects the at least one second type of pad from the integrated circuit during a normal operating mode.
US07834349B2
A nanowire, nanosphere, metallized nanosphere, and methods for their fabrication are outlined. The method of fabricating nanowires includes fabricating the nanowire under thermal and non-catalytic conditions. The nanowires can at least be fabricated from metals, metal oxides, metalloids, and metalloid oxides. In addition, the method of fabricating nanospheres includes fabricating nanospheres that are substantially monodisperse. Further, the nanospheres are fabricated under thermal and non-catalytic conditions. Like the nanowires, the nanospheres can at least be fabricated from metals, metal oxides, metalloids, and metalloid oxides. In addition, the nanospheres can be metallized to form metallized nanospheres that are capable as acting as a catalyst.
US07834345B2
A semiconductor device includes a channel region; a gate dielectric over the channel region; a gate electrode over the gate dielectric; and a first source/drain region adjacent the gate dielectric. The first source/drain region is of a first conductivity type. At least one of the channel region and the first source/drain region includes a superlattice structure. The semiconductor device further includes a second source/drain region on an opposite side of the channel region than the first source/drain region. The second source/drain region is of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. At most, one of the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region comprises an additional superlattice structure.
US07834338B2
Oxides of both nickel and cobalt have lower resistivity than either nickel oxide or cobalt oxide. Nickel oxide and cobalt oxide can be reversibly switched between two or more stable resistivity states by application of suitable electrical pulses. It is expected that oxides including both nickel and cobalt, or (NixCoy)O, will switch between resistivity states at lower voltage and/or current than will nickel oxide or cobalt oxide. A layer of (NixCoy)O can be paired with a diode or transistor to form a nonvolatile memory cell.
US07834328B2
A method and apparatus for sterilizing access sites such as attachment points for various therapeutic and diagnostic medical devices. More particularly, the invention concerns a sterilization apparatus which includes a substantially UV-C transparent closure cap for closing the access site and a compact, easy to use irradiating apparatus for controllably irradiating the closure cap with UV-C radiation.
US07834324B2
An intermediate layer is located between a recording photoconductive layer and an electrode, which is either one of a bias electrode and a reference electrode, and which is located on the side at positive electric potential with respect to a charge accumulating section at the time of readout of electric charges of the charge accumulating section. The intermediate layer is an a-Se layer containing, as a specific substance, at least one kind of substance selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal fluoride, an alkaline earth metal fluoride, an alkali metal oxide, an alkaline earth metal oxide, SiOx, and GeOx, where x represents a number satisfying 0.5≦x≦1.5, in a concentration falling within the range of 0.003 mol % to 0.03 mol %.
US07834319B2
An improved nanophosphor composite comprises surface modified nanophosphor particles in a solid matrix. The nanophosphor particle surface is modified with an organic ligand, or by covalently bonding a polymeric or polymeric precursor material. The surface modified nanophosphor particle is essentially charge neutral, thereby preventing agglomeration of the nanophosphor particles during formation of the composite material. The improved nanophosphor composite may be used in any conventional scintillator application, including in a radiation detector.
US07834316B2
There is provided a method for setting a suitable imaging magnification for each of a plurality of measurement places in a charged particle beam apparatus which images a semiconductor pattern.For a given measuring point coordinate, a line segment or a vertex representing a change in concavity and convexity near the measuring point coordinate is searched, and an imaging magnification is set so that coordinates on a sample corresponding to both ends which gives a length that serves as a reference falls in a field of view of the charged particle beam apparatus by letting a minimum distance be the reference, of distances between line segments representing a change in concavity and convexity from the measuring point coordinate or a distance between neighboring vertexes.
US07834306B2
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate reducing dark current and lag in a CMOS imaging System-on-Chip (iSoC) sensor. For instance, a vertical output driver can output a signal upon a node connected to gates of reset transistors and/or gates of transfer transistors of pixels in the pixel array while operating in rolling shutter mode and/or global shutter mode. Further, a pre-charger can transition a voltage of the node to a first voltage level. Moreover, a booster can further adjust the voltage of the node from the first voltage level to a second voltage level. The booster can have variable drive capability that enables varying operation thereof according to at least one degree of freedom (e.g., speed of the booster proceeding to the second voltage level, frequency of yielding charge to the node, the second voltage level, or timing of the booster and the pre-charger, . . . ).
US07834305B2
An image processing device for generating both of a distance image and a gray image from an electrical output of a light receiving element on the precondition that a light intensity-modulated at a modulation frequency is irradiated into a target space. This device has an image generator for generating the distance image having pixel values, each of which provides a distance value between an object in the target space and the device, in accordance with a phase difference between the irradiated light and the received light, and the gray image having pixel values, each of which provides a gray value of the object, in accordance with an intensity of the received light. By use of an output of the image generator, an outline of the object can be extracted.
US07834304B2
An imaging device includes a storage portion of carriers, a multiplier section having a multiplier electrode multiplying carriers, a holding portion of the carriers and a readout electrode of carriers, wherein the multiplier electrode is set to an OFF-state potential and carriers are transferred to the holding portion after the potential of the readout electrode is set to an ON-state potential, and the ON-state potential of the readout electrode is maintained at least until a signal corresponding to the carriers transferred to the holding portion is read.
US07834303B2
A novel concentrator system is described, which increases the efficiency of collecting sunlight energy and concentrates it on a target. This method uses an array of small movable reflective or refractive concentrator components that can move via a feedback mechanism which tracks the sun and concentrates the suns energy on to a second array of energy converting elements. In order to improve the effective collected energy, the array of concentrator elements is placed on a moving or tiltable flat slab (or dish, substrate, plane, plate, holder, tablet, or similar flat or non-flat surface) that tracks the sun. An alternative method uses an array of target elements or linear elements and a second array of concentrator elements in harmony such that and suns energy is efficiently redistributed by the reflective/reactive array on to the energy converting array as the sun's position in the sky (elevation and azimuth) changes. The elements of the reflective/refractive array are tilted by novel actuation mechanisms describe herein.
US07834300B2
A method and system for guiding and controlling an ordinance body having a trajectory and a bore sight angle including making corrections to the trajectory based on bore sight angle vs. time history. The system is incorporated with existing fuse components in a replacement kit for existing munitions. The method determines nominal time values of the ballistic trajectory of the munition in relation to launch time and determines deviation from the nominal time values by an algorithm by analyzing signals received from a source of radiation located at the target. A processor determines lateral (left/right) and range errors and provides commands to a plurality of flight control surfaces mounted on the munition.
US07834279B2
A weighing apparatus comprising a weighing pan (20) for supporting on an upper surface thereof an object (21) to be weighed, a support for the weighing pan (20), the support contacting a lower surface of the weighing pan and comprising an elongate member (23) extending downwardly from the weighing pan (20), the elongate member (23) extending through a hole (24) provided in a floor (36), located beneath the weighing pan (20), of a weighing pan region of the apparatus, a weighing mechanism (44) located beneath the floor (36) of the weighing pan region in a weighing mechanism region of the apparatus, the elongate member (23) connecting with the weighing mechanism, and a drive means (28) for selectively moving the weighing pan (20) between an upper position, at which the weighing pan (20) is spaced from the floor (36), and a lower position, at which the weighing pan (20) contacts the floor (36) in a sealing relationship for preventing material in the weighing pan region from passing through the hole (24) into the weighing mechanism region.
US07834268B2
A method of waterproofing a terminal that includes a stopper inserted in one opening of a heat shrinkable tube. The heat shrinkable tube is heat-shrunk in this state to form a cap having a end closure. A fluid thermosetting waterproofing agent is injected into the cap from a second opening. A thermal splice, which is formed from welded strands stripped from a plurality of wire terminals, is inserted and immersed in the thermosetting waterproofing agent. Then, the entire cap is heated and heat-shrunk at a predetermined temperature and the thermosetting waterproofing agent is heat-hardened.
US07834260B2
A music modification system is provided and described herein, which includes: a) a computer, b) a music element library, c) at least one part-score database, d) a software code that executes a music modification system on the computer, wherein the music modification system accesses or manipulates the information in the music element library and accesses the at least one part-score database, and e) a graphical or audio user interface that is coupled to the computer. Methods of modifying a musical score or piece are described herein and include: a) providing a music element library, b) providing at least one part-score database, wherein the database comprises at least one music score, at least one music pieces, at least one music part or a combination thereof, c) providing an executable music modification system, and d) utilizing the music modification system and the music element library to modify at least part of the at least one part-score database. A software code is also described that executes a music modification system on a computer, wherein the music modification system accesses or manipulates a set of information in a music element library and accesses at least one part-score database.
US07834258B2
The present invention relates to a method producing dimer of chimeric recombinant binding domain-heterogeneous functional group fusion([B-F fusion]2) by using covalent disulfide-bond-bridge connecting the two monomers of chimeric recombinant binding domain-heterogeneous functional group fusion(B-F fusion). The dimer of chimeric recombinant binding domain(B)-heterogeneous functional group(F) fusion was the first to be formed by using covalent disulfide-bond-bridge to connect monomers to have double binding valency of the monomer. It has higher functional efficiency to its targets and the production yield is high by containing said extension peptide chain.
US07834252B2
A soybean cultivar designated 6137445 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 6137445, to the plants of soybean 6137445, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 6137445 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 6137445 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 6137445, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 6137445 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 6137445 with another soybean cultivar.
US07834248B2
The present invention relates generally to novel genetic sequences that encode fatty acid epoxygenase enzymes, in particular fatty acid Δ12-epoxygenase enzymes from plants that are mixed function monooxygenase enzymes. More particularly, the present invention exemplifies cDNA sequences from Crepis spp. and Vernonia galamensis that encode fatty acid Δ12-epoxygenases. The genetic sequences of the present invention provide the means by which fatty acid metabolism may be altered or manipulated in organisms, such as, for example, yeasts, moulds, bacteria, insects, birds, mammals and plants, and more particularly in plants. The invention also extends to genetically modified oil-accumulating organisms transformed with the subject genetic sequences and to the oils derived therefrom. The oils thus produced provide the means for the cost-effective raw materials for use in the efficient production of coatings, resins, glues, plastics, surfactants and lubricants.
US07834243B2
The invention relates to promoter regions, under the control of which transgenes can be expressed in plants in an epidermis-specific and pathogen-inducible manner. The invention also relates to recombinant nucleic acid molecules, including the promoters, to transgenic plants and plant cells, transformed with said the nucleic acid molecules and to methods for producing the same. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules, including a promoter according to the invention, nucleic acid sequences or transgenes, which can convey resistance to pathogens, plants and cell plants, transformed with the nucleic acid molecules and methods for producing the same. The invention also relates to the use of the promoter region according to the invention for analyzing pathogen-induced signal transduction pathways in plant cells.
US07834238B2
Knockout animals in which a gene encoding a SASPase has been deleted (hereinafter, referred to as SASPase KO animals) are provided. The SASPase KO animals deficient in expression of functional SASPase were produced by deleting a gene encoding a stratified epithelium-specific protease, SASPase, through targeted disruption. The SASPase KO animals showed a significant increase in wrinkles on the sides of the body and so on. The SASPase KO animals find utility as animal models of wrinkles.
US07834227B2
The present invention provides a reactor system having: (1) a first reactor receiving an oxygenate component and a hydrocarbon component and capable of converting the oxygenate component into a light olefin and the hydrocarbon component into alkyl aromatic compounds; (2) a separator system for providing a first product stream containing a C3 olefin, a second stream containing a C7 aromatic, and a third stream containing C8 aromatic compounds; (3) a first line connecting the separator to the inlet of the first reactor for conveying the second stream to the first reactor; (4) a second line in fluid communication with the separator system for conveying the C3 olefin to a propylene recovery unit, and (4) a third line in fluid communication with the separator system for conveying the C8 aromatic compounds to a xylene recovery unit.
US07834219B1
The present invention is directed to novel 4-alkyl cyclohexanepropanal compounds and a method of improving, enhancing or modifying a fragrance formulation through the addition of an olfactory acceptable amount of the novel compounds.
US07834217B2
Disclosed is a method for industrially efficiently producing a corresponding useful oxidation product such as a cycloalkyl hydroperoxide, a cycloalkanol, and/or a cycloalkanone, especially a particularly useful cycloalkanone, from a cycloalkane with a high selectivity in a good yield at low cost. This method is advantageous in respect of energy and process. Specifically, an oxidation product of a cycloalkane is obtained by oxidizing the cycloalkane in a liquid-liquid two phase system using an aqueous solvent in the presence of a nitrogen atom-containing cyclic compound which contains, as its ring constituent, a structure represented by following Formula (I): wherein X represents an oxygen atom or an —OR group, and wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl-protecting group, and which has a solubility in water at 25° C. of 0.5 g/100 g-H2O or more.
US07834205B2
A bridged metallocene compound of formula (I) wherein: M is a transition metal; X, is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a hydrocarbon group optionally containing heteroatoms; L is a divalent bridging group; R1 is a linear C1-C40 hydrocarbon radical optionally containing heteroatoms; T1 and T4 are a oxygen, sulfur atom or a C(R18)3 group; wherein R18, are hydrogen atoms or a C1-C40 hydrocarbon radical; T3 and T4 are C1-C40 hydrocarbon radicals; R4 is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C40 hydrocarbon radical; W is an aromatic 5 or 6 membered ring.
US07834203B2
The object of this invention is to provide a method of producing a bio-diesel oil in a great amount in a relatively short time, in which oil/fat and alcohol, used as reactants, are homogeneously mixed with each other to form a single liquid phase mixture which effectively react with each other. The method includes transesterifying the oil/fat and alcohol in the presence of alkyl ester. Additionally, in the method, alkyl ester is added to a mixture of the oil/fat and alcohol by recycling alkyl ester as a product to the mixture. Furthermore, the method includes (a) an acidic catalyst, and (b) transesterifying the pre-esterified oil/fat with alcohol in the presence of alkyl ester.
US07834193B2
The present invention provides an industrial method production of silodosin, which is useful for a therapeutic agent for dysuria associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The production of silodosine is characterized by mixing 3-{7-cyano-5-[(2R)-2-({2-[2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-phenoxy]ethyl}amino]propyl]-2,3-dihydro-1H-indol-1-yl}-propyl benzoate and oxalic acid to yield the oxalate, subsequently hydrolyzing the oxalate salt to yield 1-(3-hydroxypropyl)-5-[(2R)-2-({2-[2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phenoxy]ethyl}amino]propyl]-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-7-carbonitrile and hydrolyzing the same, and manufacturing intermediates used therefore.
US07834185B2
The invention provides compounds of formula I: in salt or zwitterionic form or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1-6, a-e and Q are as defined in the specification. These compounds are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to, for example, treat pulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
US07834184B2
Novel opiate intermediate compositions and methods of synthesis that include changing the substitution pattern on the aromatic ring of the pre-Grewe intermediate are provided. The intermediates are morphinane derivatives of formula (10), wherein X is a F or Cl and R is selected from the group consisting of an H, alkyl, aryl, acyl, formyl, COR″, CONHR″, COOR, Bn(benzyl), alkyl(methyl), and sulfonamide SO2CH2COPh.
US07834178B2
Novel compounds are provided which are 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitors. 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitors are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases requiring 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitor therapy. These novel compounds have the structure: or stereoisomers or prodrugs or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2 and R3 are defined herein.
US07834170B2
Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. By selecting particular siRNAs by rationale design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes.
US07834169B2
An inhibitor of histone acetyltransferase p300 was isolated from human cDNA library and identified as a nuclear protein composed of 855 amino acid residues. It binds to the cysteine/histidine-rich region of p300, thereby inhibiting the transcriptional activation by p300. It also inhibits the transcription activity of p53, with p300 functioning as a coactivator, and inhibits the discontinuance of cell cycle that relies on p53.
US07834168B2
The invention pertains to transgenic cotton plants, plant material and seeds, characterized by harboring a specific transformation event, particularly by the presence of a gene encoding a protein that confers herbicide tolerance, at a specific location in the cotton genome. The cotton plants of the invention combine the herbicide tolerant phenotype with optimal agronomic performance.
US07834162B2
Various system and method embodiments of the present invention are directed to separating target molecules from complex solutions by affinity column chromatography using organic-solvent-containing eluants. In one embodiment of the present invention, an eluant containing an organic-solvent is used, at a first pH, to remove non-target solutes and suspended entities from an affinity chromatography column. The pH of the eluant is then changed to a second pH, and the organic-solvent-containing eluant is used to elute target molecules from the affinity column chromatography.
US07834158B2
The present invention relates to an immunoglobulin-binding protein, wherein at least one asparagine residue has been mutated to an amino acid other than glutamine or aspartic acid, which mutation confers an increased chemical stability at pH-values of up to about 13-14 compared to the parental molecule. The protein can for example be derived from a protein capable of binding to other regions of the immunoglobulin molecule than the complementarity determining regions (CDR), such as protein A, and preferably the B-domain of Staphylococcal protein A. The invention also relates to a matrix for affinity separation, which comprises an immunoglobulin-binding protein as ligand coupled to a solid support, in which protein ligand at least one asparagine residue has been mutated to an amino acid other than glutamine.
US07834151B2
An isolated extracellular matrix-binding protein, designated as SdrD and its corresponding amino acid and nucleic acid sequences and motifs are described. The proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection and as scientific research tools. Further, antibodies or antibody fragments to the proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are also useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection. In particular, the proteins or antibodies thereof may be administered to wounds or used to coat biomaterials to act as blocking agents to prevent or inhibit the binding of S. aureus to wounds or biomaterials.
US07834139B2
A magnetic nanotube includes bacterial magnetic nanocrystals contacted onto a nanotube which absorbs the nanocrystals. The nanocrystals are contacted on at least one surface of the nanotube. A method of fabricating a magnetic nanotube includes synthesizing the bacterial magnetic nanocrystals, which have an outer layer of proteins. A nanotube provided is capable of absorbing the nanocrystals and contacting the nanotube with the nanocrystals. The nanotube is preferably a peptide bolaamphiphile. A nanotube solution and a nanocrystal solution including a buffer and a concentration of nanocrystals are mixed. The concentration of nanocrystals is optimized, resulting in a nanocrystal to nanotube ratio for which bacterial magnetic nanocrystals are immobilized on at least one surface of the nanotubes. The ratio controls whether the nanocrystals bind only to the interior or to the exterior surfaces of the nanotubes. Uses include cell manipulation and separation, biological assay, enzyme recovery, and biosensors.
US07834134B2
A method for making a polyarylether block copolymer having amide functionality including reacting a dihydroxyaromatic compound having amide functionality and a dihaloaromatic sulfone or dinitroaromatic sulfone in the presence of a base to form a polyarylether having amide functionality and reacting the polyarylether having amide functionality with a polymer. The block copolymer and blends are also provided.
US07834128B2
A process for producing a polyester using a catalyst, which catalyst enables producing a polyester excellent in color tone and transparency at a high reaction velocity; the catalyst; and a method for producing the catalyst, which catalyst comprises: (1) at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of metal elements of Group 4A of the Periodic Table, (2) at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of metal elements of Group 2A of the Periodic Table, aluminum, manganese, iron, cobalt, zinc, gallium and germanium, (a) when the total amount of metal atoms derived from metal element (1) is represented by t (mol/catalyst kg), and the total amount of metal atoms derived from metal element (2) is represented by m (mol/catalyst kg), the value of m/t is within 0.50≦m/t≦3.50.
US07834127B2
Disclosed are amorphous copolyesters having an inherent viscosity (IV) of about 0.5 to 1.1 dL/g measured at a temperature of 25° C. at 0.5 g/dL concentration in a solvent mixture of symmetric tetrachloroethane and phenol having a weight ratio of symmetric tetrachloroethane to phenol of 2:3 comprising (1) a diacid component comprising about 90 to 100 mole percent terephthalic acid residues and 0 to about 10 mole percent isophthalic acid residues; and (2) a diol component comprising about 10 to 70 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues and about 90 to 30 mole percent neopentyl glycol residues; wherein the amorphous copolyesters comprises 100 mole percent diacid component and 100 mole percent diol component. The amorphous copolyesters are useful in the manufacture or fabrication of medical devices which have improved resistance to degradation upon exposure to lipids, as a profile produced by profile extrusion and as an injection molded article. Also, a method of melt processing the amorphous copolyester is disclosed which allows for performing a minimal drying or no drying of the copolyester prior to melt processing.
US07834124B2
It is an object of the invention to provide a ketone-modified resorcinol-formalin resin, which has a moderate flowability when transformed into an aqueous solution and has both a reduced content of resorcinol monomer and a reduced content of resorcinol-formalin resin of resorcinol pentanuclear or higher nuclear bodies. The invention relates to a ketone-modified resorcinol-formalin resin, which is produced by a two-step reaction and wherein a peak area corresponding resorcinol monomer is 3 to 9% and a peak area corresponding to resorcinol pentanuclear and higher nuclear bodies is 30 to 55% relative to the total peak area obtained by gel permeation chromatographic analysis of the resorcinol-formalin resin.
US07834120B2
A novel monofunctional monomer having a cage oligosiloxane structure is represented by formula (1) wherein X is a polymerizable oxygen-containing C1-C40 group, R1 is a C1-C20 saturated hydrocarbon group, C6-C20 aromatic hydrocarbon group, C1-C20 organoxy group or halogen atom, and R is a non-polymerizable monovalent C1-C40 hydrocarbon group which is optionally halogenated. The monomer has improved compatibility with various solvents and polymerizable monomers. A method for preparing the same is also provided.
US07834103B2
Disclosed is a polyisocyanate composition derived from an aliphatic diisocyanate monomer and an alcohol, which satisfies all the conditions below in a state not containing the aliphatic diisocyanate monomer and a solvent. 1) Isocyanurate trimer concentration: 55-95 mass % 2) Number ratio of allophanate groups derived from the alcohol to isocyanurate groups: 1-20% 3) Urethodione dimmer concentration: 2-25 mass % 4) Viscosity at 25° C.: 150-800 mPa·s.
US07834091B2
The present invention relates to a two-component epoxy adhesive composition comprising a) a first component comprising a first epoxy resin and a second epoxy resin, the second epoxy resin being flexibilized by an elastomer, and b) a second component comprising at least one amine compound with one or more primary and/or secondary amino groups, said amine compound having a molecular weight of less than 450 g/mol. The ratio of the total number of amino groups of the amine compound to the total number of epoxy groups of the epoxy resins is 0.01:1 to 0.5:1. The mixing of the two components a) and b) results in a wash-off resistant composition. Said wash-off resistant composition results upon heat-curing in a crash-stable structural adhesive.
US07834089B2
Disclosed are compositions of ethylene acid copolymers and EVOH that are useful for fabricating films, sheets and other shaped articles such as tubing, bottle, fuel tank, tray etc. comprising (1) an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer; and (2) a copolymer comprising in-chain copolymerized units of (a) in-chain copolymerized units of ethylene; (b) in-chain polymerized units of an α,β-unsaturated C3-C8 carboxylic acid; (c) in-chain polymerized units of at least one comonomer that is an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or derivative thereof; and optionally (d) in-chain copolymerized units of alkyl acrylate or alkyl methacrylate, and wherein the carboxylic acid functionalities present are at least partially neutralized by one or more alkali metal, transition metal, or alkaline earth metal cations. The compositions can be used for packaging of foodstuffs, medical solutions and industrial chemicals.
US07834084B2
An object of the present invention is to provide: a light stabilizer emulsion composition which has good long-term storage stability and does not deteriorate various physical properties of a coating film to be formed even when the composition is added to an aqueous coating agent composition; and an aqueous coating agent composition containing the light stabilizer emulsion composition. The light stabilizer emulsion composition of the present invention is characterized by containing: an emulsifier having as a hydrophilic group a polyether chain obtained by a reaction between two or more kinds of alkyleneoxides and having as a hydrophobic group a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; at least one of a light stabilizer and a UV absorber; and water. Further, the aqueous coating agent composition of the present invention is characterized by containing the light stabilizer emulsion composition.
US07834080B2
The present invention provides a process for producing a polyamide resin composition, comprising the steps of: impregnating a molten polyamide resin into glass fiber rovings; taking off the polyamide-impregnated glass fiber rovings during twisting thereof to provide a strand; and pelletizing the strand to provide a resin composition, wherein a melt viscosity of the polyamide resin is set to fall within a particular range. According to the present invention, there can be provided a process for producing a glass fiber-reinforced polyamide resin composition excellent in the impregnation of the resin into the glass fiber rovings and capable of offering a molding excellent in mechanical strength and color tone.
US07834067B2
The present invention provides: a pigment composition that includes at least (A) a polyallylamine derivative including at least 1% to 50% by mol of a structural unit represented by Formula (1-a), 49% to 95% by mol of a structural unit represented by Formula (1-b) and 1% to 30% by mol of a structural unit represented by Formula (1-c), and (B) a pigment, and improves pigment dispersibility and dispersion stability; an ink composition, a printed article and an inkjet recording method, which use the pigment composition; and a polyallylamine derivative useful for these. In Formula (1-b), R1 represents —NHCOR3 or —NH3+OCOR3, in which R3 represents a residue obtained by removing a carboxy group from any one of polyester, polyamide or polyesteramide, which each have a free carboxylic acid. In Formula (1-c), R2 represents —NHCOR4 or —NH3+OCOR4, in which R4 represents an organic group having an aromatic ring or a heteroaromatic ring.
US07834063B2
This invention relates to benzonitryl and nitrobenzyl derivatives that are modulators of androgen, glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, and progesterone receptors, and also to the methods for the making and use of such compounds. These compounds are useful, for example, in the treatment or prophylaxis of conditions or disorders that respond to selective androgen receptor modulation.
US07834058B2
A method of treating hyperinsulinemia. The method includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of catalpic acid, glyceride esters thereof, pharmaceutically-suitable salts thereof, and combinations thereof. The compound may be administered orally or parenterally.
US07834042B2
A compound having the structure (Formula I), wherein Y is —Y1—Y2—Y3—Y4—Y5—; Y1 is C(O) or C(R1R2); Y2 is O, C(O), P(O)(OH) or CH2, provided that when Y1 is C(O), Y2 is not C(O); R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4 alkyl; R2 is selected from the pup consisting of hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, and —OC(O)C1-4 alkyl; Y3 is O, C(O) or CH2, provided that when Y2 is C(O), then Y3 is not C(O), and further provided that when Y2 is O, then Y3 is not O; Y4 is O or CH2 or is absent, provided that when Y3 is O, then Y4 is not O; Y5 is —(CH2)1-2—(X)0-1—(CH2)0-1— or is absent; X is —O— or —CR3R4—; and R3 and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C4 alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is useful for treating hypertension.
US07834036B2
Fused aromatic compounds of Formula (I) are PPAR gamma agonists or partial agonists and are useful in the treatment or control of type II diabetes, including hyperglycemia, dyslipidermia, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and obesity that are often associated with type 2 diabetes.
US07834035B2
The present invention relates to new compounds of formula (I) wherein A, B, P, Q, W, R1 and R2 are defined in the description; invention compounds are useful in the prevention or treatment of central nervous system disorders as well as other disorders modulated by mGluR5 receptors.
US07834034B2
The present invention relates to a novel class of benzothiophene amide derivatives. The hydroxamic acid compounds can be used to treat cancer. The benzothiophene amide compounds can also inhibit histone deacetylase and are suitable for use in selectively inducing terminal differentiation, and arresting cell growth and/or apoptosis of neoplastic cells, thereby inhibiting proliferation of such cells. Thus, the compounds of the present invention are useful in treating a patient having a tumor characterized by proliferation of neoplastic cells. The compounds of the invention may also be useful in the prevention and treatment of TRX-mediated diseases, such as autoimmune, allergic and inflammatory diseases, and in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), such as neurodegenerative diseases. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the hydroxamic acid derivatives and safe dosing regimens of these pharmaceutical compositions, which are easy to follow, and which result in a therapeutically effective amount of the hydroxamic acid derivatives in vivo.
US07834024B2
The invention encompasses compounds having formula I and the compositions and methods using these compounds in the treatment of conditions in which modulation of the JAK pathway or inhibition of JAK kinases, particularly JAK3, are therapeutically useful.
US07834023B2
Compounds of formula I are provided: wherein Ar1 and Ar2 are substituted aromatic rings and L1 and L2 are independent divalent linking groups. The compounds are useful as platelet ADP receptor inhibitors, for treating thrombosis and for reducing the likelihood and/or severity of a secondary ischemic event in a patient.
US07834012B2
The present invention relates to compounds, which inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and are useful for the prevention or treatment of diabetes, especially type II, as well as hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, hyperinsulinemia, obesity, atherosclerosis, various immunomodulatory diseases, and other diseases.
US07834009B2
The invention is directed to 4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydro-1H-pyridin-2-one compounds of Formula I and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds that are useful in treating infections by hepatitis C virus: wherein R6 is X is N, Ring A is a 5- or 6-membered aryl, optionally substituted by 1-3 R8 moieties, n is 2, and R1-R6 and R8 are defined herein.
US07834006B2
The following fused polycyclic compound, analogues thereof or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof have an effect of increasing the sugar-transporting capacity and an effect of lowering the blood glucose level and, therefore, they are useful for preventing and/or treating diabetes and the like. wherein R is a methoxy group, Y is a (2-thiazolyl)-2-ethylcarbonyl group, R10 and R13 are hydrogen atoms, and R11 and R12 are methyl groups.
US07834000B2
The present invention relates to CGRP receptor antagonists, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods therewith for treating CGRP receptor-mediated diseases and conditions.
US07833986B2
Methods for inhibiting an inflammatory reaction in a mammal and pharmaceutical compositions are provided. The methods comprise administering to the mammal an effective amount of a peptide of the formula: X1-X2-X3 wherein X1 is selected from the group consisting of 2-amino-hexanoic acid; 2-amino-heptanoic acid; 2-amino-octanoic acid; cyclohexyl-substituted 2-amino-ethanoic acid, 2-amino-propanoic acid or 2-amino-butanoic acid and methionine; X2 is an acidic amino acid; and X3 is an aliphatic amino acid; or of a peptide of the formula: X4-X5 wherein X4 is an aromatic or aliphatic amino acid; and X5 is an acidic amino acid.
US07833977B2
The present invention relates to the technical field of stabilizing proteins, in particular to the therapeutic aspects of protein stabilization. L-carnitine is a useful agent for stabilizing proteins, and in a particularly favourable aspect in proteins used in the medical field. In a preferred aspect, L-carnitine is used for protecting chaperone activity, and in the medical field for preserving the activity of altered chaperone proteins. In connection with this invention L-carnitine is used for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of diseases due to altered chaperone proteins, such as eye diseases, in particular cataract.
US07833967B2
The present invention relates to polypeptides having antimicrobial activity and polynucleotides having a nucleotide sequence which encodes for the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid constructs as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
US07833962B2
The present invention relates to use of a plant which has been modified to produce increased levels of flavonol glucosides, or an extract thereof containing flavonol glucosides, in reducing hypertension in a mammal.
US07833958B2
A laundry treatment composition which comprises a surfactant and from 0.0001 to 0.1 wt % of a combination of dyes which together have a visual effect on the human eye as a single dye having a peak absorption wavelength on cotton of from 540 nm to 650 nm, preferably from 570 mn to 630 mn, the combination comprising a photostable dye which is substantive to cotton.
US07833955B2
The present invention relates to the use of viscosity modifiers in a control release additive gel. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an additive gel containing a viscosity modifier that control releases additives into a lubricant.
US07833945B2
Additives and treatment fluids with improved shale inhibition, and associated methods of use in subterranean operations, are provided. The additives and treatment fluids used generally comprise a shale-inhibiting component and one or more silicates.
US07833943B2
A method comprising contacting a zwitterionic surfactant, co-surfactant, and water to form a microemulsifier, and contacting the microemulsifier with an oleaginous fluid under low shear conditions to form a microemulsion. A method comprising introducing a first wellbore servicing fluid comprising at least one oleaginous fluid into a wellbore, wherein the first wellbore servicing fluid forms oil-wet solids and/or oil-wet surfaces in the wellbore, and contacting the oil-wet solids and/or oil-wet surfaces in the wellbore with a second wellbore servicing fluid comprising a zwitterionic surfactant, a co-surfactant, and a brine to form a microemulsion.
US07833941B2
An oxide superconductor film formed on a substrate includes an oxide containing at least one metal M selected from the group consisting of yttrium and lanthanoid metals, provided that cerium, praseodymium, and promethium are excluded, and barium and copper, in which the film has an average thickness of 350 nm or more, an average amount of residual carbon of 3×1019 atoms/cc or more, and an amount of residual fluorine in a range of 5×1017 to 1×1019 atoms/cc, and in which, when divided the film into a plurality of regions from a surface of the film or from an interface between the film and the substrate, each region having a thickness of 10 nm, atomic ratios of copper, fluorine, oxygen and carbon between two adjacent regions are in a range of ⅕ times to 5 times.
US07833938B2
To provide a thermal-transfer sheet having a back layer that can be prepared without heat treatment such as aging and is superior in heat resistance and sliding property, and has no such defect of printed images as wrinkling and tailing during printing.A thermal-transfer sheet having a substrate film, a transfer ink layer formed on one face thereof, and a back layer formed on the other face thereof,the back layer comprising:a binder containing a polyamide-imide resin (A) having a Tg of 200° C. or higher and a polyamide-imide silicone resin (B) having a Tg of 200° C. or higher, as determined by differential thermal analysis,a mixture of a polyvalent metal salt (C) of alkylphosphoric ester and a metal salt (D) of alkylcarboxylic acid,a silicone oil (E), andan inorganic filler (F) containing fine particles (F1) of an inorganic material having a Mohs' hardness of 3 or less alone or a mixture of fine particles (F1) of an inorganic material and fine particles (F2) of an inorganic material having a Mohs' hardness of more than 3,the metal salts (C) and (D) having an average particle size of 5 μm to 20 μm and the inorganic filler (F) having an average particle size of 0.05 to 5.5 μm.
US07833934B2
A hydrocarbon reforming catalyst, a method of preparing the same, and a fuel processor including the same includes the hydrocarbon reforming catalyst having an active catalyst component impregnated in a oxide carrier and a thermally conductive material having higher thermal conductivity than that of the oxide carrier, the method of preparing the same, and a fuel processor including the same. The hydrocarbon reforming catalyst has excellent catalytic activity and thermal conductivity, and thus can easily transfer heat required in a hydrocarbon reforming reaction. Accordingly, by using the hydrocarbon reforming catalyst above, a high hydrogen production rate can be obtained.
US07833931B2
The present invention relates to a solid acid catalyst for the production of polyester which enables the production of a metal-free polyester resin containing no residual catalyst, exhibits favorable utility efficiency in the production, exhibits extremely high selectivity for the polyesterification reaction with the amount of by-products being below the limit of detection, and is able to be isolated, recovered and reused. In other words, the present invention relates to a solid acid catalyst for the production of polyester, obtained by supporting a metal oxide (B) on a support (A) formed from a metal oxide, wherein said support (A) formed from a metal oxide is a zirconia, said metal oxide (B) is a molybdenum oxide, and a Hammett acidity function (H0) for said catalyst is within a range from −3 to −9, and also relates to a process for producing the solid acid catalyst and a process for producing a polyester that uses the catalyst.
US07833924B2
There is provided an yttrium oxide-containing material with excellent mechanical characteristics. The yttrium oxide-containing material becomes strong by adding silicon carbide (SiC) and yttrium fluoride (YF3) to yttrium oxide (Y2O3). Accordingly, the yield, handling and reliability can be improved when this strengthened yttrium oxide-containing material is applied to and used for components of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
US07833918B2
A substantially dry, water-activated cleaning article is described that comprises a two-layer nonwoven substrate impregnated with a cleaning composition minimally comprising a nonionic surfactant and a microbially-derived polysaccharidic polymer.
US07833917B2
A method of producing a laminate material includes the steps of providing a first flexible sheet material; providing a second flexible sheet material having a first surface and a second surface, and also having a first width of 1×; stretching the second flexible sheet material in a cross-machine direction to a second width of between about 1.2× and 3× when in a flattened state; necking the second flexible sheet material to produce an accordion shape, thereby reducing the second width of the sheet material to a third width, less than the width of the first width, such that the third width is between 0.65× to 0.975× when in an accordion shape; applying adhesive to the first surface of the second flexible sheet material with a slot coat adhesive process; and joining the first flexible sheet material to the first surface of the second flexible sheet material.
US07833911B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: etching a first film provided on a wafer in a chamber; removing at least part of reaction products deposited on a component in the chamber facing the wafer by the etching to cause a distribution state of the deposited reaction products to get closer to a uniform state; and then etching a second film provided on the wafer in the chamber.
US07833904B2
The present invention relates to methods for fabricating nanoscale electrodes separated by a nanogap, wherein the gap size may be controlled with high precision using a self-aligning aluminum oxide mask, such that the gap width depends upon the thickness of the aluminum oxide mask. The invention also provides methods for using the nanoscale electrodes.
US07833900B2
The present invention discloses a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit on a semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor device provided thereon, including the steps of forming a copper layer having an overburden of a desired thickness, forming a layer of inert metal on the copper layer, annealing the copper layer and removing the layer of inert metal.
US07833898B2
Manufacturing a resistance RAM device includes the steps of forming an insulation layer on a semiconductor substrate having a bottom electrode contact; etching the insulation layer to define a hole exposing the bottom electrode contact; depositing sequentially a bottom electrode material layer and a TMO material layer selectively within the hole; depositing a top electrode material layer within the hole and on the insulation layer in such a way as to completely fill the hole in which the bottom electrode material layer and the TMO material layer are formed; removing partial thicknesses of the top electrode material layer and the insulation layer to form a stack pattern comprising a bottom electrode, a TMO, and a top electrode.
US07833892B2
The invention includes methods of forming integrated circuitry, methods of forming memory circuitry, and methods of forming field effect transistors. In one implementation, conductive metal silicide is formed on some areas of a substrate and not on others. In one implementation, conductive metal silicide is formed on a transistor source/drain region and which is spaced from an anisotropically etched sidewall spacer proximate a gate of the transistor.
US07833889B2
Embodiments of an apparatus and methods for improving multi-gate device performance including methods to fabricate a plurality of multi-gate fins from a diffused body of a substantially planar structure that is substantially electrically isolated using a shallow trench region are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07833885B2
Methods for forming a microcrystalline silicon layer in a thin film transistor structure are provided. In one embodiment, a method for forming a microcrystalline silicon layer includes providing a substrate in a processing chamber, supplying a gas mixture having a hydrogen-based gas, a silicon-based gas and an argon gas into the processing chamber, the gas mixture having a volumetric flow ratio of the hydrogen-based gas to the silicon-based gas greater than about 100:1, wherein a volumetric flow ratio of the argon gas to the total combined flow of hydrogen-based gas and the silicon-based gas is between about 5 percent and about 40 percent, and maintaining a process pressure of the gas mixture within the processing chamber at greater than about 3 Torr while depositing a microcrystalline silicon layer on the substrate.
US07833875B2
A semiconductor device includes an isolation layer defining an active region formed in a semiconductor substrate. A first recessing process is performed on the isolation layer to expose edge portions of the active region. A first rounding process is performed to round the edge portions of the active region. A second recessing process is performed on the isolation layer. A second rounding process is performed to round the edge portions of the active region.
US07833873B2
A method (and system) of reducing contact resistance on a silicon-on-insulator device, including controlling a silicide depth in a source-drain region of the device.
US07833869B2
Methods are provided for depositing materials in forming semiconductor devices on a substrate, such as metal oxide transistors. In one embodiment, the invention generally provides a method of processing a substrate including forming a gate dielectric on a substrate having a first conductivity, forming a gate electrode on the gate dielectric, forming a first pair of sidewall spacers along laterally opposite sidewalls of the gate electrode, etching a pair of source/drain region definitions on opposite sides of the electrode, depositing a silicon carbide material selectively in the source/drain region definitions, and implanting a dopant in the deposited silicon carbide material to form a source/drain region having a second conductivity.
US07833866B2
A reflectance-controlling layer whose reflectance to irradiation of laser light becomes lower as a thickness thereof becomes thinner is formed on a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region. Thereafter, the reflectance-controlling layer on the first region is etched. Then, a laser light is irradiated to the semiconductor substrate to anneal an n−-type semiconductor region and an n+-type semiconductor region of the first region. In the same manner, after the reflectance-controlling layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, the reflectance-controlling layer on the second region is etched. Then, a laser light is irradiated to the semiconductor substrate to anneal a p−-type semiconductor region and a p+-type semiconductor region of the second region.
US07833852B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a semiconductor layer. The method further includes forming a gate structure overlying the semiconductor layer. The method further includes forming a high-k sidewall spacer adjacent to the gate structure. The method further includes forming a recess in the semiconductor layer, the recess aligned to the high-k sidewall spacer. The method further includes forming an in-situ doped epitaxial material in the recess, the epitaxial material having a natural lattice constant different from a lattice constant of the semiconductor layer to create stress in a channel region of the semiconductor device.
US07833845B2
An object is to provide a manufacturing method of a microcrystalline semiconductor film with favorable quality over a large-area substrate. After forming a gate insulating film over a gate electrode, in order to improve quality of a microcrystalline semiconductor film formed in an initial stage, glow discharge plasma is generated by supplying high-frequency powers with different frequencies, and a lower part of the film near an interface with the gate insulating film is formed under a first film formation condition, which is low in film formation rate but results in a good quality film. Thereafter, an upper part of the film is deposited under a second film formation condition with higher film formation rate, and further, a buffer layer is stacked on the microcrystalline semiconductor film.
US07833842B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to mixed-scale electronic interfaces, included in integrated circuits and other electronic devices, that provide for dense electrical interconnection between microscale features of a predominantly microscale or submicroscale layer and nanoscale features of a predominantly nanoscale layer. A method is provided for fabricating a nanoscale/microscale interface having a microscale layer and a predominantly nanoscale layer.
US07833834B2
A method for producing a nitride semiconductor laser light source is provided. The nitride semiconductor laser light source has a nitride semiconductor laser chip, a stem for mounting the laser chip thereon, and a cap for covering the laser chip. The laser chip is encapsulated in a sealed container composed of the stem and the cap. The method for producing this nitride semiconductor laser light source has a cleaning step of cleaning the surface of the laser chip, the stem, or the cap. In the cleaning step, the laser chip, the stem, or the cap is exposed with ozone or an excited oxygen atom, or baked by heat. The method also has, after the cleaning step, a capping step of encapsulating the laser chip in the sealed container composed of the stem and the cap. During the capping step, the cleaned surface of the laser chip, the stem, or the cap is kept clean. This method provides a long-life nitride semiconductor laser light source the light emission intensity of which is not easily reduced after a long period of use.
US07833831B2
An electronic component is equipped with electrode protrusions that make it possible to mount the electronic component without covering connection pads of a circuit board with solder and to dispose the connection pads of the circuit board with a narrow pitch while preventing electrical shorting of the connection electrodes during mounting. A method of manufacturing an electronic component equipped with connection electrodes, where electrode protrusions are covered with solder, includes a step of heating a solder sheet to a semi-molten state and pressing the electronic component onto the solder sheet to place the electrode protrusions in contact with the solder sheet and a step of retracting the electronic component from a position where the electrode protrusions contact the solder sheet to transfer solder onto outside surfaces of the electrode protrusions that contacted the solder sheet.
US07833830B2
This invention relates to a semiconductor having protruding contacts comprising, a first semiconductor substrate having at least one interconnect located substantially within the first substrate, and a second semiconductor substrate having at least one protruding contact point that substantially contacts at least one interconnect.
US07833822B2
A microelectronic device includes: at least one cell or element including at least one first electrode, at least one second electrode, and at least one stack of thin layers between the first electrode and the second electrode. The stack includes at least one doped chalcogenide layer capable of forming a solid electrolyte, the doped chalcogenide layer being provided on and in contact with the first electrode; at least one interface layer provided on and in contact with the doped chalcogenide layer, the interface layer being based on a material different from the chalcogenide, the material being carbon or carbon comprising a metallic additive or a semiconducting additive; and at least one metallic ion donor layer provided on and in contact with the interface layer, the metallic ion donor layer being an ion source for the solid electrolyte.
US07833821B2
The present invention provides a method of making a Cu—In—Ga sputtering target by melting Cu, In and Ga, Cu and In or Cu and Ga to form a uniform melt with a pre-determined stoichiometry, which melt is sprayed to cause sprayed uniform melt particles to solidify into Cu—In—Ga particles with the pre-determined stoichiometry. The sputtering target is then made using the Cu—In—Ga particles. In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of producing a thin film absorber layer for solar cell fabrication by sputter depositing a precursor film with a first composition
US07833820B2
A method of producing a polymer composition for semiconductor optoelectronics, comprising the steps of providing at least one type of disilane monomer which is homo- or copolymerized to form a (co)polymer and then combined with nanoparticles to provide a polymer composition. The nanoparticle containing composition has excellent properties with high refractive index or dielectric constant.
US07833814B2
A method for forming a pixel image sensor that has a high shutter rejection ratio for preventing substrate charge leakage and prevents generation of photoelectrons within a floating diffusion storage node and storage node control transistor switches of the pixel image sensor. The pixel image sensor that prevents substrate charge leakage of photoelectrons from pixel image sensor adjacent to the pixel image sensor. The pixel image sensor is fabricated on a substrate with an isolation barrier and a carrier conduction well. The isolation barrier formed underneath the floating diffusion storage node allows effective isolation by draining away the stray carriers and preventing them from reaching the floating diffusion storage node. The carrier conduction well in combination with the deep N-well isolation barrier separates the pinned photodiode region from the deep N-well isolation barrier that is underneath the floating diffusion storage node.
US07833810B2
Isolation structure for CMOS image sensor device chip scale packages and fabrication methods thereof. A CMOS image sensor chip scale package includes a transparent substrate configured as a support structure for the package. The transparent substrate includes a first cutting edge and a second cutting edge. A CMOS image sensor die with a die circuitry is mounted on the transparent substrate. An encapsulant is disposed on the substrate encapsulating the CMOS image sensor die. A connection extends from the die circuitry to a plurality of terminal contacts for the package on the encapsulant, wherein the connection is exposed by the first cutting edge. An isolation structure is disposed on the first cutting edge passivating the exposed connection and co-planed with the second cutting edge.
US07833804B2
The present invention relates to a solution introducing structure for introducing a plurality of solutions (a sample and/or a reagent solution) in highly accurate volume, in high amount and simply, into a channel (1) of a micro fluidic device, said channel (1) comprising not less than three side channels (2) for drain and not less than two side channels (3) for introducing a sample or a reagent solution.
US07833800B2
Thermal sensing devices can include two subsets of thermal sensors connected in a bridge by circuitry on the same support layer or surface with the sensors. Each thermal sensor can be formed in a patterned layer of semiconductor material, and the bridge circuitry can include leads formed in a patterned layer of conductive material, over or under the semiconductor layer. In one implementation, the bridge circuitry includes conductive portions that extend across and electrically contact the lower surface of each sensor's semiconductor slab. The bridge circuitry can also include pads that can be electrically contacted, such as by pogo pins. The device's reaction surface can be spaced apart from or over the thermal sensors. The device's components can be shaped and positioned so that the bridge's offset voltage is below the sensitivity level required for an application, such as by left-right symmetry about an axis.
US07833799B2
The invention relates to compositions and methods useful in the labeling and identification of proteins. The invention provides for highly soluble zwitterionic dye molecules where the dyes and associated side groups are non-titratable and maintain their net zwitterionic character over a broad pH range, for example, between pH 3 and 12. These dye molecules find utility in a variety of applications, including use in the field of proteomics.
US07833798B2
The present invention provides a method of analyzing albumin in a sample solution, which is characterized by pretreating a sample solution before subjecting the sample solution to mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography. The present invention further provides a method of accurately and stably analyzing the amount and ratio of oxidized and reduced albumin in a sample solution, and an albumin standard accurate and controlled quantitative analysis of albumin.
US07833793B2
The invention provides a method of monitoring the response of platelets to a COX1 inhibitor such as aspirin. The method involves collecting platelet-containing mammalian blood treated with a COX1 inhibitor; mixing the blood with a COX1-dependent platelet agonist, such as arachidonic acid, monitoring extracellular ATP in the agonist-activated blood to generate a measurement, and comparing the measurement to a standard value. Devices, systems, and kits for carrying out the method are also provided.
US07833788B2
Means and methods are provided for the production of mammalian viruses comprising: infecting a culture of immortalized human cells with the virus, incubating the culture infected with virus to propagate the virus under conditions that permit growth of the virus, and to form a virus-containing medium, and removing the virus-containing medium. The viruses can be harvested and be used for the production of vaccines. Advantages are that human cells of the present invention can be cultured under defined serum free conditions, and the cells show improved capability for propagating virus. In particular, methods are provided for producing, in cultured human cells, influenza virus and vaccines derived thereof. This method eliminates the necessity to use whole chicken embryos for the production of influenza vaccines. The method provides also for the continuous or batchwise removal of culture media. As such, the invention allows the large-scale, continuous production of viruses to a high titer.
US07833786B2
The present invention relates to at least one novel chimeric, humanized or CDR-grafted anti-IL-6 antibodies derived from the murine CLB-8 antibody, including isolated nucleic acids that encode at least one such anti-IL-6 antibody, vectors, host cells, transgenic animals or plants, and methods of making and using thereof, including therapeutic compositions, methods and devices.
US07833783B2
The cloning of a novel PCVII viral genome is described as is expression of proteins derived from the PCVII genome. These proteins can be used in vaccine compositions for the prevention and treatment of PCVII infections, as well as in diagnostic methods for determining the presence of PCVII infections in a vertebrate subject. Polynucleotides derived from the viral genome can be used as diagnostic primers and probes.
US07833781B2
The invention relates to an installation for composting organic material (1). The inventive installation comprises an assembly of cells (10) in which the organic material (1) is stored for fermentation purposes and a ventilation device (20) which blows or draws air through the organic material (1) that is stored in the aforementioned cells (10), each cell (10) comprising a base slab (11) and partition walls (12). The above-mentioned ventilation device (20) comprises at least one ventilator fan (21), which is equipped with a suction opening (211) and a discharge port (212), and a ventilation duct (22) which connects the suction opening (211) or the discharge port (212) to one or more cells (10). According to the invention, the installation comprises an apron (40) forming the base slabs (11) of the different cells (10), said apron comprising means (41) and reserves (42) which are used to install the partition walls (12) of the cells (10) at different pre-determined positions. As a result, the size of the cells (10) can be altered according to requirements and said optimized installation has also removed the need for any air siphon regardless of the ventilation mode used.
US07833769B2
Compositions and methods are provided in which the composition is a protein with at least 50% but less than 100% amino acid sequence identity with McrA or is a variant McrA protein with at least one amino acid sequence modification. The variant or protein has the property of cleaving DNA with methylated cytosine and not hydroxymethylated cytosine in a target DNA sequence, or substantially lacks catalytic activity while maintaining binding activity. Methods are provided in which the protein or McrA variant are used to identify methylation sites either by cleavage or by binding to the methylation site in the presence of a marker or by binding to an immobilized protein or McrA variant.
US07833766B2
Compositions of proteins having free thiols, and methods of making and using such compositions, are described.
US07833763B2
An object to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for producing organic acid with higher fermentation efficiency. The present invention provides a method for producing organic acid from an organic material by allowing bacterial cell or treated products thereof to act on an aqueous reaction solution containing the above organic material, which is characterized in that after completion of the reaction, the aqueous reaction solution is recovered, cell or treated products thereof are separated from the recovered aqueous reaction solution, and the separated cell or treated products thereof are allowed to act on a fresh aqueous reaction solution, so that the cell or treated products thereof are repeatedly used.
US07833758B2
West Nile virus capture oligonucleotides, primers and probes derived from conserved regions of the West Nile virus genome are disclosed. Also disclosed are nucleic acid-based assays using the capture oligonucleotides, primers and probes.
US07833757B2
The invention relates to a method for conducting non-invasive early detection of colon cancer and/or of colon cancer precursor cells, by using primers with which mutation analyses can be carried out in selected regions of genes APC, K-ras, β-catenin and B-raf. The invention also relates to a kit containing said primers, and to the use of these primers and of the kit for analyzing mutations, particularly for conducting the early detection of colon cancer and/or of colon cancer precursory cells.
US07833754B2
The present invention provides for nucleic acids improved for the expression of interleukin-12 (IL-12) in mammalian cells. The invention further provides for methods of expressing IL-12 in mammalian cells by transfecting the cell with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an improved IL-12 sequence.
US07833748B1
The present invention relates to the isolation, purification, sequencing, and functional characterization of the class I diterpene synthase sequence OsKSL11. Transcriptional control of OsKSL11 provides a means of regulating production of stemodene. Further, since OsKSL11 is highly homologous to OsKSL8, identification of the sequence of OsKSL11 will facilitate identification of underlying enzymatic determinants that affect product outcomes with these enzymes.
US07833736B2
The invention discloses ten (10) protein markers predictive of cancer resistance or responsiveness to Type III Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) inhibitors, and provides methods for identifying a cancer that is likely to be resistant to a Type III RTK-inhibiting therapeutic by examining expression and/or activity of one or more of the disclosed biomarkers in a biological sample from the cancer. Methods for identifying a compound that inhibits a cancer resistant to a Type III RTK-inhibiting therapeutic by determining the effect of the compound on one or more of the disclosed marker proteins are also provided.
US07833733B2
Methods and kits for detecting cancer and monitoring cancer progression are described. The method involves analyzing a sample containing nucleic acids or proteins from a patient for decreased expression of endoglycan and/or increased expression of podocalyxin.
US07833727B2
The Smek (Suppressor of mek null) gene is described and characterized. Smek acts in the stress response pathway of animals by binding to and enhancing the transcription of FOXO, thereby providing the link between the stress response pathway and the insulin/IGF-1 pathway. Given the link between both the stress response pathway and the insulin/IGF-1 pathway and longevity, Smek1 represents an essential target for modulation of life span and the stress response. Methods of increasing life span and stress tolerance by modulation of Smek activity are disclosed, as are screening methods for identifying compounds that modulate Smek activity. In addition, recombinant animals expressing the Smek gene that have a longer life span and enhanced stress tolerance, and methods of using the Smek gene to modulate both longevity and stress tolerance, are described.
US07833722B2
The present invention provides a method of screening an agonist/antagonist of a G protein-coupled receptor protein comprising the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or a salt thereof, which comprises using the receptor protein or its salt and a ligand or its salt; and so on. The screening method of the present invention is useful for screening an agent for the prevention/treatment of nervous system diseases or neuropathic pains.
US07833714B1
In one aspect of the invention, methods for analyzing nucleic acid sample are provided. In a preferred embodiment, nucleic acids are selected using affinity matrices prior hybridization with a microarray.
US07833705B2
The invention relates to a solid medium or matrix for storage of nucleic acid molecules (e.g. RNA and/or DNA), particularly vectors and especially plasmids, comprising a solid matrix preferably having a compound or composition which protects against degradation of nucleic acids incorporated into or absorbed on the matrix. The invention also relates to methods for storage or isolation/purification of nucleic acids using this solid medium, and in situ use of the stored or isolated/purified nucleic acids.
US07833701B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a test apparatus for testing a DNA substrate on which a plurality of DNA fragments for testing are arranged, wherein absolute precision is not required. The above-described problem was solved by providing a substrate on which a plurality of biomolecule spots containing a group of biomolecules (e.g., DNA, etc.) of a specific type are formed, where the pattern or position of the DNA spot is changed depending on specific data so that information of the specific data is recorded on the substrate.
US07833700B2
A method of concentrating and recovering an enzyme activity from enveloped viruses present in a biological sample, is described. The method comprises contacting the biological sample in a first buffer solution with a virus-binding matrix, such as an anion exchanger matrix, to attach virus particles present in the sample to the matrix, washing the matrix carrying the virus particles with a second buffer solution to remove components interfering with viral enzyme activity, lysing the immobilized virus particles in a third buffer solution and recovering the concentrated viral enzyme activity from the third buffer solution. Additionally, a commercial package containing written and/or data carrier instructions for performing laboratory steps for concentration and recovery of an enzyme activity from enveloped viruses present in a biological sample and at least one component necessary for the assay, is disclosed.
US07833698B2
The invention relates to a method for determining the response to cancer therapy in an individual using image analysis.
US07833691B2
The present invention relates to a heterocycle-containing onium salt useful as, for example, a cationic photopolymerization initiator and an acid generator for a chemically amplified resist, and provides a heterocycle-containing onium salt shown in the specification.
US07833689B2
A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support and an image-recording layer containing at least one infrared absorbing agent of a cyanine dye in which a HOMO energy level of each of substituents present on both terminal nitrogen atoms is −10.0 eV or higher.
US07833688B2
Use of a wax in a toner, such as carnauba wax, to give an increase in charge control agent in a toner, such as a magenta toner, to give an increased glass transition temperature is disclosed. The toner may contain a resin comprising amorphous and crystalline polyesters to provide good low melt characteristics.
US07833683B2
An imaging member including a substrate; a charge generation layer; a charge transport layer containing a mixture including a polymer and charge transport components, wherein the mixture has a glass transition temperature of less than about 70° C.; and an overcoat having a crosslinked polymer network including a resin, charge transport molecules, crosslinking component, an acid catalyst and an optional low surface component, and wherein the resin is a resin selected from the group consisting of polyester and polyol resins, and further wherein the resin has crosslinking sites selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl and carboxy groups.
US07833675B2
A proton conductor includes a water-soluble electrolyte membrane with proton conductivity and a proton-conductive ceramic that is provided on at least one surface of the water-soluble electrolyte membrane.
US07833673B2
Elastic members that are integrally joined to a frame member are placed between an outer edge of an electrode unit and an inner edge of the frame member, and in the assembled state of the single cell module, the elastic members are elastically deformed in the thickness direction of a membrane-electrode-frame assembly so that the gap between the membrane-electrode-frame assembly and the separator is sealed in a tight contact state.
US07833662B2
Silicon oxide based composite anode active materials including amorphous silicon oxides are provided. In one embodiment, the amorphous silicon oxide is represented by SiOx (where 0
US07833658B2
A battery for a vehicle that includes a housing comprising a top portion and a cover coupled to the top portion. The battery also includes a plurality of containers extending below the top portion and arranged in a plurality of rows, with each of the plurality of rows comprising a plurality of containers and being offset from an adjacent row. A portion of the top portion is not provided above one of the plurality of containers and includes at least one rib for providing enhanced strength for the portion of the top portion.
US07833657B2
An external case for secondary batteries, and a secondary battery using the external case, in which the covering surfaces for the lower surface and side surfaces of a pouch type core pack are joined to prevent unfolding due to the resilience of the material. The external case includes: a base covering the lower surface of the pouch type cell, a pair of sidewalls joined to two opposing longer edges of the base to respectively form single linear boundaries, and covering two broad side surfaces of the pouch type cell, and skirts extending from two longer edges of each of the sidewalls, and covering two narrow side surfaces of the pouch type cell. The base, sidewalls, and skirts are all formed of a metallic material.
US07833654B2
The invention provides an adhesive-carrying porous film for use as a battery separator, comprising: a substrate porous film, wherein when a 1 mm diameter penetrating thermomechanical analyzer probe is placed on the film under a 70 g load to measure a thickness while heating the film from room temperature at a rate of 200° C./minute to a temperature where the film thickness decreases by half when the probe was initially placed is 200° C. or more, a partially crosslinked adhesive carried on the film, the adhesive is prepared by reacting a reactive polymer having a functional group capable of reacting with an isocyanate group with a polyfunctional isocyanate so the reactive polymer is partially crosslinked, a porous film is temporarily bonded to an electrode to provide an electrode/separator laminate, the porous film in a battery functions as a separator which does not melt or break with small heat shrinkage under high temperatures.
US07833652B2
A battery loading mechanism includes: a battery loading section having an insertion space capable for accommodating a battery, in which a portion of an outer circumference of each of two end surfaces on insertion and ejection sides, respectively, is formed as a curve section; and lock means for locking the battery loaded into the battery loading section, the lock means rotatably supported on the battery loading section. The lock means includes a lock section, the lock section being formed in such a shape that it becomes wider the further away it is from a point at which the lock means is rotatably supported, and at least a portion of a side edge of the lock section in a width direction is formed as a curve section corresponding to the curve section of the battery.
US07833649B2
A fluid consuming battery (10) is provided with a fluid regulating system (50) for regulating fluid entry into the battery. The battery (10) includes a fluid consuming cell (20) having a cell housing with fluid entry ports for the passage of a fluid into the cell housing. A first fluid consuming electrode and a second electrode are disposed within the cell housing. The fluid regulating system (50) includes a valve having a moving plate (66) disposed adjacent to a fixed plate (62). The moving plate and fixed plate both have fluid entry ports (68, 64) that align in an open valve position and are misaligned in a closed valve position. The fluid regulating system (50) also includes an actuator that may include one or more shape memory alloy (SMA) components (82a, 82b) for moving the moving plate (66) relative to the fixed plate (62) to open and close the valve.
US07833645B2
A proton exchange membrane fuel cell and method for forming a fuel cell is disclosed and which includes, in its broadest aspect, a proton exchange membrane having opposite anode and cathode sides; and individual electrodes juxtaposed relative to each of the anode and cathode sides, and wherein at least one of the electrodes is fabricated, at least in part, of a porous, electrically conductive ceramic material. The present methodology, as disclosed, includes the steps of providing a pair of electrically conductive ceramic substrates, applying a catalyst coating to the inside facing surface thereof; and providing a polymeric proton exchange membrane, and positioning the polymeric proton membrane therebetween, and in ohmic electrical contact relative thereto to form a resulting PEM fuel cell.
US07833643B2
A neutral protic salt electrolyte and a protic-salt imbibed polymer electrolyte membrane exhibiting high ionic conductivity and thermal stability at temperatures greater than 100° C. without requiring additional humidification systems or hydrating water is disclosed. The protic salt is the neutral product of acids and bases for which the proton transfer energy lies in the range from 0.5 to 1.5 eV. A polymer electrolyte membrane having the general formula: wherein A is a repeating unit in the main chain, B is a crosslinker chain, C is an end group, YZ is a neutralized couple at chain end, IL is an ionic liquid, and NP is a nanoparticle which absorbs the protic liquid yielding membranes that combine high mechanical strength with high conductivity. The present polymer electrolyte membrane is useful in high temperature fuel cells for automotive, industrial, and mobile communication applications.
US07833640B2
An improved structure for the construction of perpendicular recording media is disclosed. The structure includes a tri-layer IML resident between a soft under layer CoTaZr film and a CoPtCr—SiO2 magnetic media. In an embodiment, the tri-layer comprises a RuxCr1−x layer over dual nucleation layers of Ni—Fe and Ni—Fe—Cr. The tri-layer replaces the typical Ru and Ni—Fe intermediate layers of the prior art, resulting in considerable improvement in lattice matching between the Ru containing intermediate layer and the CoPtCr—SiO2 magnetic media, further resulting in improved magnetic media performance.
US07833639B2
A magnetic recording medium for perpendicular magnetic recording includes a substrate, a granular layer having magnetic crystal grains exhibiting perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and nonmagnetic substances for magnetically separating the magnetic crystal grains from each other at grain boundaries of the magnetic crystal grains, and a continuous film layer having magnetic grains to be exchange-coupled to the magnetic crystal grains, the grain boundary width of the magnetic grains being smaller than that of the magnetic crystal grains, wherein separation regions for magnetically separating tracks from each other are disposed in regions between the tracks of the magnetic recording medium in at least the continuous film layer.
US07833634B2
Provided a novel 1,8-naphthyridine compound represented by the following general formula [I]: wherein R1 to R6 each represent a hydrogen atom; an alkyl group, a halogen atom; a trifluoromethyl group; and a cyano group, and may be the same as or different from one another, and that at least two of R1 to R6 each represent an aralkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, a condensed polycyclic aromatic group, a condensed polycyclic heterocyclic group and an aryloxy group which may be substituted; and a substituted amino group. The 1,8-naphthyridine is employed in an organic compound layer provided between a pair of electrodes in an organic light-emitting device.
US07833615B2
The invention provides composite porous materials in which a second material is fused to and/or is in the pores and/or is fused directly to some of the pore walls of a porous first material. The invention also provides methods of filtering a fluid using these composite porous materials and methods of manufacturing the composite porous materials.
US07833613B1
A grade board with an integrally formed ledge projecting outwardly from the board. The board may be made of a polymeric and cellulosic composite.
US07833608B2
A beam having a base material of silicon monocrystal and at least one projection which is integrally formed so as to be supported at least at one end thereof and which has two surfaces having an orientation plane (111), includes a bottom surface in a plane which is common with a plane of the base material; a groove penetrating from the bottom surface to a top of the projection; and a protecting member having a resistance property against a crystal anisotropic etching liquid and covering an inner wall of the groove.
US07833607B2
A multilayer film includes a substrate film (a), a hard coat layer (b) containing a (meth)acrylate compound, an electrically conductive layer (c) containing electrically conductive particles, and a resin layer (d) containing a fluorine compound, those layers being disposed on at least one face of the substrate film (a). The resin layer (d) has fine irregularities on the surface and an arithmetic average surface roughness Ra ranging from 0.003 μm to 0.025 μm and the surface of the resin layer (d) of the multilayer film has a reflectance of less than 2%. The display filter and the display each include the multilayer film.
US07833605B2
A vacuum heat insulator small in limitation in shape of applicable objects, and wide in application is presented. A vacuum heat insulator is formed of a plurality of core members of thickness of 5 mm or less made of glass fiber shaped nearly in a regular octagonal shape, being coated with a gas barrier enveloping member and evacuated in side. The core members are shaped in octagon, and disposed in lattice layout at specified intervals so as to form folding lines in four directions of vertical, lateral and oblique 45-degree directions, parallel to each side. In order that the plurality of core members may be located in independent spaces individually, the entire surface of the enveloping member around the core members is formed as heat seal parts, and it is foldable in four directions and is flexible. By cutting the heat seal parts along the core members so as to leave about 3 mm in the periphery, a vacuum heat insulator of any desired shape and wide effective heat insulating area can be obtained. The core members may be formed in desired shape, and complicated shapes and through-holes can be formed, so that vacuum heat insulators applicable in a very wide scope of purposes can be presented.
US07833596B2
A floor covering produced by coating and including a thermoplastic-based structure, in particular plasticized PVC, reinforced with a textile reinforcement, optionally combined with a foam backing. The visible surface consists of a surface coating providing decoration and wear resistance to the product. The back surface, designed to be in contact with the floor, consists of a textile web, the bonding between the textile structure and the supporting back surface being produced by means of an additional plastisol layer, which penetrates over a minor part of the thickness of the textile structure and which, after gelling, bonds the textile to the thermoplastic substrate back surface.
US07833594B2
A polymer-based sausage casing suitable for use with uncooked meats such as chorizo is disclosed. A polymer resin is blended with a silicon-based barrier control agent, preferably a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, to increase the permeability of the sausage casing. The resultant blend can be biaxially stretch-oriented to produce a single-layered polymer-based sausage casing suitable for use with uncooked sausage meats such as chorizo, and specifically suitable for the gas and moisture permeability needed during the curing process for uncooked sausage meats. Such polymer-based casings can also be employed for cooked sausages by choosing a silicon-based barrier control agent that increases gas and moisture barrier, thereby increasing shelf-life for unpeeled sausages. A method for improving the peelability of cooked sausage casings by injecting a thin coating of a releasing agent, without the addition of a surfactant, into the sausage casing during the shirring process is also disclosed. The releasing agent is a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose solution that creates a low viscosity releasing agent that effectively improves peelability from any type of sausage casing, but preferably for use with the polymer-based sausage casing of the present invention.
US07833592B2
This invention relates to glazing panels, and in particular to chromogenic glazing panels and to a process for manufacturing such glazing panels. It is disclosed a glazing panel comprising two sheets of glass spaced apart from each other and sealed together along a of their edges, wherein the distance between the two sheets of glass is between 10 and 500 μm and wherein the glazing panel is provided with a plurality of spaced deposits arranged between and in contact with the two sheets of glass and arranged with a distance between the deposits of between 1 and 10 cm, at least some of the deposits being attached to the surface of each glass sheet and each deposit comprising an adhesive. The glazings according to the invention have the advantage of providing a substantially constant distance between the two sheets of glass over substantially the whole surface of the glazing panel.
US07833589B2
A liquid crystal-containing composition and a liquid crystal display device including the same, the liquid crystal-containing composition including a cholesteric liquid crystal and microcapsules containing the cholesteric liquid crystal, and having a wall component comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and polyurea, the wall component further including a first isocyanurate component having a cyclo ring structure and a second isocyanate component other than the first isocyanurate component.
US07833587B2
A method for making the characteristics of the distribution of film thickness uniform is provided, avoiding generation of phase differences among streams of high-frequency electric power by manipulating the electrical characteristics of cables through which the high-frequency electric power is transmitted. Coaxial cables (19a to 19h and 24a to 24h) having a standard length and vacuum cables (20a to 20h and 25a to 25h) are installed, then a film is formed on a substrate by actually supplying high-frequency electric power, and thereafter the condition of vapor deposition such as the thickness of the film is observed. Based on the observations, the full lengths of the coaxial cables which communicate with the feeding points and the electrodes which correspond with positions over the substrate which need to be adjusted are changed. The coaxial cables are installed again, and high-frequency electric power equivalent to that used in the previous operation is supplied to form a film. The distribution of the film formed on the substrate is made uniform by repeating the above operations.
US07833574B2
A method of making a heat treated (HT) coated article to be used in shower door applications, window applications, or any other suitable applications where transparent coated articles are desired. For example, certain embodiments of this invention relate to a method of making a coated article including a step of heat treating a glass substrate coated with at least a layer of or including diamond-like carbon (DLC) and an overlying protective film thereon. In certain example embodiments, the protective film may be of or include an oxide of zinc. Following and/or during heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering, or the like) the protective film may be removed. Other embodiments of this invention relate to the pre-HT coated article, or the post-HT coated article.
US07833561B2
Improved liquid coffee concentrates that have furfuryl acetate to 4-ethyl guaiacol ratio values that approach the furfuryl acetate to 4-ethyl guaiacol ratio values of fresh brewed coffees brewed with the same coffees used to produce said coffee concentrates are shown. Methods of evaluating and adjusting a liquid coffee concentrate's furfuryl acetate to 4-ethyl guaiacol ratio value are also shown.
US07833556B2
Oil or fat compositions contain the following ingredients: (A) an oil or fat containing from 60 to 100% by weight of diglyceride, by 100 parts by weight of the oil or fat composition, the diglyceride further comprising fatty acids, wherein the amount of fatty acids that are unsaturated is from 80 to 100 wt. %, by 100 parts by weight of the diglyceride; (B) from 0.001 to 1% by weight of ingredient (A) of a carboxylic acid selected from C2-8 hydroxycarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids and tricarboxylic acids, and salts derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof; (C) from 0.001 to 5% by weight of ingredient (A) of an antioxidant; and (D) from 0.05 to 4.7% by weight of ingredient (A) of a plant sterol. Each of these preferred oil or fat compositions has a high diglyceride content having excellent health-promoting functions, and even in cold temperature areas or high-humidity areas, has improved external appearance, is good in work efficiency during cooking and also in the flavor and texture of cooked foods. Packaged edible oils or fats are also disclosed.
US07833552B2
A method for preparing a xanthohumol-rich hop composition. The method includes providing a solution that contains xanthohumol-containing hop substances and effecting precipitation of non-xanthohumol hop substances by adjusting both the salt concentration and pH value of the solution. The xanthohumol-rich hop composition prepared by this method can be used for treating various diseases, e.g., skin disorders, and bacterial infection.
US07833551B2
Biogenic sulfide production is synergistically inhibited by treating sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) with a biocide and a metabolic inhibitor. The biocide directly kills a first portion of the SRB. The metabolic inhibitor inhibits sulfate-reducing growth of a second portion of the SRB without directly killing the second portion of the SRB. The treatment of SRB with both a biocide and a metabolic inhibitor provides effective biogenic sulfide inhibition at significantly lower concentrations than would be required if the biocide or metabolic inhibitor was used alone.
US07833536B2
The present invention relates i.a. to vaccines for combating Mycoplasma infection, to mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase for use in such vaccines, to the use of mycoplasmal L-α-glycerophosphate oxidase for the manufacturing of such vaccines, to methods for the preparation of such vaccines and to diagnostic tests for the discrimination of animals vaccinated with said vaccines and animals vaccinated with whole cell vaccines or animals suffering from field infection.
US07833534B2
Compounds and methods are provided for diagnosing, preventing, treating and detecting leishmaniasis infection and stimulating immune responses in patients are disclosed. The compounds disclosed are include polypeptides and fusion proteins that contain at least one immunogenic portion of one or more Leishmania antigens, or a variant thereof. Additionally, methods of screening a screening library for tandem repeat proteins that have immunogenic properties are disclosed. Vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising polynucleotides, polypeptides, fusion proteins and variants thereof that may be used for the prevention and therapy of leishmaniasis, as well as for the detection of Leishmaniasis infection are described.
US07833532B2
The present invention provides synthetic immunogenic lipopeptide molecules comprising co-linear T-helper and CTL epitopes, and methods for their production and use in the generation of primary and secondary immune responses, and for the vaccination of animal subjects against particular CTL epitopes. More particularly, the present invention provides highly soluble lipopeptides wherein the lipid moiety is attached to the terminal side-chain group of an internal lysine or lysine analog, preferably to the terminal side-chain group of an internal diamino acid residue. Preferably the internal lysine or lysine analog is positioned between the T-helper epitope and the CTL epitope.
US07833531B2
The present invention provides to at least one novel human GLP-1 receptor agonist, or specified portion or variant, including isolated nucleic acids that encode at least one GLP-1 receptor agonist, or specified portion or variant, GLP-1 receptor agonist, or specified portion or variants, vectors, host cells, transgenic animals or plants, and methods of making and using thereof, including the use of long acting GLP-1 receptor agonists to improve insulin sensitivity or lipid profiles in obesity and related therapeutic and/or diagnostic compositions, methods and devices.
US07833528B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a method for treating target cells, tissues or pathogens in a subject, comprising administering a non-covalently bound complex which comprises a multispecific targeting protein and a hapten-enzyme covalent conjugate, followed by administration of a prodrug that is converted to an active drug by the enzyme. Other embodiments of the invention further relate to kits comprising the non-covalently bound complex or the components to prepare the complex.
US07833521B2
Biologically active polypeptides comprising a therapeutically active polypeptide fused to human serum albumin or a variant of human serum albumin, methods for preparation, nucleotide sequences encoding such fusion polypeptides, expression cassettes comprising such nucleotide sequences, self-replicating plasmids containing such expression cassettes, and pharmaceutical compositions containing fusion polypeptides.
US07833506B2
The invention relates to a process for producing morphologically uniform and virtually monodisperse metal-containing nanoparticles, characterized in that the separation both in time and space of the nucleation and growth processes is achieved by regulation of the temperature and volume flows, with the reaction and particle formation preferably being initiated and carried out in a suitable microstructured modular reactor system. Modularization of the microreaction plant (micro heat exchanger, residence reactor, micromixer, etc.) allows optimal setting of the respective chemical and process-engineering process parameters and thus the preparation of virtually monodisperse and morphologically uniform nanoparticles.
US07833500B1
The present invention provides a method for the oxidation of Hg0 in coal fired flue gas to form Hg2+ which is absorbed by the scrubber solution in wet-FGD or SDA, or adsorbed by the fly ash and subsequently removed from the flue stack with ESP and FF, and/or any other means as are known in the art for SOx, NOx and particulate removals. The addition of a second flue gas stream having a halogen and fly ash therein simultaneously with said hydrogen halogen or interhalogens into a coal fired flue gas further increases the oxidation of Hg0 to Hg2+.
US07833497B2
A method of processing fullerenes includes generating a gas stream having suspended soot particles and condensable gases, wherein the condensable gases comprising fullerenes, and separating at least a portion of the condensable gases from the suspended soot particles using a gas/solid separations process. At least a portion of the fullerenes in the condensable gases can be condensed and collected after separation of the condensable gases.
US07833488B2
A process vessel containing both an evaporation zone for evaporating a liquid feed and a treatment zone for treating the resulting vapor comprises an injector having an orifice, the orifice being in the evaporation zone, at least one evaporation surface for evaporating feed and generating vapor, the evaporation surface being located in the evaporation zone, wherein the injector orifice and the evaporation surface are positioned to prevent the formation of a drop at the orifice, a treatment zone for treating the vapor and at least one heater associated with at least a portion of the process vessel.
US07833483B2
A structure includes a substantially non-conductive frame having an exterior surface. The structure defines a plurality of passages that open to the exterior surface. Mesoporous material is disposed in the plurality of passages and is supported therein by the frame. In a method for making a mesoporous nanocrystalline titania hybrid material, a templating agent, an acid, and a titania precursor is mixed into a template liquid. A frame that defines a plurality of passages is placed into the template liquid. A solvent is evaporated from the template liquid, thereby forming a titania gel encapsulating the templating agent. The gel is heated to remove substantially the templating agent from the non-conductive frame and the titania, thereby leaving a mesoporous titania material.
US07833481B2
A fully integrated portable screening system includes a main housing and a contact pad. The contact pad is removably positioned in the main housing and covered by at least one sample sheet. The contact pad is preferably constituted by a cylindrical baton which carries a roll of sample collection sheets. A test subject interacts with the contact pad, leaving a trace sample on the sample collection sheet. The contact pad is then placed within the main housing and the trace sample is exposed to a test medium designed to interact with a specific analyte of interest potentially present in the trace sample. After exposure to the test medium, the sample sheet is subjected to a testing mechanism which exposes any interaction between the test medium and the analyte of interest to produce a test result.
US07833476B2
A flamer may be used to sterilize poultry litter, soil, concrete, etc. The stationary or mobile flamer disclosed comprises a hood to contain the heat, an external frame, and burners. A fuel tank may be carried on the flamer or on a tractor. An additional embodiment provides for mounting the flamer on wheels, permitting the unit to be towed by a truck, four-wheeler, tractor, etc. The burners are adjustable as to angle, and fueling rate. A pressure in the fuel system is controlled by selectively switching between the liquid and vaporous components of the fuel. By limiting how low the pressure may fall, the flow of fuel from the tank to the torches is more consistent.
US07833473B2
An apparatus, method, and material for storing and retrieving hydrogen are presented. The apparatus comprises a storage component, and this component comprises a hydrogen storage medium. The hydrogen storage medium comprises gallium. The method for storing and retrieving hydrogen comprises providing a source of hydrogen; providing a storage component, the component comprising a hydrogen storage medium, wherein the hydrogen storage medium comprises gallium; and exposing the medium to hydrogen from the source. The material comprises at least about 10 atom percent gallium, with the balance comprising at least one of aluminum and boron. The material is a metallic alloy.
US07833469B2
A method of making a solid electrolyte-YSZ product, where the method includes the step of providing a powdered mixture of zirconia, yttria and about 2%, by wt., or less of a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the mixture. The method also includes sintering the powdered mixture at about 1500° C. or less, for about 5 hours or less, to form a reaction sintered YSZ. Also, a method of making a fuel cell electrolyte that includes the step of forming a green body that includes zirconia, yttria and about 2%, by wt., or less of a metal oxide, where yttria-stabilized zirconia is not added to the green body. The method also includes shaping the green body into a form of the electrolyte, and sintering the green body at about 1500° C. or less to form a reaction sintered yttria-stabilized zirconia and metal oxide electrolyte.
US07833462B2
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing at least partly plastic vehicle parts in a mold with at least one mold cavity, comprising the steps of: at least partly closing the mold, wherein the at least one mold cavity is brought in a first position by means of at least one movable wall part of the at least one mold cavity; introducing plastic into the at least one mold cavity; upon complete closure of the mold and/or movement of the at least one movable wall part, bringing the at least one mold cavity in a second position, the at least one mold cavity in the second position having a different volume than in the first position; all this in such a manner that by bringing the at least one mold cavity from the first into the second position, the plastic fills the respective mold cavity completely.
US07833455B2
A robot hand member mounted on an arm unit of an industrial robot and a method of producing the same, wherein there are successively executed a step of laminating prepreg sheets each containing a reinforcing fiber on the outer peripheral surface of a core member having a predetermined shape in cross section, a step of heating the laminated prepreg sheets to a predetermined temperature to thermally set, to form a fiber reinforced plastic, and a step of removing the core member from the fiber reinforced plastic to obtain a hollow structure.
US07833454B2
A molding method involves a first and a second sliding die, a first and a second fixed die, and a sliding film forming chamber. The first, the second sliding dies are moved in directions reverse to each other to take a primary molding position, a film forming position and a secondary molding position. The sliding film forming chamber includes a first, a second masking plate and are arranged to be remote from the first, the second fixed dies. Further, the sliding film forming chamber is slid in an up and down direction. The first, the second sliding dies are respectively formed with recess portions and cores, the first, the second fixed dies are respectively formed with cores and recess portions.
US07833453B2
Process for producing an injected article to which a flocked decoration is applied that includes the production of a flocked substrate (11) based on a temporary substrate (1) covered by a temporary adhesive (2) that keeps the flock fibers (3) in place, positioning of the flocked substrate in an injection mold of the article to be produced, injection of a polymer (12) being melted in the closed mold through an injection opening (4), removal of the injected article from the mold and the peeling off of the temporary substrate (1) and the temporary adhesive (2) from the injected article, characterized in that the flocked substrate (11) is positioned in the mold so that the flock fibers (3) are oriented toward the interior of the mold.
US07833451B2
In a mold, at least a first half includes an insert member forming a cavity surface on one end side; a body member having an insertion part into which the insert member is inserted; and an insert member fixer interposed between the insert member and the insertion part, for holding the insert member. The insert member fixer is made of a shape memory alloy, and presses and holds the insert member when the insert member fixer restores its memorized shape, to make a center axis alignment of the insert member with respect to the body member.
US07833447B2
A process is described for producing thin crimped tows from LOY, POY, or FOY filaments in a total linear density from 2 ktex to 9 ktex by filament yarns being withdrawn from creeled bobbins, folded and provided with a processing finish, then drawn or tension-uniformized and thereafter heated and stufferbox crimped. The process can be carried out in-line with numerous further processing operations. The tows are particularly useful for producing textile hygiene articles such as diapers, sanitary napkins, inserts and incontinence guards and the like.
US07833440B2
The invention relates to a high-performance dielectric oil comprising approximately 75 to 95% by volume of a naphthenic oil and approximately 5 to 25% by volume of an ester oil, in particular a synthetic ester oil and more preferably an oil of the family of polyolesters. The high-performance dielectric oil may be used in high-voltage electrical equipment such as power, measurement, distribution or traction transformers, tap changers, bushings, distributors, oil-immersed circuit breakers, power capacitors, cables, etc.
US07833439B2
A silver conductive coating possessing infrared absorbing properties is disclosed. The coating is made from a blend of one or more micron size silver powders and/or flakes together with carbon black, inorganic pigment, glass frit, and powdered selenium or bismuth metal. The foregoing dry ingredients are pasted with an organic vehicle, applied to a substrate, and fired at a temperature of up to 1400° F. The coating absorbs infrared radiation beyond the decomposition of carbon black, thus allowing higher firing temperatures and hence shorter firing times.
US07833434B2
A process is disclosed for producing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene. The process involves pyrolyzing 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane.
US07833418B1
A mechanical and biological filter system where in use water entering into a housing first contacts the mechanical filter covering access to the biological filter. As the water travels through the mechanical filter before reaching the biological filter, the water has been processed and cleaned by the mechanical filter, preventing the mechanically filtered elements from being disposed on the biological filters, to improve the reliability of the biological filter. The filtering of the water first through the mechanical filter provides for maximum use of the surface area of the biological filter for their intended purposes of fostering beneficial bacteria growth. The two stages of filtered water ultimately exits out of the housing through a housing outlet.
US07833417B2
The present invention relates to methods for improving hydrocarbon-water compatibility. More specifically, the invention relates to methods for enhancing the production of surface-active agents in hydrocarbon-exposed surface waters in order to improve hydrocarbon-water compatibility. Hydrocarbon-exposed surface waters having enhanced levels of surface-active agents can be used to improve remediation of subsurface hydrocarbon-contaminated sites.
US07833406B2
A gene detection method for detecting a gene having a specific sequence with high sensitivity is provided. The gene detection method comprises a double-stranded nucleic acid formation step of forming double-stranded nucleic acid by hybridizing a nucleic acid probe immobilized on an electrode and a gene sample; a step of adding an intercalator which comprises a compound having a double-stranded nucleic acid binding site Ia that is specifically intercalated into the double-stranded nucleic acid and is covalently bonded to the double-stranded nucleic acid by light irradiation, an electrochemical active site Fa having electrochemical activity, and a connecting site La for connecting the double-stranded nucleic acid binding site Ia and the electrochemical active site Fa, and has an substitution group comprising one of compounds represented by -Lb-Ib and -Lc-Fb or a combination of the both compounds, at each of the respective sites; a light irradiation step of covalently bonding the double-stranded nucleic acid and the intercalator; and a detection step of detecting the intercalator covalently bonded to the double-stranded nucleic acid by electrochemical measurement.
US07833405B2
A micromechanical component is described which includes a substrate; a monocrystalline layer, which is provided above the substrate and which has a membrane area; a cavity that is provided underneath the membrane area; and one or more porous areas, which are provided inside the monocrystalline layer and which have a doping that is higher than that of the surrounding layer.
US07833399B2
The present invention provides a concentration method of a fine particle dispersion containing fine particles to be electrophoretically migrated, for concentrating the fine particle dispersion by allowing the fine particle dispersion to flow in a laminar flow in a channel having a micro-width to which an electric field is applied in a direction intersecting the direction of a fine particle dispersion flow. The invention also provides a concentration apparatus of a fine particle dispersion using the concentration method.
US07833396B2
A biochip, includes: an ink-jet head portion detachably mountable to a biosensor; a sensing electrode formed with a work electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter electrode; and a thin film transistor.
US07833390B2
An electrolyzer includes a housing having a space for receiving an electrolytic solution, and a cathode plate and an anode plate disposed in the housing and disposed horizontally and arranged one above the other and spaced from each other for forming a gap between the anode plate and the cathode plate, and arranged for guiding the electrolytic solution to flow radially through the gap formed between the anode plate and the cathode plate, and the cathode plate may attract catholyte of the electrolytic solution toward the cathode plate, and the anode plate may attract anolyte of the electrolytic solution toward the anode plate for allowing the anolyte and the catholyte to be separated from each other.
US07833389B1
Durable replication tools are disclosed for replication of relief patterns in desired media, for example in optical recording or data storage media. Methods of making such durable replication tools are disclosed, including recording and developing a relief pattern on a selected surface of a support cylinder, creating a durable layer with a complementary relief replica of the pattern, separating the durable layer from the support cylinder. Apparatus are disclosed for fabricating such replication tools, including systems and apparatus for recording a desired relief pattern on a surface of a support cylinder. Also disclosed are electro deposition cells for forming a durable tool sleeve having a desired relief pattern. The replication tool relief features may have critical dimensions down to the micron and nanometer regime.
US07833373B2
Device for manufacturing a reinforcement from a thread laid directly in its final position by spraying lengths of the thread onto a receiving surface. The thread lengths are delivered from a conduit to a guide as the conduit rotates about an axis. The guide includes deflectors forming therebetween a slot having a thread inlet orifice and a thread spray (discharge) orifice spaced apart along the guide's height. The separation between the deflectors narrows toward the spray orifice, wherein the deflectors form therebetween an angle in the range of 3° and 7° when measured at any point along the height of the slot.
US07833366B1
The present invention relates generally to methods of making carbon nanotubes, and more particularly to the interaction of single wall carbon nanotubes with hydrazoic acid to introduce energetic azide groups into the nanotubes to form activated carbon nanotubes.
US07833352B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for growing thin-films onto a substrate by exposing the substrate to alternate surface reactions of vapor-phase reactants for forming a thin-film onto the, substrate by means of said surface reactions. The apparatus comprises a vacuum vessel (1), a reaction chamber (2) with a reaction space into which the substrate can be transferred and which has infeed channels (6) for feeding therein the reactants used in said thin-film growth process, as well as outlet channels (4) for discharging gaseous reaction products and excess reactants'. According to the invention, said reaction chamber comprises a base part (9, 10) mounted stationary in respect to the interior of said vacuum vessel (1) and a movable part (18) adapted to be sealably closable against said'base part of said reaction chamber. The invention makes it possible to improve the cleanliness of the substrate load chamber and to reduce the degree of substrate contamination. The apparatus is intended for use in the fabrication of thin-films by means of the ALE method for semiconductor layer structures and display units.
US07833349B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a phase shifter for laser annealing which is capable of effectively preventing the sticking of particles. A first layer and a third layer are made of quartz glass, and a two-dimensional pattern of fine grooves is formed in the surfaces of the layers. The first layer and the third layer are arranged so that a second layer is sandwiched between the layers in a state in which the surfaces provided with the grooves face each other. A peripheral edge portion of the first layer is laminated on that of the third layer by a spacer. The second layer is made of an inactive gas introduced between the first layer and the third layer.
US07833339B2
A composition comprised of asphalt and filler, wherein said filler is comprised of particles that comprise an inorganic core and a coating disposed on said core, and wherein at least about 60 weight percent of said particles are smaller than about 212 microns.
US07833336B2
The present invention provides an ink for inkjet printing, comprising an aqueous vehicle, a pigment colorant and an effective amount of 3-butoxypropylamine as a bleed control agent. The ink exhibits reduced intercolor bleed when printed, for example, on plain paper.
US07833332B2
An aqueous metal treatment composition designed to improve adhesion and corrosion resistance of the metal surface includes an organofunctional silane in combination with a fluorozirconic or fluorotitanic acid, methanesulfonic acid and nitric acid. The methanesulfonic acid acts to reduce sludge formation. Preferably, the composition also includes a fluorosilicic acid which likewise reduces sludge and improves corrosion resistance.
US07833330B2
Embodiments of the present subject matter provide a compound and material that may be used as a lead-free primary explosive. An embodiment of the present subject matter provides the compound copper(I) nitrotetrazolate. Certain embodiments of the present subject matter provide methods for preparing lead-free primary explosives. The method includes: providing cuprous salt; providing water; providing 5-nitrotetrazolate salt; combining the cuprous salt, water and 5-nitrotetrazolate salt to form a mixture; and heating the mixture. The method may also include providing cuprous chloride and providing sodium 5-nitrotetrazolate. Certain embodiments of the present subject matter also provide methods for preparing copper(I) nitrotetrazolate. The method includes: providing cuprous salt; providing water; providing 5-nitrotetrazolate salt; combining the cuprous salt, water and 5-nitrotetrazolate salt to form a mixture; and heating the mixture. The method may also include providing cuprous chloride and providing sodium 5-nitrotetrazolate.
US07833329B2
A plenum based high-pressure blowback gas delivery system is provided. The system includes a filter vessel, divided into two portions, including and inlet and outlet for fluid. The system further includes a plurality of filter elements to filter fluid flowing from the first vessel portion into the second vessel portion. In response to a pressure differential caused by accretion of particulate matter on the filter elements a uniform flow of high-pressure blowback gas is delivered to the filter elements via nozzles attached to plenums contained within the second vessel portion.
US07833314B2
Purification method and apparatus for purifying a gas stream by oxygen removal. The apparatus includes primary and secondary oxygen separation zones and tubular electrically driven oxygen separation elements. There are more elements in the primary zone than the secondary zone so that low concentrations of oxygen can be obtained in a purified stream and turbulent flow conditions can also be obtained that will permit purification to very low levels. In addition, a junction is provided to connect the tubular separation elements to metallic elements such as manifolds.
US07833312B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling a heatable dehumidifier. The heating of the dehumidifier is to be actuated only when several congruent time windows within which a temperature gradient is greater than or equal to 0 could be determined during a certain period of time, i.e. the heating is to be actuated only when no air flows into the interior of the expansion vessel of the transformer.
US07833301B2
A diffuser for a work machine having an air breathing fuel consuming internal combustion engine with an exhaust aftertreatment device periodically elevating the exhaust temperatures to a high level. The diffuser has a venturi section and the excess contaminants from an intake air pre-cleaner are directed to the throat of the venturi to aspirate and dispose of excess contaminants while cooling the exhaust flow. Additional openings in the divergent section of the diffuser assist in providing significant reductions in exhaust temperatures within a short axial envelope.
US07833299B2
A filter element having a frame defining an interior volume and having exterior surfaces. Filter media is mounted within the frame so as to allow fluid to enter an upstream side of the media and exit a downstream side of the media. At least one component of a multi-component filter frame seal, the at least one component being positioned on an outer surface of the frame and substantially circumscribing the filter frame at a location selected to align to a complementary component of the multi-component filter frame seal. The complementary component is provided separately from the filter element.
US07833295B2
Unleaded blend compositions, as well as formulated gasolines containing them have a Motor Octane Number (MON) of at least 80 comprising either: (i) component (a) at least 5% (by volume of the total composition) of at least one hydrocarbon having the following formula I R—CH2—CH(CH3)—C(CH3)2—CH3 I wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, especially triptane, or (ii) at least 2% of component (a′), which is at least one branched chain alkane of MON value of at least 90 and of boiling point 15-160° C. or a substantially aliphatic hydrocarbon refinery stream, of MON value of at least 85, at least 70% in total of said stream being branched chain alkanes, said stream being obtainable or obtained by distillation from a refinery material as a cut having Initial Boiling Point of at least 15° C. and Final Boiling Point of at most 160° C., said Boiling Points being measured according to ASTMD2892, or (iii) at least 10% of component (a″), which is at least one branched chain alkane of 8-12 carbons with at least 4 methyl or ethyl branches The components (a), (a′) and (a″) give rise to reduced emissions to the composition or gasoline on combustion.
US07833293B2
A Zener diode-capacitor combination wherein a Zener diode is mounted in the capacitor body and connected in parallel with the capacitor after the capacitor has been voltage tested. A welded strap or jumper wire completing the diode circuit or a connection of separate terminations during soldering may be used to complete the circuit.
US07833292B2
An improved method for forming a capacitor. The method includes providing a carrier with a channel therein, providing a metal foil with a valve metal with a first dielectric on a first face of the metal foil, securing the metal foil into the channel with the first dielectric away from a channel floor, inserting an insulative material between the metal foil and each side wall of the channel, forming a cathode layer on the first dielectric between the insulative material, forming a conductive layer on the cathode layer and in electrical contact with the carrier, lap cutting the carrier parallel to the metal foil such that the valve metal is exposed, and dice cutting to form singulated capacitors.
US07833286B2
A cosmesis including a thigh component and a shin component that fit over a prosthetic knee joint. The thigh component and shin component are pivotally joined along an axis of rotation coinciding with that of the prosthetic knee joint. The thigh component and shin component can include internal contours molded into their inside walls to seat the prosthetic knee joint securely therein. The knee ball region of the thigh component can be made relatively thicker to provide a protective cushion and allow the patient to kneel. Additionally, a floating knee cap can be fit over the knee ball area. The upper end of the thigh component can be made of sufficiently thin material to permit rolling onto itself.
US07833281B2
A system and method for delivering one or more implantable members, such as metal coils, via an introducer member, such as an endoscopic needle, into a space created within the submucosal layers of the LES to augment and bulk the sphincter to improve compliance in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. The implantable member comprises a first substantially straightened configuration when carried by the introducer member, whereby it assumes a more curvilinear or coiled configuration following deployment such that it expands against adjacent submucosal tissue, creating a bulge at the implantation site. In another embodiment, the implantable member can serve as an anchoring port for sutures or other elements introduced for gastroplication of the LES to create tissue folds that increase sphincter compliance. The implantable members may be configured to include an external portion that interconnects with an adjacent implantable member, thereby creating tension that also increases compliance of the LES.
US07833280B2
A device for inducing weight loss in a patient includes a tubular prosthesis self-expandable from a collapsed position in which the prosthesis has a first diameter to an expanded position in which the prosthesis has a second, larger, diameter. In a method for inducing weight loss, the prosthesis is placed in the collapsed position and inserted into a stomach of a patient. The prosthesis is allowed to self-expand from the collapsed position to the expanded position and into contact with the walls of the stomach, where it induces feelings of satiety and/or inhibits modulation of satiety-controlling factors such as Ghrelin.
US07833275B2
A method and apparatus for performing a minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty. An approximately 3.75-5 centimeter (1.5-2 inch) anterior incision is made in line with the femoral neck. The femoral neck is severed from the femoral shaft and removed through the anterior incision. The acetabulum is prepared for receiving an acetabular cup through the anterior incision, and the acetabular cup is placed into the acetabulum through the anterior incision. A posterior incision of approximately 2-3 centimeters (0.8-1.2 inches) is generally aligned with the axis of the femoral shaft and provides access to the femoral shaft. Preparation of the femoral shaft including the reaming and rasping thereof is performed through the posterior incision, and the femoral stem is inserted through the posterior incision for implantation in the femur. A variety of novel instruments including an osteotomy guide; an awl for locating a posterior incision aligned with the axis of the femoral shaft; a tubular posterior retractor; a selectively lockable rasp handle with an engagement guide; and a selectively lockable provisional neck are utilized to perform the total hip arthroplasty of the current invention.
US07833272B2
An article including a spinal prosthesis having a unitary body with at least three attachment points attachable to spinal structure, the unitary body including a flexure assembly positioned between first and second attachment members, wherein flexure of the flexure assembly permits movement of the first attachment member relative to the second attachment member.
US07833268B2
A method and apparatus for percutaneously implanting an aortic valve prosthesis includes a pump for pumping oxygenated blood from the left atrium into the descending aorta, during a period of time in which an aortic valve prosthesis is being implanted within a diseased aortic valve. First and second catheters are associated with the pump, and a third catheter has an end which is adapted for insertion into the ascending aorta, and the third catheter has an aortic valve prosthesis associated with another end of the third catheter.
US07833267B2
Described are methods and systems for modifying vascular valves in order to reduce retrograde blood flow through the valves. Preferred methods include connecting vascular valve leaflets with at least one remodelable material, such that the valve leaflets become fused by the ingrowth of the patient's native tissue. Preferred remodelable materials include collagenous extracellular matrix material, such as small intestine submucosa.
US07833263B2
An implantable vascular graft includes an outer tube structure formed of a textile material, and an inner tube structure formed of a non-textile material. The inner tube structure is within the outer tube structure in coaxial relation therewith. One or both of the outer and inner tube structures have deformable reinforced portions incorporated therein. The deformable reinforced portions provide for conformance of the associated one or both of the outer and inner tube structures to a vessel of a patient. An implantable laminate prosthesis includes a first layer structure formed of textile material, and a second layer structure formed of non-textile material. The first and second layer structures are secured together in laminating relation. The first or second layer structure has a reinforced portion.
US07833262B2
A vascular device comprising a plurality of vessel engaging members and a valve. The device is movable from a collapsed insertion position having a first diameter to a second expanded position having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The plurality of vessel engaging members extend outwardly from the device for securely engaging the internal wall of a vessel upon expansion of the device to the second expanded position, wherein the vessel engaging members pull the internal wall of the vessel radially inwardly upon movement of the device from the second expanded position toward a first expanded position having a third diameter greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter. In the first expanded position the valve is movable between an open position to allow blood flow therethrough to a closed position to prevent blood flow.
US07833260B2
In embodiments there is described a cardiovascular tube-shaped lockable and expandable bioabsorbable scaffold having a low immunogenicity manufactured from a crystallizable bioabsorbable polymer composition or blend.
US07833256B2
A stabilization device for bones or vertebrae includes a substantially cylindrical elastic element. The elastic element has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. An elastic section extends between the first end and the second end. The elastic section includes at least first and second helical coils. The first and second helical coils are arranged coaxially so that the first helical coil extends at least in a portion between the second helical coil. The elastic element may form, for example, a portion of a rod, bone anchoring element, or plate.
US07833249B2
An implantable inflatable orthopedic device is provided. The device comprises a flexible wall, defining an interior cavity, a reinforcing element exposed to the cavity, an inflation pathway in communication with the cavity, and a valve, for closing the pathway. A delivery catheter is also provided for removably carrying the orthopedic device to the treatment site.
US07833246B2
A minimally invasive implant for the lumbosacral region of the spine. One embodiment includes an implant with a brace movably attached to a base. The brace includes a spacer and a beam. The base may be adapted to be mounted onto a S1 vertebra. The brace may be selectively positioned on the base with the spacer extending outward to contact a second vertebra.
US07833245B2
An implant unit used in surgery has a body made from osteogenic implantable material and including an implant portion and a retaining portion, which is coupled to and extends transversely to the implant portion. The retaining portion is attached to the sidewall of the adjoining vertebral body or mammal bone to prevent displacement of the implant portion relative to the vertebral body or mammal bone and to accelerate fusion therebetween.
US07833238B2
An endoscopic fastening assembly having a diameter sufficiently small so that the fastening assembly is slidably insertable into a working channel of a flexible or rigid endoscope for performing a fastening operation, comprises one or more surgical anchors within an elongated tubular member configured for delivery and deployment of said anchors. One or more anchors being disposed in a substantially closed pre-deployment configuration inside the tubular body are configured for being delivered and deployed into a target tissue while remaining in a substantially closed configuration, and assuming its open anchoring properties only once embedded in tissue.
US07833231B2
Devices and methods provide accurate targeting, placement, and/or stabilization of an electrode or other instrument(s) into the brain or other body organ, such as to treat severe tremor or other neurological disorders. Targeting is performed using any form of image-guidance, including real-time MRI, CT, or frameless surgical navigation systems.
US07833226B2
A bone fixation device is provided that includes one or more plates and one or more screws having an arcuate outer surface. One or more fastener-receiving apertures with frustoconical inner surface extend through the plate. The bone fixation device may also include one or more locking arrangements that are configured to secure on or more screws in one or more fastener-receiving apertures.
US07833223B2
Disclosed herein are devices and methods for forming multidirectional cuts in tissue. The tissue cutting devices disclosed herein generally include a flexible elongate member with at least first, second, and third wires that are at least partially constrained within or along a portion of the member. A distal portion of the wires is anchored on or within a portion of the elongate member. When tension is applied to at least one of the wires, such as by an actuator at a proximal end of the device, the elongate member bows while an unconstrained portion of the wire becomes exposed relative to the adjacent portion of the elongate member, assuming a tissue-cutting configuration.
US07833220B2
A method and apparatus (100) of treating tissue adjacent a bodily conduit using thermotherapy, while preventing obstructions of the bodily conduit due to edema, includes injection of a drug-encapsulated within a heat-sensitive carrier, such as a liposome, within a region of tissue to be treated. The heat produced by the energy-emitting source (110) heats a portion of the tissue surrounding the bodily conduit to a temperature of approximately 43° C. for a time sufficient to destroy the heated portion of the tissue. In addition, the heat produced by the energy-emitting source (110) activates the heat-sensitive carrier to activate the release of the encapsulated drug and the drug targets the tissue to be heated. The focused energy of the energy-emitting source together with the compression acting on the target area can assist in delivering drugs to the target area so that a natural stent has a long term efficacy.
US07833213B2
Disclosed is a patient monitoring and drug delivery system and associated methods for use during diagnostic, surgical or other medical procedures. The functionality of the invention enables many time consuming and laborious activities to be minimized or moved to a part in the procedure where time is not as critical. The invention is capable of increasing practice efficiency in patient care facilities through system architecture and design into two separate units. A patient unit receives input signals from patient monitoring connections and outputs the signals to a procedure unit. The procedure unit is operational during the medical procedure and controls the delivery of drugs to the patient.
US07833211B2
A stretch laminate includes a first layer including an elastomer film, the first layer having a surface, and a second layer including a nonwoven material, the second layer having a surface that is attached to the surface of the first layer. The tensile behavior in the transverse direction of the stretch laminate is within about 2.5 N/cm of the tensile behavior in the transverse direction of the film at an engineering strain of about 1.5, and exists independent of mechanical activation. A method of making the stretch laminate and an absorbent article having at least one region defined by the stretch laminate are also provided.
US07833209B2
An elongated absorbent article including: an absorbent article body having at least: (a) a top sheet part which is at least partially liquid permeable and arranged on a first side in a thickness direction of the absorbent article; and (b) a liquid retainable absorber part arranged on a second side in the thickness direction of the absorbent article body; a cover member arranged on the second side in the thickness direction of the absorbent article body; an extensible belt-shaped member disposed between the absorbent article body and the cover member, a first end portion of the belt-shaped member being connected to the absorbent article body; an engaging part arranged at a second end portion of the belt-shaped member on a surface thereof on which the cover member is disposed; a peelable sheet arranged along a surface of the engaging part; and a fixing part for connecting and fixing the peelable sheet to the cover member; the fixing part being formed so that an end portion thereof in a direction of elongation of the belt-shaped member is arranged at either one of a position corresponding to an end portion of the engaging part in the direction of elongation, and a position more towards the direction of elongation. This improves the adhesion between the wearer's excretory part and the absorbent article, thereby preventing the leakage of excrement such as menstrual blood.
US07833207B2
A pants-type wearing article includes front and rear waist regions connected to each other by a fastener member in a detachable and refastenable manner. Each of the fastener member includes a sheet-like supporting element adapted to be folded in a Z-shape or an inverted Z-shape as the front and rear waist regions are put flat together and a fastener element. The supporting element has a top section, a bottom section and an intermediate section connecting the top and bottom sections. Between opposed surfaces of the bottom section and the intermediate section, a sheet-like liner section is provided so as to extend from a bottom section's openable end of the bottom section along these opposed surfaces toward a top section's joint end.
US07833206B1
A known disposable per use surgical primary cassette is modified to avoid contamination thereof during use by aspirated fluid from a vitreous cutter connected thereto by bypassing the aspirated fluid into a receiving chamber of a relatively less expensive disposable secondary cassette, whereby during use a vacuum produced in a chamber of the primary cassette connected to the receiving chamber of the secondary cassette in turn produces a vacuum in the receiving chamber of the latter for drawing aspirated fluid from the vitreous cutter directly into the receiving chamber.
US07833205B2
According to the present invention, there is provided a method of treating meibomian gland dysfunction in a mammal wherein an occlusion blocks at least a portion of the flow of naturally occurring secretion out of a gland channel orifice. The invention comprises selecting a device capable of delivering a jet of heated medium. The device is positioned such that when the jet is it is applied to the exterior surface of the eyelid, proximate to the gland channel orifice, a jet of heated medium is applied to the exterior surface of the eyelid proximate to the gland channel orifice at a pressure of from about 2 psi to about 30 psi. Application of the jet of heated medium is maintained for sufficient time to loosen, break up, fracture, soften or liquefy at least a portion of the occlusion such that at least a portion of the occlusion is removed. In an exemplary embodiment, the medium is water heated to a temperature of between about 42° C. and about 46° C. Depending on the particular type and composition of the obstruction, the fluid jet operates to melt or soften the obstruction and to milkingly move the corpus of the softened obstruction up the gland channel from the end opposite the meibomian gland orifice and out of the gland orifice. Repeated application of the heated fluid jet may also be necessary to soften and/or express the obstruction.
US07833198B2
A safety needle assembly has a needle hub and a needle cannula projecting from the hub. Wings project transversely from the hub to facilitate manipulation and positioning of the needle assembly. A shield is hingedly attached to the needle hub and can be rotated from a first position where the needle cannula is exposed to a second position where the needle cannula is shielded. At least one latch may be disposed on the shield for secure locked engagement with the hub, the wings and/or the tubing extending from the hub. A spring may also be provided for propelling the shield into the second position.
US07833195B2
A compact fluid dispenser for use in controllably dispensing fluid medicaments, such as antibiotics, blood clotting agents, analgesics, and like medicinal agents from collapsible containers at a uniform rate. The dispenser includes a novel stored energy source that is provided in the form of a compressible-expandable member that functions to continuously and uniformly expel fluid from the apparatus reservoir. The apparatus further includes a novel fluid flow control assembly that precisely controls the flow of the medicament solutions from the apparatus reservoir to the patient.
US07833192B2
A drug dispensing system is provided that may be used universally and in which medical substances can be mixed with a carrier solution (13) in a simple manner. The device and system have a dispensing module (6) for medical substances and a hydrophilic nonwoven (14) with a carrier solution (13). The emission area of substance discharge openings (21, 22, 23, 24) of the dispensing module (6) are directed toward the nonwoven (14).
US07833191B2
Controllable catheter (10) having an elongated shaft (13) which is subdivided into multiple shaft segments, at least two of which are designed as tilt segments (12) and are each connected to at least one adjustment device, so that they can be tilted about a desired tilt angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft (13), wherein each of the at least one adjustment device is individually controllable and allows individual tilting of a corresponding tilt segment about a desired tilt angle.
US07833170B2
This invention relates to a lancing apparatus (A1) used for inserting an insertion element (21) into a human skin (Sk) for sampling a body fluid. The lancing apparatus (A1) includes a housing (1) with a cylindrical portion (12) brought into contact with the skin (Sk), a negative pressure generator (6) that generates a negative pressure inside the cylindrical portion (12) to cause the skin (Sk) to swell upward, and a detector (5) that detects that the skin (Sk) has been raised to a predetermined height inside the cylindrical portion (12).
US07833165B2
A system and method for evaluating neural shunt functionality is provided. Accordingly, in one aspect a method for monitoring neural shunt functionality may include measuring a first intracranial pressure pulse inside the shunt, measuring a second intracranial pressure pulse outside the shunt, and comparing pulsatile characteristics from the first measurement to the second measurement in order to determine shunt functionality.
US07833159B2
The present invention relates to an image processing system for enhancing the image quality of an ultrasound image. The image processing system may include: an image data forming unit for forming image data based on image signals acquired from a target object; a log-compression unit for log-compressing the image data to provide a log-compressed image; a TGC processor for analyzing a vertical profile of pixel intensities in the log-compressed image and automatically setting a TGC (time gain compensation) parameter based on the analysis result; a gain processor for calculating mean brightness of pixels included in the log-compressed image applying the set TGC parameter and comparing the calculated mean brightness with predetermined brightness, thereby automatically setting a gain parameter based on a comparison result; a DR processor for automatically setting a DR (dynamic range) parameter by using edge contrast and background roughness of the log-compressed image applying the set TGC and gain parameters; and an image forming unit for applying the TGC, gain and DR parameters to the image data.
US07833155B2
An endoscopic flow-passage confluent structure that connects a gas-feed tube and a liquid-feed tube provided in an endoscope to a confluent tube communicating with an ejection nozzle arranged at a tip of an insertion portion of the endoscope and for ejecting a cleaning fluid toward a viewing window of the endoscope, the structure comprising: (i) a passage connection member having one end opened with two upstream-passage receiving bores in which the gas-feed and liquid-feed tubes are respectively inserted and fixed, other end opened with one downstream-passage receiving bore, and an intermediate region that communicates the upstream-passage receiving bores with downstream-passage receiving bore and comprises a passage confluent space having a diameter increasing in a taper-form in a direction of from the downstream-passage receiving bore toward the upstream-passage receiving bores; and (ii) a coupler pipe having one end connected to the downstream-passage receiving bore and other end connected with a base of the confluent tube.
US07833152B2
An apparatus and technique for compensating the display of an image obtained from a video camera system associated with an endoscope as it is moved through various orientations are described. The received optical image is converted to an electrical signal with an image sensor that can be a CCD or a CMOS detector. The endoscope video camera system has an inertial sensor to sense rotations of the received image about the optical axis of the endoscope and the sensor's output signals are used to rotate either the image or the image sensor. In case of rotation of the image sensor the rotation sensor can be a gyroscope or a pair of accelerometers. In case of a rotation of the image obtained with the image sensor the inertial sensor, which can be an accelerometer or a gyroscope, the image is rotated within a microprocessor for subsequent viewing on a video display.
US07833139B1
A pulley assembly for removably fastening an arm cord to an exercise apparatus is disclosed. The pulley assembly includes a yoke having a central portion and a pair of parallel leg portions, the central portion having a bore therethrough, a pulley wheel rotatably supported between the yoke leg portions by an axle, and an elongated stem having an axially extending shaft portion protruding through the bore. The shaft portion has distal end portion having an L shaped slot formed therethrough. The L shaped slot forms a hook shaped end to the shaft portion. A tapered coil spring over the shaft portion of the stem, has a small end and a large diameter around the shaft portion of the stem. The spring biases the hooked end away from an eyebolt on the exercise apparatus to keep the pulley assembly engaged with the eye bolt and hence fastened to the exercise apparatus.
US07833134B2
An exercise device upon which a user generally standing upright supported by foot platforms suspended from a frame via linkages in which the linkage lengths and pivot points correspond generally to the users upper and lower legs and hip and knee joints. This device not only allows natural free and spontaneous leg movement, able to simulate such exercises as walking, jogging, running, stepping, skiing or gliding, bicycling, climbing, reverse action and various isolated leg exercises, where the exercises can be performed at random generally without the need to reconfigure the device. This device preferably includes an isolation system capable of simulating natural forces throughout the entire range of movement in the horizontal and/or vertical plane. A safety/suspension system can be provided, alone or in combination with the isolation system, to resist sudden foot movement in the same direction, yet allows a slow and controlled tilting of the linkages whereby the user may simulate uphill and downhill travel.
US07833125B2
A hybrid powertrain includes a combustion engine operable to output rotational power thereat, an electric machine arrangement operable to output rotational power thereat, a gearbox arrangement for receiving rotational power from at least one of the combustion engine and the electric machine arrangement and being operable to couple motive power to a load coupled to the gearbox arrangement. The gearbox arrangement is operable to provide a plurality of gearing ratios. The electric machine arrangement is employable to extend a rotation rate range provided in a given gearing ratio: at higher rotation rates prior to a gear change from said given gearing ratio to a gearing ratio subsequent thereto; or at both lower rotation rates when accelerating from a standstill or from a preceding gear, and at higher rotation rates prior to a gear change from said given gearing ratio to a gearing ratio subsequent thereto.
US07833124B2
A power train of an automatic transmission includes an input shaft connected to a torque converter; an output gear; a transmission case; a first planetary gear set including a first operating member fixedly connected to the input shaft, a second operating member fixedly connected to the transmission case, and a third operating member; a second planetary gear set including a fourth operating member selectively connected to the third operating member, a fifth operating member selectively connected to the input shaft, second or third operating members, a sixth operating member selectively connected to the input shaft or transmission case, a seventh operating member selectively connected to the transmission case, and an eighth operating member acting as an output element, wherein the second planetary gear set outputs ten forward speeds and two reverse speeds; and a plurality of friction members selectively connecting the operating members, input shaft, or transmission case.
US07833122B2
A transmission is disclosed having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include five clutches and one brake arranged within a transmission housing.
US07833121B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes arranged within a transmission housing.
US07833115B2
A toy with a springable cord and an object at the other end of the cord, which object can be a ball of many kinds, or a device covering a ball. The ball may include electronics therein that are actuated when the ball is hit against a surface.
US07833112B2
The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover. The multi-layer core consists of a center and an outer core layer that are both soft relative to a hard intermediate core layer. The outer core layer is preferably thin relative to the center and the outer core layer. The multi-layer core includes at least one layer formed from a low modulus HNP composition and at least one layer formed from a high modulus HNP composition.
US07833108B2
The invention concerns a training head (20) for a golf training putter (14) and a method of using this training putter (14) to improve ones putting skill for side-swing type putting motion. The training head (20) may include two opposed hitting faces (28, 30), with each hitting face (28, 30) defining a portion of a cylinder about a vertical axis. This cylindrical surface is oriented so the face (28, 30) will strike a golf ball (24) perpendicular to the direction one desires the ball (24) to travel if hit at the central location of this surface (28, 30), but will deflect the ball (24) in a different direction if a location other than the central location of the face (28, 30) strikes the ball (24). This training putter (14) may have symmetrical hitting faces (28, 30) so that left-handed and right-handed golfers can use it.
US07833106B2
The invention is directed toward an electro-mechanical simulated aquarium. It includes a novel combination of a planetary gear train driving two endless loops of transparent material in counter-rotating directions. Depictions of marine life are applied to the loops and the entire arrangement is housed in an aquarium-like enclosure in order to maximize its realism.
US07833100B2
A video game device displays a reference image (an image of a fishing rod 54) at a predetermined position on the screen of a display device. The video game device displays a pointer image (a cursor 55) at a position on the screen being pointed at by a control device. The pointer image is erased when the pointer image reaches within a predetermined area defined based on the position of the reference image. The video game device controls the controlled object to act according to a position of a marker object in a captured image based on control data, after the pointer image reaches inside the predetermined area defined based on the position of the reference image.
US07833099B2
Operation information which is output, depending on a motion of an input device is successively obtained, and based on the operation information, a direction and movement velocity of the input device is determined. Next, it is determined whether or not the movement velocity is larger than or equal to a first threshold value. When the movement velocity is larger than or equal to the first threshold value, a path along which an object is moved in a virtual world is determined based on predetermined information about the movement path. When the movement velocity is smaller than the first threshold value, a path in which the object is moved in the virtual world is determined based on the determined movement velocity. Based on the determined movement path, it is displayed how the object is moved through positions in the virtual world.
US07833097B1
A game pad controller for connection to a portable phone has an outer casing and a game control unit within the casing. The front of the casing has a seat for locating the portable phone and at least one keypad adjacent the seat for user engagement to control a game. The seat has a channel for slidably receiving an adapter, which is either attached to the rear face of the phone or to a holder for the phone. A releasable latching mechanism at the inner end of the channel releasably secures the adapter in the channel. The adapter may be a dimpled hub device. The arrangement allows the game pad controller to be used with any type of portable phone.
US07833095B2
A gaming device having a bonus game with an adjacent selection feature. In one embodiment of the present invention, the gaming device provides a plurality of adjacent player selectable selections. An award is associated with each player selectable selection. The award associated with each selectable selection is not initially displayed or revealed to the player. The player selectable selections are arranged or grouped into a plurality of associated or related selection sets. In one embodiment, each selection set has a different number of player selectable selections. In one embodiment, the related plurality of selection sets are arranged adjacent to each other to enable each player selectable selection in one set to be adjacent to at least one player selectable selection from another selection set. The player's pick in each selection set limits the available selections in the subsequent selection sets.
US07833087B2
Methods and systems for marring fiber optic substrates may include rollers with abrasive surfaces that press lengths of the substrates against elongated supports, which may be tapered, during relative lengthwise movement between the rollers and supports; abrasive sheets that are vibrated against the substrates; abrasive flap wheels that are rotated to cause flexible abrasive flaps on the wheels to strike the substrates; rotating blades that cut a transverse marring pattern in the substrates; hammers having abrasive surfaces that are oscillated to strike the substrates; and water jet abrasive slurries that are directed at the substrates.
US07833082B2
A brassiere has two cups of fabric connected to each other and two side bands, which extend from the cups and are suitable for connecting to each other. Reinforcing portion has at least one layer of chemical material suitable for being applied along at least an edge portion of the cups and for forming an integral part of the fabric. The material has a polyurethane mix or a silicone mix. The layer is applied at least along a side portion of the edge of each cup which faces towards the respective band and extends with no break in continuity at least as far as the point of connection to a shoulder strap, wrapping around the respective cup at the side. Moreover, the layer is applied at least along a lower portion of the edge of each cup, wrapping around the respective cup at the bottom and at the side.
US07833078B2
Construction kit with two- and/or three-dimensional construction elements (1, 9) with magnetic elements (4) in the corners and/or sides and ferromagnetic spheres (11), which can be placed between the magnetic elements (4) of adjacent construction elements (1, 9) to connect the construction elements (1, 9) together using a magnetic bond so that they can be detached.
US07833077B1
Interlocking plastic blocks, trademarked as PIXELBLOCKS, are configured to serve as basic pixels, i.e. picture elements, in the creation of a variety of two- and three-dimensional graphic artifacts. The pixel blocks can be made in various equilateral polygonal cross-sectional shapes of designated length, typically embodied in an equilateral cube shape. All side facets in the outline of cross-sectional shape, e.g. four facets of the cube, are made identical, each facet configured with a tongue alongside a groove in a symmetrical complementary configuration such that adjacent blocks can be interlocked together to form one- and two-dimensional arrays; thus pixel blocks of uniform depth front-to-back can form two-dimensional artifacts. A 3D embodiment includes posts and post holes for Z axis attachment to form multi-layer three-dimensional artifacts. By utilizing the blocks in a variety of visual properties such as color and light transmission, quantities of pixel blocks may be interlocked together to form pictures, graphics patterns, beams and other artifacts, optionally enhanced by electric lighting effects for which the pixel blocks may be specially configured.
US07833068B2
A receptacle connector includes a housing having a front, a rear, and a cavity configured to receive a mating connector through a slot at the front of the housing. A plurality of contacts are loaded into the cavity of the housing through the rear of the housing, and the contacts have channel portions aligned with one another. A retention plug is separately provided from the housing and securely coupled to the rear of the housing. The retention plug is received within the channel portions of the contacts and engages the contacts to hold the contacts within the cavity.
US07833062B2
A connector includes an insulating housing and at least one inserting pin. The insulating housing includes at least one groove and at least one plug receiving hole. The inserting pin penetrates through the groove, and is secured by a sidewall of the groove. The inserting pin includes a resilient leg for being electrically connected to a plug received in the insulating housing.
US07833058B2
A micro plug connector has an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals, a pair of positioning hooks and a metal shell. The insulative housing has a base and a tongue protruding from the base. The terminals and positioning hooks are mounted through the base into the tongue. The metal shell covers the insulative housing and has a front cover and a rear cover. The front cover is mounted around the tongue and has a connecting plate protruding from the front cover and partially covering the bottom of the base. The rear cover formed on the front cover and covers the base and the connecting plate of the front cover. The front and rear covers double cover the insulative housing to strengthen the structures of the micro plug connector and prevent inadvertent disassembly or failure of the micro plug connector.
US07833056B1
An USB application device includes a housing having a received room therein and a front opening connected to the received room, a PCB having opposite a rear end portion completely received in the receiving room and a front end portion completely extended outside the housing from the front opening and opposite a top surface and a bottom surface, contacts disposed on the top surface of the front end portion of the PCB and exposed outside of the housing, a shell engaged with the housing and completely covers the front end portion of the PCB and the contacts, and a protection element received in the shell and covering the bottom surface of the front end portion of the PCB. The contacts are exposed outside the protection element. The shell is made of metal material for improving ESD protection in order to comply with the USB standard specification.
US07833054B2
An insulative housing 21 holding a conductive contact 11 is provided with a receiving portion 26 for receiving an electric wire 51. The contact is provided with a connecting portion 13 disposed in the receiving portion. When the electric wire is received in the receiving portion, the electric wire is electrically connected to the connecting portion of the contact.
US07833048B2
An electrical connector assembly comprises an insulative housing defining a receiving cavity extending inwardly from a mating face thereof and a plurality of terminal receiving passages disposed in the insulative housing and in communication with the receiving cavity. A plurality of terminals are received into the corresponding terminal receiving passages. A FFC module defines a pair of FFCs with a pair of first mating portions at one end thereof and an insulative insert having a lower half section disposed between the pair of first mating portions. The FFC module has an inserting portion received into the receiving cavity of the insulative housing.
US07833046B2
An electrical connector to be connected to a flat conductive member includes a housing including an upper wall and a lower wall; a terminal including a contact portion for contacting with the flat conductive member; and an engaging protrusion for engaging the flat conductive member. The housing further includes a receptacle portion between the upper wall and the lower wall for receiving the flat conductive member. The upper wall includes a cut portion. The engaging protrusion is situated under the cut portion, so that an edge portion of the flat conductive member moves over the engaging protrusion and deforms into the cut portion when the flat conductive member is inserted into the receptacle portion.
US07833042B2
Provided is a connector for connecting an electronic component, which reduces noise radiation when the electronic component is connected to a substrate through the connector and driven. In a connector (100), a connector main body (130) stores a module (210) inside an opening section (110), and the connector main body is mounted on the substrate by being electrically connected to the stored module (210). The connector main body (130) is provided with a contact lead section (120b) which is lead out to the side of the connector main body (130) to be bonded to a conductor on the substrate. A cover member (160) which opens and closes by turning with a shaft section (161) at the center is pivotally supported on the connector main body (130), and the opening section (110) is covered with the cover member (160) from above. The cover member (160) is provided with a conductive skirt section (170) for covering the contact lead section (120b) from above in a closed state.
US07833032B1
An audio connector has a base having a center socket. A top of the base has a receiving groove at a side of the socket, and a fixing slot. The receiving groove has a first opening for intercommunicating with the socket. The fixing slot intercommunicates with the receiving groove through a second opening. A resilient switch contact has a resilient arm accommodated in the receiving groove. A free end of the resilient arm is bent to form an arch-like resting end with a slot extending from the beginning to a substantial middle thereof. A connecting piece corresponding to the slot and in alignment with the resilient arm is accordingly formed. A stationary switch contact has a resting arm extending into the receiving groove through the second opening, with a distal end facing the connecting piece for connecting with the connecting piece when the resting end is pressed.
US07833030B1
The present invention provides a safety shield that can be fitted in an electrical receptacle, such as an outlet or a ground fault circuit interrupter, to cover the plug blade slots on the electrical receptacle. The safety shield comprises a base box containing a left sliding block, a right sliding block, small sliding block, and elastic components. If the plug blades are not inserted into the plug blade slots, the safety shield covers the plug blade slots to prevent unwanted objects from getting in touch with the electrical contacts within the plug blade slots causing electrical shock or damage to humans. If the plug blades are inserted into the plug blade slots, the elastic components within the base box are compressed to move the left sliding block outward to the left and the right sliding block outwards to the right so as to open the plug blade slots.
US07833024B2
A board-to-board connector for mating with another connector has a housing and a plurality of terminals. The terminals and housing interact at a reference surface to accurately locate the terminals relative to the housing. The housing includes an elongated recess that extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing and has a plurality of terminal receiving cavities spaced therealong. Each cavity includes a terminal retention wall with a reference surface on one side thereof and a terminal alignment opening extending from the cavity. Each terminals is disposed in a terminal receiving cavity. Each terminal includes a U-shaped retention portion, an L-shaped resilient contact portion extending from the U-shaped retention portion and has a contact projection thereon. A tail portion for interconnection to a circuit member is also provided. The U-shaped retention portion includes first and second spaced apart legs and a connecting portion therebetween with the U-shaped retention portion dimensioned to securely receive the terminal retention wall of the housing between the spaced apart legs. The first leg is positioned along and engages the reference surface in order to accurately position the terminal within the terminal receiving cavity, and a terminal alignment projection extends from the U-shaped retention portion and projects into the terminal alignment opening to further position and secure the terminal within the cavity.
US07833022B2
An LGA socket includes an insulative housing and a plurality of electrical contacts secured on the insulative housing. The insulative housing defines a top face and a bottom face opposite to each other. The insulative housing has a number of alignment posts at corners and the alignment posts together form a receiving space. The alignment post is provided with two crash ribs for positioning an integral module received in the receiving space.
US07833018B2
An interface device and method for interfacing instruments to a medical procedure simulation system serve to interface peripherals in the form of mock medical instruments to the medical procedure simulation system computer to enable simulation of medical procedures. The interface device includes a housing having a mock bodily region of interest to facilitate insertion of a mock instrument, such as an endoscope tube, into the interface device. The mock bodily region of interest may be pivotable to simulate various patient orientations. The instrument is engaged by a capture mechanism in order to measure rotational and translational motion of the instrument. An actuator is disposed within the interface device to provide force feedback to the instrument. The measured motion is provided to the computer system to reflect instrument motion on the display during the simulation. Alternatively, the interface device may be configured to accommodate instrument assemblies having a plurality of nested instruments (e.g., sheath, catheter and wire), whereby the interface device individually grasps, measures manipulation of and provides force feedback to the nested instruments. In addition, the interface device may be configured to simultaneously accommodate a plurality of independently inserted instruments.
US07833016B2
In various embodiments of a method for filling root canal spaces, the root canal spaces are cleaned and irrigated, for example, by any suitable endodontic procedure, and the irrigating liquid is not removed from the canal spaces prior to filling. In some embodiments, a hydrophobic filler material is introduced into the root canal spaces while they are filled with liquid. As the canal spaces are filled, the hydrophobic filler material displaces the liquid and drives it out of the canal spaces, towards the crown of the tooth, where it can be removed. The hydrophobic filler material may comprise magnetically responsive particles having a hydrophobic surface coating that are compacted into the root canal spaces by application of a magnetic force field. In other embodiments, hydrophilic filler material in a flowable phase is introduced into the canal spaces where it partly displaces and partly absorbs the irrigating liquid before solidifying.
US07833014B2
A prophy device incorporating a shaft and one or more corrugated members which eliminate the need for plastic gears of the prior art is disclosed. The corrugated members effectively transfer rotational energy from a shaft to an applicator. In another version, a flexible paste chamber contains polish within a housing of the device. A difference between a rotational speed at a front of the paste chamber and rear of the paste chamber causes the flexible chamber to contract on itself thereby automatically forcing polish from the chamber and into a polish applicator. A user dictates the amount of polish dispensed by controlling the rotational speed at the front of the paste chamber by pressing the polish applicator against the teeth of a patient. As the speed differential increases, the amount of polish dispensed increases as well.
US07833012B2
The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for calcining solids or sludges in a multiple-deck furnace having a firing region, which has at least one upper heated hearth and at least one lower heated hearth, and having a cooling region, which is provided with one or more unheated hearths, material to be calcined passing first into the firing region and then into the cooling region. A portion of the material to be calcined is delivered to the at least one lower heated hearth and/or to the cooling region, bypassing the at least one upper heated hearth of the firing region.
US07833011B2
A method of igniting and monitoring a high speed burner with which a fuel/oxygen-mixture exits at high velocity from a burner head, wherein the length of the flame is governed by the exit velocity of the mixture. The invention is characterized by placing an electrically conductive pipe in and concentrical with the burner channel for the fuel mixture, by causing a first end of the pipe to terminate close to the fuel mixture outlet of the burner head, by electrically isolating the pipe and by causing the detection of light of the group ultraviolet light, visible light and/or infrared light to be detected at the other end of the pipe, and by causing a spark to be generated between the first end of the pipe and the surrounding burner head by application of a voltage, in igniting the burner. A burner is also disclosed.
US07833008B2
An injection molding machine includes a clamping unit constructed for support of at least two molding tools to provide at least two different cavities. A first plasticizing unit is provided for charging one of the cavities in one of the molding tools, and a second plasticizing unit is provided for charging the other one of the cavities in the other one of the molding tools. The second plasticizing unit is hereby attached to a mounting in a substantially vertical orientation. The mounting may be mounted on one of the platens of the injection molding machine or on a frame which extends above the clamping unit.
US07833007B2
A hot runner (10) is provided including a canal (11) and a heat-shrinkable tube (12) covering on the canal (11). The heat-shrinkable tube (12) can shrink along the canal (12)'s contour when heated. The present invention further provides a mold (20) using the hot runner.
US07833005B2
A closed loop system for separating materials of differing melting points includes an ultrasonic bath including a solution configured to supply thermal energy and cavitation to the materials of differing melting points, a solution reservoir configured to adjust levels of the solution in the ultrasonic bath, and a filter configured to remove particles of one of the materials of differing melting points from the solution.
US07833001B2
A printing system for creating a three-dimensional object. The printing system includes a plurality of printheads including a first printhead configured to print a first material and a second printhead configured to print a second material. The system includes one or more curing mechanisms for curing the printed materials. The system includes at least one object incorporation device configured to incorporate a non-printed object into the three-dimensional object when partially complete. At least one printhead is configured to print one or more electrical connections to the incorporated object.
US07832997B2
A variable capacity gerotor pump includes an inner rotor that is axially displaceable with respect to the outer rotor to vary the volumetric capacity of the pump. An active piston abuts the lower surface of the inner rotor and can ride inside the outer rotor, as the inner rotor is axially displaced, to provide the necessary scaling of the lower surface of the inner rotor with respect to the outer rotor. A passive piston, against which a return spring acts, abuts the upper surface of the inner rotor to provide the necessary sealing of the upper surface of the inner rotor with respect to the outer rotor. In an embodiment, a control chamber, supplied with pressurized working fluid, generates a force acting against the force of the return spring to move the inner rotor to reduce the volumetric capacity of the pump. In another embodiment, a control mechanism, such as an electric solenoid or mechanical mechanism, acts on the control piston against the force of the return spring.
US07832991B2
An air compressor assembly includes a compressor configured to provide a source of compressed air and a manifold assembly removably coupled to the compressor and configured to distribute the compressed air to one or more pneumatic tools. The manifold assembly is configured to be coupled to the compressor via an air conduit when the manifold assembly is detached from the compressor so that the manifold assembly is operable at a location remote from the compressor.
US07832987B2
A method of handling a wind turbine blade during storage, transport or mounting of the blade is presented. The method comprises the steps of: establishing at least one mounting hole penetrating the surface of the blade, mounting one or more handling means including mounting means in said at least one hole, and handling the wind turbine by at least said handling means on the wind turbine blade. A handling system and handling means for handling a wind turbine blade as well as a wind turbine blade and use hereof are also disclosed.
US07832984B2
A housing for a blower, fan or pump or turbine, the housing adapted to be associated with a rotor adapted in use to cooperate with fluid flowing through the housing wherein the housing comprises a shroud for guiding the fluid moving in association with the rotor, the rotor having at least one vane adapted to cooperate with the fluid to drive or to be driven by the fluid, wherein the shroud is configured to promote vortical flow of the fluid through the housing.
US07832981B2
A support system for a cooling fan for a heat exchanger. A suspension system supports an inner hub inside an outer support structure. The inner hub or ring supports the fan and motor. The suspension system includes an array of spiral support arms, extending from the inner hub to the outer supports. These arms have both spanwise and chordwise camber. The particular suspension system increases natural frequencies of the support system, over that wherein purely radial arms connect the inner hub and outer supports.
US07832975B1
A ramp system for a delivery vehicle for bridging a cargo bed of the vehicle and a ground surface. A series of ramps of the system are easily moved between a use orientation and a stowed orientation with the assistance of torsion springs of the system. The ramps are moveable for placement at various locations across the width of the vehicle and the selected location for use is locked so as to prevent widthwise movement of the ramps during use. No cargo area is used for stowing the ramps when not in use.
US07832974B2
A pipe-handling apparatus for moving a pipe to and from a drilling floor of a drilling rig includes a main support structure, a ramp extendable between the main support structure and the drilling floor, a pipe carrier mounted on the main support structure for moving relative thereto between a lower position and an elevated position over the ramp, the carrier including a ramp end adjacent the ramp, an far end, and an elongate indentation on its upper surface to accommodate a pipe therein, a lift arm including a first end and a second end, the lift arm being pivotally connected at its first end adjacent the far end of the carrier and operable below the carrier to lift and support the carrier's far end to an elevated position, a track on the main support structure for supporting axial sliding motion of the carrier and the lift arm therealong, the track including a stop for limiting axial movement of the second end of the lift arm along the track toward the ramp, and a drive system for pulling the carrier from the lower position to ride along the ramp to an elevated position, the drive system capable of pulling the lift arm along the track until it is stopped against the stop in track and to continue pulling to cause the lift arm to be pivoted up about the stop to lift the far end of the carrier.
US07832972B2
A fastener system provides an internal pocket within a CMC component into which a fastener is inserted through an internal pocket opening and loaded to secure the CMC structure to a support structure.
US07832968B2
In a milling method for producing a structural component from a raw material by chip-cutting, a milling tool is moved along at least one defined tool path for the milling. In addition to the at least one tool path, at least one collision contour is also defined. The position or orientation of the milling tool relative to the collision contour(s) is monitored. The position or orientation of the milling tool is changed and/or an error message is generated if at least one of the collision contours is damaged, i.e. intersected, by the milling tool.
US07832965B2
A drill has a housing formed with an outlet hole, a fan expelling an air stream from the outlet hole, a drive spindle projecting from the housing adjacent the outlet and centered on and rotatable about an axis, and a chuck body carried on the housing. A tightening sleeve rotatable about the axis on the chuck body carries a plurality of radially shiftable jaws, and interengaging screw formations operatively engaged between the body and the sleeve can shift the jaws radially in the guides on rotation of the sleeve relative to the body. A shield sleeve angularly fixed to the housing and surrounding the tightening sleeve has a rear end juxtaposed with the housing radially outside the outlet hole such that the air stream enters the shield sleeve. Inside the shield sleeve forward of its rear end a passage and a particle-expelling hole collect drilling particles and blow them out the particle-expelling hole.
US07832959B1
A method of restoring a lake that has a high saline level is disclosed herein. In order to restore the lake, a series of concentric dikes or levees are provided that separate the lake into a plurality of smaller lake sections, each having a water surface. The smaller lake sections include an outer lake section which is next to the periphery of the lake and one or more inner lake sections. Each dike and each smaller lake section water surface have an elevation. Water is flowed from an influent source to the outer lake section and then to each of the inner lake sections. The outer lake section surface has a higher elevation. The inner lake section surfaces have cascading lower surface elevations. At a central area, a breathing brine area is provided that is surrounded by the smaller lake sections to provide an area that can be used to concentrate brine. The smaller lake sections can have differing salinity levels for sustaining diverse marine and plant life.
US07832957B2
A removable barricade system. The system having a first sleeve to be affixed to a first bollard, a second sleeve to be affixed to a second bollard, and a barricade attached to the first and second sleeves. The barricade blocks the area between the first and second bollards.
US07832956B2
A dental apparatus for cleansing and stain preventing on-the-go is provided in multiple embodiments. One embodiment allows a user to dispose the apparatus after use. Another embodiment allows a user to seal and refill the dental apparatus for repeated use. Further, packaging of various types allows a user to house the dental apparatus in multiple ways.
US07832952B2
There is disclosed a printer having a print head and a high frequency magnetic coupler to magnetically couple with high frequency RFID transponders in a web at or near the print head. The coupler couples magnetically to only one transponder at a time that is generally aligned with one or more inductors, and magnetic radiation from the inductor(s) may be at least partly shielded from upstream transponders, and a grounded conductor in the upstream side of the coupler diminishes radiation to upstream transponders. One embodiment includes spaced inductors disposed along a generally transverse line across the web, and in another embodiment an elongate inductor extends along a line generally transverse of the web.
US07832951B2
A digital still camera includes a camera main unit and a lens unit or lens assembly. The camera main unit has an image processor for image processing of an image being formed by image pickup. A frame memory stores the image during image processing. The lens unit is secured to the camera main unit removably, and has an image sensor for forming the image by detecting object light passed through a photographing lens. A subsidiary image memory has a storage capacity according to a pixel number of the image sensor, for storing the image in a temporary manner in addition to the frame memory, to shorten image processing time. In one embodiment, at least one of the frame memory and the subsidiary image memory is caused to store luminance component data and chrominance component data of the image obtained according to an image signal thereof.
US07832950B2
A fixed aperture and a fixed shaft are formed in a fixed member. A drive shaft is formed in a driving member. A fixed shaft hole and a drive shaft hole are formed in a plurality of diaphragm blades, and the plurality of blades is connected to the fixed shaft and the drive shaft. An aperture diameter of a variable aperture AP which is an aperture zone formed by the plurality of diaphragm blades is controlled by rotating relatively the driving member with respect to the fixed member. Here, the diaphragm blades are disposed in a plurality of layers, and a part of) the diaphragm blades belonging to an adjacent layer are disposed to be overlapping with respect to an optical axis direction.
US07832938B2
An improved bearing system for use in high speed rotating machinery, such as a turbocharger, wherein a shaft is rotatably supported by a floating bearing cartridge having axially spaced angular contact bearings each with a set of bearing balls supported between inner and outer races. The bearing cartridge includes an inner spacer sleeve for axially spacing the inner bearing races, and a rotationally floating outer sleeve having a pair of radially inwardly open grooves for removably receiving snap-type retaining rings which engage and axially space the outer bearing races. The axial dimension of the inner spacer sleeve is elongated slightly relative to an axial dimension defined between outboard faces of the installed retaining rings, thereby slightly unloading the sets of bearing balls from their respective outer bearing races. Such slight axial unloading enhances smooth-running operation with minimal bearing wear, while accommodating transient loads during operation.
US07832935B2
A bearing (100) has a contact surface (110) for mating with a rotatable member. The contact surface has a plurality of crystalline grains (120) distributed at random; a plurality of micro-grooves (130) are formed among the crystalline grains; the micro-grooves communicate with each other thereby forming a net. The micro-grooves accommodate lubricant therein so that when the rotatable member rotates, a sufficient lubrication can be obtained between the bearing and the rotatable member. The bearing is formed by machining and then thermally etching a preform which is formed by powder metallurgy.
US07832933B2
A foil bearing assembly for supporting a rotating member that rotates about an axis including a stationary mount member spaced from the rotating member so that a gap is defined between the stationary mount member and the rotating member. A foil member is disposed in the gap between the rotating member and the stationary mount member. At least one of the rotating member, the stationary mount member or the foil member includes a wear resistant coating layer.
US07832931B2
A ball connect device for a linear guideway comprises: at least one ribbon-shaped connecting portion in which being formed a plurality of retaining holes for retaining a plurality of balls, and a plurality ring portions being protruded out a surface of the connecting portion and each of the ring portions being formed around the respective retaining holes to circle around the balls. The retaining holes each has two open ends that are located at both sides of the ribbon-shaped connecting portion, a diameter of one of the two open ends is near a diameter of the balls for easy installation of the balls into the ball connect device, and a diameter of another one of the two open ends is smaller than the diameter of the balls so as to prevent disengagement of the balls.
US07832929B2
An end cap in the present linear motion guide unit is made up of an end cap major part and a spacer part, which, once assembled, define a turnaround passage between them to make sure of smooth running of the rolling elements. Especially, the turnaround passage in the end cap when viewed in the sliding direction of the slider is constituted with a curved route whose radius of curvature is constant, which extends from a center (Ok) of a load race to a center (Or) of a return passage, with making a detour to clear an upper edge of a track rail. A carriage of the slider has widthwise opposing return passages lying biased more sidewise inwards or center-ward than load races so as to make an interval or span (Pr) between the return passages less than a sidewise interval or span (Pk) between the load races. The curved route whose radius of curvature is constant, when viewed in the sliding direction of the slider, is arced over a semicircular range of 180 degrees.
US07832924B2
A timepiece having a mainspring, an output wheel that is rotated by torque output from the mainspring, a lever that pivots synchronously to the output wheel, and a pressure member that pushes the lever. The pressure member pushed the lever so that the output torque of the output wheel increases as the mainspring unwinds.
US07832922B2
A mixing apparatus is proposed having a container (2) for the mixing of media which has at least one inlet (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) for the media to be mixed or at least one outlet (4), with a central cut-out (5) being provided which extends in a longitudinal direction (A) into the container and is bounded relative to the inner space (6) of the container (2) by a wall (51), with a permanently magnetic mixing member (7) being provided in the container (2) adjacent to the cut-out (5) for the mixing of the media, and with a drive unit (8) being provided in the cut-out (5) by which the mixing member (7) can be set into rotation via a magnetic coupling. The drive unit (8) is movably arranged in the cut-out (5) such that the position of the mixing member (7) in the container is variable in a controlled manner.
US07832920B2
A mixing device for mixing a first and second material together to create an output mixture. The device includes a first chamber containing the first material coupled to a mixing chamber defined between a rotor and a stator. The rotor is disposed inside the stator and rotates therein about an axis of rotation. The first chamber houses an internal pump configured to pump the first material from the first chamber into the mixing chamber. The pump may be configured to impart a circumferential velocity into the first material before it enters the mixing chamber. At least one of the rotor and stator have a plurality of through-holes through which the second material is provided to the mixing chamber. Optionally, a second chamber is coupled to the mixing chamber. The second chamber may house an internal pump configured to pump the output material from the mixing chamber into the second chamber.
US07832918B2
An LED night light has a laser or hologram optics-element and is suitable for night time or dark area use over an extended time period. The night light may be a plug-in wall outlet night light or direct current(DC) operated night light having an image, message, or logo shown on the surface of the optics element. The LED night light parts that may include a housing member, optics-lens, openings, cut-outs, and/or plastic parts to create a preferred image. The night light can be designed with added features to enable adjustment of the angle, distance, position, or orientation of the LED(s) with respect to the optics-means to provide eye-catching light effects by varying the image size, dimensions, etc. The power source may be interchanged between an AC powered sealed-unit and a DC powered battery-pack.
US07832915B2
A surface light source device includes a first light source disposed so as to face a reflecting surface of a reflecting member, a second light source having spectrum selectivity different from that of the first light source, a light diffusing member configured to diffuse light rays emitted from the first and second light sources, and a transparent light control member disposed between the first light source and the light diffusing member so as to face the first light source and the light diffusing member. The light control member directs the light rays emitted from the first and second light sources in predetermined directions. The second light source faces an outer peripheral surface of the light control member. The light ray emitted from the second light source is directed by the light control member inside the light control member so as to be output towards the light diffusing member.
US07832911B2
A motorcycle safety device includes a housing and a mount for coupling the housing to a motorcycle. A light assembly is removably coupled to the housing, the light assembly including a casing, a light positioned inside the casing, a lens coupled to the casing, and a battery positioned inside the casing. An input is in communication with the light to selectively cause the light to illuminate an area in front of the housing. A processor, tilt sensor, timer, and speaker are coupled to the housing, the tilt sensor and timer being in data communication with the processor. The processor includes programming to actuate at least one of the light and speaker upon the tilt sensor detecting a tilt event for a predetermined amount of time measured by the timer.
US07832908B2
A light-emitting diode (LED) reflector optic includes a reflector having a reflector having a plurality of reflecting surfaces, wherein each one of the plurality of reflecting surfaces is associated with at least one optical axis, each reflecting surface comprising a cross-section that is projected along a curved trajectory and a plurality of LEDs, wherein each one of the plurality of LEDs is positioned in a line parallel to the cross-section of an associated one of the plurality of reflecting surfaces and relative to the associated reflecting surface of the plurality of reflecting surfaces such that a central light-emitting axis of each one of the plurality of LEDs is angled relative to the at least one optical axis of the associated reflecting surface of the plurality of reflecting surfaces at about 90° and such that each of the reflecting surfaces redirects and collimates a light output of a respective each one of the plurality of LEDs at an angle of about 90° with respect to the central light emitting axis of each one of the plurality of LEDs, wherein each one of the plurality of reflecting surfaces receives light from each one of the plurality of LEDs from a focal distance of the associated one of the plurality of reflecting surfaces.
US07832905B2
The invention relates to a reflector, in particular for discharge luminaires, in the case of which at least two facets direct the light from an upper and a lower region of the discharge lamp in the same direction.
US07832902B2
A dichroic color mixing flag for a multiparameter light is constructed that greatly improves the thermal shock tolerance of the flag and avoids having to use a more costly quartz substrate material. The dichroic color mixing flag may be substantially circular in shape. The dichroic color mixing flag may be fixed to a mechanical component so that the flag cannot rotate with respect to the mechanical component. The dichroic color mixing flag may be fixed to the mechanical component so that the mechanical component can move the dichroic color mixing flag without moving any other dichroic color mixing flag.
US07832893B2
A backlight assembly for a liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of lamps spaced apart from one another, a bottom cover accommodating the plurality of lamps, a reflection sheet below the plurality of lamps, and an auxiliary optical unit covering the plurality of lamps to adjust a traveling path of light emitted from the plurality of lamps.
US07832888B2
A method of displaying and merchandising a product that that provides customer interaction and product synchronization is disclosed. The method provides a product display that may include an upright display member having an illuminating member and lighting niches through which dynamic light shows may be projected. A product may be positioned in a lighting niche. A product experience shelf may also be coupled to the upright display member. The product experience shelf may include translucent recesses for holding and illuminating products and or samples of products. The product experience shelf may also incorporate an illuminated ring or border lining the outer edge of each recess for additional lighting effects. The method also provides an interactive customer interface that allows customers to adjust a control module which coordinates synchronized dynamic light shows throughout the display. The customer interface may also be illuminated and positioned on the product experience shelf. Furthermore, the method provides synchronization of dynamic light shows with the products on display.
US07832878B2
The present invention generally relates to video and/or television projection systems, and more particularly, to LED based light source systems utilizing generally non-rotationally symmetric, preferably oblong or rectangular, non-imaging collection optics for providing improved projection systems relative to arc lamp and other LED based light source systems. The non-rotationally symmetric non-imaging collection optics are configured to operate with LEDs to provide preferred, generally, uniform light distributions whose étendues match those of downstream applications such as those encountered in projection systems. Also provided are various arrangements for coupling LED output to the entrance aperture of collection optics and for coupling the outputs from a plurality of collection optic outputs to form single beams of illumination of preferred patterns, intensities, and color.
US07832866B2
An eye-tracking method includes acquiring an image of an eye of a user, identifying a pupil of and a reflected light spot on the eye from the acquired image, determining a distance of the reflected light spot from a reference point on the pupil and an angle of the reflected light spot from an axis passing through the reference point on the pupil, determining a gazing point based on the distance and the angle and a pre-established set of data, and performing an operation associated with the gazing point. A system for implementing the eye-tracking method is also disclosed.
US07832863B2
Embodiments of the invention pertain to a method for producing a spectacle lens with optimal correction across the entire lens taking into account the patient's complete measured wavefront. Specific embodiments can also take into account one or more additional factors such as vertex distance, SEG height, pantoscopic tilt, and use conditions. The lens wavefront can be achieved by optimizing a corrected wavefront, where the corrected wavefront is the combined effect of the patient's measured wavefront and the lens wavefront. The optimization of the corrected wavefront can involve representing the measured wavefront and the lens wavefront on a grid. In an embodiment, the grid can lie in a plane. During the optimization, a subset of the grid can be used for the representation of the measured wavefront at a point on the grid so as to take into account the portions of the measured wavefront that contribute to the corrected wavefront at that point on the grid.
US07832857B2
The present invention provides a contact lens from Gluconacetobacter xylinus cellulose material.
US07832856B2
A contact lens is coated with a first polymer, such as a boronic acid-containing copolymer, having affinity to mucin, and a second polymer. The second polymer improves initial comfort of the contact lens. During wear of the contact lens, the second polymer is removed from the contact lens, by blinking and/or tear fluids, and mucin complexes with the first polymer on the contact lens surface.
US07832849B2
A liquid container that comprises a first member and a second member fixed to the first member and is detachably mounted on a liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein a first shape corresponding to a liquid capacity is integrally formed in the first member, a second shape corresponding to a liquid kind is integrally formed in the second member, and an erroneous insertion prevention mechanism for preventing an erroneous insertion into a container mounting portion includes the first shape and the second shape.
US07832848B2
An ink cartridge mounting device is presented including (1) a housing that forms a mounting space for mounting an ink cartridge, (2) a hollow ink drawing member that protrudes from an inner surface of the housing toward the mounting space, the ink drawing member being inserted into the ink cartridge to draw out an ink stored in the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting space, and (3) an ink flow path forming portion that forms an ink flow path from the interior of the mounting space to the outside of the mounting space, along which ink from the ink drawing member flows when the ink cartridge is removed from the mounting space.
US07832847B2
A droplet discharging apparatus has a pressure chamber communicating with a nozzle, a vibration film forming a part of the pressure chamber, a piezoelectric element for vibrating the vibration film, a projection joined to the piezoelectric element and transmitting vibration of the piezoelectric element to the vibration film, and a flow path communicating with the pressure chamber. The apparatus has first and second members, with the vibration film, the projection, a groove, and a supply hole communicating with the groove being provided at the first member. The nozzle and the pressure chamber are formed in the second member. The first member and the second member are bonded together to form the flow path in the groove and also the pressure chamber in the recess. The groove and the recess partially overlap to form the flow path and the pressure chamber. A method is disclosed for manufacturing the droplet discharging apparatus.
US07832844B2
A printhead is provided having a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of heater elements each for heating an ejectable liquid to cause ejection of a drop of the ejectable liquid from a respective one of the nozzles. Each heater element is configured such that drops having drop volumes of less than 2 picoliters are ejected with a temperature rise in the ejectable liquid of less than 40 degrees Celsius above ambient temperature.
US07832832B2
An inkjet recording device includes a recording head and a cap placed in tight contact with a nozzle forming surface for defining a sealed space. A head moving mechanism moves the recording head along a direction in which the nozzle forming surface is extended, toward or separately from a contact position at which the cap is placed in tight contact with the recording head. A cap moving mechanism moves the cap toward or separately from the contact position at which the cap is placed in tight contact with the nozzle forming surface. A cap holding mechanism including a slider holds the cap such that the cap is allowed to slide along a moving direction of the recording head and positions the cap at the contact position.
US07832822B2
A method for controlling a printing position for a printing apparatus for using a plurality of printing heads to print an image is provided. This method prevents, even when a conveyed print medium has deformation such as deflection, a printing position of a print medium from being dislocated. To realize this, components 11 to 14 for detecting the conveyance speed of a print medium and components 101 to 107 adjusting the driving timing at which the respective plurality of printing heads eject ink in accordance with the resultant conveyance speed are provided. As a result, even when a conveyed print medium has deformation such as deflection, the control can be provided that prevents the print medium from having a dislocated printing position.
US07832821B2
In an inkjet printing apparatus using plural line type inkjet printing heads for one color ink, and forming an image by dividing image data into pieces corresponding to the plural printing heads, a complementary printing operation using a simple configuration is achieved without causing a substantial decrease in printing speed even when one printing head has a poorly ejecting nozzle. When a one printing head has a poorly ejecting nozzle, a corresponding nozzle of another printing head complements the printing operation assigned to the poorly ejecting nozzle. At this time, the same piece of divided image data is fed to the one and the other printing heads. Then, the printing operation of the one printing head is made invalid only at the timing of driving the poorly ejecting nozzle, and the printing operation of the second printing head is made valid only at the timing of driving the corresponding nozzle.
US07832814B2
A deflector for reducing the ingestion of snow and/or other debris in one of the sprocket wheel and the idler wheel area of a vehicle equipped with endless tracks is provided. The deflector generally comprises a rigid plate associated with the vehicle and positioned near the sprocket wheel or the idler wheel thereof, and a resilient pad having an upper portion coupled with the rigid plate and a lower portion freely extending from the upper portion and extending toward the inner surface of the track to limit the ingestion of snow and/or other debris in the sprocket wheel or idler wheel area of the vehicle during its operation. The lower portion of the resilient pad is generally provided with reinforcing elements which allow the resilient pad to be essentially rigid in the direction of ingestion yet pivotable in the opposite direction.
US07832803B2
An adjustable linkage to support an object comprising a pair of arms rotatable about a first axis, one of said arms supporting said object and damper means disposed about said first axis between said arms for selective rotational movement and placement of said object relative said other arm.
US07832792B2
A structural unit comprising an assembly of bows longitudinally spaced and secured together by structural members, which is easily and rigidly assembled by using sliding connections of extrusions, for subsequent fitting to a range of preexisting chassis, to yield specific vehicles.
US07832789B2
A vehicle including an integrated vehicle door hinge and interior handle is disclosed. The integrated vehicle door hinge and interior handle may comprise a door hinge and an interior door release handle, with the door hinge having a hinge support flange pivotally coupled with a vehicle body, and an exposed hinge arm extending from the hinge support flange. The interior door release handle may include a pull handle configured for gripping by a vehicle occupant, and a handle pass through arm extending from the pull handle and connected to the exposed hinge arm, with the handle pass through arm mounted to the door.
US07832778B2
A touch bar (24) exit device (20) comprises a retractor element (50) disposed in the housing (22) for substantially restilinear movement. The retractor element (50) connects the touch bar (24) and the latch bolt (82) such that the retractor element (50) and the latch bolt (82) are moved toward the retracted position in response to movement of the touch bar (24). An electrically energizable locking mechanism (104) in the exit device (20) includes a reciprocating plunger (106) moving transverse to the retractor element (50). When energized, the locking mechanism (104) is operative to move the plunger (106) to the projected locking position to prevent retraction of the latch bolt. A time delay circuit is connected to the locking mechanism (104). A switch (120) actuated in response to movement of the touch bar (24) is connected to the time delay circuit for starting a predetermined time interval for temporarily delaying deenergization of the locking mechanism (104). When the time delay circuit interrupts power to the locking mechanism (104), the plunger (106) moves allowing the latch bolt (82) to move to the retracted position.
US07832777B2
A lock assembly for use with a door movably coupled to a door frame. The lock assembly includes a housing, a control member, a latchbolt, and a locking member. The control member is movably coupled to the housing from a locked position to an unlocked position to allow the door to move with respect to the door frame. The latchbolt moves with respect to the housing in a first direction and a second direction. The locking member is configured for engagement with the control member to move the locking member with respect to the housing into and out of an engaged position with respect to the latchbolt. The locking member includes a surface that contacts the latchbolt when the locking member is in the engaged position to substantially prevent movement of the latchbolt in the first and second directions.
US07832774B2
A coupling assembly is disclosed that includes a first member and a second member having a receiving portion sized to receive the first member. A retaining formation is provided on one of the first and second members. The retaining formation includes a ramp and two or more grooves, wherein each groove is at least partially defined by converging surfaces. A locking member is moveably secured in a cavity in the other of the first and second members. The locking member is configured to be moved in a first radial direction by the ramp upon movement of the first member into the second member. The locking member is also biased in a second radial direction opposite the first radial direction into a groove in the retaining formation to become positioned between a converging surface on the retaining formation and the cavity upon further movement of the first member into the receiving portion of the second member, and may be progressively received in additional grooves on the retaining formation if the first member is further inserted into the second member.
US07832773B2
An invention generally relates to an adjustable connector that acts as a coupling device to connect an object (such as pipe or tubing) having a range of diameters and thread styles to an item (such as a piece of equipment or another length of pipe or tubing). The device is generally comprised of a casing member and an internal member, which is further comprised of tab members positioned in tab openings in a core member. Preferably, a semi-flexible sheath covers the internal member and seals it to the casing member and the object, so that a chamber is formed between the internal member and the casing member. Mechanical compression members may be placed in the chamber. As pressure increases within the object, the chamber pressure may also increase, forcing the sheath against the tab members, which are forced against the object, holding the object in place by friction.
US07832759B2
A side impact airbag module for a motor vehicle having an airbag. The airbag is inflatable by a gas generator and unfolds in a flat fashion. The gas generator is connected with the airbag by a feed tube. The airbag module is designed for installation in a door of the motor vehicle. The side airbag module includes a feed tube that has two gas outlet openings or gas outlet areas spaced at a distance from one another, and situated in the area of where the end airbag chambers are formed. The end airbag chambers have filling openings that are situated immediately above the gas outlet openings of the feed tube. The airbag has one or more middle chambers connected for gas flow between the end chambers.
US07832755B2
A modular chassis of a stroller system includes a body, a front wheel mount on the body, a rear wheel mount on the body, and at least one stroller frame mount on the body. The stroller frame mount is configured to couple releasably and interchangeably a first stroller frame configuration and a second stroller frame configuration different from the first stroller frame configuration to the body.
US07832754B2
A device for binding an article of footwear to a sports article, such as a binding for securing a boot to a cross-country ski, including a locking mechanism adapted to cooperate with a connecting member of the article of footwear, and including a user-manipulable opening system for controlling the opening of the mechanism, the opening system being directly or indirectly manipulable independently according to at least two distinct directions of manipulation for controlling the opening of the mechanism.
US07832745B2
A trailer wheel assembly for mounting on the rear of a trailer has a structure that reduces or prevents oscillations about a vertical axis arising during high speed towing. The structure includes dual wheels mounted on an axle, a resilient support, and a suspension arm extending rearwardly and downwardly from the resilient support to the axle for the wheels.
US07832733B2
A basketball amusement device comprises a backboard, a basket, and a self-propelled carriage. The backboard has a surface and the basket is attached to the surface of the backboard. The basket is adapted to receive a tossed ball. A support connects the backboard to the carriage. The self-propelled carriage includes a drive mechanism configured to move the carriage and backboard. The amusement device moves a predetermined distance across an associated support surface in response to the ball being received in the basket.
US07832728B2
A game of defending statements with persuasive arguments consisting of a tossing bag, a “frequency” block, two equivalent “equation” blocks; three “verb” blocks and ten “noun” blocks, a number of which are shook inside the bag, then tossed onto a table top by a so-called author who then must form and then refine a statement from the words and symbols on the face up topsides of the tossed blocks, then contrive an argument based upon the statement meant to result in the articulation of a discernible concept, challengeable however by non-author players of the game; then requiring a defense of such an argument, resulting in an awarding of playing points or not depending upon the assessment by a majority of such non-author players as to the merits of such an argument or defense whereupon one; once an author-player; then becomes a challenger-player as another player, formerly a challenger then becomes an author.
US07832721B2
A method for separating objects from a stack in a stream of objects, in which the objects are removed from the stack with a removal device, and overlapping objects are separated from one another with a separating device. To achieve reliable separation with a low double removal rate, a plurality of traction devices grip both sides of the removed object and are driven in the transport direction at different forward driving speeds.
US07832715B2
There is provided a technique in which a retracting operation of a bundle of sheets from a stapler after a staple process can be stably performed irrespective of the number of sheets constituting the bundle of sheets or the transport resistance. When the bundle of sheets subjected to the staple process is moved by a stacker in a direction of retracting from the stapler, an alignment roller is caused to come in contact with the bundle of sheets held by the stacker and to assist the movement of the bundle of sheet.
US07832704B1
A concrete form apparatus adapted to brace a concrete board and a base board in a foundation. The concrete form apparatus includes a plurality of leg members, a linking member and a concrete board support. At least one of the leg members is adapted to be positioned against the base board, while at least one of the leg members is adapted to be positioned against the concrete board. The concrete board support is attached to a top portion of one of the leg members and is adapted to secure the concrete board parallel to the base board. The concrete form apparatus may also include a removal mechanism to aid in the removal of the device, and it may also include at aperture through which a fastening device may be directed to secure the device to the base board. The present invention is modular and reusable.
US07832701B2
A portable easel includes a cap plate defining a first leg receiving area and a second leg receiving area spaced apart from the first leg receiving area. The easel includes first and second legs each having a coupling member at an upper end that is pivotally coupled to the cap plate at a respective receiving area. Each coupling member includes a flange extending from a terminal end thereof. Each receiving area defines a cavity configured to receive a respective flange therein, each flange being movable therein between opposed stops such that each of the first and second legs are movable between open and closed configurations. Gas springs are operatively coupled to respective legs. The easel includes support structures for holding an artist's canvas. A ground stake is pivotally coupled to lower ends of each leg for selectively anchoring the easel to a ground surface.
US07832687B1
Methods are described for launching multiple space vehicles. A first space vehicle and a second space vehicle can be detachably attached to a launch vehicle. The first space vehicle is for an orbit of a first desired altitude in a first desired orbital plane. The second vehicle is for an orbit of a second desired altitude in a second desired orbital plane. The launch vehicle with the first and second space vehicles may be launched into a first orbit in or near the first desired orbital plane. The second space vehicle may be released in the first orbit. When the orbital plane of the second space vehicle coincides with the second desired orbital plane, the second space vehicle may be transferred to a transfer orbit. The second space vehicle may be transferred to the orbit of the second desired altitude in the second desired orbital plane.
US07832670B2
Described herein is a material reducing apparatus including a bypass arm and a bypass control member for allowing reduction-resistant objects of a material to bypass the apparatus while avoiding interruption of the operation of the apparatus. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07832665B2
A tension adjustment gauge system and method for a ball and ring coal pulverizer is provided that includes a housing, a stationary top grinding ring within the housing, a rotating lower grinding ring within the housing, a plurality of grinding balls between the top grinding ring and the lower grinding ring, an adjustable loading system for applying a compressive force exerted on the top grinding ring and grinding balls against the lower grinding ring. The adjustable loading system includes a single hydraulic assembly mounted on the upper portion of the housing, a gauge mounted to the hydraulic assembly for determining linear movement of a piston of the hydraulic assembly, a plurality of threaded rods mounted to the upper portion of the housing capable of being manually adjusted. The movement of the piston corresponds to an equal distance of movement of a spring gap between an upper and lower portion of the compression spring, such that the gauge indicates the change in the spring gap by moving the piston. The tension adjustment gauge system is more efficient and less time consuming to perform tension adjustments to the ball and ring coal pulverizer.
US07832662B2
Disclosed is a shower head comprising a housing-type first part (T1) inside which a water duct extends. One end of said water duct communicates with a water inlet. The first part (T1) is connected to a second part (T2) that is embodied as a discharging element. The receiving space of the discharging element communicates with the other end of the water duct in at least one mode of operation of the shower head. In said mode of operation, the external edge of the second part (T2) forms an overflow edge in one region, via which water can flow off. The second part (T2) forming the discharging element is composed of a top portion and a bottom portion, between which an interior space is located that communicates with the second end of the water duct in a second mode of operation of the shower head. A plurality of nozzle-type discharge ports (A2) are arranged in the bottom portion of the second part (T2). The inventive shower head is inexpensive to produce while being able to alternatively or cumulatively generate a water curtain discharged via the overflow edge and/or a plurality of individual shower jets discharged through the nozzle-type discharge ports (A2).
US07832656B2
A fluid injector has a housing, a valve body and an actuator unit inserted into the housing. The valve body has a cartridge with a recess that takes in a needle. The valve body further has a hollow body arranged in a fixed position to the needle and forming a first spring rest. The valve body further has a valve cap, which takes in the cartridge and forms a second spring rest. A return spring rests on the first spring rest and on the second spring rest. The valve cap, the housing and the cartridge are formed such, that before the valve cap and the housing and the valve cap and cartridge are permanently fixed to each other the valve cap is moveable relative to the housing and the cartridge while the housing and the cartridge stay in a fixed position relative to each other.
US07832653B2
An expansion valve includes a valve body 1. The valve body 1 includes a first throttle 5 and a second throttle 6 arranged downstream from the first throttle 5. The second throttle 6 includes an outer surface of the second valve portion 16 and an inner surface of the second valve hole 13. A helical groove or a linear groove is formed in the outer surface of the second valve portion 16 or the inner surface of the second valve hole 13. Further, at least either one of the outer surface of the second valve portion 16 and the inner surface of the second valve hole 13 is tapered toward a distal end of a valve member 4.
US07832650B2
A hot water-water mixing faucet holds a control valve body in a balanced position between a bias spring and a temperature-sensitive coil spring. An adjusting screw 6a supports the bias spring in an axial direction to change setting of the supporting position of the bias spring, and a rear end side of the bias spring is supported by a supporting member which is formed separately from the adjusting screw. The supporting member is slidably inserted in the axial direction into a through-hole provided on the adjusting screw and is connected detachably to the adjusting screw by an abutting section provided in an area protruding from the through-hole toward the bias spring side. A lifting spring biases the supporting member to pull the supporting member back toward the side opposite to the bias spring to the adjusting screw 6a.
US07832649B2
This invention includes a device to attach an identifying device to the item of interest. The identify device attached to the item of interest may be referred to as a protected device that can be kept in communication with a background device. A protected device is formed when a an item of interest such as a credit card, drivers license, or medical card has an identifying device attached to the item of interest that converts the item of interest to the protected device which protects an existing object of interest.
US07832648B2
Individual two-dimensional barcodes are provided for individual chips arrayed on a wafer, individual lead frames to each of which chips are bonded and individual packaged products constituted of resin sealed semiconductor chips based upon chip ID information, to enable information management to be implemented separately for individual chips, individual frames and individual chip products. Thus, a higher degree of efficiency and a higher degree of accuracy in the information management for semiconductor devices are achieved in all processes of semiconductor production including the individual manufacturing processes, the physical distribution process, the shipping process and the claim handling process.
US07832647B2
A semiconductor device such as an RFID, which can easily generate a given stable potential, is provided. Circuits included in a semiconductor device are categorized depending on whether a given stable power source potential is necessary. A power source potential generated from a wireless signal received by an antenna with the use of the antenna and a rectifier circuit is supplied to a circuit which needs a given stable power source potential through a regulator. On the other hand, a power source potential generated by the rectifier circuit is supplied to a circuit other than the circuit which needs the arbitrary power source potential. Thus, a semiconductor device including a regulator circuit easily designed with a smaller layout can be provided, and the semiconductor device can easily generate a given stable power source potential.
US07832637B2
An embodiment of the present invention includes a technique for retail transactions. A display unit shows product information on a product. A transaction controller provides the product information. A database stores at least one of the product information and customer information.Another embodiment of the invention includes a technique to interact with a customer in a retail setting. A reader reads product information related to a product. A communication controller transmits the product information to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal.Another embodiment of the invention includes a technique to simplify record tracking of customers. Transaction data in transactions made by a plurality of consumers are recorded. The recorded transaction data is maintained as part of transaction records of the consumers. The transaction records are compiled according to pre-defined criteria.
US07832629B1
An automatic banking machine includes a card reader for reading user cards, and a cash dispenser. A movable camera is positionable within the ATM housing. The automated banking machine carries out transactions related to user accounts based on information read from cards. Service personnel are enabled to direct the camera toward regions of machine components while conducting service activities that are not directly visible by a servicer. A camera assembly includes a microphone to sense sounds associated with machine components during test operations. The generated data may be used by an on-site servicer, or sent to an entity at a remote location. The visual images may be used to enhance diagnostic and servicing capabilities.
US07832622B2
A carton includes a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels includes a first panel, and at least one end flap is foldably connected to the first panel. The end flap can include a handle opening and a handle panel adjacent to the handle opening. A reinforcement panel is in an overlapping relationship with at least a portion of the handle panel. The reinforcement panel may be adhered to the handle panel. The reinforcement panel can be foldably connected to an edge of the handle panel that is distant from the handle opening.
US07832614B2
An explosion welded article having a non-planar shape is provided. A method of preparing an apparatus for explosion welding is also provided, as is a method for forming an explosion welded article having a non-planar shape.
US07832602B2
A crown sizer for a metal hook hanger. The hanger includes a hook-receiving post having a pair of opposing projections extending outwardly therefrom. The sizer is mounted about the post, and includes a body formed of first and second pairs of opposing sidewalls. Each of the opposing sidewalls in the first pair includes an engagement shoulder on the interior surface thereof, the shoulders being located and sized to engage the projections thereby securing the sizer about the post.
US07832600B2
In another aspect the invention is a (drink bottle or container) closure assembly as a unit having an occlusion region providing first component, the first component being adapted for a closing engagement with a complementary bottle or container, and having a liquid passageway to be open from the bottle or container to an outlet below at least part of the occlusion region, as a second component, a spout or top with a dispensing outlet capable of being occluded by the occlusion region to provide a substantially liquid tight-environment from an engaged liquid bearing bottle or container unless the second component rises from its dispensing outlet occluding condition, and a third component, rotation of which controls the rise and fall of the second component relative to the occlusion region.
US07832598B2
A bulk foodstuff dispenser for dispensing predetermined amounts of foodstuff from a hopper. An auger is driven by a handle capable of movement in two directions, while a clutch allows movement of the auger in only one direction. The forward movement of the handle causes the auger to rotate and move foodstuff forward to be dispensed. The forward movement of the handle is predetermined by setting a stopper, thereby regulating the amount of rotation of the auger and thus determining the portion of foodstuff to be dispensed. A spring returns the handle to its at rest position, so that the dispensing process may be repeated from the same handle position. Gears between the handle and the auger allow the handle to be pulled in a more ergonomically sound way.
US07832588B2
The invention is directed to a case structure for an electronic device. The case structure comprises at least two covering members made of a wooden material for covering a covered member; and a supporting member provided along the inner surfaces of the covering members for supporting the covering members.
US07832560B2
High visual impact plastic packaging is described as well as methods for producing such packaging. Printing on multiple surfaces of a package to obtain appealing visual effects is described. Methods of sealing plastic packages are described, including some that use heat sealing techniques. Plasticized or laminated paperboard materials can be used, as well as plastic materials such as recycled and/or recyclable polyurethane.
US07832559B1
Nested rolled sheet material packages have multiple rolls of sheet material each with unique internal and external diameters and nested and held in a telescoping arrangement by a package fixture which fits within a portion of each roll and which is contacted by an end of each roll so that a portion of each roll is visible. The package fixture may be generally planar, cylindrical or conical, and may further include steps for contact with ends of each of the rolls.
US07832554B2
A single unit cardboard carrier is transformed from a collapsed state into an expanded multi-use carrier with a minimum of assembly actions. A preferred embodiment of the multi-use carrier has a central chamber, a plurality of vessel apertures located around the centered chamber, and has a handle spanning across the chamber.
US07832552B2
A contact lens package includes a substrate, a first sheet removably sealed to one side of the substrate, and a second sheet sealed to the other side of the substrate with a contact lens contained between the first and second sheets.
US07832550B2
Methods of passivating a metal surface are described, the methods comprising the steps of exposing the metal surface to a silicon-containing passivation material, evacuating the metal surface, exposing the treated surface to a gas composition, having a concentration of reactive gas that is greater than an intended reactive gas concentration of gas to be transported by the metal surface, evacuating the metal surface to remove substantially all of the gas composition to enable maintenance of an increased shelf-life, low concentration reactive gas at an intended concentration, and exposing the metal surface to the reactive gas at the intended reactive gas concentration. Manufactured products, high stability fluids, and methods of making same are also described.
US07832540B2
Friction clutch having a hydraulic actuator, and drive unit having at least one such friction clutch
The invention relates to a friction clutch having a single-acting actuator which is a piston-cylinder unit and is connected in a controllable fashion to a pressurized fluid source. In order to be able to carry out a fast pilot stroke up to the point at which the clutch makes contact, the piston-cylinder unit has a stepped piston whose first step of small diameter delimits, by means of its cylinder, a first pressure space, and whose second step of relatively large diameter delimits, by means of its cylinder, a second pressure space, a pressure line being connected to the first pressure space and, by means of a first non-return valve which opens at a certain pressure, to the second pressure space, and it also being possible for the second pressure space to be connected via a discharge line and a suction line, which contains a second non-return valve, to the fluid reservoir. The invention also relates to a drive device having clutches of said type.
US07832534B2
A device for transmitting electrical energy from the track (2, 3) to the vehicle (1) of a magnetic leviation railway is described. According to the invention a contactless operating device is provided in that the track (2, 3) has mounted thereon at least one primary line (44) connected to a voltage source (46) and being designed as an emitting coil and in that the vehicle (1) has mounted thereon at least one pick-up coil (47) applied to its magnet back box (15).
US07832532B2
A towing member for a piece of towable baggage is provide with towing handle that is pivotal relative to an arm portion of the towing member. The pivotal relation of the towing handle and the arm potion enables the towing handle to be rotated into a position where a person can grasp the towing handle in a comfortable position by his or her side when the piece of baggage is being towed. The pivotal relation of the towing handle and the arm potion also improves the maneuverability of a towable piece of baggage by reducing the need for a person to twist his or her wrist when steering the piece of baggage. The invention also allows the towing handle of retractable towing members to be pivoted into an appropriate position relative to the piece of baggage such that the towing handle lies flush with the baggage and will not become snagged on other items.
US07832523B2
The present invention provides a power assist steering system for use with a motor vehicle utilizing a torque sensor and an electronically controlled hydraulic valve used to supply or meter hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic cylinder that provides power assist to the steering system. The torque sensor measures driver input and provides a signal to the controller that controls an electrically actuated hydraulic valve. Additionally, steering wheel rotational speed and position are also input to the controller wherein the controller generates a steering assist command that minimizes the magnitude of difference, or error, between the steering torque reference value determined from the steering wheel speed and position and the measured torque. By doing so, the invention controls steering wheel feel, as opposed to the conventional practice of controlling the steering assist boost curve.
US07832522B2
A vehicle steering system includes a steering wheel, a steering angle detector that detects a steering angle of the steering wheel, a steering angular speed calculator that calculates a steering angular speed of the steering wheel, a vehicle speed detector that detects a vehicle speed, a target rudder angle finding device, a modifying device, and an actuator. The target rudder angle finding device finds a target rudder angle based on the steering angle, the steering angular speed and the vehicle speed. The target rudder angle is a sum of a proportional term proportional to the steering angle and a differential term proportional to the steering angular speed. The modifying device modifies the differential term when the steering angular speed is negative to reduce a value of the differential term from that when positive. The actuator turns at least one wheel of the vehicle in accordance with the target rudder angle.
US07832519B2
Rigidity of a frame of a working vehicle is improved by a simple structure and production costs are reduced by reducing the number of parts of a working vehicle. Pipes 66 are provided on both left and right sides at the center in the front-rear direction of a side frame 62, and each pipe 66 has a rectangular cross-section and penetrates an intermediate partition in the front-rear direction from a mast section 64 up to a transmission section. Tie-down holes are formed in a front face plate 61 to which the front end of a frame 9 is connected, and a plate 64b connected to a side frame 62 is provided at the bottom surface of each mast section 64 protruding outward from the side frame 62. Tanks installed on the working vehicle are suspended from the plate bodies 64b, and a lift arm installation boss provided at each mast section 64 is supported at both ends. A U-shaped reinforcement member 81 connects the upper surface of mast partition plate of a mast section 64 and left and right bosses.
US07832516B2
A vehicle is described with moveable foot control levers to accommodate different size riders The vehicle has one or more fuel tanks. The fuel tanks may be arranged in a split side-by-side configuration. The vehicle has a rear suspension. The rear suspension may include a rear suspension having a linkage which moves in a direction not parallel with a centerline plane of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a tip-over structure.
US07832515B2
A wheelchair having a remote controlled electric drive system so that the user is able to move the wheelchair away or retrieve it without the assistance of another person. The electric drive system includes multiple safety features for precluding hazardous situations that result from accidentally or unintentionally setting the drive system in motion while the wheelchair is occupied.
US07832511B2
A rule-based fuzzy gain-scheduling proportional integral (PI) controller is provided to control desired engine power and speed behavior in a power-split HEV. The controller includes a fuzzy logic gain-scheduler and a modified PI controller that operates to improve on the control of engine power and speed in a power-split HEV versus using conventional PI control methods. The controller improves the engine power and speed behavior of a power-split HEV by eliminating overshoots, and by providing enhanced and uncompromised rise-time and settling-time.
US07832504B2
A bit assembly is for a percussive drill that includes a casing with an interior chamber and includes a bit connectable with the casing and having a longitudinal bore and an axis through the bore. The bore has a retainer portion with one or more generally conical inner surfaces extending circumferentially about and facing generally toward the axis. A generally cylindrical valve has a longitudinal passage with an inlet fluidly connectable with the casing chamber and an outlet fluidly connectable with the bit central bore and an axis through the passage. An engagement portion with at least one generally conical outer surface extends circumferentially about and faces generally away from the valve axis. The valve engagement portion is disposable within the bit bore retainer portion such that the valve conical outer surface is disposed within and against the bit conical inner surface to retain the valve coupled with the bit.
US07832502B2
The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for impact drilling. A drilling tool with a housing and a piston is provided. The drilling tool may be configured to impact while simultaneously rotating a drill head, independent from the rotation of a drill string. The drilling tool may include a rolling key assembly disposed between the housing and the piston that includes a bearing adapted to roll during a first direction of the piston and slide during a second direction of the piston. The drilling tool may include a clutch mechanism configured to rotate the drill head as the piston is directed in the first direction.
US07832501B2
An apparatus for determining the nature of the formation at the bottom of a wellbore being drilled with a tubular drill string through which drilling fluid is pumped to return the drilling fluid to the surface via the wellbore, the apparatus comprising a tool body for installation in a drill string with a bore extending there through and an ultraviolet fluorescence detector in a passageway in the tool body, the tool body being configured to receive drilling fluid from inside the drill string and to receive drilling fluid from outside the drill string, wherein the drilling fluid can be directed past the detector so as to enable measurements to be made.
US07832491B2
Annular packer (2) arranged on the outside of a production tubing (4) said packer comprises a core (12) comprising elastic polymer swelling by absorption of hydrocarbons. The core (12) may be surrounded by an external mantle of rubber (10), which is permeable to hydrocarbons and may be equipped with a reinforcement (11). The core (12) swells by absorption of hydrocarbons and the packer (2) expands thus in order to seal the annular space (5) between the production tubing (4) and the well wall (6).
US07832487B2
A stabbing guide connects to a casing collar during makeup. The stabbing guide has a housing with a lower portion with a cylindrical interior and an upper portion with a conical interior. Upper and lower shoulders are located in the cylindrical interior, defining an annular recess between the shoulders. Each of the shoulders has an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the casing collar. The housing is formed in separate segments and secured around the casing collar by a clamp.
US07832486B2
A gas lift valve has a flow restrictor, a valve part on one side of the flow restrictor, a flow deflector and a tubular member on another side of the flow restrictor, and a flapper valve on the side of the flow restrictor where the tubular member is located, the flapper valve being adjacent to the tubular member. When fluid flows into the gas lift valve at sufficient pressure, the valve part opens, the fluid flows through the flow restrictor and acts on the flow diverter thereby moving the tubular member and opening the flapper valve. The tubular member extends though the opening the flapper valve covered.
US07832481B2
The fluid perforating/cutting nozzle is configured to provide long life to the nozzle. The nozzle is composed of a cylindrical shaft defining a bore for the passage of cutting fluid and having inlet and outlet ends, a shank portion and a relatively large diameter shroud disposed on the outlet end. The shroud protects both the nozzle and the tool from the high pressure cutting fluid reflecting off the surface of a workpiece.
US07832479B2
A flexible cement stable at high temperatures contains an extender that is a finely ground polyetheretherketone. The cement retains its flexibility for long times at high temperatures, for example those used for steam assisted gravity drainage of heavy oil formations, for example from about 480 to about 644° F. (249 to 340° C.). Compressive strength, tensile strength, permeability and porosity are all stable and suitable for high temperature down-hole oilfield use.
US07832478B2
A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore to mitigate the production of unwanted air from the wellbore is carried out by forming a treatment fluid containing a water-wetting surfactant and a carrier fluid. The treatment fluid is then introduced into the wellbore. The treatment or treatments may be performed remedially or prophylacticaly. The treatment may include the completion and production of zones containing the undesirable air and the deliberate formation of cones therein.
US07832474B2
An embodiment of a system for disconnecting a first element from a second element at a desired position in a wellbore includes a disconnect tool containing an expandable material, the disconnect tool being actuatable from a locked position, wherein the first and the second elements are interconnected, to an unlocked position, wherein the first and the second element are disconnected, upon a determined expansion of the expandable material in response to a temperature at the desired position.
US07832471B2
A fitting arrangement and method of securing a fitting arrangement to a surface is provided. A plurality of adjacent fittings is coupled to and extends from a mounting surface of a structure in a well bore. Each fitting has an engagement surface that is configured to engage with an installation tool for coupling the fitting to the structure. The engagement surfaces of the adjacent fittings in the plurality are offset from each other to thereby define a clearance for the installation tool.
US07832459B2
A method of forming a molded porous product is provided. The method comprises injecting a material into a mold to form a molded product, and removing the molded product from the mold. The mold comprising multiple layers of shaping elements extending through a cavity, each layer of shaping elements including multiple shaping elements. The molded product produced after removal from the mold has a porous structure formed by at least some of the shaping elements of the layers of shaping elements. The mold used to make the molded porous product may include a relatively large number of shaping elements within a small area.
US07832457B2
Three dimensional printing equipment and techniques may be used in combination with three dimensional design data associated with well drilling equipment and well completion equipment to form molds associated with manufacture of such equipment. For example, such molds may be used to form a bit body or other components associated with a rotary drill bit. For some applications composite or matrix materials may be placed in the mold to form a matrix bit body. Heat transfer characteristics of the mold may be optimized for heating and/or cooling of the matrix materials to provide optimum fracture resistant (toughness) and optimum erosion, abrasion and/or wear resistance for portions of the bit body. Such molds may also be used to form steel bit bodies associated with fixed cutter rotary drill bits and other components associated with a wide variety of well drilling equipment and well completion equipment.
US07832456B2
Three dimensional printing equipment and techniques may be used in combination with three dimensional design data associated with well drilling equipment and well completion equipment to form molds associated with manufacture of such equipment. For example, such molds may be used to form a bit body or other components associated with a rotary drill bit. For some applications composite or matrix materials may be placed in the mold to form a matrix bit body. Heat transfer characteristics of the mold may be optimized for heating and/or cooling of the matrix materials to provide optimum fracture resistant (toughness) and optimum erosion, abrasion and/or wear resistance for portions of the bit body. Such molds may also be used to form steel bit bodies associated with fixed cutter rotary drill bits and other components associated with a wide variety of well drilling equipment and well completion equipment.
US07832452B2
An apparatus is disclosed for removing exceeding portions of laths use to separate pieces of lumber in a bundle. The apparatus comprises an external cage and an internal cage having a skeleton framework mounted to the external cage and displaceable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the internal cage projects forwardly from a front open face of the external cage. A chain-like member carrying a plurality of paddles is provided at a front face of the skeleton framework and is driven by a motor for causing the paddles to strike and break the exceeding portions of the laths.
US07832451B2
A vertically moving door of a truck loading dock includes a disconnectable horizontal joint that provides the door with a barrier position, wherein an upper section of the door can be separated from a lower section to create a ventilation area between the two. The ventilation area allows fresh outside air to enter the building, while the lower section remains at its lowermost position for safety and security. More specifically, the lower section serves as a barrier that helps prevent someone or something from accidentally falling through the doorway when a truck is not present at the dock. A lightweight, resilient strap can be attached to the lower section of the door to help protect that section from an otherwise damaging impact. A lattice of straps or a mesh can be installed across the ventilation area to help secure the building against theft.
US07832448B2
A tool for pressing a multilayer press packet, particularly for placing inside a press, preferably for inserting into the insertion opening of a multiplaten press. The multilayer press packet, in particular, has a number of multilayers that are separated from one another by at least one separating plate. The tool can be electrically heated. The tool forms a cohesive unit with a heating element arranged between two heat transfer plates and/or between a heat transfer plate and a cover plate. The tools have at least one electric connecting terminal corresponding to contact terminals on the press.
US07832444B2
A method and system for closing opened envelopes flaps against the envelope body includes transporting an envelope in a first direction and parking the envelope in a first parked position. An envelope flap closing mechanism is moved to commence the movement of the envelope flap toward said envelope body. The envelope flap is closed against the envelope body while transporting the envelope in a second direction toward a second parked position. The flap closing mechanism may be moveable from a lower position to an upper position. The envelope flap closing system may include a first transport path of travel for envelopes to be moved seriatim in a first direction from an entrance point to an exit point. A moveable flap closing mechanism is mounted along the path of travel for movement between a lower position and an upper position. The flap closing mechanism has an upper guide surface and a lower guide surface The flap closing mechanism upper guide surface provides a guide surface as part of the first path of travel for envelopes being transported in the first direction when said flap closing mechanism is in said lower position. The flap closing mechanism lower guide surface provides a guide surface as part of a second path of travel for envelopes being transported in a second direction when the flap closing mechanism is in the upper position.
US07832439B2
A pneumatic tire capable of preventing wandering without impairing wear resistance, including tread portion 2 having circumferential shoulder grooves 6c extending at locations near ground contact edges E and lateral shoulder grooves 7d extending between circumferential groove 6c and ground contact edge E, and having square shoulders such that tread surface 2a and buttress face 14 extending radially inwardly and axially outwardly from ground contact edge E intersects to form an edge or corner, wherein each shoulder block B4 is provided with circumferential sipe 11 in a region apart axially inwardly from ground contact edge E by a distance of 2 mm or more and a distance of 10 mm or less, the buttress face 14 is provided with recess 15 extending circumferentially in at least a part of projection region Z obtained by projecting circumferential sipe 11 onto buttress face 14, and radially innermost end 15B of recess 15 is located at a radial position corresponding to a region ranging from 50 to 100% of the depth of circumferential sipe 11.
US07832419B2
A dishwasher includes a cabinet and a wash system slidably mounted within the cabinet in such a manner that it may be withdrawn horizontally out of the cabinet for loading with dishes. The wash system includes an open top wash chamber having a floor and side walls adapted to accommodate dishes within which wash liquid is sprayed. Two rotating spray arms are mounted in the bottom of the chamber for producing a spray of wash liquid within the chamber. A wash pump for pressurizing wash liquid discharges into a manifold located on the floor of the chamber. The spray arms receive wash liquid from the manifold. A drain pump evacuates wash liquid from said chamber. A wash chamber closure is mounted in the top of the cabinet. The closure engages with the wash chamber opening to sealably close off the wash chamber on its retraction into the cabinet.
US07832418B2
In the dishwasher, a washing water distribution pipe on which washing nozzles are installed is arranged within a washing chamber, and is connected removably to a first connecting pipe that communicates with the outlet side of a washing pump. In the same way, a rinsing water distribution pipe on which rinsing nozzles are installed is arranged within the washing chamber, and is connected removably to a second connecting pipe that communicates with the outlet side of a rinsing pump. These connections are made within a washing water tank in the bottom of the washing chamber, therefore the washing water distribution pipe and the rinsing water distribution pipe can be easily installed and removed from the washing chamber. Moreover, the washing water distribution pipe and the rinsing water distribution pipe are unitized, so handling is extremely easy.
US07832417B2
A drawer-type dishwasher includes a dispenser mounted to a basin slidably supported in an outer body of the dishwasher. The dispenser includes a main body portion, a reservoir formed in the main body portion for receiving detergent and a lid hingedly mounted for selectivity closing the reservoir. The reservoir includes front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls, with one of the front, rear and opposing side walls being provided with a drainage port which is adapted to be closed by the lid. The dispenser is provided with a manual actuator that enables a consumer to open the dispenser lid to add detergent. An automatic actuator is provided to open the dispenser lid, exposing the reservoir and the drainage port, at a predetermined point in a washing operation. In addition to detergent, the dispenser can be provided with a reservoir for retaining and releasing rinse aid.
US07832405B1
An apparatus and method for implanting a prosthesis includes implanting a first component into a recess in a bone. The first component defines a main body defining a receiving portion and a locating bore. A second component is located into engagement with the first component, the second component defining a passage therethrough. A rod is inserted through the passage defined on the second component and into the locating bore of the first component. A handle associated with the rod is slidably actuated into contact with the second component to matingly lock the first component to the second component.
US07832404B2
A dental appliance for prevention of Bruxism includes a U-shaped buccal strap having opposing right and left aft end portions. A right bite pad assembly is slidingly connected to and completely encloses the right aft end portion of the buccal strap. A left bite pad assembly is slidingly connected to and completely encloses the left aft end portion of the buccal strap. The right bite pad assembly can include a right upper bite surface member for contacting right upper molars of a wearer and a right lower bite surface member for contacting right lower molars of the wearer. The left bite pad assembly can include a left upper bite surface member for contacting left upper molars of a wearer and a left lower bite surface member for contacting left lower molars of the wearer. A right channel extends through the right upper bite surface member and the right lower bite surface member. A left channel extends through the left upper bite surface member and the left lower bite surface member. The right channel receives the right aft end portion of the buccal strap, and the left channel receives the left aft end portion of the buccal strap.
US07832383B2
An engine for a personal watercraft that is equipped with a supercharging machine, including a pressure release device that is configured to, when a pressure in a region of an air-intake passage of the engine that is located upstream of a throttle valve in an intake-air flow direction exceeds a predetermined value, release the pressure outside the air-intake passage.
US07832381B2
A method for operating an internal combustion engine in the form of an Otto engine, especially of a motor vehicle, selectively uses carburetor fuel, especially gasoline or ethanol (E85) by direct injection into at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine by means of at least one fuel injector. Optionally, instead of injecting ignition spark engine fuel or in addition to injecting ignition spark engine fuel, the internal combustion engine is operated with gas, especially CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) or LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). A mixture adaptation value is continuously determined during the operation of the internal combustion engine with spark ignition engine fuel. An actual mixture adaptation value is stored in a memory during the operation of the internal combustion engine with the spark ignition engine fuel and, after a predetermined minimum duration of operation with gas, an actual mixture adaptation value is compared with the stored mixture adaptation value during the operation of the internal combustion engine with ignition spark engine fuel. The fuel injectors are scavenged when a difference between the actual mixture adaptation value and the stored mixture adaptation value exceeds a predetermined difference value.
US07832380B1
A marine engine fuel system provides a low pressure lift pump to draw fuel from a fuel tank and cause the fuel to flow into a reservoir and a high pressure fuel pump which draws fuel from the reservoir and provides it to a fuel rail. An inlet conduit of the high pressure fuel pump is provided with a primary and a secondary opening. The secondary opening can be an orifice formed through a wall of the inlet conduit. The secondary opening is positioned, relative to the primary opening, at a location which assists in controlling the fuel level within the reservoir and the quantity of gaseous fuel contained within an ullage above the liquid pool of fuel.
US07832378B2
Disclosed are a method and a device for more rapidly switching inductive fuel injection valves. According to the invention, the magnetic retaining forces generated by remanence in a bistable valve comprising an opening and closing coil or by eddy currents in a standard valve comprising an opening coil and a closing spring are eliminated with the aid of a negative current that flows through the coil in a direction running counter to the direction of the operating current. Additionally, the magnetic yoke and armature that are used are made of materials having different conductivities in order to be able to close the valve even more quickly.
US07832372B2
A process is provided for enhancing homogeneous combustion and improving ignition in rotary and reciprocating piston IC engines. Physical embodiments supporting this process have secondary chambers embedded in the cylinder periphery to initiate radical ignition (“RI”) species generation in an earlier cycle for use in the main chamber combustion of a later cycle. These communicate with the main chamber via small conduits. Coordinated with the progressions facilitated by these secondary chambers are novel control measures for regulating the quantities of RI species ultimately generated for and conveyed to the later cycle. The pre-determinable presence of RI species so supplied then alters or adds controlled variety to the dominant chain-initiation reactions of the main combustion ignition mechanism of the later cycle. This presence does so by lowering both the heat and the fuel ratios required for starting and sustaining combustion. While this presence dominates in RI mode embodiments, this presence can also assist ignition and combustion in embodiments that are instead dominated by the spark ignition (“SI”) and compression ignition (“CI”) modes. The process results in improved combustion with increased efficiencies, decreased emissions and a wider range of fuel tolerances.
US07832366B2
A sootblower frame particularly adapted for long retracting-type sootblowers for cleaning of internal surfaces of large scale combustion devices. The frame, preferably formed from sheet metal stock, incorporates integrally formed surfaces and configuration features which provide for guiding and movement of the sootblower carriage assembly. The side panels of the frame further provide the surface for the mounting of the drive rack by which the carriage is advanced and retracted along the frame.
US07832365B2
A submerged combustion vaporizer may include a premix burner with multiple integral mixers for forming premix and discharging the premix into the duct system that communicates the burner with the sparger tubes. The SCV may further include a NOx suppression system that injects a staged fuel stream into the exhaust in the duct system, and/or a NOx suppression system that mixes water with the premix.
US07832361B2
A system for climbing pets, particularly cats, featuring an expandable rod and an array of wall supports, platforms and accessories. The expandable rod is the only direct connection to a wall while the wall supports are suspended from the expandable rod and the platforms are secured to the wall supports. Accessories such as toys and food/water bowls may be snapped into place on the platform surface via complimentary securing elements. The platforms can be placed at various elevations so that a cat can play, sleep, eat, scratch and avoid other animals in the house in a secure and designated environment.
US07832358B2
An aquarium includes a filter housing disposed in a container, the housing includes a number of spaced guide fins extended into the housing and arranged to form a peripheral passage around the guide fins, a filter member engaged in the guide fins, and a water pump attached to the housing for pumping the water into the passage of the housing and for guiding the water to flow through the guide fins and to flow from various directions into the filter member and for allowing the water to be guided to flow through an outer peripheral portion of the filter member and for preventing the water from flowing through only a small portion of the filter member and for preventing the filter member from being quickly blocked by dirt or contaminant.
US07832351B2
An actuation indicator which includes a drums sub-assembly including a rotatable actuation indicator wheel, a rocking ratchet pawl for rotating the indicator wheel in a set direction and a rocking mechanism for the pawl driven by a slipping clutch arrangement, wherein the slipping clutch arrangement includes a slipping clutch spring engaged at one end to a pinion of a rack and pinion assembly and at a second end to the ratchet pawl is described.
US07832349B2
A foil guard for sporting devices having hydrofoils covers the exposed edges of the foils and thereby prevents damage to persons or property from accidental contact with the foils. The guard may include cords or elastics to secure the guard to the foils, and may float in water to prevent loss of the guard.
US07832347B2
A floatation apparatus attachable to an outrigger extending from a side of a boat such as a shell for rowing includes a buoyant member, and at least one releasably attachable member operably attachable to the buoyant member for releasably attaching the floatation apparatus to the outrigger so that the buoyant member is spaced-apart from the surface of the water when the boat is orientated upright. In one embodiment, the buoyant member is a generally triangular-shaped planar member receivable between a triangular-shaped opening defined by a plurality of elongated members of the outrigger and the side of the boat. Also disclosed are methods for aiding a rower of a boat in the event that the boat capsizes, and methods for inhibiting capsizing of a rowing boat having at least one outrigger extending from each side of the rowing boat for supporting a plurality of oarlocks.
US07832346B2
A multi-needle type embroidery sewing machine includes a laser marker for irradiating a needle drop point of one of a plurality of needles attached to one of a plurality of needle bars being indexed to a sewing position with a laser beam. The laser marker is attached to an arm unit to be arranged just behind of the one of the plurality of needle bars indexed to the sewing position. The angle of inclination of the laser beam irradiating the needle drop point with respect to an axis of the one of the plurality of needle bars indexed to the sewing position is in a range of 5 degrees to 25 degrees.
US07832343B2
A pyrolyzer has a heated inner housing that includes first and second conveyors. Preferred conveyors have independent or at least potentially independent flows of material to be pyrolyzed. All suitable conveyors are contemplated, including especially screw conveyors, or combination of screw and paddle conveyors. Both first and second conveyors can be disposed within a common lumen, with a partial divider between them. An alternative divider is also contemplated that more or less divides the inner housing into two lumens. Thus, the lumens can be entirely distinct, or can have cross-flow of gases and/or material being pyrolyzed. Heat transfer fins can be advantageously attached, extend from, or be otherwise coupled to the inner housing to assist in transfer of heat into the lumen(s) of the inner housing.
US07832342B2
A process for combusting fuels, in particular waste, includes reducing the oxygen mass flow of the underfire combustion gas and increasing the oxygen mass flow of the overfire combustion gas in the event of an increase in the reaction rate or combustion intensity.
US07832340B2
The door operating system of the present invention can be applied to new railcar or retrofitted to existing railcar designs. The hopper car will have a pair of doors on opposed sides of the center sill which are connected through a door spreader. The pneumatic, individual door operating system is connected to the door spreader through an adjustable spreader fulcrum in which the sliding adjustment may add in a proper connection force or tension between the door operating system and the individual doors.
US07832334B2
A printing blanket includes a carrier sleeve layer having at least one axially convex surface and a print layer disposed over the carrier sleeve layer. A blanket cylinder with a convex outer surface and a convex shim is also provided. An offset printing press is also provided.
US07832331B2
A slide position sensor includes: a link supporting member projecting from the slide toward the upright, a dual axis link member whose first end is rotatably supported and hung by the link supporting member, a plate rotatably supported and hung by a second end of the dual axis link member, a rack that is provided to the plate and extends in the hanging direction, a pinion that meshes with the rack and an encoder system that senses the rotation of the pinion.
US07832329B2
The invention refers to a moka coffee machine, basically traditional, modified in order to obtain an expresso coffee without altering the organoleptic properties thereof. The machine according to the invention allows to control the temperature of the water inside the boiler, and to prepare the drink without having the water reaching exceedingly high pressures.
US07832319B2
A blade clamp assembly for retaining a rotary blade on the arbor of a rotary tool includes a blade washer for engaging the blade to hold the blade on the arbor and a clamp assembly threaded into the arbor to clamp the blade washer against the blade. The clamp assembly includes a planetary gear system for transmitting torque applied to the clamp assembly to the blade washer, wherein the planetary gear system multiplies the torque transmitted to the blade washer so that the torque transmitted to the blade washer is greater than the torque applied to the clamp assembly.
US07832318B2
A paper sheet processing device for processing paper sheets while carrying the paper sheets, includes a device body, a carrier for carrying the paper sheets one by one, a carrier driver for driving the carrier, processing device parts which are installed in a carrying route and which process the paper sheets, and a processing driver for driving the processing device parts. The processing device parts are installed detachably from the device body.
US07832312B2
The invention provides a high quality composite phosphor powder which ensures diversity in emission spectrum, color reproduction index, color temperature and color, a light emitting device using the same and a method for manufacturing the composite phosphor powder. The composite phosphor powder comprises composite particles. Each of the composite particles includes at least two types of phosphor particles and a light transmitting binder. The phosphor particles have different emission spectrums. In addition, the light transmitting binder is formed between the phosphor particles and binds them together.
US07832311B2
An extension bar includes an elongate body, a conductive unit, a control unit and an illumination unit. The conductive unit includes a non-conductive first piece, a non-conductive second piece and a conductive third piece which is separated from the body. A conductive bead is engaged with one end of the third piece. The control unit includes a first control member and a second control member which has an opposite conductivity to the first control member. The first control member is mounted to the body and includes a first recess and a second recess. The second control member is securely engaged with the first recess and in contact with the exterior of the body. The illumination unit includes an illumination part and a power supply unit which contacts between the illumination part and the third piece.
US07832308B2
A tire-patching tool and its patching method includes a pneumatic tool for producing a rotation force with a preset rotating speed, and a tire-patching needle with a tire seal strip assembled on the pneumatic tool to be driven into a broken hole of a tire. In using, the pneumatic tool is started to transmit a rotation force to the tire-patching needle so that the tire-patching needle can be vertically driven into the tire in the direction of the broken hole to let the tire seal strip stuck in the broken hole of the tire, and then remove out the tire-patching needle to finish tire patching work. By the pneumatic tool driving the tire-patching needle to produce a rotation force, the tire seal strip can quickly and accurately be stuck in the broken hole of the tire, saving time and labor in carrying out tire patching work.
US07832295B2
A submersible water monitoring probe assembly including: a cam-twist type interconnect mechanism; flexible PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) having flexible ribbon cable sandwiched between layers of an elongated circuit board, the ribbon cable extending outwardly from each end of the board and along an elongated probe-body; internal gas-permeable and generally liquid impermeable barrier assembly disposed within the cam-twist inter-connect mechanism between the elongated PCBA housed within the probe-body and an electrical connector of the cam-twist interconnect mechanism; and if used, a vented cable assembly, or other means of transmitting sensor data collected by sensing circuitry within a submersed probe-end. Also, an extender assembly for use with the submersible probe. At each end portion of the extender assembly is either a male cam-twist type interconnect piece or a female cam-twist type interconnect piece. The length-extender assembly may be electrically adapted to house one or more battery cells.
US07832293B2
A method and device for continuously drawing and mixing liquid samples originating from at least two different containers are described. The device comprises a mixing chamber, which is connected to each of the containers. The device is characterized in that it comprises, between the container and the mixing chamber, at least one intermediate sample chamber for each container, being connected in order to transfer all or a portion of the sampled liquid to the mixing chamber. The device has a vertical configuration.
US07832291B2
A method of making a measurement of binding affinity of a sample comprises the steps of: introducing the sample into a well having a bottom formed as a photonic crystal biosensor, wherein a portion of the sample becomes bound to the biosensor; making a measurement of the change in the shift in peak wavelength value as a function of time (kon) from the well as the sample is introduced into the well; simultaneously dispensing the sample to the well and aspirating the sample from the well and measuring the change in the shift in peak wavelength value as a function of time (koff) during the simultaneous dispensing and aspirating, and calculating an equilibrium association constant or an equilibrium dissociation constant for the sample from the values of kon and koff.
US07832288B2
A method for determining the force at the hub of a wheel of a vehicle while traveling. The wheel includes a rim and at least one deformation sensor directly associated with the rim in at least one predetermined position and arranged according to at least one predetermined orientation. The method includes the steps of detecting at least one deformation component of the rim during travel through the at least one deformation sensor; applying to the at least one deformation component, during travel, a correlation parameter characteristic of the rim, between the force at the hub and the relative deformation of the rim to determine at least one force component at the hub correlated with the at least one deformation component of the rim. The determining of the correlation parameter preferably takes place through experimental tests that include the steps of providing a sample wheel having a rim substantially the same as that of the wheel and determining at least one correlation coefficient between at least one force component acting upon the sample wheel at the hub along at least one predetermined direction and at least one respective deformation component of the rim of the wheel.
US07832287B2
An assembly for positioning a torque sensor having a receiver and a transmitter is provided. The assembly includes a first annular member, wherein the receiver is coupled to the first annular member. A second annular member is disposed proximate the first annular member. A bearing assembly is disposed between the first annular member and the second annular member. The bearing assembly includes a first race formed to the first annular member, a second race formed to the second annular member, and a bearing disposed between the first race and the second race for allowing the first race and the second race to rotate relative to one another. A radially extending member is coupled to the second race. The receiver is radially displaced from the bearing assembly and the transmitter is mounted to a mounting surface of the radially extending member opposite the receiver at a predefined axial distance.
US07832282B2
An ultrasonic measurement system for measuring a flow in a conduit. Spaced ultrasonic signal transmitters are configured to launch a ultrasonic beams having a center axis of maximum intensity. Receiving transducers are configured to receive modulated signal energy from the beams and are located off the center axis of the beams to increase the modulation of the signal energy and to produce receiver output signals. A processing subsystem is configured to correlate the receiver output signals to determine a time delay indicative of the flow velocity in the conduit.
US07832280B2
An annular assembly, or ring cell, is provided for testing the load bearing capacity of piles. The ring cell walls of the annular assembly can be made of stamped material. The ring cell walls can be an outer ring wall and an inner ring wall. Alternately, the ring cell walls can have a “U”-type shape cross-section including an outer ring wall, an inner ring wall, and a top wall. Fluid can be provided to the annular assembly through fluid supply lines into an expansion zone. The expansion zone can be a space having a bladder for filling with fluid. In another embodiment, the expansion zone can be a space between a filler material capable of withstanding high pressure separated with a membrane. The pressure of the fluid in the expansion zone can be monitored during testing.
US07832266B1
A resin weathervane having a weathervane tube mounted within a resin weathervane figurine with stabilizing support rods coupled to an upper portion of the weathervane tube and a belt of fiberglass material wrapped at least partially around the tube and the stabilizing support rods wherein a resin mixture poured into a mold forms a resin weathervane of a desired configuration with the resin bonding the tube, the stabilizing support rods and the fiberglass wrap.
US07832263B2
A sensor system for obtaining data from an elastomeric article includes at least one wireless sensor. The sensor length-scales range from nano- to micro-scale devices that are small enough to avoid becoming occlusions within the article. The article may include sensors embedded within one of the materials of the article, a layer of sensors built into the article, and a string of sensors disposed within a component or embedded within a component of the article. The sensors may be configured to provide data related to one or more of temperature, pressure, sidewall flex, stress, strain and other parameters. The sensors may be LCD sensors, and/or conductive polymer sensors, and/or bio-polymer sensors and/or polymer diodes suitable for sensing data during the operation of the tire. A power circuit using energy generated by the tire may provide power to the sensors.
US07832261B2
A device for determining the saturation point of a vacuum brake booster having a vacuum chamber and a working chamber that are separated from one another by a membrane. The reaching of the saturation point can be recognized simply and precisely if the vacuum prevailing in the vacuum chamber is measured using a pressure sensor, and the output signal of the pressure sensor is evaluated by an electronic evaluation system that calculates the saturation point using a mathematical function, taking into account only the pressure prevailing in the vacuum chamber.
US07832246B2
An installation for processing material in strip form, such as a sealing strip that has been removed from a roll of material, comprises a rotary head, by means of which one end of the material in strip form can be grasped and on which said material in strip form can be wound, and guide means for guiding the material in strip form in the peripheral direction during winding. The guide means have a movable guide section that can be shifted between an open and a closed position, respectively, such that in the open position the wound-up material in strip found can be removed from the guide means.
US07832238B2
Locks for luggage, travelcases, briefcases and the like that can be operated by setting a combination or by using a key include an indicator to provide a signal in response to use of the key. The locks retain relatively movable components in latched engagement when locked, and permit relative movement of the components when unlocked. In some embodiments, the indicator provides a visual signal if an associated travelcase has been opened for inspection by unlocking the associated lock using a key; and, in some embodiments, the indicator can be reset upon entry of a proper combination.
US07832237B2
An automatic washing machine comprises a spin tube coupled to the basket and an agitator shaft coupled to an agitator mounted in the basket. A motor coupled to the agitator shaft applies a torque the agitator shaft and thereby the agitator in first and second torque directions. A clutch couples the spin tube to the agitator shaft for cooperative rotation of the basket and the agitator regardless of the rotational direction of the agitator shaft. Because of the dual directionality of the clutch, reversing the motor simultaneously dynamically brakes the basket and the agitator, thereby eliminating the need for a separate friction brake for the basket.
US07832212B2
A premixing device includes an air inlet, at least one fuel inlet slot having a wall profile configured to form a fuel boundary layer along a portion of a wall of the premixing device, a mixing chamber, and at least one diverging fuel injection slot jet disposed inside the at least one fuel inlet slot, the slot jet being configured to create a flow separation region in a diverging portion thereof to generate mixing turbulence at an outlet of the slot jet to aerodynamically enhance a mixing of the fuel from the boundary layer with compressed air without causing a boundary layer flow separation and a flame holding in the mixing chamber. Low-emission combustors, gas turbine combustors, methods for premixing a fuel and an oxidizer in a combustion system, a gas turbine, and a gas to liquid system using the premixing device are also disclosed.
US07832209B2
Miniaturised device, which can operate as an engine or a cooler according to a Stirling thermodynamic cycle, comprising an expansion chamber and a compression chamber, which are interconnected by means of a regenerator enabling the working fluid to flow through from the expansion chamber to the compression chamber, and vice versa, under the effect of the movement of a displacing mechanism, a fraction of the compression chamber being mobile and operating as a piston in order to modify the volume of the said compression chamber, characterized in that it also comprises a complementary chamber which is connected to the compression chamber by means of a complementary connection channel, the said complementary chamber being at an intermediate temperature between the temperature of the compression chamber and the temperature of the expansion chamber, the complementary chamber being separated from the expansion chamber by means of the displacing mechanism.
US07832194B2
In a device for restraining the deterioration of a catalytic apparatus of an internal combustion engine of the present invention, when the temperature of the catalytic apparatus arranged in the engine exhaust system is higher than a predetermined temperature in a vehicle deceleration, a fuel-cut of the engine is prohibited and a first motor-generator MG2 connected with the vehicle drive shaft 6 is operated as a generator to charge an electrical accumulator 8.
US07832193B2
A method of assembling a gas turbine assembly includes providing a core gas turbine engine including a high-pressure compressor, a combustor, and a turbine, coupling a low-pressure turbine to the core gas turbine engine, coupling a booster compressor to a gearbox, and coupling the gearbox to the low-pressure turbine such that the booster compressor is driven by the low-pressure turbine.
US07832177B2
A hermetically sealed multi-pane window assembly comprises first and second windowpane sheets formed of transparent materials. A first sealing member has an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge being hermetically attached around the periphery of the first windowpane sheet by diffusion bonding. A second sealing member has an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge being hermetically attached around the periphery of the second windowpane sheet by diffusion bonding and the outer edge being hermetically attached to the outer edge of the first sealing member. A spacer assembly is disposed between the first and the second windowpane sheets for maintaining a gap therebetween, whereby a hermetically sealed cavity is defined between the first and the second windowpanes.
US07832172B2
A grating system provides enhanced see through characteristics and typically includes longitudinal deep bars, axial crossbars, axial filler bars between the crossbars and longitudinal joining bars which join the crossbars and filler bars to one another. The deep bars are part of a first subassembly and the other bars are part of a second subassembly which may be lowered to join the two subassemblies to one another. The crossbars and filler bars are seated on the deep bars with the crossbars typically within upwardly opening notches formed in the deep bars. The joining bars are typically above and aligned with the deep bars. The upper surfaces of the crossbars and filler bars are usually substantially flush with one another. The grating system is configured to support vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
US07832161B2
A corner joint element for bevel-edge tiles, comprising a first in-view surface (2) and a second in-view surface (8) which are incident to one another and reciprocally inclined by a predetermined angle, in which the first in-view surface (2) exhibits a first corner (3), defined by a union of two consecutive edges (5, 6), and a second corner (4), defined by a union of two consecutive edges (6, 7). Each corner exhibits at least a tract (5a, 6a, 6b, 7a), arranged in proximity of a respective corner (3, 4) of the corners, which is downwards-inclined with respect to the first in-view surface (2) on a perpendicular plane to the first in-view surface (2).
US07832160B2
Forming a fenestration unit which may have seismic safe properties and/or fire resistance rated properties for use in buildings and other structures includes edge attaching a panel of any applicable material, in a continuous fashion, to a supporting mullion by means of a bridging element that withstands and transfers stresses to the supporting mullion. Single or multiple insert parts may be attached to the bridging element and may be integrally embedded between multiple sheets composing the panel, or attached respectively in single or multiple grooves at the edge of the panel. The panel may be composed of multiple laminated sheets. A laminating interlayer between the sheets will hold the sheets together as one sheet. The interlayer can be a liquid that may cure to a rigid material. Alternatively, the interlayer may be provided between the multiple sheets and the assembly may be heated and pressed multiple times.
US07832155B1
A drop floor for a mobile home or a park model home creates additional space and headroom between the ceiling and floor. A home built according to the invention typically includes a frame supported upon an axle. The frame has numerous cross members extending between a pair of opposite side members and includes a first portion located at a first height with respect to the axle and a second portion located at a second height below the first height. A building structure is supported on the first and second frame portions. The invention includes a drop floor construction method where floor decking is attached to the second portion of the frame so that the floor decking is in contact with the frame and located at the second height, which is below the first height. The drop floor includes nailers, closure material and insulation so that the drop floor can rest upon the ground surface if desired.
US07832151B2
A prefabricated building structure having a collapsible roof and adapted to be transported by a road carrier vehicle is described. The prefabricated building structure is provided with at least opposed parallel load bearing side walls. A roof section having a plurality of spaced roof rafters is pivotally connected by one or more pivot connections to a respective one of a top plate of each of the load bearing side walls. The roof sections are interconnectable to one another when the roof sections are disposed angularly upwards to form a raised pitch roof structure. A leverage beam is connectable to one of the rafters of each roof section and is securable to a cable which is secured to a pulley whereby to permit the roof sections to be raised or lowered.
US07832143B2
A high-throughput method is provided for analyzing individual seeds in a population of seeds. The method generally includes removing a tissue sample from at least one or more seeds in the population of seeds while preserving germination viability of the at least one or more seeds from which the tissue sample is taken, depositing the tissue sample into an individual compartment of a sample tray, contacting the tissue sample with an extraction buffer to remove DNA from the sample, and analyzing the extracted DNA for the presence or absence of a transgene of interest. The extraction buffer may be present in the individual compartment of the sample tray before the tissue sample is deposited into the individual compartment.
US07832137B2
The present invention relates to target acquisition and related devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges at stationary and moving targets.
US07832136B2
Firearm safety devices are described that enable the safe operation, training, storage, display, and transportation of firearms. The firearm safety devices, referred to herein as “safety casing” devices, are configured for easy insertion and removal from a firearm without risk of damage to the firearm. The safety casing devices clearly indicate to those handling and observing the host firearm that the firearm chamber is free or devoid of a live round and thus safe because the firearm cannot be fired. The safety casing devices permit the firearm to be used in training exercises, including dry fire practice, while preventing accidental discharge.
US07832132B2
A sign device comprises a unitary body which is fully enclosed across a top and sides of a hollow interior so as to be weatherproof. A display supported within the hollow interior is arranged to display alpha-numeric information through a translucent display portion on the front wall of the unitary body in an active state and is arranged to be not externally visible through the display portion in an inactive state. The exterior surface is textured and arranged to resemble a natural rock to further disguise the inactive display. An indicator indicates on the rear wall which one of various modes is being displayed on the front wall by the active display. The display can display an alarm condition, for example a building alarm responsive to a fire or an unauthorized entry into a building or a personal remote alarm activated by a building occupant requiring assistance.
US07832131B2
The present invention relates to an afterglowing sign printed with afterglowing pigments. The sign is made of a material with a coloured surface on which the afterglowing pigment is printed, and the coloured substrate shines through the print with the afterglowing pigment.
US07832126B2
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, which can comprise a bucket excavation controller. The bucket excavation controller can be adapted to control one or more digging functions of a mining excavator. For example, the bucket excavation controller can be adapted to automatically control a crowd motion of the mining excavator.
US07832122B2
A heel cup can be inserted into a shoe in order to define a posterior upward projection and lateral wings which surround the posterior and lateral faces of the calcaneum and which, through lateral notches, define a preferential deformation zone at, and in the direction of, the subtalar cone of the tibiotarsal joint. Moreover, a sufficiently-rigid connecting zone connects the posterior upward projection and the lateral wings, thus providing the shoe with good stability while enabling inversion and eversion foot movements. In this way, comfort is increased considerably, while the risk of articular injuries is reduced since the subtalar articulation is contained correctly upon reaching the limit thereof.
US07832117B2
A full length composite plate to be used as part of an outsole assembly in an article of footwear is disclosed. The full length composite plate comprises a composite material that has a certain percent elongation. The full length composite plate can include a heel cup for heel stability and improved traction. The full length composite plate also can include two angled portions along an arch region that provide arch support, as well as two flattened edges along the arch region to minimize or eliminate buckling. The forefoot region can be relatively flatter than the arch and heel regions, and notches are preferably included along a portion of the forefoot to increase flexibility.
US07832114B2
Provided herein are devices and methods for mounting variously configured medical imaging probes to a tracker assembly for imaging applications. In one aspect, a tracker assembly provides multiple degrees of freedom for positioning a probe relative to a patient and/or maintaining a probe in a desired location for imaging purposes. The tracker generates location information that may be utilized as frame of reference information for acquired images. In another aspect a holding device allows for interfacing/holding differently configured probes in a common orientation to a predetermined frame of reference.
US07832111B2
A system and device for detecting yaw and changes in pitch angle for use with navigational and positional devices. The system and device include a multi-axis magnetic field sensing device and a controller. Preferably, the magnetic field sensing device is a multi-axis magnetic compass that is capable of sensing variations in pitch and yaw. The controller is adapted to process yaw and pitch rotational data to determine a positive or a negative change in pitch.
US07832105B2
A manually operable cutting tool for removing vegetation from a body of water such as along the shoreline of a pond or lake includes a handle and a pair of angularly adjustable cutting blades. The blades are selectively, pivotally adjustable between fully open and fully closed angular positions for ease and safety of handling. An optional floatation bar may be provided for attaching to the blades which allows the blades to be pulled across the surface of the water for collecting floating weeds.
US07832102B2
In a link rod manufacturing method, a bracket material (14) having a ring portion and a mounting projection (15) is made by extrusion molding a material at the length corresponding to a plurality of brackets. On a forward end of the mounting projection (15), an engaging projection (17) with upper and lower steps (7a, 7a) is formed. An arm (2) is made by extrusion molding and regular-size cutting a material in a substantially I-shaped configuration which has a pair of first and second walls (20, 21) parallel extending on upper and lower sides and a third wall (22) crossing at a right angle and connecting these walls. A notch (23) is formed on an end of the third wall (22). When the engaging projection (17) is engaged with the notch (23), each of ends of the first and second walls (20, 21) on the side of ends 2a of the arm 2 is fitted onto the step (7a, 7a) and butted against a vertical wall (17b). Surfaces in the vicinity of butted portions (6) formed in this way forms a plane tool traveling surface and are supported on the insides thereof by the engaging projection (17) to prevent deformation. Therefore, the friction stir welding is carried out along the butt portion (6).
US07832101B2
A method and an assembly for fastening at least one screw nut to be tightened of a rotor blade bearing of a wind turbine are provided. A screw nut driver assembly is provided at a rotatable portion of the rotor blade bearing, the screw nut driver assembly being adapted to automatically tighten the at least one screw nut. The screw nut driver assembly is aligned with the screw nut to be tightened by rotating the rotatable portion with a pitch drive of the wind turbine. Then the screw nut is tightened using the screw nut driver assembly.
US07832100B2
A seal assembly and method for the manufacture thereof is provided. The seal assembly provides a dynamic fluid seal between a housing having a bore and a shaft having an outer running surface rotating within the bore. The seal assembly comprises a rigid carrier for supporting the seal assembly within the bore of the housing. A flexible member is mounted to the rigid carrier. The flexible member is formed from an elastomeric material that allows the flexible member to flex during use. A sealing element is retained by the flexible member about the outer running surface. The sealing element is formed from a non-polytetrafluoroethylene bearing grade plastic material having a hardness relatively greater than a hardness of the elastomeric material of the flexible member. The sealing element moves with the flexible member as the flexible member flexes. The sealing element extends along the outer running surface in a plurality of helically wound convolutions.
US07832095B2
A method of producing a land grid array (LGA) interposer structure, including an electrically insulating carrier plane, and at least one interposer mounted on a first surface of said carrier plane. The interposer possesses a hemi-toroidal configuration in transverse cross-section and is constituted of a dielectric elastomeric material. A plurality of electrically-conductive elements are arranged about the surface of the at least one hemi-toroidal interposer and extend radically inwardly and downwardly from an uppermost end thereof into electrical contact with at least one component located on an opposite side of the electrically insulating carrier plane.
US07832092B2
A printed wiring board includes a plurality of conductor plates that includes at least one conductor plate that is used as a lead for electrical connection with an external circuit, the conductor plates being separated spatially from one another; an insulating layer formed on or across the conductor plates or both on and across the conductor plates; and a plurality of wiring patterns formed on the insulating layer. At least one of the conductor plates is electrically connected with at least one of the wiring patterns through a via-hole.
US07832080B2
A directional microphone assembly for a hearing aid, and methods of assembling a directional microphone, are provided. The hearing aid has one or more microphone cartridge(s), and first and second sound passages. Inlets to the sound passages, or the sound passages themselves, are spaced apart such that the shortest distance between them is less than or approximately equal to the length of the microphone cartridge(s). A sound duct and at least one surface of a microphone cartridge may form each sound passage, where the sound duct is mounted with the microphone cartridge. Alternatively, each sound duct may be formed as an integral part of a microphone cartridge.
US07832076B2
An improved seal and method for providing a watertight compression joint connection between a valve or fitting and a flare end of a copper tubing in a water service. The improvement includes an O-ring seal on a bull nose end of a valve and a frictional material inserted into straight AWWA threads on a male inlet or outlet of the valve to sealingly engage a flared end of the copper tubing to the bull nose end and to frictionally engage a flare nut with the tubing back onto the matching bull nose end of the valve when screwing the flare nut onto the male threads of the valve, respectively.
US07832071B2
A device for extracting a nozzle assembly of a fuel injection installation. The nozzle assembly is pressed into a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, with a support pipe, with which the extraction device of the device is supported in the area surrounding the nozzle assembly on the valve cover during the extraction operation. To rule out deformations of the valve cover in case of strong tensile forces and extremely crowded space conditions, provisions are made according to the present invention for a divided support ring, which is formed from two ring sections, which can be placed individually on the valve cover in the area surrounding the nozzle assembly, to be able to be inserted between the support pipe of the extraction device and the surface of the valve cover.
US07832068B2
A method of producing a spread multi-filament bundle along with an apparatus used in the same, by which a multi-filament bundle is spread with high speed and facility, and a high quality spread multi-filament bundle or sheet with the component monofilaments thereof aligned in parallel widthwise and uniformly distributed in density is produced. The multi-filament bundle in carriage is subject to fluctuation of a tensile force applied thereto alternatively between tension and relaxation by locally and reciprocally pressing the bundle fed from a yarn supplier crosswise with regard to a moving course of the bundle, and the multi-filament bundle moving under the fluctuation passes in suspension through a fluid flowing portion, and the multi-filament bundle is subject to fluidal resistance while the bundle moving through the fluid flowing portion so as to bend the bundle towards a direction to which a fluid in use flows, and the fluid flows through an interstice between any adjacent monofilaments of the bundle whose bonding is slackened due to the fluidal resistance so as to widen the interstice.
US07832067B2
The stealthiness of a camouflage fabric product is enhanced by rendering the camouflage pattern in three dimensional relief. In one implementation, a treatment such as an anti-pill treatment is applied to selected portions of the pattern prior to a finishing process. In the case of a circular web fabric, the finishing process may involve fleecing the fabric. In this manner, a cost effective process is provided for constructing a three-dimensional relief camouflage fabric product.
US07832064B2
A fastener first member connects to a second member by a flexible tether. A third member having multiple deflectable wings slides onto the second member. A first member male pin extends through a third member aperture to engage second member biasing elements, joining the first, second and third members.
US07832061B2
Air guidance between a cellulose opener and a diaper machine is characterized in that the air used for removal and conveying to the diaper machine is guided back to the opener and is again used for fiber conveying. Specifically, air guidance achieved by designing the fiber opener in such manner that the exhaust air from the diaper machine which has conveyed the fibers to the diaper machine is guided back to the fiber opener and serves to remove the fibers from the opener roller.
US07832058B2
An exemplary swivel hinge assembly (10) includes a bracket (12), a hinge mechanism (14), a hinge follower mechanism (16), and a swivel mechanism (18). The hinge mechanism (14) and the hinge follower mechanism (16) are configured to provide the swivel hinge assembly (10) with rotation about a first rotational axis. The hinge mechanism (14) includes a first pivot shaft (154), a first connecting member (142), a positioning ring (146), a ring follower (144), an elastic member (148), a cam (150), and a cam follower (152). The hinge follower mechanism (16) includes a second connecting member (162) and a second pivot shaft (166). The swivel mechanism (18) is connected to the bracket (12) and configured to provide the swivel hinge assembly (10) with rotation about a second rotational axis.
US07832047B2
The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) comprising a supporting element (12), on whose one side a wiper strip (14) can be mounted and on whose other side a connecting device (16) for a wiper arm (18) can be mounted, and which has two longitudinal rails (38) that are fixed relative to one another via bridges (40) and covered by caps (30, 70) at their ends (42). It is proposed that at least one cap (30, 70) consist of several parts and have a basic body (32, 72) and at least one moveable part (34, 74), wherein the basic body (32, 72) establishes a connection to the longitudinal rails (38), and the moveable part (34, 74) directly and/or indirectly fixes the wiper strip (14).
US07832039B2
A mattress includes a core portion having independently inflatable head, seat and foot zones, each of which includes at least an A bladder and a B bladder. Pressure within all the core portion A bladders is adjustable separately from pressure within all the core portion B bladders. Pressure within the A bladders of a given zone are adjustable separately from pressure within the B bladders of the given zone. Pressure within the A bladders of a given zone are separately adjustable from pressure within the A bladders of zones other than the given zone, and pressure within the B bladders of a given zone are separately adjustable from pressure within the B bladders of zones other than the given zone.
US07832038B2
The invention relates to a fire resistant barrier and open flame resistant mattresses, mattress foundations, and upholstered articles having the fire resistant barrier therein for protection. The open flame resistance of the mattresses, mattress foundations, and upholstered articles is determined under a full-scale fire test of a composite article.
US07832028B2
A fine-bubble generator is capable of supplying a fluid mixed with a large quantity of fine bubbles into a fluid without causing an unnecessary liquid flow and turbulent flow in the objective fluid. The fine-bubble generator is constructed by arranging two fine-bubble generating sections in a rectangular parallelepiped casing with spouts of the fine-bubble generating sections facing each other. The fine-bubble generating sections have fluid rotating chambers each composed of a circumferential wall provided around an imaginary center line and partition walls arranged at both ends of the circumferential wall, liquid introducing passages provided so as to communicate with the fluid rotating chambers in order to introduce a liquid along a direction that forms a position twisted relative to the imaginary center line, gas introducing passages opened in the partition wall of each of the fluid rotating chambers in order to introduce a gas into each of the fluid rotating chambers, and spouts opened in the partition walls.
US07832024B2
A system capable of generating foam in a sanitary appliance includes a dosing device previously filled with a foaming substance, the dosing device metering a dosage of the substance, an agitation mechanism to agitate the substance to create foam, a receptacle to retain the substance for communication with the agitation mechanism, a fluid supply to allow fluid transport of the substance to the receptacle, and a trigger for activating the fluid supply. A dosing device of this system is further provided, including a container filled with a foaming substance, a positioner to position and house the container, the positioner further including a pin capable of creating a bottom aperture of the container, a fluid supply, wherein the outlet of the fluid supply is directed at the aperture on the bottom end of the container. A container is also provided that can be used in the dosing device.
US07832023B2
The protective helmet includes a rigid outer shell where the shell includes an undulating cross-sectional profile. A layer of impact-energy-absorbing material is positioned adjacent to the shell. The undulating profile of the shell can be any type of load spreading undulating profile, such as that of a sinusoidal or triangular wave configuration. The undulating load-spreading profile can be on the inner surface of the shell, on the outer surface of the shell or the entire cross-section of the shell may be undulating. The unique undulating profile makes the shell more rigid and spreads the impact load across the surface of the shell to thereby spread the deformation of the padding layer to prevent the shell from bottoming out of the impact-energy-absorbing material during an impact. As a result, a safer and more effective protective helmet is provided.
US07832019B1
A sterile glove includes a hand and finger portion and a cuff having an inside surface and an outside surface. The cuff is adapted to be folded over at a fold when the glove is packaged in a sterile package and the fold forms an opening for inserting a hand into the glove. A stretching mechanism is coupled substantially near or on the fold and is adapted to increase a size of the opening while donning the glove. At least a portion of the stretching mechanism is detachable. The stretching mechanism has an unstretched state and a stretched state, and the stretching mechanism is in the unstretched state when the glove is packaged.
US07832017B2
A leg guard for a baseball catcher includes asymmetrical knee and shin portions. The knee and shin portions include a rigid plate attached to pad. The knee portion has medial extensions of both the plate and pad to provide additional protection to the medial side of the knee when the catcher is in the crouch position. Similarly, the rigid plate of the shin portion also has a generally rectangular shape, with the medial side longer than the lateral side for additional protection of the medial side of the leg. The knee portion is generally curved. This shape stabilizes and protects the knee in transitioning from the crouch position to the blocking position and from the blocking position back to the crouch position or to an upright throwing stance.
