US08038234B2
A device for mounting of drawer front panels, which are adjustable laterally and vertically by bolts 7, 8 equipped with a thread 11 and with an eccentric, respectively, wherein the bolts 7, 8 are guided in the device 5 approximately perpendicularly to the drawer bottom and are accessible from above, wherein the threaded bolt 7 reaches through a tap hole 12 and the eccentric bolt 8 reaches through an oblong hole 16 of the device, and are supported on an undersurface 17 of the edge frame 1.
US08038233B2
A device for supporting glass panels in a substantially perpendicular position to each other. The device includes a block having a plate intended for gluing to a respective glass panel, at least one structurally separate right-angled element having a plate intended for gluing to a respective panel and a fixing device for adjustable fixation of the at least one right-angled element to said the block.
US08038224B2
A motor-vehicle wheel structure comprises a wheel rim and a wheel disk having a circumferential border bent and welded within the rim, and a central portion bearing a circumferential series of holes for engagement of bolts for fixing the wheel to the wheel support. The central portion is connected to the circumferential border of the disk by an intermediate annular portion having in cross section an arched configuration projecting outwards. Welded on the outer face of the wheel disk is an auxiliary disk having a substantially plane conformation, the outer border of which is welded to the main disk substantially in a position corresponding to the apex of the aforesaid projecting annular portion. The auxiliary disk integrates tubular columns that project from the inner face of the auxiliary disk and have their ends welded to the central portion of the main disk so that they are co-axial to the holes for the fixing bolts.
US08038222B2
An actively ventilated vehicle seat includes a lower air-impermeable seat cushion or backrest part, an air-permeable intermediate layer made of a spacer fabric and an upholstered cover. The vehicle seat is divided into upholstered areas which are delimited from each other by seams anchored at the air-impermeable seat cushion. Air bridges are provided which extend transversely to the seams for connecting the intermediate layer between the individual upholstered areas. An unobstructed seat ventilating system and a permanently secure attachment of the seams are achieved in a simple manner in terms of production and without affecting the seating comfort in that the air bridges are integrated all around into the air-impermeable seat cushion and the seams are anchored above the air bridges in the air-impermeable material of the upholstered part covering the air bridges.
US08038220B2
A vehicle seat headrest (14) is mounted on a vehicle seat back (12) for infinite position vertical adjustment by helical spring clamping and unclamping of a support shaft of the headrest.
US08038219B2
A vehicle seat is disclosed that provides longitudinal adjustment and height adjustment of a head restraint by actuation of a manual release. One embodiment discloses a vehicle seat with a rod extending from a seat back and a frame mounted to the rod. A head restraint is mounted to the frame by a linkage to extend and retract. A locking mechanism cooperates with the head restraint and the frame for permitting incremental locking positions of the head restraint relative to the frame. A manual release releases the locking mechanism to extend and retract the head restraint relative to the rod. Another embodiment includes an eccentric mechanism pivotally connected to the frame. A wire spring is mounted to the frame for engaging a notch in the rod. An actuator rotates an eccentric mechanism for disengaging the wire spring from the notch in the rod for permitting height adjustment.
US08038213B2
A child safety seat system having sensing and notification abilities includes a child safety seat, a proximity sensor, a presence sensor, and a transmitter. The proximity sensor is configured to detect when a wireless receiver is located outside a predefined distance of the child safety seat. The presence sensor is configured to detect presence of a person in the child safety seat. The transmitter is configured to transmit a wireless signal to the wireless receiver when the presence sensor detects the presence of a person in the child safety seat and the wireless receiver is located outside the predefined distance. Furthermore, the wireless signal configured to cause the wireless receiver to generate an alert.
US08038209B2
A child restraint includes a juvenile vehicle seat and an energy-absorption apparatus coupled to the juvenile vehicle seat. The energy-absorption apparatus is configured to absorb external energy associated with an external impact force applied to the energy-absorption apparatus.
US08038207B2
A child seat that can be used as either a rocker or a booster. The child seat has a frame that includes a pair of leg portions having respective curved sections on which the child seat can be rocked back and forth. The same frame includes a pair of arm arrangements that can be engaged to an object such as a table such that the child seat can hang off the table and extend into the air. When engaged to the table, such as to the edge of the table, the seat frame portion of the child seat can be angularly adjusted as to a remaining portion of the frame such that the child seat can recline whether the child seat is in use as a booster or as a rocker. The seat portion of the frame is disposed within the arm arrangement and leg portions of the frame. The frame clamps tightly to the table via the frame resiliently biting into the table when a lock is swung into position.
US08038203B2
The invention relates to an automobile floor (1) that comprises two rails (2) symmetrically arranged relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, each rail (2) including two metal sheets (3) having a U section and superimposed in order to define a hollow body, one of the metal sheets (3) having a U section extending under the floor (1) while the other metal sheet extends above the floor (1), the ends of the side flanges of each of the metal sheets (3) having a U section being welded to the metal sheet of the floor (1), and each rail (2) including a bent area (2a), characterised in that the upper base (3a) of the U section of the metal sheet (3) extending above the floor (1) includes, in the bent area (2a) and solely in said bent area (2a), at least one reinforcement rib (5) obtained by folding said metal sheet (3).
US08038200B2
A cabriolet includes a displaceable roof that can be secured in its closed position on a windscreen frame. To secure the roof, the cabriolet is equipped with at least two displaceable engagement bodies and at least one associated drive, which interacts with the engagement bodies to transmit the drive force via intermediary elements having a component that extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The drive includes a drive member, which is generally parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle on the plane of the intermediary elements and which is used to displace a gear that controls the displacement of one or more intermediary elements by means of a coupling member that lies on the plane of the drive member.
US08038198B2
A vehicle seat includes a support base, a seat back tiltably supported on the support base, a seat cushion, a first link and a second link. Each of the first and second links is pivotally coupled to the support base and the seat cushion, so that a quadrant link mechanism is formed by the support base, the seat cushion, the first link and the second link. A coupling device couples the seat back to the first link at a position between a first coupling point and a second coupling point. The first coupling point couples the first link to the seat cushion, and the second coupling point couples the first link to the support base.
US08038191B2
A pick and place apparatus includes a plurality of device holing elements in a predetermined arrangement; a power supply mechanism for supplying a power for controlling a horizontal pitch between the plurality of device holding elements; a power transmission mechanism for delivering the power from the power supply mechanism to the plurality of device holding elements as a translational force in a horizontal direction; a first linear motion guide mechanism for guiding horizontal movements of some of the plurality of device holding elements; and a second linear motion guide mechanism disposed below the first linear motion guide mechanism, for guiding horizontal movements of the other device holding elements. The plurality of device holding elements are slidably coupled to the first and the second linear motion guide mechanism alternately.
US08038189B2
In a tool for picking up and carrying dog dung that includes a container longitudinally swingably supported at the tip of a shaft part and a cover placed on the container to swing in a direction opposing the container. When an opening part of the container is covered with the cover, the container is upward positioned roughly perpendicularly to the shaft part When the dung is discharged, the container and the cover are opened to incline on one side of the shaft part, so that a tool washable by brushing because of the small number of support and operation members existing around the container. A shaft includes one shaft supporting unit at one end of the shaft part, the shaft supporting unit having a swing axis parallel to a cover swing axis. The container is longitudinally swingably supported so that its container supported part formed on one side of the rear outer wall near the opening part and having the same axis as the cover swing axis is supported on the shaft supporting unit. The operating member includes an operation unit retained on the shaft part. The container swings about the swing axis of the shaft supporting unit while the cover swings about the cover swing axis in a direction opposing the container.
US08038184B2
The invention concerns a catching device (1) between a first structure (2) and a second structure (3), characterized in that it comprises at least one bolt (5) linked to the first structure and mounted in opposition to at least one elastic return (9) tending to bring it back to a retracted position, a stop (10) corresponding to the second structure being adapted to maintain it in a taut state when the latter is proximate the first structure, such that when the first structure is rapidly spaced apart from the second structure, each bolt is engaged with at least one corresponding retainer (4) so as to limit the relative spacing and, when the first structure is slowly spaced apart from the second structure, each bolt and corresponding retainer remain separated, thereby allowing complete opening between the first structure and the second structure.
US08038174B2
A slip joint clamp is disclosed which structurally replaces cracked welded joints in the core spray downcomer slip joint coupling, which is part of the lower portion of internal core spray piping internal to a reactor vessel of a Boiling Water Reactor plant. The internal piping delivers core spray cooling water to the reactor core region. The clamp assembly consists of a primary clamp housing and a secondary clamp housing, which are rotationally joined together by a hinge assembly including a hinge pin. The clamp assembly is installed at a desired elevation relative to the downcomer slip joint, and then secured to the downcomer piping by installing coupling bolts and associated coupling bolt keeper nuts that hold the primary and secondary clamp housings in a facing relationship to one another around the downcomer slip joint.
US08038173B2
A telescopic extension (1) for an electric household appliance is described, said extension comprising: an inner tube (2) and an outer tube (3) which are slidable one inside the other; a sleeve (4) fixed to the outer tube; a fastener (5) able to lock together said inner tube and the outer tube; a slider co-operating with the fastener via the action of a first spring and a second spring (73); and an actuating handle (8) operationally connected to said slider. The inner tube is provided with a plurality of recesses (23) able to receive, at least partially, the fastener. The outer tube comprises a tunnel (31) for retaining the slider and for guiding it during displacement. The tunnel is formed by suitably shaping the outer tube. The sleeve comprises a recessed area (46) for retaining the slider and guiding it during displacement.
US08038170B2
A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus includes a four-point seat belt that has a pair of right and left shoulder webbings; and air belt portions that are respectively provided for the pair of right and left shoulder webbings. The air belt portions receive gas supplied from an inflator and then deploy so as to restrain a head H of an occupant P from moving forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
US08038168B2
An injection molded plastic instrument panel P.S.I.R. hidden door milling method including applying a stiff tape, having a hardness greater than a hardness of the plastic instrument panel, to a plastic instrument panel surface to be milled to prevent flexing of the surface during milling. The method may further include milling the surface along a generally width-wise central location of the tape, and removing the tape upon completion of the milling, with the method thereby minimizing burrs along edges of the milled surface. The invention also provides an injection molded plastic instrument panel P.S.I.R. hidden door, and a plastic automotive panel made by method described herein.
US08038159B2
A transport cart for attaching to a patient care apparatus having a locking system that converts the forward caster of the transport cart from an omni-directional pivotable caster to a fixed directional device by restraining its pivoting about a vertical axis. The forward caster is located at about the center of the footprint of the combined transport cart/patient care apparatus and the fixed directional movement of the forward caster provides stability in moving the combined apparatus. The locking mechanism may be internal to the caster or may have a pair of pivotable lock arms that contact the patient care apparatus as the two are brought together and the pivotable lock arms pivot to a locked position where they sandwich the caster therebetween to restrain its ability to pivot. The locking mechanism automatically or manually releases the forward caster to again freely pivot when the transport cart/patient care apparatus are separated.
US08038157B2
An ice skate strip-blade holder that provides a means to remove, replace, tension, and maintain tension in a strip-blade fastened and tensioned on the holder. In a preferred embodiment, the strip-blade holder assembly includes a front segment fixed to the skate plastic superstructure; a latched, pivoting rear segment arranged to apply and maintain tension in the strip-blade. In a preferred embodiment, the pivot and latch are positioned such that the pivot carries the majority of the tensile load maintained in the strip-blade and the latch carries a minor component of this tensile load. This arrangement provides for easy latch release. The latch provides release of the rear segment for subsequent pivoting and unhooking of the strip-blade for replacement.
US08038155B2
A non-contacting rotary face seal assembly includes a first sealing member, including a first sealing face and a first magnetic element; and a second sealing member, including a second sealing face and a second magnetic element. The first and second magnetic elements of the first and second sealing members provide a magnetic repulsion force between the first and second magnetic elements such that the magnetic repulsion force separates the first and second sealing faces before hydrodynamic or hydrostatic forces associated with rotation of the second sealing member become sufficient to prevent the first and second sealing faces from contacting.
US08038150B2
A method of measuring a thickness of a sheet being conveyed on a transport path includes rotating a substantially cylindrical reference surface disposed in the transport path and engaging a probe with the reference surface to determine a runout value for each of a set of positions along a circumference of the reference surface. The method further includes conveying the sheet on the transport path so that the sheet contacts the reference surface at one position of the set, engaging the probe with the sheet at the one position to determine a measured sheet thickness value, and adjusting the measured sheet thickness value based on the runout value for the one position to obtain an actual sheet thickness value.
US08038149B2
An apparatus for registering sheet material while being conveyed along a feed path including: (i) a conveyance deck for conveying sheet material along a support surface, (ii) a registration member defining an abutment surface operative to align an edge of the sheet material as the sheet material is conveyed along the support surface of the conveyance deck, and (iii) a drive mechanism disposed adjacent to the registration member and along the conveyance deck. The drive mechanism includes a flexible belt disposed about and supported by at least two rolling elements, and a means for driving the flexible belt about the rolling elements. The flexible belt includes a twisted section defining a plurality of spiral edge segments operative to (i) frictionally engage a surface of the sheet material to urge the sheet material against the abutment surface and (ii) convey the sheet material along the conveyance deck.
US08038145B2
A printer comprising a cover, and a stacker that is attached to the cover, the stacker being supported pivotably about a pivot axis on the cover between a protruding position where the stacker receives paper discharged from the printer, and a retracted position rotated a predetermined angle from the protruding position.
US08038140B2
A document feeding device includes a carrying unit capable of carrying documents, a drawing device drawing and supplying the documents, a drawing device drive source driving the drawing device, a separation unit including a separation device to separate the documents one by one, a separation device drive source driving the separation device, a conveying device conveying the documents, a reading unit including a reading device to read information of the documents, a discharge device discharging the documents, a first document detector provided between a document set position and the separation unit to detect the documents, and a second document detector provided downstream of the separation unit and near a separation position to detect the documents. The first and second document detectors detect the trailing end of each of the documents to control the operation of the drawing device on the basis of the result of the detection.
US08038138B2
A finisher includes: a holding unit; a stapling unit; a discharge unit; and a control unit. The finisher forms a part of a second sheet bundle subsequent to a first sheet bundle until discharging the first sheet bundle. The holding unit receives a sheet of the first sheet bundle and the subsequent sheet within a first period. The holding unit receives the last sheet of the first sheet bundle and a first sheet of the second sheet bundle within a second period as same length as the first period. The holding unit receives a sheet of the second sheet bundle and the subsequent sheet within a third period different from the second period in time length.
US08038133B2
A vibrating device has at least one dampening portion. The dampening portion comprises a first tube, a second tube and a layer of resilient material configured so that the first tube is disposed about the second tube, and the layer of resilient material is positioned between the first and second tubes.
US08038132B2
A hydraulic bushing assembly includes an inner tube, an elastomeric bushing disposed around the inner tube, an insert disposed around the elastomeric bushing and an outer tube disposed around the insert. The elastomeric bushing and the insert define a pair of chambers which are connected by a passageway defined by the insert. A pair of intermediate tubes are disposed in the elastomeric bushing at opposite axial ends of the insert.
US08038130B2
A two-stroke engine with external fuel mixture generation in a carburetor. The engine including a suction funnel having an interior disposed upstream of the carburetor. The engine further includes a tapered insert having a narrow end and a wide end disposed in an area of an inlet port of the suction funnel. The insert at least partially defines the interior of the suction funnel, and the insert tapers in a flow direction of air flow from the wide end to the narrow end. Accordingly, a diameter of the interior of the suction funnel adjacent to the narrow end of the insert is substantially larger when compared to the narrow end of the insert.
US08038123B2
A fluid handling device, such as a needlefree access device, includes a housing having an inlet and an inlet channel; and a flow control member comprising a combination outlet, biasing and piston member. The flow control member includes a piston section moveable between a closed position in which the piston section is in the inlet channel and an open position in which the piston section is inside the housing below the inlet channel but allows fluid to flow through the inlet channel; a biasing section connected to the piston section that normally biases the piston section into the inlet channel; and an outlet section connected to the biasing section having an outlet fitting in fluid communication with the inside of the housing. The piston section, biasing section and outlet section are connected together such that they can be handled as one piece when assembled with the housing to make the needlefree access device. The access device can be configured as a Y-site access device, or used on other devices such as an IV bag. A check valve made by a two shot molding process is also disclosed.
US08038121B2
A fluid control valve includes a valve housing having an inlet and an outlet. A metering plug is located within the valve housing, and is configured to move linearly within the valve housing along a valve axis between an open position to allow fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet, and a closed position to block fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet. A reference plane is oriented perpendicular to the valve axis. The metering plug includes a nose portion having a sensing port in fluid communication with fluid flow at the outlet. The sensing port is oriented perpendicular to the valve axis and generally parallel to the reference plane.
US08038115B2
A seat track includes a stationary rail and a movable rail. The stationary rail has a plurality of windows formed therein and a plurality of tabs formed adjacent to the windows. The moveable rail engages the stationary rail for relative movement in a first direction and for restricted movement in a second direction that is different from the first direction. The moveable rail has a J-hook that cooperates with the plurality of tabs of the stationary rail to restrict relative movement therebetween in the second direction.
US08038109B2
One embodiment of a support for a musical instrument, specifically a guitar. The Amplifier Mounted Guitar Stand is a device designed to hold a guitar while it is not being played and to attach to a wooden-side of an amplifier so that it is kept secure when not in use. The guitar and amplification device can be simultaneously moved around the stage as one unit. The device is made of molded plastic with foam covering on the arm and neck of the device to cushion the guitar. When not in use, pivoting supports, which enable the guitar to be stood upright against the attached plastic frame, are structured to be folded flat against the frame.
US08038107B1
A method of retaining a lawn waste bag in an open position for includes providing a yard waste bag having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall attached to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The perimeter wall has an upper edge defining an opening into an interior of the yard waste bag. A frame is provided as well as a plurality of legs each having has a top end and a bottom end. Each of the legs is pivotally coupled to the frame by one of the couplers. The yard waste bag is opened and the legs are extended into the yard waste bag and to abut the bottom ends against the bottom wall to retain the yard waste bag in an open configuration.
US08038101B2
Disclosed is an attitude change control system that is designed to efficiently output a torque for attitude change of a space craft using CMGs and realizes a real time CMG driving rule. A CMG gimbal steering law 15 generates target profiles for setting angle and angular velocity for each gimbal by applying an anisotropic weighted gradient method based upon the necessary torque calculated by a feed back controller 13 and a feed forward controller 14 from the angle and angular velocity in the target direction from the attitude navigator 12 and the current angle and angular velocity of the space craft estimated by the attitude estimator 11 as well as the current condition of each gimbal from the CMG 40, thereby controlling the CMG 40 for changing the attitude of the space craft dynamics 50 to the target direction.
US08038099B2
A bonded metal fuselage for aerospace vehicles includes a monocoque structure having an outer metal skin, metal tear straps bonded to the outer skin and metal stringers bonded to the outer skin and to the tear straps. The outer chords of fuselage frames are fastened directly to tear straps and to the skin, obviating the need for clips to fasten the frames to the stringers.
US08038097B1
The present disclosure includes various apparatus, system, and method embodiments for vehicle recovery. One embodiment includes an inflatable member for impact of a vehicle thereon, an inflation source for inflating the inflatable member, and where the inflatable member and inflation source are housed in a portable package.
US08038086B2
Self-correcting plate guards for installation over an orifice plate of a grinding machine are disclosed. Each plate guard has studs that fit into apertures of an orifice plate. The studs and apertures are sized so that the correct guard must be used with a particular orifice plate. Furthermore, the mounting ring that holds the orifice plate in place on the grinding machine cannot be tightened for use of the grinding machine without the plate guard being installed.
US08038077B1
A texturing system or texture material for applying a desired texture pattern on a patched portion of a surface. The texturing system comprises a texture material, a selecting system, and a dispensing system. The texture material comprises a carrier, a binder, a filler, and a change material.
US08038075B1
The present invention provides a system and method for manually balancing the volume of air supplied through at least one duct to a conditioned space the system including a damper rotatably mounted within the air duct by a damper shaft having a first and second ends, an electronic pulse actuator responsive to an electronic pulse being associated with the first end, a housing associated with the electronic pulse actuator is generally adapted for operably connecting the electronic pulse actuator to the air duct and a remote positioning unit in electric communication with the electronic pulse actuator where the damper is rotated between an open and a closed position for manually balancing the conditioned space to receive the desired volume of air.
US08038071B2
A smart card system may include a smart card; and a smart card reader configured to communicate via a smart card protocol with the smart card, wherein the smart card includes a modulus counter that generates an operation clock of the smart card by receiving an external clock complying with the smart card protocol from the smart card reader, dividing the external clock a first and a second time to generate a first and a second dividing clock, counting the first dividing clock for A number of times, and counting the second dividing clock for N-A number of times.
US08038067B2
A transaction card includes a base member, an auxiliary member, and an account identifier. The base member defines a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a spiral cut extending through the base to define a spiral portion. The spiral portion is stretched to extend in a conic helical form in front of a portion of the first surface defined by a remainder of the base member. The auxiliary member is coupled to the spiral portion opposite the portion of the first surface defined by the remainder of the base member. The account identifier is fixedly connected to one of the base member and the auxiliary member. The account identifier links the transaction card to at least one of an account and a record and is machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal. Other cards, combinations and associated methods are also disclosed.
US08038066B2
A scanning apparatus comprises a laser source adapted to emit a beam along an axis and illuminate a target, a detector adapted to receive light of varying intensities scattered from the target and convert the light into a signal, and a controller operatively associated with the detector for receiving the signal from the detector and decoding the signal. A focusing apparatus comprising a deformable lens element in optical communication with the laser source has a deformable surface, at least part of which transmits the beam. The deformable lens element defines an index of refraction difference with an index of refraction of an adjacently disposed substance. In one embodiment the index of refraction difference is greater than 0.30.
US08038065B2
An encode information reading terminal can have a microprocessor electrically coupled to a system bus, a memory communicatively coupled to the microprocessor, and a wireless communication interface. The EIR can be selected from the group including a bar code reader, an RFID reader, and a card reader. The EIR can be configured to perform outputting raw message data containing an encoded message and/or outputting decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message. The wireless communication interface can comprise a radio frequency front end configured to perform receiving a first radio signal and/or transmitting a second radio signal. The radio frequency front end can be electrically coupled to an analog-to-digital converter which can be electrically coupled to the system bus and/or to a digital-to-analog converter which can be electrically coupled to the system bus.
US08038064B2
A color barcode can record much more amount of information than black white barcode. However, the problem of the color barcode is that it is easy to lose integrity or authenticity in printing and copy generation. This invention provides an apparatus and a method to keep the integrity or authenticity of the color barcode. Such is accomplished by the color reference portion of the color barcode including reference color tiles filled with colors which are used in a data portion of the color barcode and an apparatus and a method for producing, reproducing and reading such color barcode.
US08038055B2
In a method of tracking a specimen acquired from a patient, machine-readable codes present on a patient identification (ID), an order to obtain a specimen from the patient, and on a specimen-taker ID means, respectively, are stored in a computer storage. A specimen container having a fourth machine-readable code preapplied thereto is selected from a plurality of specimen containers having unique machine-readable codes preapplied thereto. In response to a processor determining that the first and second machine-readable codes are related to the same patient, the processor causes the first—fourth machine-readable codes to be relationally stored in the computer storage. Responsive to the processor receiving a signal that a specimen has been placed in the selected specimen container, the processor causes an indication thereof to be stored in the computer storage in a relational manner with the first—fourth machine-readable codes.
US08038049B2
A seal design provides positive compression to produce a hermetic seal around a feedthrough pin in a hermetically sealed device, including an implantable medical device. One embodiment of the seal design uses a plurality of “micro-flanges” placed along the length of a feedthrough pin, which micro-flanges grabs and compresses the insulator material to form a hermetic seal. Because the seal design produces positive compression of the insulator, the seal is relatively insensitive to changes in temperature and to differences in thermal expansion coefficients (“TCEs”) between the metal feedthrough and the insulator. It is therefore possible to use a wider variety of materials for the insulator and the feedthrough with the described sealing design, while achieving a superior hermetic seal.
US08038044B2
A drive mechanism for use with a surgical instrument includes a rotatable drive member, a crank operatively coupled to the drive member; a clutch operatively coupled to the crank, wherein rotational motion of the drive member causes oscillating movement of the clutch; and a gear rotatably coupled to the clutch, wherein the oscillating movement of the clutch causes rotation of the gear. The drive mechanism may further include a gear configured to engage a linear member. The crank may include a pin extending distally therefrom. The clutch may include a slot dimensioned and configured to receive a pin of the crank.
US08038041B2
A dispensing closure has a flow conduit that provides a sufficient flow restriction to prevent unwanted spurting of the product when the container is initially opened. The dispensing closure includes a closure body with an upper deck and a flow conduit extending through the upper deck. The flow conduit includes an entry orifice having an entrance axis and an exit orifice having an exit axis. The entrance axis is offset from the exit axis to provide a non-linear flow path from an interior of the closure to the exterior of the closure.
US08038039B2
A device and method are provided for dispensing a beverage from a pressurized container. The dispensing device includes an integral source of compressed gas for maintaining the beverage within the container at a desired pressurized state. The dispensing device also includes a regulator for controlling the flow of gas from the compressed gas source to the interior of the container, as well as a pressure relief mechanism that accounts for potential over pressurization of the container. The beverage is selectively dispensed by actuation of a tap handle. Delivery is achieved through the device by a resilient delivery tube, and the delivery tube is either pinched closed or allowed to decompress by the actuation of the tap handle.
US08038036B2
The invention relates to a discharge device for discharging liquid medium, with a pump device with a variable volume pump chamber, a discharge opening for the liquid medium, a feed path between the pump device and the discharge opening, and an outlet valve which is designed to open the discharge opening as a function of the pressure in the feed path, and to a discharge head provided for this purpose. The discharge device or the discharge head has a gas-permeable and liquid-tight air outlet which connects the pump chamber or the feed path to an external environment.
US08038025B2
In one aspect, a waste container lid having a closure part and a cap part connected with a hinge, a releasable lock structure and at least one permanent lock structure. In another aspect, a waste container with waste container lid having first closure retention structure and a second closure retention structure that permits the cap to remain opened in a plurality of positions.
US08038022B2
A highway vehicle towing system includes a light railroad track embedded in a highway and capable of transmitting electricity from a power supply plant, and a towing tractor movable along the light railroad track to tow a car. The owing tractor has multiple pairs of metal wheels movably supported on the light railroad track, a motor, electrical wires connecting the metal wheels to the motor for transmitting electricity from the light railroad track to the motor, a transmission shaft coupled to and rotatable by the motor, and a differential mechanism coupled between the transmission shaft and the metal wheels for enabling the metal wheels to be rotated along the light railroad track by the motor.
US08038015B2
An equipment rack panel system using one or more rack extension panels with optional raceway to interconnect equipment cables to service cables through connectors within the rack extension panel. The rack extension panel is either fastened to or integral with one of the posts of the equipment rack or otherwise adjacent to the equipment rack and extends away from the equipment rack so as not to occupy space within the equipment rack normally reserved for equipment.
US08038013B2
A liquid filter with a composite medium that has a nanoweb adjacent to and optionally bonded to a microporous membrane. The membrane is characterized by an LRV value of 3.7 at a rated particle size, and the nanoweb has a fractional filtration efficiency of greater than 0.95 at the rated particle size of the membrane. The nanoweb also has a thickness efficiency ratio of greater than 0.01 at that efficiency. The nanoweb acts to provide depth filtration to the membrane, prefilters particles and extends the lifetime of the membrane.
US08038010B1
A single piece edge protector for curved and curvilinear-shaped objects includes a preformed, rigid, laminated U-board having a bottom wall, and a first sidewall, and a second sidewall which include preformed angled cuts. The preformed cuts are formed at about 15 degrees from a plane perpendicular to the bottom wall. Each sidewall of the edge protector is a mirror-image of the other such that a preformed cut on the first sidewall is directly across from a preformed cut on the second sidewall. A plurality of preformed cuts form both V-shaped openings and a plurality of trapezoid-like legs on the first and second sidewalls. Each leg may have a similar surface area or a different surface area as an adjacent leg along the length of the edge protector. The edge protector is configured to follow a curvilinear perimeter of about 135 degrees and may include an end cap closure.
US08038002B2
A data disc case includes a base panel and an one-hand operable arrangement which includes an affixing panel affixing on the base panel and a foldable panel extended from the affixing panel to foldably overlap on the base panel, wherein the affixing panel and foldable panel are extended edge to edge to form a cover panel on the base panel and to define a compartment between the cover panel and the base panel for accommodating a data disc therewithin. The foldable panel at the cover panel is movably overlapping with the base panel to foldably flip the foldable panel of the cover panel between an open position in a one-hand operable manner for exposing the data disc within the compartment to be accessed and an enclosed position for enclosing the data disc within the data disc case.
US08037990B2
A lubrication controlling method for a starting clutch including a wet type multi-plate clutch disposed between a transmission and an engine of a vehicle and adapted to transmit a power, the method including always supplying lubricant oil during an operation of the wet type multi-plate clutch, continuously changing a flow amount of the lubricant oil in accordance with a condition of the wet type multi-plate clutch, and controlling the amount of the lubricant oil so that a supplied amount of the lubricant oil during an idle rotation of the wet type multi-plate clutch is greater than a supplied amount of the lubricant oil during the complete engagement of the wet type multi-plate clutch.
US08037984B2
A four-wheel-drive-vehicle driving force distribution apparatus has an auxiliary transmission mechanism for switching motive power transmitted to an input shaft at least between two levels, a high speed and a low speed, and transmitting the motive power to a main output shaft; a friction clutch for selectively transmitting the motive power of the main output shaft to an auxiliary output shaft; a ball cam mechanism for changing the pressing force of the friction clutch in a non-step manner; and a shift mechanism for shifting the auxiliary transmission mechanism. A clutch control mechanism is provided between a drive member fixed to an output shaft of a motor and a pinion gear and changes the clutch pressing force caused by the ball cam mechanism corresponding to clockwise rotation of the drive member performed by a motor starting from a control starting point. A shift control mechanism is provided between the drive member and a shifting cylindrical cam and alternately repeating switching between a H position and a L position of the auxiliary transmission mechanism in every counterclockwise reciprocating rotation of the drive member performed by the motor starting from the control starting point.
US08037977B2
The present invention includes a disk brake including a caliper having an opening, the opening includes two edges, the caliper also having pin holes positioned adjacent to the two edges, a pad positioned in the opening of the caliper, a pair of pad pins connectable to the pin holes of the caliper and able to movably support the pad and a bias member capable of biasing the pair of pad pins in at least one of a mutually approaching direction and a mutually separating direction, the bias member is capable of elastically pushing the pair of pad pins against hole wall surfaces of the pin holes of the caliper.
US08037975B2
The piston seal member is formed of a crosslinked rubber composition, the rubber composition including 100 parts by weight of an ethylene-propylene rubber, 20 to 60 parts by weight of a first carbon black, 50 to 100 parts by weight of a second carbon black, and 5 to 20 parts by weight of carbon nanofiber having an average diameter of 0.5 to 500 nm, the total amount of the first carbon black and the second carbon black being 70 to 160 parts by weight. The first carbon black has an average particle diameter of 35 to 100 nm and a DBP absorption of 50 to 200 ml/100 g. The second carbon black has an average particle diameter that is greater than the average particle diameter of the first carbon black and ranges from 60 to 500 nm and a DBP absorption of 5 to 50 ml/100 g.
US08037966B2
An exhaust system for an electric power generation system is disclosed. The exhaust system may include a muffler configured to suppress noise associated with operation of an engine associated with the electric power generation system. The muffler may be configured to be mounted in a roof of a housing configured to contain at least part of the electric power generation system. The muffler may be configured to form an outside surface of the roof. Removal of the engine from the housing may be facilitated by removal of the muffler from the roof, such that the engine can be lifted out of the housing.
US08037951B2
A cutter for a drill bit used for drilling wells in a geological formation includes an ultra hard working surface and a chamfer along an edge of the working surface, wherein the chamfer has a varied geometry along the edge. The average geometry of the chamfer varies with cutting depth. A depression in the shaped working surface is oriented with the varied chamfer and facilitates forming the varied chamfer. A non-planar interface has depressions oriented with depressions in the shaped working surface to provide support to loads on the working surface of the cutter when used.
US08037945B2
An atomic force microscope is provided that includes a micro thermal analyzer with a tip. The micro thermal analyzer is configured for obtaining topographical data from a sample. A raman spectrometer is included and is configured for use in obtaining chemical data from the sample.
US08037942B2
A resettable antiextrusion system including a backup ring, a ramp in operable communication with the backup ring, and a gauge ring attached to the ramp. A method for sealing a tubular.
US08037939B2
The invention relates to a riser pipe section comprising a main tube (2), at least one auxiliary line element (3) arranged substantially parallel to said tube (2), characterized in that the ends of main tube (2) comprise connecting means (8) allowing longitudinal stresses to be transmitted and in that the ends of auxiliary line element (3) comprise linking means (5-6) allowing longitudinal stresses to be transmitted.
US08037930B2
A tube is composed of a first plate and a second plate which are opposed and engaged with each other. In a first region on both end sides of the tube, the first plate is formed into a shape in which an edge portion of the first plate is laid along a bent portion of the second plate so that an outer wall face of the tube forms a continuous face. In a second region of the tube, the first plate is formed into a shape in which the edge portion of the first plate is laid between the edge portion of the second plate and the bent portion of the second plate.
US08037918B2
Pick-up heads and systems are especially useful for picking up, transporting, and placing semiconductor dies at bond sites on packaging substrates. Alternatively, the heads and systems are useful for performing these tasks with any of various other planar objects. An exemplary head includes a shank and a body. The body includes a compliant end portion contactable by the shank, and the end portion includes a face. The shank is movable relative to the end portion such that, whenever the shank is retracted, the face has a substantially planar contour, and whenever the shank is extended, the shank contacts and urges the end portion to provide the face with a convex contour. The end portion desirably defines at least one vacuum orifice connected to an evacuation device (e.g., a vacuum pump) that evacuates the vacuum orifice sufficiently to cause the planar object to adhere to the face.
US08037915B2
An apparatus is disclosed for forming an insulated rotor conductor by bonding an insulating material onto a single side of a flat electrical conductor under controlled heat and mechanical pressure. The rotor conductor is suitable for assembly into the rotor assembly of a rotating electrical machine such as an alternating current generator. The apparatus includes modules to facilitate easy relocation within a manufacturing environment and to make efficient use of available manufacturing space. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
US08037911B2
Wheels and methods of making wheels are disclosed including an inner portion and a tread mechanically coupled to the inner portion. The tread may be mechanically coupled to the inner portion on an inside and an outside of the wheel. The inner portion may include a rim including a plurality of apertures. The inner portion may be high density polyethylene and the tread may be thermoplastic elastomer.
US08037910B2
A pneumatic tire is provided including a multiplicity of land portions 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 3E formed by main grooves 2 extending linearly in the tire width direction partitioning the tread surface 1, and having a designated mounting direction on a vehicle. Among the multiplicity of land portions 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 3E, lug grooves are not provided in a ground contact region R of the land portions 3A and 3E positioned on both shoulder sides. Lug grooves 4 inclining in the tire circumferential direction that have terminating parts in the land portions and opening to the main groove 2 on the vehicle inner side are formed at specified intervals in the tire circumferential direction in the land portions 3B and 3D inwardly adjacent to the land portions on both shoulder sides.
US08037898B2
A reservoir tank for a vehicle brake system has a tank body including upper and lower shells joined together along mating surfaces. A float and a fluid level sensor are mounted in a fluid level detecting chamber defined in the tank body. The float is fitted on a shaft of the fluid level sensor. A partition plate is fitted in the lower shell to restrict a flow of hydraulic fluid into and out of the fluid level detecting chamber. The partition plate is disposed near the top end of the shaft of the fluid level sensor to restrict the distance by which the float can move vertically. A filter, the fluid level sensor and the partition plate are all set in the lower shell. The filter and the partition plate having their top ends pressed against the bottom ends of partitioning walls of the upper shell. Thus, the filter and the partition wall are held in position in the tank body between the upper and lower shells. No separate retainer for the float is necessary because the partition plate serves also as a float retainer.
US08037896B2
A pressure control system remotely controls pressure within one or more remote zones, each respectively connected to an enclosure through a conduit, by controlling flow of a fluid into and out of each enclosure. The pressure of the fluid is measured within each enclosure. An estimated pressure within each zone is computed, as a function of the measured pressure in the enclosure and known characteristics of the conduit and the zone. For each zone, an inlet proportional valve and an outlet proportional valve of each enclosure is operated so as to control the input flow rate of the fluid into the respective enclosure and the output flow rate of the fluid out of the enclosure as a function of a pressure set point and the estimated pressure, thereby regulating pressure within the zone in accordance with the pressure set point.
US08037879B2
A heat distributing tray for use in a barbecue grill includes a corrugated unitary body of heat conducting material having alternating solid and grated walls which define channels. More specifically, the body includes first and second side portions defined by both solid walls which extend at gradually decreasing angles with respect to a common horizontal plane and varying length grated walls interconnecting the solid walls. In use, the tray is placed over one or more heating elements in a barbecue housing, with radiant and convective heat from the heating element being optimally distributed throughout the entire interior portion of the barbecue grill due to the relative structure and configuration of the solid walls in relation to the grated walls.
US08037876B1
A bow comprises: a riser; first and second limbs attached to the riser; first and second pulley members rotatably connected to the respective bow limbs; draw, power, and tensioning cables; and a tensioning pulley. The draw cable engages draw cable journals of the pulley members and rotates them as the bow is drawn and the draw cable is let out from the draw cable journals. The tensioning cable is secured at its first end to the first bow limb and engaged at its second end to be taken up by a power cam of the first pulley member as the bow is drawn and the first pulley member rotates. The tensioning pulley includes a tensioning cable journal and is arranged with the tensioning cable engaged therewith. The power cable is connected at its first end to the tensioning pulley and at its second end to the second bow limb.
US08037864B2
In a diesel engine 10 equipped with a fuel injection device 50 having a fuel supply pump 53 for pressingly sending a fuel, a common rail 52 for accumulating the fuel pressingly sent from the fuel supply pump, injectors 51 for injecting the fuel into a cylinder by an electronic control, a coolant water temperature sensor 64 for detecting an engine coolant water temperature and a fuel injection quantity map for calculating a target common rail pressure, total amount of injections, the number of multistage injection, the respective injection quantity and the respective injection quantity timing, the diesel engine 10 comprises a total injection quantity increasing means for increasing the total amount of injections in the injection quantity control arithmetic means and an injection number reduction avoidance means for avoiding that the number of multistage injections are changed by the total injection quantity increasing means when the engine is transferred to a cold state to a warming state.
US08037862B1
An internal combustion rotary engine has a chamber defined by a chamber wall and a rotor valve body in three locus-sealing contact with the chamber wall to define a series of three subchambers including a first subchamber for sequential compression, transfer, and combustion of a fuel mixture from a chamber fuel mixture intake and for exhausting combustion products through a chamber exhaust outlet. The rotor body defines a first bodily internal path for fuel mixture travel from the intake to the first subchamber for compression and combustion to combustion products, and a second bodily internal exhaust travel path between the combustion products in the first subchamber and the chamber exhaust outlet for exhausting of the combustion products. The chamber and rotor cooperate to transfer compressed fuel mixture past the rotor within the first subchamber. The rotor further defines a sealing and sliding valve structure with the chamber wall for controlling intake into and exhaust from the first subchamber. Two additional chamber carry out the same functions in time-delayed sequence.
US08037859B2
An intake manifold to be mounted to a traverse engine includes pieces made of resin and welded to each other. The pieces are constructed with a first piece having a connector to be connected to the engine, and a second piece. The second piece has an upper positioning part overlapping with the first piece except for the connector having a linear-shaped outlet passage. The upper positioning part is welded to the first piece so as to define an upstream side passage of the outlet passage. The first piece has a cover, which covers the upper positioning part defining a downstream end of the upstream side passage.
US08037854B2
A hydraulic pressure control apparatus of a variable valve system may include a variable valve device for controlling lift characteristics of a valve, a hydraulic pressure control pipe in which an slot is formed from the interior toward the exterior and hydraulic pressure is supplied to the inside thereof, and a driving unit for rotating the hydraulic pressure control pipe, wherein the hydraulic pressure is selectively transferred to the variable valve through the slot according to a rotation of the hydraulic pressure control pipe.
US08037848B2
An animal behavioral control apparatus includes a cartridge, a housing, a head, and a horn. The cartridge contains pressurized gas. The housing surrounds at least a part of the cartridge. The head is connected to the housing and includes an actuator and a valve. The valve engages the cartridge when the actuator is actuated in order to release gas out of the cartridge. The horn is removably connected to the head. When the horn is not connected to the head, the animal behavioral control apparatus ejects a blast of gas when the actuator is actuated. And when the horn is connected to the head, the animal behavioral control apparatus emits a sound when the actuator is actuated.
US08037843B2
An application and infusion system for applying a resin to one or more fiber tows and for infusing the fiber tows with the resin, wherein each of the fiber tows is moving at a respective fiber speed. The application and infusion system includes a deposition and infusion system comprising one or more nozzles configured to deposit the resin on a respective one of the fiber tows. The system further includes a controller configured to control a flow rate of the resin through each of the nozzles relative to the fiber speed of the respective ones of the fiber tows. Other aspects of the application and infusion system are also provided.
US08037841B2
A liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes an ejection inspecting section for recognizing an inspection pattern printed on a printing unit as an image, and inspecting ejection performance of the functional liquid droplet ejection heads, a workpiece alignment section for aligning a workpiece relative to a set table, a table moving section for moving the set table between the printing area and an alignment position, a unit moving section for moving the printing unit between a retracted position and an inspection position, and a controller for controlling the functional liquid droplet ejection heads, the ejection inspecting section, the table moving section, the unit moving section, and the workpiece alignment section. The controller allows alignment processing of moving the set table to the alignment position and aligning the workpiece and inspection processing of moving the printing unit to the inspection position and performing inspection of the ejection performance to be performed simultaneously.
US08037838B2
Mooring system arranged in a body of water for the mooring of multiple surface or semi-submersible vessels or platforms with a artificial seafloor grid designed as a mesh-like structure arranged in a substantially horizontal plane in the body of water. The artificial seafloor grid including means for attachment to said vessel or platform, and is mechanically coupled to the bottom of the sea using anchoring elements.
US08037831B2
A method for effecting physicochemical transformations and detonation properties in a material using super-compressed detonation includes: providing an insensitive energetic material to be compressed; super-compressing the material by exposure to at least one of a normally or obliquely oriented cylindrical imploding shock wave, generated from a first detonation; effecting transformations from the super-compression in the material including increasing at least material density, structural transformations and electronic energy gap transitions relative to a material unexposed to the super-compression; exposing the super-compressed material to a second detonation; and effecting transformations from the second detonation in the material including increasing at least detonation pressure, velocity and energy density relative to a material unexposed to the super-compression and second detonation.
US08037822B2
A cost-effective solution is proposed to improve explosive transfer between booster and warhead that is compatible with the existing base of general purpose warheads and flexible to work with new warhead configurations. A booster lens is placed in the fuze well that concentrates the pressure wave to penetrate the fuze well with a peak pressure that exceeds the detonation threshold and detonate the warhead explosive. The booster lens can be configured to control the direction of the concentrated lobe to penetrate the fuze well where the barriers are low.
US08037797B1
A method for breaching a minefield comprising the step of deploying a shaped charge array from a vehicle to detonate the minefield.
US08037795B2
A trimmer for trimming brochures has lower blade holders and upper blade holders for top cutting blades and bottom cutting blades lying opposite them. The trimmer further has a guide rail configuration and tensioners by which the lower blade holders can be locked on the guide rail configuration. Accordingly, the tensioners can be actuated from one and the same side of the trimmer. This has an advantageous effect on the time required for changing over the trimmer from one brochure format to another.
US08037787B2
A multi-function tool is formed in a compact structure at a smaller size and can bear greater force and has a handle capable of holding more other tools. It has a jaw head consisting of a first jaw, a second jaw, a first handle and a second handle that are hinged on the same axle and turnable thereon. By adopting one axle, the compact structure can be realized. The first handle has lateral sides and a rear end to hold other tools such as knives, scissors, screwdrivers, a can opener and the like.
US08037784B2
A drive train for a motor vehicle including a main engine, an auxiliary engine, and a parallel shaft transmission. The transmission includes: at least one input shaft connected to the main engine by a clutch device, at least one output shaft including a drive pinion that engages with a differential ring gear, a countershaft that is not coaxial with the input and output shafts, and a plurality of synchronizers configured to connect the input shaft to the output shaft selectively in rotation. The countershaft is fitted with a drive wheel connected to the auxiliary engine and that is permanently rotatably linked to the input shaft.
US08037774B2
A state detection device which detects parameters includes a measuring pipe, electrodes, an exciting coil that applies a magnetic field to the fluid, signal lines arranged at angle to the magnetic field such that an electromotive force is generated due to a change with passage of time in the magnetic field, and a state quantifying unit for extracting a ∂A/∂t component from resultant electromotive forces that are detected at the electrodes and the signal lines and are composed of an electromotive force of the ∂A/∂t component irrelevant to a flow velocity of the fluid and resulting from a change with passage of time in the magnetic field and an electromotive force of a v×B component relevant to the flow velocity of the fluid, and extracts a variation factor relevant to the parameter from the ∂A/∂t component to quantify the parameter based on the variation factor.
US08037767B2
The present invention relates to transmit apodization using a sinc function in an ultrasound system. The ultrasound system includes: a transmission unit operable to generate transmit pulse signals with transmit apodization applied by using a sinc function; a probe operable to generate ultrasound signals based on the transmit pulse signals to thereby form a transmit beam and transmit the transmit beam along a predetermined scan line among a plurality of scan lines in a target object, the probe being further operable to receive ultrasound echoes reflected from the target object; and a reception unit operable to form receive signals corresponding to a plurality of scan lines based on the ultrasound echoes.
US08037766B2
The present invention relates to a method for generating mechanical waves within a viscoelastic medium (11) comprising a step of generating an acoustic radiation force (15) within the viscoelastic medium (11) by application of acoustic waves focused on an interface (13) delimiting two zones (11, 14) having distinct acoustic properties.
US08037754B2
An inertial measurement system having a triangular cupola shaped base structure with three mutually orthogonal sides and a bottom surface surrounding a hollow core. The bottom surface includes an aperture providing access to the hollow core. An inertial module is mounted on each of the sides and includes a gyroscopic rotational rate sensor and a linear accelerometer connected to a circuit board. The inertial measurement system also includes a motherboard and a plurality of metallization elements. The metallization elements extend from the bottom surface to the sides of the base structure and conductively connect the inertial module to the motherboard. The inertial measurement system may also include a non-conductive adhesive underfill positioned between the inertial module and the base structure.
US08037751B2
The flow rate measuring apparatus includes a connector portion, a main body portion, a bypass passage, a flow rate sensing element having a flow rate detection portion, a control circuit, a pair of metal terminals having end portions connected to a connector, embedded portions molded integrally with a resin portion constituting the main body portion, and exposed portions exposed in the main passage, which are connected to each other in a cascade manner, and a fluid temperature sensing element having a temperature sensing portion. The fluid temperature sensing element is arranged at a position apart from an outer wall surface of a side face of the bypass passage, and the temperature sensing portion is arranged at the center between the pair of metal terminals that are exposed in the main passage by the same length or between extension lines thereof.
US08037749B2
Disclosed is a network monitoring method including: a predicted amount of rainfall obtaining step of obtaining a predicted amount of rainfall generated in a predetermined time in a current line route; a prediction step of predicting whether or not a line failure occurs in the current line route caused by the predicted amount of rainfall assuming it rains actually in the current line route with an amount of rainfall substantially equivalent to the predicted amount of rainfall in the predetermined time in the current line route; and a change instruction step of instructing the radio communication network to change the current line route into a different line route on which it is predicted that no line failure caused by rainfall occurs and to control the radio communication network to change the current line route into the different line route, before the predetermined time passes.
US08037746B2
The invention provides a test apparatus capable of testing an adhesive bond in multiple loading modes, such as in tension and in shear. The test apparatus includes a test frame, a force generator, and a force transfer arm. The test frame is configured so that the force generator may be attached to the test frame in a plurality of locations, where each location allows for a different loading mode to be tested. The test apparatus also may be used within an environmental chamber for testing the adhesive bond at extreme environmental conditions.
US08037737B2
A method for estimating the temperature of exhaust gases of a combustion engine at an output of an EGR circuit fitted on the engine, based on a model that takes into account thermal energy losses of the exhaust gases at an EGR cooler or EGR circuit, the model also taking into account thermal exchange between the exhaust gases and the walls of a duct conveying the exhaust gases to the EGR cooler. A vehicle can implement such an estimation.
US08037725B2
A door lock indicator device is disclosed. The door lock indicator device can include a rotatable portion, a lock status display, and a switch (e.g., a button). The rotatable portion can define an opening shaped to receive a key blade. The door lock indicator device can be installed on a face of a door lock with the opening aligned with a keyhole of the door lock. Rotating a key blade within a keyway of the door lock can cause the rotatable portion to rotate with the door lock's cylinder. The lock status display can include a first indicator light and a second indicator light. Activating the switch can cause the lock status display to indicate a direction of a most recent rotation of the rotatable portion and/or a locked or unlocked status of the associated door lock.
US08037723B2
A theft prevention device includes an outer shell having a top wall and side walls and defining a cavity, wherein the side walls have a slit therein adapted to accommodate a strap and wherein the top wall has an outer shell opening; and an inner shell having a top wall and side walls and defining a cavity, wherein the side walls have a slit therein adapted to accommodate a strap and wherein the top wall has an inner shell opening; wherein the inner shell is adapted to be mated to the outer shell such that the inner shell opening and the outer shell opening can be generally aligned.
US08037720B2
A washing machine includes a laundry-detergent and fabric-softener drawer that can be pulled out of the machine. A movement assist device is provided that cooperates with the drawer so as to assist an opening and/or closing movement of the drawer. The movement assist device includes a scroll spring for causing a restoring force for an autonomous closing procedure of the drawer.
US08037719B2
Basalt filament is manufactured in such a manner that the fiber diameter can be controlled and the filament is not severed during the winding step. A network former and a glass modifier are formed and maintained with respect to basalt rock ore, and the crystallization and binding of basalt fiber are inhibited, the heat-resistance property of basalt fiber is greatly improved from the conventional 750° C. to 850 or 900° C., and significant cost reduction is achieved over conventional products. The method includes the steps of: grinding basalt rock as a material; washing a resultant ground rock; melting the ground rock that has been washed; transforming a molten product into fiber; and drawing the fiber in an aligned manner, and winding it. The temperature of the molten product in the melting step is 1400 to 1650° C., and log η is 2.15 to 2.35 dPa·s and preferably 2.2 to 2.3 dPa·s, where η is the viscosity of the molten product.
US08037710B2
A heat pump system includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger, a scroll compressor in fluid communication with each of the first and second heat exchangers, and a flash tank in fluid communication with each of the first and second heat exchangers and the scroll compressor. A first capillary tube is disposed between the first heat exchanger and an inlet of the flash tank and a first valve is disposed between the first heat exchanger and the first capillary tube to control refrigerant to the first capillary tube.
US08037704B2
A refrigeration system configured for use with a trailer including a container having a roof, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The refrigeration system includes a refrigeration unit configured to couple to the trailer and operable to condition the container. The refrigeration system also includes a duct in fluid communication between the refrigeration unit and an opening in the first sidewall. The duct is configured to direct an airflow in at least one of a first direction toward the refrigeration unit and a second direction away from the refrigeration unit.
US08037697B2
An icemaker for a refrigerator having a cabinet with a refrigerated compartment and an unrefrigerated machine compartment includes a body portion formed with an inlet, an outlet and an opening. A flexible mold is positioned in the opening. A water supply is positioned to provide water to the flexible mold. A fluid supply circuit, including a pump mounted in the machine compartment, a first fluid conduit connected between the pump and the inlet, and a second fluid conduit connected to the outlet, provides warm fluid to the body portion. The icemaker forms ice during an ice production cycle and the fluid warmed in the machine compartment is used to partially melt and aid in releasing the ice which is then deposited in a ice storage bin during a harvest cycle.
US08037691B2
A deflector takes the form of a plate provided with a hole. The plate is a portion of a conical surface of revolution about a cone axis with a concave face and a convex face. The plate includes a contour with four sides. Two of these the sides are concentric circular arcs centered on the cone axis. The other two sides are segments of generatrices of the cone which connect the first sides. The invention is applicable to a deflector of a chamber endwall of a combustion chamber of a turbine engine.
US08037677B2
A compressed-air energy storage system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a reversible mechanism to compress and expand air, one or more compressed air storage tanks, a control system, one or more heat exchangers, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, a motor-generator. The reversible air compressor-expander uses mechanical power to compress air (when it is acting as a compressor) and converts the energy stored in compressed air to mechanical power (when it is acting as an expander). In certain embodiments, the compressor-expander comprises one or more stages, each stage consisting of pressure vessel (the “pressure cell”) partially filled with water or other liquid. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices to exchange air and liquid with the cylinder chamber(s) thereof. Suitable valving allows air to enter and leave the pressure cell and cylinder device, if present, under electronic control.
US08037675B2
A PM catalyst regeneration control for the purpose of “soot removal” is performed prior to a sulfur poisoning recovery control. In the PM catalyst regeneration control, PM deposits in a catalyst are burned. A target throttle opening degree for the sulfur poisoning recovery control is preset smaller than a target throttle opening for the PM catalyst regeneration control in order to reduce the intake air volume during deceleration. A catalyst bed temperature is thus prevented from dropping, and therefore maintained at a level appropriate to sulfur poisoning recovery. Controlling the intake air volume during deceleration in such a manner results in more efficient catalyst recovery from sulfur poisoning, so that the fuel economy is maintained during the sulfur poisoning recovery control.
US08037671B2
A plateau phase of a test signal of an exhaust gas probe located in a catalytic converter is detected following a jump from a preset rich air/fuel ratio in a combustion chamber of one cylinder to a preset lean air/fuel ratio, the plateau phase being obtained following the jump, and the duration is determined as a storage period. A plateau phase of the test signal, which is obtained following a jump from a preset lean air/fuel ratio to a preset rich air/fuel ratio, is detected following the jump, and the duration of the plateau phase is determined as an evacuation period. An allocation rule for assigning the test signal to a detected air/fuel ratio is adjusted according to the storage period and the evacuation period. To calibrate the exhaust gas probe, the allocation rule is adapted according to a plateau value of the test signal during the plateau phase.
US08037667B2
A stalk roll for a corn head row unit has a conical seat and a spherical seat for mounting the stalk roll on a stalk roll driveshaft of a row unit. Each row unit has a drive shaft with a corresponding conical portion and a threaded fastener with a corresponding spherical portion for capturing the stalk roll on the drive shaft between mating conical shaft and stalk roll portions toward one end and mating spherical shaft and fastener portions at the other stalk roll end.
US08037661B2
A shuttle change system for use in a wrapping apparatus for wrapping an associated item is disclosed. The wrapping apparatus includes a shuttle that moves along the inner periphery of a track dispensing a wrapping material. The shuttle change system includes a carrier and a pair of track sections mounted to the carrier. The track sections are spaced from one another and parallel to one another, each adapted to support a shuttle. The carrier is moveable vertically, longitudinally and laterally to align either of the pair of tracks with the cantilevered base portion of the track. One of the tracks is adapted to receive a shuttle to be replaced and the other of the tracks is adapted to store a replacement shuttle for movement onto the track. The carrier is movable away from the track to permit the openable track portion to open and close without interference.
US08037658B2
Structural members widely adaptable for use to build various composite structures and assemblies having horizontal and vertical supports, such as columns, beams and rails, are shown and described. The composite structural members include a longitudinal channel having a web and first and second legs. Each leg includes a plane that extends from a side of the web and is inclined relative to the web, and a cylinder is located at an edge of the leg that is spaced from the web. Various fittings can be used to engage at least one of the cylinders of the channel to fix the channel in position relative to a second, third and/or fourth channel to form the column, beam or rail. Further, select brackets can be used to attach together columns, beams and rails of the assembly.
US08037654B2
A floor structure includes a plurality of structural metal components that each have: a plate-shaped supporting portion that is laid either perpendicular or oblique to an installation surface; a plate-shaped top flange that extends from a top end portion of the supporting portion in parallel with the installation surface; a plate-shaped bottom flange that extends from a bottom end portion of the supporting portion in parallel with the installation surface and in the opposite direction from the top flange, wherein the structural metal components are laid on a flat surface in parallel with each other such that the top flange of one of the mutually adjacent structural metal components covers the bottom flange of the other of the mutually adjacent structural metal material.
US08037653B2
An anchoring system for cavity walls is disclosed. The system includes a stud-type wall anchor and a wire formative veneer tie. The stud has a driver head, a dual-diameter barrel, and a driven tip. A flange at the juncture of the two barrels houses an interior seal; and a flange under the driver head, an exterior seal. The smaller diameter barrel is coextensive with the drywall installation; and the length of the larger diameter barrel, with the rigid insulation. The interior seal seals the insertion point into the drywall installation; and the exterior seal, the opening of the anchor-receiving channel. The interior seal and the larger barrel of the anchor fill the anchor-receiving channel and stabilize the wall anchor. Also, the wall anchor is clamped in place by the seals. The stud-type anchor operates with a variety of veneer ties for different applications.
US08037647B2
The present invention relates to apparatus and systems for absorbing seismic energy to prevent non-linear displacement in a structure. A seismic damper according to embodiments of the present invention includes a flat plate which can be perforated to include a plurality of apertures and/or cut-outs. A central aperture is formed in the flat plate and one or more cut-outs are formed along outer edges of the flat plate. The area of the flat plate between the aperture and the cut-outs forms one or more nodes on which stresses from seismic activity are focused, and which can deform to absorb energy, thereby reducing or preventing non-linear displacement of a brace system to which the seismic damper is attached. The nodes are located at the intersection between one or more tabs, the tabs being arranged to be connected to braces within the brace system.
US08037641B2
A gutter guard for preventing the entrance of debris into the trough of a gutter includes an outwardly convex portion extending lengthwise over the trough of the gutter. A plurality of hoods extend upwardly from the outwardly convex portion and over lie a first set of apertures. The upwardly extending hoods direct water flowing over the convex portion through the first set of apertures. A second set of apertures outwardly from the first set of apertures has downwardly extending hoods underlying, such downwardly extending hoods deflecting water on the inner surface of the outwardly convex portion.
US08037637B2
A stand for a tree comprises a base for receiving a trunk of the tree, wherein the base provides a top portion, and a plurality of attachment points positioned along a periphery of the top portion. The stand further comprises a plurality of bracing supports. Each bracing support comprises a first end, wherein said first end is coupled to one of the plurality of attachment points, and a second end, wherein said second end is equipped to engage the trunk of the tree.
US08037636B2
A bottom snagging sinker kit includes a retaining ring, a series of anchor wires and a nose. Rather than manufacture a wide range of specially designed sinkers having weights of different size, a bottom snagging sinker is assembled from the kit by using a standard sinker weight of the type having a passage therethrough. A fisherman or other person may assemble the sinker by connecting the retaining ring to the sinker weight with a connector, such as a cotter pin. The anchor wires are assembled to the nose or between the nose and the retaining ring. The nose is then attached to the retaining ring. When the sinker is cast into water, the sinker descends to the bottom where the anchor wires are aimed generally at the fisherman to minimize movement of the sinker. When the fisherman pulls on the fishing line, the anchor wires deflect to a position allowing easy retrieval of the sinker.
US08037632B2
A firearm including a trigger-actuated firing mechanism, a safety device that selectively prevents and permits the firing mechanism to be actuated, and an authentication device that cooperates with the safety device and which recognizes a feature of an authorized shooter, wherein the safety device is nominally in a position that permits the firing mechanism to be actuated and is moved to a position that prevents the firing mechanism from being actuated only if the authentication device does not recognize a would-be shooter as an authorized shooter.
US08037631B2
A display mounting kit, system, and method are disclosed utilizing first and second primary releasable attachment elements that are secured about the periphery of a display panel and in a substantially corresponding relationship on a mounting surface, respectively. At least one supplementary fastening element having two interlocking component pieces for selective engagement with each other provides secure mounting between the display panel and the mounting surface. The at least one supplementary fastening element can also be utilized as a stand-alone primary fastening element.
US08037625B2
A snow plow for attachment to a vehicle, the snow plow including a mounting apparatus having a mounting frame, the mounting frame including at least one mounting upright. The snow plow further including a plow blade having a retention apparatus constructed and arranged to slidlingly and disengageably secure the plow blade to the mounting upright(s) when the plow blade is in a working orientation. The mounting upright includes a limiting member that limits upward movement of the retention member when the plow blade is in a working orientation such that the retention member is secured on the mounting upright. The preferred snow plow may also include an attachment member located on the mounting apparatus, wherein the plow blade retention member may be removably secured within the attachment member when the plow blade is in a non-working orientation.
US08037616B2
In addition to other aspects disclosed, a caliper is configured to measure at least one physical dimension. The caliper has a display configured to present a first representation and a second representation of a measurement provided by the caliper. The format of the first representation is different from the format of the second representation, and the first representation is approximately simultaneously displayed with the second representation.
US08037599B2
The invention relates to a method for removing a cable core from a cable sheath, which cable core comprises an envelope (8), wherein, at an end of the cable (1), a flowable medium (22) is introduced under pressure into the cable tube (9) so as to reduce friction, and a tensile force (F) is exerted on the cable core at an end (5) of the cable (1). To provide a method by which existing cables can be freed from their core in as quick and inexpensive a manner as possible, it is provided for the flowable medium to be introduced precisely targeted into the annular space between the inner side of the cable sheath and the envelope (8) of the cable core.
US08037593B2
A method for manufacturing a magnetoresistive sensor that decreases the stack height of the sensor. The method includes forming a sensor structure having at its top, a Ru layer and a Ta layer over the Ru layer. An annealing process is performed to set the magnetization of the pinned layer of the sensor structure. After the annealing process has been completed and the Ta layer is no longer needed, an ion milling process is performed to remove the Ta layer.
US08037590B2
A method of constructing an articulation joint includes forming a metallic tube with a number of rings formed therein. Springs may be secured to the inside surface or outside surface of the rings to allow the joint to bend in directions transverse to the axis of the springs. A fixture may be used to hold the springs at the correct position within the tube and the springs may be urged toward the rings or vice versa to obtain a good bond between the springs and the rings.
US08037586B2
A method for fabricating a blind via structure of a substrate is provided. First, a substrate is provided, which includes a conductive layer, a metal layer, and a dielectric layer disposed between the conductive layer and the metal layer. Next, a cover layer is formed on the conductive layer. Finally, the substrate formed with the cover layer is irradiated by a laser beam to form at least one blind via structure extending from the cover layer to the metal layer. The blind via structure includes a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening linking to one another. The first opening passes through the cover layer. The second opening passes through the conductive layer. The third opening passes through the dielectric layer. For example, a size of the first opening is greater than a size of the second opening and a size of the third opening.
US08037580B2
A tensioning apparatus is adapted to tension a strap. The tensioning apparatus includes a frame and a shaft rotatably installed on the frame. The strap is inserted through the shaft and includes first and second portions extending in opposite directions. A handle is pivotally connected to the frame and is operable to rotate the shaft and wind the strap on the shaft thereafter. The tensioning apparatus also include a reeling device and the second portion of the strap is adapted to be received and wound onto the reeling device.
US08037577B2
A handle for hand tools, the handle comprises a grip member including a first end having a first receiving section and a second end, with the first receiving section opened to the distal of the first end; a storage unit including a storage member slideably received in the first end of the grip member and a shifted member pivotally connected to the storage member and fitted on an opening of the first receiving section so that the shifted member is adapted to be gripped to draw the storage unit out from the grip member; wherein when the shifted member in an original position, it hooks both of the first end of the grip member and the storage member as to prevent the storage unit detaching from the grip member; and a shank member tightly coupled to the second end of the grip member.
US08037574B2
A glide assembly is adapted to be mounted about an existing foot attached to the free end of a leg of a piece of furniture that is adapted to be supported upon a surface. The glide assembly includes a body defining an exterior surface and a bore extending partially through the body to define a hollow interior, an interior surface, a top, open end of the body, and a bottom, closed end of the body disposed opposite the open end. An insert assembly is mountable about the foot and adapted to be received through the open end and fixedly secured within the hollow interior of the body so as to mount the body about the foot. A cap is designed to be replaceably attached to the closed end of the body and adapted to engage the surface upon which the leg is supported.
US08037571B2
A vacuum cleaner accessory tool for use with a vacuum cleaner. The accessory tool includes a nozzle body defining a chamber. An agitator having a first end portion and a second end portion is rotatably supported within the chamber of the nozzle body, and the agitator is removably coupled to the nozzle body. A drive member is coupled to the agitator, and a release member is coupled to the nozzle body and slidable with respect to the nozzle body between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the release member engages the second end portion of the agitator to couple the agitator to the nozzle body within the chamber. In the disengaged position, the release member allows the agitator to be removed from the chamber of the nozzle body.
US08037565B2
A method of controlling the operation of a steam generator in a fabric treatment appliance may include controlling the operation of the steam generator in response to a rate of temperature change of the steam generator and/or controlling the operation of the steam generator in response to a rate of temperature change of a receptacle for receiving fabric items to be treated.
US08037558B1
A wash basin drain structure includes a tightening assembly, a control rod assembly, a drain pipe, and a plug. A threaded top ring of the fastening assembly relative to a threaded annular seat is screwed reversely to push an anti-leakage washer of the drain pipe upward, so that the threaded top ring and a washer are against the bottom of the wash basin and resilient portions of the resilient ring engages with a non-slip portion of the drain pipe. When a threaded fixing member in a threaded hole of a fixing seat of the control rod assembly is screwed inward, the end of the threaded fixing member will hold against the body of the drain pipe and pull an inner pipe portion of the fixing seat to seal and engage with an insertion hole of the drain pipe. A magnetic end head of a link rod of the control rod assembly is attracted to connect with a magnetic portion of a plug body of the plug to act as a lever. The present invention can be assembled with ease.
US08037556B2
A shower cubicle panel comprises a main panel element (14) of composite construction with at least two layers of different material, and means for interconnecting the cubicle panel (10) to an adjacent panel (10) and a shower tray (80). A connector for adjacent shower cubicle panels comprises a first part (36), a second part (38). The first part (36) has a first elongate channel portion (22b) for receiving an edge of a first shower cubicle panel, and a male connector portion (42). The second part (38) has a second elongate channel portion (22b) for receiving an edge of a second shower cubicle panel, and a female connector portion (50) substantially complementarily shaped to receive the male connector portion (42). A sealing element (40) is interposable between the first and second parts (36, 38) for preventing their disengagement.
US08037553B2
The present invention provides a toilet and/or a toilet and bidet combination having immediate reflush capability. Preferred embodiments comprise a tankless toilet and/or toilet and bidet combination and a bowl ventilation apparatus integrated therein. The tankless nature of the invention saves space over conventional toilets, allowing closer mounting to the wall and a lower vertical profile. More specifically, certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a motorized flush mechanism with an infrared sensor having immediate reflush capability, a on-demand motorized water spray cleansing system integrated therein and an integrated bowl ventilation apparatus with a proximity sensor.
US08037547B2
A protective hood is provided for protecting a wearer's head from environmental elements. The protective hood includes a hood body having a cap section positioned to fit over a top of the wearer's head, side sections positioned to hang adjacent sides of the wearer's head, and a back section positioned to hang adjacent a back of the wearer's head. The hood body includes a channel extending along at least a portion of the cap section and/or at least a portion of the side and back sections. A transparent face member is held by the hood body. An adjustable head harness assembly is held by the hood body. The adjustable head harness assembly includes an elastic member extending through the channel for securing the hood body on the wearer's head.
