US08105879B2
Flip chip ball grid array semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating the same. In one example, a near chip scale method of semiconductor die packaging may comprise adhering the die to a substrate in a flip chip configuration, coating the die with a first polymer layer, selectively removing the first polymer layer to provide at least one opening to expose a portion of the die, and depositing a first metal layer over the first polymer layer, the first metal layer at least partially filling the at least one opening to provide an electrical contact to the die, and including a portion that substantially surrounds the die in a plane of an upper surface of the first metal layer to provide an electromagnetic shield around the die.
US08105873B2
Provided is a flexible device (100) having an integrated circuit (5) and an antenna (6) which is incorporated or directly coupled to the interconnect structure of the integrated circuit (5). An electrically insulating or dielectric layer (4) is present as support layer for both antenna (6) and integrated circuit (5). Preferably the substrate (10) is removed at non-silicon areas (10B) outside the active areas (10A) of the integrated circuit (5). This removal can be combined with the use of a substrate of monocrystalline silicon. The flexible device is very suitable for integration in identification labels and security paper, and can be manufactured using a temporarily attached carrier substrate.
US08105866B2
A semiconductor photo detecting element includes a PIN-type photo detecting element and window semiconductor layer. The PIN-type photo detecting element has a semiconductor substrate, a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer and a third semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer is provided on the semiconductor substrate, is lattice-matched to the semiconductor substrate, includes a first conductivity type dopant, and has first band gap energy. The second semiconductor layer is provided on the first semiconductor layer, has the first band gap energy, and has a concentration of the first conductivity type dopant lower than that of the first semiconductor layer or is substantially undoped. The third semiconductor layer is provided on the second semiconductor layer. The window semiconductor layer has second band gap energy larger than the first band gap energy at a light-incoming side with respect to the second semiconductor layer and has a thickness of 5 nm to 50 nm.
US08105864B2
Embodiments of the invention provide an image sensor that includes a barrier region for isolating devices. The image sensor comprises a substrate and an array of pixel cells formed on the substrate. Each pixel cell comprises a photo-conversion device. The array comprises a first pixel cell having a first configuration, a second pixel cell having a second configuration, and at least one barrier region formed between the first and second pixel cells for capturing and removing charge. The barrier region comprises a charge accumulation region of a particular conductivity type in a substrate electrically connected to a voltage source terminal. The charge accumulation region accumulates charge and prevents charge transference from a pixel cell or peripheral circuitry on one side of the barrier region to a pixel cell on another side of the barrier region.
US08105858B2
An imaging device formed as a CMOS semiconductor integrated circuit includes a nitrogen containing insulating material beneath a photogate. The nitrogen containing insulating material, preferably be one of a silicon nitride layer, an ONO layer, a nitrode/oxide layer and an oxide/nitrode layer. The nitrogen containing insulating layer provides an increased capacitance in the photogate region, higher breakdown voltage, a wider dynamic range and an improved signal to noise ratio. The invention also provides a method for fabricating a CMOS imager containing the nitrogen containing insulating layer.
US08105856B2
Cost is reduced and reliability is improved with a BGA (Ball Grid Array) type semiconductor device which has ball-shaped conductive terminals. A first wiring is formed on an insulation film which is formed on a surface of a semiconductor die. A glass substrate is bonded over the surface of the semiconductor die, and a side surface and a back surface of the semiconductor die are covered with an insulation film. A second wiring is connected to a side surface or a back surface of the first wiring and extending over the back surface of the semiconductor die. A conductive terminal such as a bump is formed on the second wiring.
US08105849B2
Described herein is an analyte detection device and method related to a portable instrument suitable for point-of-care analyses. In some embodiments, a portable instrument may include a disposable cartridge, an optical detector, a sample collection device and/or sample reservoir, reagent delivery systems, fluid delivery systems, one or more channels, and/or waste reservoirs. Use of a portable instrument may reduce the hazard to an operator by reducing an operator's contact with a sample for analysis. The device is capable of obtaining diagnostic information using cellular- and/or particle-based analyses and may be used in conjunction with membrane- and/or particle-based analysis cartridges. Analytes, including proteins and cells and/or microbes may be detected using the membrane and/or particle based analysis system.
US08105843B2
Methods and devices for rapid lateral flow immunoassays to detect specific antibodies within a liquid sample while also validating the adequacy of the liquid sample for the presence of immunoglobulin and the integrity and immunoreactivity of the test reagents that detect the antibodies of interest, without requiring instrumentation. The methods and devices provide for delivery of a diluted liquid sample to a single location that simultaneously directs the liquid flow along two or more separate flow paths, one that serves as a positive control to confirm that all critical reagents of the test are immunoreactive, and that the sample being tested is adequate, and the other to detect specific antibodies if present.
US08105841B2
An assembly determines an analyte concentration in a sample of body fluid. The assembly includes a test sensor having a fluid-receiving area for receiving a sample of body fluid, where the fluid-receiving area contains a reagent that produces a measurable reaction with an analyte in the sample. The assembly also includes a meter having a port or opening configured to receive the test sensor; a measurement system configured to determine a measurement of the reaction between the reagent and the analyte; and a temperature-measuring system configured to determine a measurement of the test-sensor temperature when the test sensor is received into the opening. The meter determines a concentration of the analyte in the sample according to the measurement of the reaction and the measurement of the test-sensor temperature.
US08105839B2
While the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease as distinguished from other types of dementia and the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease at an early stage where neuronal apoptosis has not proceeded yet are important for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, it is difficult to differentially diagnose Alzheimer's disease at early stage via a diagnosis mainly made by questioning by a doctor or a diagnostic technique using phosphorylated tau or amyloid β-protein as an indicator. Accordingly, the development of a novel diagnostic technique has been desired. Thus, according to the present invention, by focusing on a transferrin having a sugar chain attached thereto, a diagnostic kit, a diagnostic marker, and a detection means for differentially diagnosing the disease condition of Alzheimer's disease at an early stage are provided.
US08105838B2
A method (100) for performing chemical analyses includes digesting a reference sample to obtain precursors associated with a peptide in the sample (110), separating the precursors to determine values associated with retention times of the separated precursors (120), ionizing the separated precursors to form precursor ions (130), mass analyzing the precursor ions to determine values associated with mass and with ion intensity (140), and storing a
US08105829B2
Chemically reactive carbocyanine dyes that are intramolecularly crosslinked between the 1-position and 3′-position, their bioconjugates and their uses are described. 1,3′-crosslinked carbocyanines are superior to those of conjugates of spectrally similar 1,1′-crosslinked or non-crosslinked dyes. The invention includes derivative compounds having one or more benzo nitrogens.
US08105826B2
This invention relates to genes identified from human chromosome 12q23-qter, which are associated with various diseases, including asthma. The invention also relates to the nucleotide sequences of these genes, isolated nucleic acids comprising these nucleotide sequences, and isolated polypeptides or peptides encoded thereby. The invention further relates to vectors and host cells comprising the disclosed nucleotide sequences, or fragments thereof, as well as antibodies that bind to the encoded polypeptides or peptides. Also related are ligands that modulate the activity of the disclosed genes or gene products. In addition, the invention relates to methods and compositions employing the disclosed nucleic acids, polypeptides or peptides, antibodies, and/or ligands for use in diagnostics and therapeutics for asthma and other diseases.
US08105822B2
A biosensor or cell culture article including: a substrate having a bio-compatible layer. The bio-compatible layer can be obtained from surface oxidation of a substrate coating comprising the reaction product of a suitable oxidizable polymer and modifier compound, such as a triamine, attached to the oxidizable polymer. Methods for making the biosensor or cell culture article and methods for performing an assay of a ligand with the biosensor article are also disclosed.
US08105815B2
Process for the production of a food product involving at least one heating step, comprising adding one or more enzymes to an intermediate form of said food product in said production process whereby the enzyme is added prior to said heating step in an amount that is effective in reducing the level of amino acids that are present in said intermediate form of said food product which amino acids are involved in the formation of acrylamide during said heating step. The invention also relates to food products obtained from the process of the invention.
US08105800B2
Composition for accurately assaying a glycated protein by: 1) avoiding effects of globulin and ascorbic acid components, 2) siabilizing proteases and at least enzymes acting on glycated amino acids; 3) accurately assaying albumin; and 4) assaying glycated albumin while avoiding the effects of glycated hemoglobin, and an assay method are provided. Thus, the contents of a glycated protein and glycated albumin can be more accurately determined.
US08105794B2
The present invention relates to an assay which can be used on nasal secretions. The assay is used to determine the cause of nasal secretions, for example whether the secretions are due to an allergic reaction or a non-allergic reaction.
US08105792B2
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a mammalian cell-based high-throughput assay for the profiling and screening of human epithelial sodium channel (hENaC) cloned from a human kidney c-DNA library and is also expressed in other tissues including human taste tissue. The present invention further relates to amphibian oocyte-based medium-throughput electrophysiological assays for identifying human ENaC modulators, preferably ENaC enhancers. Compounds that modulate ENaC function in a cell-based ENaC assay are expected to affect salty taste in humans. The assays described herein have advantages over existing cellular expression systems. In the case of mammalian cells, such assays can be run in standard 96 or 384 well culture plates in high-throughput mode with enhanced assay results being achieved by the use of a compound that inhibits ENaC function, preferably an amiloride derivative such as Phenamil. In the case of the inventive oocyte electrophysiological assays (two-electrode voltage-clamp technique), these assays facilitate the identification of compounds which specifically modulate human ENaC. The assays of the invention provide a robust screen useful to detect compounds that facilitate (enhance) or inhibit hENaC function. Compounds that enhance or block human ENaC channel activity should thereby modulate salty taste in humans.
US08105785B2
Human MYLK genes are identified as modulators of branching morphogenesis, and thus are therapeutic targets for disorders associated with defective branching morphogenesis function. Methods for identifying modulators of branching morphogenesis, comprising screening for agents that modulate the activity of MYLK are provided.
US08105783B2
The technology described herein generally relates to microfluidic cartridges configured to amplify and detect polynucleotides extracted from multiple biological samples in parallel. The technology includes a microfluidic substrate, comprising: a plurality of sample lanes, wherein each of the plurality of sample lanes comprises a microfluidic network having, in fluid communication with one another: an inlet; a first valve and a second valve; a first channel leading from the inlet, via the first valve, to a reaction chamber; and a second channel leading from the reaction chamber, via the second valve, to a vent.
US08105781B2
The present invention relates, in general, to perioperative depression and, in particular, to methods of identifying individuals at risk of perioperative depression.
US08105779B2
The present invention describes novel oligonucleotides targeted to nucleic acid sequences derived from Cryptosporidium organisms, and Cryptosporidium parvum organisms in particular, which are useful for determining the presence of Cryptosporidium organisms in a test sample. The oligonucleotides of the present invention include hybridization assay probes, helper probes and amplification primers. The present invention further describes a novel method for obtaining purified ribonucleic acid from viable oocysts.
US08105777B1
The present invention relates to genetic markers whose expression is correlated with colon cancer. In one aspect, the invention provides sets of markers whose expression can be used for classifying colon cancer patients into different prognostic categories. In another aspect, the invention provides kits containing marker sets for determining prognosis of colon cancer. In another aspect, the invention provides methods of classifying cancer patients with regard to prognosis.
US08105761B2
A method of manufacturing a liquid discharge head including a flow path forming member configured to form a flow path communicating with a discharge port to discharge liquid, includes, providing a first layer which includes a photosensitive resin and a light absorption agent on a substrate, and providing a second layer which includes a positive photosensitive resin but substantially does not include the light absorption agent on the substrate, so as to coat the first layer, forming a pattern having a shape corresponding to the flow path by performing a patterning process, and providing a layer which becomes the flow path forming member on the substrate, so as to coat the pattern. The method further includes forming the discharge port by performing a patterning process including exposure of the layer that becomes the flow path forming member, and forming the flow path by removing the pattern.
US08105753B2
A pattern clean-up for fabrication of patterned media using a forced assembly of molecules is disclosed. E-beam lithography is initially used to write the initial patterned bit media structures, which have size and positioning errors. Nano-sized protein molecules are then forced to assemble of on top of the bits. The protein molecules have a very uniform size distribution and assemble into a lattice structure above the e-beam patterned areas. The protein molecules reduce the size and position errors in e-beam patterned structures. This process cleans the signal from the e-beam lithography and lowers the noise in the magnetic reading and writing. This process may be used to fabricate patterned bit media directly on hard disk, or to create a nano-imprint master for mass production of patterned bit media disks.
US08105747B2
A positive resist composition including a resin component (A) which exhibits changed alkali solubility under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the resin component (A) including a copolymer (A1) containing a structural unit (a1) represented by general formula (II) or a polymer (A2) consisting of a structural unit (a1) represented by general formula (II) (wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a halogenated lower alkyl group; each of R1 to R3 independently represents an alkyl group or a fluorinated alkyl group, with the provision that no fluorine atom is bonded to a carbon atom adjacent to the tertiary carbon atom to which R1 to R3 are bonded, and at least one of R1 to R3 represents a fluorinated alkyl group; and R2 and R3 may form a ring structure).
US08105741B2
A method for manufacturing toner includes steps of supplying, periodically dispensing, and solidifying. The supply step supplies a liquid to be atomized, which includes at least a resin and a colorant. The periodic dispensation step periodically dispenses droplets of the liquid through an atomizing unit. The solidification step solidifies the dispensed droplets into toner particles. The atomizing unit includes a thin film, a vibration actuator, and multiple holes. The thin film has a relatively stiff portion and a relatively elastic portion, and is configured to contact the liquid. The vibration actuator is connected to and supports a periphery of the thin film, and is configured to induce vibration of the thin film. The multiple holes are formed in the relatively stiff portion, and are configured to discharge droplets therethrough when the thin film vibrates.
US08105730B2
A fuel cell system having a fuel cell, a fuel supply flow path for allowing a fuel gas supplied from a fuel supply source to flow to the fuel cell, an on-off valve for regulating the state of the gas on the upstream side of the fuel supply flow path to supply it to the downstream side, failure detection means for detecting whether the on-off valve has a closure failure, a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure value of the fuel gas on the upstream side of the on-off valve, and determination condition setting means for setting, based on the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor, the conditions of determination of the closure failure of the on-off valve. The failure detection means determines whether the on-off valve has the closure failure, based on the closure failure determination conditions set by the determination condition setting means.
US08105728B2
A polyelectrolyte material includes as a main chain: a benzene ring; an ether; and a carbonyl group. A part of the benzene ring is sulfonated. A method for manufacturing a polyelectrolyte material includes: synthesizing disulfonyl difluorobenzophenone; and polymerizing the disulfonyl difluorobenzophenone, 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone, and phenolphthalein with a crown ether as a catalyst. The synthesizing is performed by reacting 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone with fuming sulfuric acid, performing salting-out the reaction product, and recrystallizing the salting-out product.
US08105724B2
The level of electrical current produced by a fuel cell during rapid changes in the power demanded by a load, is clamped to the fuel cell's maximum rated current value in order to avoid damage to the fuel cell. When the current supplied to the load by the fuel cell overshoots the maximum rated current value, the fuel cell current is immediately reduced by increasing the fuel cell voltage.
US08105721B2
Methods and materials to improve water management in a fuel cell by microtexturing fuel cell elements, including the separator plate and/or the gas diffusion media. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell includes a separator plate and/or a gas diffusion media that are microtextured. Selective ablation of material and stamping can impart microtexturing, where the microtexturing facilitates water management in the fuel cell.
US08105711B2
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: a positive electrode 4; a negative electrode 6; a separator 5; and a battery case 1 in which an electrode plate group 7 including the positive electrode 4 and the negative electrode 6 spirally wound or stacked with the separator 5 interposed therebetween is stored with an electrolyte. In the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, after charging, when the separator 5 is removed to bring a surface of the positive electrode mixture layer and a surface of the negative electrode mixture layer in contact with each other, terminals are respectively provided on the positive electrode current collector and the negative electrode current collector and a resistance value between the terminals is measured, the resistance value is 1.6 Ω·cm2 or more, and the battery case 1 is electrically insulated from the positive electrode 4 and the negative electrode 6.
US08105705B2
An improved magnetic shield for a perpendicular magnetic write head is disclosed. Its main feature is a pair of tabs at the shield's bottom corners. Said tabs are significantly wider at their point of attachment to the shield than further away from the shield. The end portions of each tab slope upwards (away from the ABS) at an angle of about ten degrees. A process for manufacturing the shield is also disclosed.
US08105703B2
The conventional free layer in a CPP GMR or TMR read head has been replaced by a tri-layer laminate comprising Co rich CoFe, moderately Fe rich NiFe, and heavily Fe rich NiFe. The result is an improved device that has a higher MR ratio than prior art devices, while still maintaining free layer softness and acceptable magnetostriction. A process for manufacturing the device is described.
US08105695B2
The present invention relates to a glazing coated with an assembly of thin layers using vacuum deposition, said glazing having reflective properties for infrared radiation, while retaining a high transmission in the visible range, and retaining its properties when subjected to a thermal treatment such as bending/toughening. The glazing comprises one or more silver-based layers and dielectric layers, of which at least one underlying dielectric layer in relation to at least one silver-based layer is a titanium oxide- or oxynitride-based layer such as TiMOx or TiMOxNy, in which M is a metal or a plurality of metals or silicon, wherein these metals or silicon are contained in sufficient atomic proportions to prevent a significant transformation of the crystallographic structure of the previously deposited titanium oxide-based layer under the action of the thermal treatment.
US08105689B2
The present invention relates to polymerizable N-substituted acrylamide phosphorus-containing monomers, organic polymers formed from the same. Incorporation of said monomers into adhesives, pigment dispersants, coatings or films for polar surfaces or particles gives improved adhesive, anti-corrosive, and flame retardant properties.
US08105684B2
A substrate for forming cultures of organic cells, comprising the following a spatial body, the cross section of the body comprises a plurality of at least first pores, wherein the pre size of a majority thereof is =1000 μm, preferably 10-500 μm, more preferably 10-200 μm, most preferably 10-100 μm t; the first pores are fluidically connected to each other: at least the first pores whose pore size is in the region of 500 μm have a cell-growth promoting property and at least one part of the first pores arranged close to at least one free surface of the body are open towards the outer environment. Preferably, the substrate is an open-pored foam material body made of a synthetic material. The substrate enables spatial cell cultures to be formed.
US08105678B2
An optically variable device is disclosed having a substrate with an array of pyramidal structures formed upon it or within it. The structures are preferably formed by printing pyramids with an optically variable color-shifting ink using an Intaglio-like printing process. Alternatively the structure can be formed by embossing a layer of ink with positive pyramids so as to yield an array of positive embossed pyramids. Each of the structures form a pyramidal-like having at least three slanted faces and wherein one or more than one color is seen when viewing the pyramids vary as substrate is rotated at least 30 degrees about an axis orthogonal to the substrate. In order to see a color shift the device is rotated around the surface normal of the substrate, while keeping the angle of incidence to the light source the same, and keeping the viewing angle the same. Various forms of pyramids may be used, however pyramids with planar faces are most suitable.
US08105677B2
A microstructure area (201) providing a first diffractive visual effect is produced on the surface layer (240) of a paper or cardboard substrate (230) of a product (200). In addition, a bulge (206) or a recess (207) having a second microstructure area (202) is produced on the surface layer (240), wherein a doubly curved portion (203) is located between the first (201) and the second (202) microstructure areas. Said combination of the bulge (206)/recess (207), microstructure areas (201, 202) and doubly curved portion (203) makes counterfeiting of the product (200) difficult and provides a special visual effect.
US08105674B2
The present invention aims at providing a sputtering target for making an optical medium whose reflective layer is mainly composed of Ag and capable of attaining an optical medium which is excellent in surface smoothness and can sufficiently suppress noise and jitter, a method of making the same, an optical medium, and a method of making the same. The present invention provides a sputtering target for making an optical medium comprising 0.1 to 2 at % of one or two elements selected from the group consisting of Ta and Nb, 0.1 to 1 at % of Al, and the balance constituted by Ag and unavoidable impurities; and an optical medium comprising a reflective layer having this composition on a substrate.
US08105672B2
An electroconductive member including an electroconductive support, an electric resistance adjusting layer formed on the electroconductive support, and a top surface layer that coats the surface of the electric resistance adjusting layer, the top surface layer containing at least one oxygen-containing inorganic compound selected from among a composite oxide of silicon and aluminum, an oxygen-containing silicon compound, and an oxygen-containing aluminum compound.
US08105661B2
A method of forming a porous film on a processing target includes: forming fine organic particles by polymerizing an organic compound in a gaseous phase; mixing the fine organic particles with a silicon compound containing a Si—O bond in a gaseous phase, thereby depositing a film containing the fine particles on the processing target; and removing the fine organic particles from the film.
US08105659B2
A method of controlling gloss of an image includes forming an image over a substrate by applying a colored or colorless composition, included a colored ink and/or a colorless overcoat composition, over one or more portions of the substrate, wherein the colored or colorless composition includes at least one gellant, at least one curable monomer, at least one curable wax and optionally at least one photoinitiator, wherein the colored or colorless composition is curable upon exposure to radiation, and curing the colored or colorless composition following application by applying radiation to the colored or colorless composition and, during the curing, controlling an amount of oxygen present in an atmosphere around the image.
US08105656B2
The present invention relates to a method of coating a substrate, comprising the steps of a) providing a substrate, b) applying a composition to at least one side of the substrate, the composition containing an inorganic compound and the inorganic compound containing at least one metal and/or semimetal selected from the group Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, Nb, V, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Co, B, Al, In, Tl, Si, Ge, Sn, Zn, Pb, Sb, Bi or a mixture thereof and at least one element selected from the group Te, Se, S, O, Sb, As, P, N, C, Ga or a mixture thereof, c) drying the composition applied in step b), d) applying at least one coating to the at least one side of the substrate to which the composition was applied in step b), the coating containing a silane of the general formula (Z1)Si(OR)3, Z1 being R, OR or Gly (Gly is 3-glycidyloxypropyl) and R being an alkyl radical having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, it being possible for all radicals R to be identical or different, oxide particles selected from the oxides of Ti, Si, Zr, Al, Y, Sn, Zn, Ce or a mixture thereof, a polymer, and an initiator, and e) drying the coating applied in step d), and also to a coated substrate obtainable by the above method.
US08105654B2
To provide thermoadhesive conjugate fibers, nonwoven fabrics and cellulosic fiber blended nonwoven fabrics employing them, and wipers and absorbers employing the fabrics, thermoadhesive conjugate fibers comprise a thermoplastic resin (I) containing a modified polyolefin with at least one type of reactive functional group as a first component and having a second component composed of a thermoplastic resin (II) with a higher melting point than the thermoplastic resin (I) of the first component combined in a conjugate therewith, the first component being formed continuously along the length of at least a portion of the fiber surface, wherein the fiber surfaces are coated with a fiber treating agent containing a multifunctional compound capable of reacting with the reactive functional group of the modified polyolefin.
US08105653B2
The method for performing surface treatment of a rubber member includes impregnating a rubber member with a first surface-treatment liquid containing an isocyanate component and an organic solvent, to thereby form a first impregnation layer, and sequentially treating a surface of the rubber member, without exposure to air, with a second surface-treatment liquid for partially removing the isocyanate component present in the first impregnation layer.
US08105652B2
A decomposable thin film comprising a plurality of polyelectrolyte layers of alternating charge, wherein decomposition of the thin film is characterized by degradation of at least a portion of the polyelectrolyte layers.
US08105650B2
An ink set for inkjet recording is provided. The ink set includes: at least one kind of ink composition that contains self-dispersing polymer particles, a color material, a hydrophilic organic solvent and water; and a reaction liquid capable of forming an aggregate upon contact with the ink composition.
US08105647B2
The present invention relates to an oxide film forming method and an oxide deposition apparatus, which make it possible to form an oxide film at a low temperature of 350° C. or less by respectively supplying a silicon-containing gas including at least one of SiH4, Si2H6, Si3H8, TEOS, DCS, HCD and TSA, a purge gas, and a reaction gas including at least one of O2, N2O, O3, H2O and H2O2 into a reaction space continuously and simultaneously while rotating gas injector, and to form an oxide film with a uniform thickness along a step of a lower structure with a micro-pattern since step coverage is improved due to an atomic layer deposition process.
US08105646B2
An environmentally friendly method is provided for supporting the formation of microfloral soil crust, particularly in disturbed or contaminated areas, by treating soil with suspension containing microfloral propagules collected with runoff water on undisturbed sites. The method reduces spreading of contaminations from afflicted areas. Also provided is a composition of microfloral propagules for supporting the soil crust formation, which composition is in the form of suspension or powder.
US08105640B2
This invention provides edible compositions comprising pharmaceutically or nutraceutically active agents in particulate form homogeneously dispersed in a fat matrix, such as chocolate or chocolate compound coating.
US08105638B2
A package for packaging food and non-food products. The package may include a tray with a cavity to receive the product, and a reclosable lid to help protect the product within the tray. The lid may lock into an interior portion of the tray below its upper surface. The cavity may be sealed with a primary seal that helps to maintain the integrity of the product and/or to help preserve a food product within the cavity. A sealing flange used to form the primary seal is located below the upper surface of the tray and within the interior region of the tray. A removable sealing layer may be sealed to the sealing flange to form a hermetically sealed cavity. A secondary seal may be provided to help maintain freshness of a food product after the primary seal has been broken, and/or to stabilize or maintain the integrity of the package. One or more interlock features may be provided for releasably securing the lid to the tray. The interlocks may be located external to the cavity and within the interior region of the tray below its upper surface. The interlocks may include a snap-fit configuration that generates an audible sound that signals when the lid is secured to and/or removed from the tray.
US08105635B2
The present invention relates to post-treatment compositions and methods useful for modifying the distribution of metal biocide(s) in biodegradable substrates such as wood, other cellulosic products, starch-based products, and the like that are vulnerable to decay due to insects, fungi, microbes, and the like. The compositions include complexing agents of moderate strength that are able to facilitate mobilization and redistribution of metal biocide(s) in substrates without undue leaching. The compositions can be used, for example, to redistribute the metal biocide(s) into depleted regions of a substrate by redistribution of metal biocide from other regions of the substrate. Post-treatment compositions that include additional metal biocide can also replenish these regions with the freshly supplied, additional biocide. Thus, the depleted regions can be restored by redistribution and/or replenishment mechanisms. Service life of substrates in the field benefits by these post-treatments as a consequence.
US08105632B2
Compositions comprising membrane-derived and synthetic microparticles that induce platelet aggregation and are useful for treating bleeding disorders, particularly those involving platelet dysfunction. Microparticles include endothelial derived microparticles (EMP), platelet derived microparticles (PMP), erythrocyte derived microparticles (RMP), and synthetic microparticles (SMP), and are used to treat disorders such as thrombocytopenia caused by chemotherapy.
US08105631B2
The invention is directed in part to oral dosage forms comprising a combination of an orally analgesically effective amount of an opioid agonist and an orally active opioid antagonist, the opioid antagonist being included in a ratio to the opioid agonist to provide a combination product which is analgesically effective when the combination is administered orally, but which is aversive in a physically dependent subject. Preferably, the amount of opioid antagonist included in the combination product provides at least a mildly negative, “aversive” experience in physically dependent addicts (e.g., precipitated abstinence syndrome).
US08105629B2
The present invention relates to a process of producing a collagen gel comprising collagen fibers cross-linked with each other by a cross-linking agent on the way of fibrosis of collagen, and a collagen gel comprising the cross-linked collagen fibers obtained by the process.The collagen gel comprising cross-linked collagen fibers of the present invention has high strength and thermal stability and can be widely used as cell carriers and medical materials.
US08105613B2
Spore coat-associated proteins from members of Bacillus genera, and in particular spore-coat associated protein N (CotN), have utilization as adjuvants in vaccine formulations. The vaccine formulations most likely contain a virulence factor of bacterial origin, which in the case of Bacillus genera is the protective antigen.
US08105609B2
The invention encompasses nucleic acid molecules containing transcription units which encode the flavivirus M and E protein antigens. The flaviviruses include Japanese encephalitis virus, dengue, yellow fever virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus. The nucleic acids function to provide the M and E protein antigens when the nucleic acid resides in an appropriate host cell, especially when the host cell is the cell of a subject. The invention also encompasses a vaccine whose active agent is the nucleic acid. The invention further encompasses the cultured host cells when they contain within them nucleic acid molecules containing the transcription units. The invention in addition encompasses a method of immunizing a subject against flavivirus infection by administering to the subject an effective amount of a vaccine containing a nucleic acid molecule containing the transcription unit of the invention.
US08105604B2
The present invention discloses a cancer antigen peptide comprising the following amino acid sequence: Cys Tyr Thr Trp Asn Gln Met Asn Leu (Sequence ID No. 3), a cancer vaccine having this for its active ingredient, and a DNA vaccine having for its active ingredient DNA that codes for this peptide.
US08105599B2
The present invention relates to the use of a compound that binds to a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell, in the preparation of a composition for modulating, in particular reducing, the immune response in an animal, in particular a human or another mammal. The composition in particular modulates the interactions between a dendritic cell and a T-cell, more specifically between a C-type lectin on the surface of a dendritic cell and an ICAM receptor on the surface of a T-cell. The compositions can be used for preventing/inhibiting immune responses to specific antigens, for inducing tolerance, for immunotherapy, for immunosuppression, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and the treatment of allergy. The compound that binds to a C-type lectin is preferably chosen from mannose, fucose, plant lectins, antibiotics, sugars, proteins or antibodies against C-type lectins. The invention also relates to such antibodies.
US08105595B2
This invention provides monoclonal antibodies that recognize the Toll-like Receptor 4/MD-2 receptor complex, and monoclonal antibodies that recognize the TLR4/MD2 complex as well as TLR4 when not complexed with MD-2. The invention further provides methods of using the humanized monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics. This invention also provides soluble chimeric proteins, methods of expressing and purifying soluble chimeric proteins, and methods of using soluble chimeric proteins as therapeutics, in screening assays and in the production of antibodies.
US08105592B2
The present invention relates to heavy chain immunoglobulins or fragments thereof of the VHH or VNAR type, or domain antibodies (dAbs) of the heavy or light chains of immunoglobulins or fragments thereof, suitable for use in the management of infections, in particular of the gastrointestinal tract. The present invention also relates to a delivery system comprising these heavy chain immunoglobulins or functional fragments thereof of the VHH or VNAR type, or domain antibodies (dAbs) of the heavy or light chains of immunoglobulins or fragments thereof, and hosts comprising expression vectors encoding for these heavy chain immunoglobulins or functional fragments thereof of the VHH or VNAR type, or domain antibodies (dAbs) of the heavy or light chains of immunoglobulins or fragments thereof. The invention also relates to food products and pharmaceutical preparations comprising the delivery system, and methods for the preparation of food products according to the invention.
US08105590B2
Use of antagonists to IL-31 are used to treat inflammation and pain by inhibiting, preventing, reducing, minimizing, limiting or minimizing stimulation in neuronal tissues. Such antagonists include antibodies and fragments, derivative, or variants thereof. Symptoms such as pain, tingle, sensitization, tickle associated with neuropathies are ameliorated.
US08105572B2
A method of treating tuberculosis comprising administering an aerosolized interferon such as interferon α, interferon β or interferon γ in a therapeutically effective amount is provided herein. Further, a method of reducing the infectivity of tuberculosis or reducing the number of infectious organisms present in the lungs of a patient suffering from tuberculosis comprising administering an aerosolized interferon such as interferon α, interferon β or interferon γ in a therapeutically effective amount is provided herein. Also, pharmaceutical compositions of one or more aerosolized interferon(s) are provided.
US08105566B2
Disclosed is a method for producing an oxygen-containing halogenated fluoride, wherein a gas-liquid reaction is used. This method is a method for producing an oxygen-containing halogenated fluoride represented by the general formula: XOmF (where X represents a halogen atom (Cl, Br or I) constituting a halogen fluoride and m represents 3 or 4), wherein a mixed gas containing the halogen fluoride and fluorine is reacted with an H2O source.
US08105564B2
Provided is a plant for the continuous production of monosilane and tetrachlorosilane by catalytic dismutation of trichlorosilane, wherein the plant contains: a countercurrent reactor having a double wall, a catalyst bed containing a catalyst which is located in the countercurrent reactor, a condenser at the top of the countercurrent reactor, a vaporizer unit at the bottom of the countercurrent reactor, a trichlorosilane feed line for the introduction of trichlorosilane into the countercurrent reactor, a heat exchanger, with the trichlorosilane conveyed by line via the heat exchanger and preheated there by a bottom product from the vaporizer unit and, for this purpose, the bottom product is fed by line via the heat exchanger into the double wall at a level in the lower part of the countercurrent reactor and discharged from the double wall at a level in the upper part of the countercurrent reactor, a condensation unit downstream of the condenser, and a distillation column having an outlet for monosilane.
US08105562B2
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for treating exhaust gases comprising organosilicon components or accompanying substances. The invention more specifically relates to the use of bulk regenerator materials as storage materials allowing periodic removal, purification, and redelivery to the system. The invention solves the problem of clogged regenerator-storage materials during regenerative post-combustion of exhaust gases containing organosilicon components.
US08105549B2
A test sample collection device includes a generally elongated sample collection section for collecting and holding a test sample, a handle member having a top half, a bottom half, a test strip located between the top and bottom halves, and an opening formed by the top and bottom halves, and a cap. Prong members fit within the opening of the handle member for releasably connecting the sample collecting section to the handle member. The cap is releasably mounted on the sample collecting section and covers the sample collecting section. Flexible extension members on the cap are used to release the sample collecting section from the handle member. The collecting section includes a plurality of fins and slots for assisting in collecting the test sample. The device also includes windows for magnified viewing of test results and for indicating whether a sufficient amount of the sample has been collected.
US08105532B2
Ultraviolet light is an effective sterilization agent. Convenient mobile sterilization devices are described herein that, in certain embodiments, provide indications to a user of how much sterilizing light is required for a given sterilization goal and how much light has been applied to a surface towards that goal. Users can move the devices across a target surface as needed to sterilize or disinfect the surface, with the device tracking the dosage applied to the surface. One embodiment of a mobile device that comprises an ultraviolet C (UVC) light source, a distance detector, an indicator, and a microprocessor that receives data from the distance detector for calculating an intensity of the light from the source on a target surface and for calculating a dosage of the light on the surface to provide a signal to the indicator when a predetermined dosage is achieved.
US08105530B2
A reinforced aluminum alloy with high electric and thermal conductivity of the present invention has the weight percentage below: Mg 0.61˜0.65%, Si 0.4˜0.45%, rare earth elements 0.21˜0.3%, B 0.03˜0.10% and the balances essentially Al and unavoidable impurities. The reinforced aluminum alloy enhanced the containing of Mg and Si elements compared to the conventional aluminum alloy such as 6063, and controlled the containing of the Mg and Si in a certain relatively narrower range so as to control the desired quality of the aluminum alloy. At the same time, a Ce of the rare earth elements and B element are added into the aluminum alloy and completely solid melted the added alloys to the aluminum alloy. It is not only remaining the strength of the aluminum alloy, but also increasing the electric and thermal conductivity.
US08105520B2
Disclosed are implantable or insertable medical devices that provide resistance to microbial growth on and in the environment of the device and resistance to microbial adhesion and biofilm formation on the device. In particular, the invention discloses implantable or insertable medical devices that comprise at least one biocompatible matrix polymer region, an antimicrobial agent for providing resistance to microbial growth and a microbial adhesion/biofilm synthesis inhibitor for inhibiting the attachment of microbes and the synthesis and accumulation of biofilm on the surface of the medical device. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing such devices under conditions that substantially prevent preferential partitioning of any of said bioactive agents to a surface of the biocompatible matrix polymer and substantially prevent chemical modification of said bioactive agents.
US08105518B2
A valve case, which is a metal component, and an outer shell portion of a cylinder head cover, which is a resin component, are joined together through a seal material. First, a recess formed in the valve case is filled with a seal material in a liquid form. A skin layer is then formed by curing the surface of the seal material. Subsequently, the outer shell portion is formed by supplying a synthetic resin material onto the valve case in such a manner as to cover the skin layer, which is provided on the surface of a non-cured portion of the seal material. At this stage, the skin layer is broken by supply pressure of the synthetic resin material and thus the synthetic resin material and the non-cured portion of the seal material are joined together as an integral body.
US08105517B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a figure-forming composition which enables the initiation of hardening even with a small amount of water and can attain a prescribed hardness, and which is suitable particularly for the production of three-dimensional living body models for surgical training by a rapid prototype process; and provide a three dimensional figure and a three-dimensional structure which are formed by using the composition. The figure-forming composition, for example, comprises a calcium-based material such as hemihydrate gypsum and polyvinyl alcohol resin, wherein the content of the polyvinyl alcohol resin is 2 to 20 weight parts when the total weight of the calcium-based material and the polyvinyl alcohol resin is 100 weight parts.
US08105516B2
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing a coal cake for coking, in which a bed (3) of coal is compacted in a mold (2) by pulses of hammers (19) which act on the bed, and is solidified to form a block. In accordance with the invention the bed (3) is not only worked on in pulses by the hammers (19) but is also subjected to compression.
US08105512B1
An infiltrated carbon foam composite and method for making the composite is described. The infiltrated carbon foam composite may include a carbonized carbon aerogel in cells of a carbon foam body and a resin is infiltrated into the carbon foam body filling the cells of the carbon foam body and spaces around the carbonized carbon aerogel. The infiltrated carbon foam composites may be useful for mid-density ablative thermal protection systems.
US08105505B2
An electrically conductive composite consisting of Vinyl-ester (as an anti-corrosive matrix), woven carbon fibers (as the reinforcement and conductive material) and carbon black powder (as a conductive filler) is manufactured. Various weight percentages of the matrix, fibers and filler are examined. The product cured at room temperature. Low weight, high strength, high stiffness, chemically corrosive resistance, electrically conductive characteristics are obtained from the product. The product may serve as electrically conductive polymeric composites in chemically corrosive environment.
US08105504B2
Organic materials which possess outstanding stability to oxidative, thermal or light-induced degradation comprise as stabilizers at least one compound of the formula (I) wherein the general symbols are as defined in claim 1. The compounds of formula I are especially useful as stabilizers for protecting polymers and lubricants against oxidative, thermal or light-induced degradation and as scavengers for oxidized developer in color photographic material.
US08105492B2
Nanoparticle-treated particle packs, such as sand beds, may effectively filter and purify liquids such as waste water. Proppant beds treated with nanoparticles may fixate or reduce fines migration therethrough. When tiny contaminant particles or fines in these fluids flow through the nanoparticle-treated bed or pack, the nanoparticles will capture and hold the tiny contaminant or fines particles within the pack due to the nanoparticles' surface forces, including, but not necessarily limited to van der Waals and electrostatic forces. Nanoparticle-treated beds or packs may be recharged by contacting the bed with an inorganic acid (but not hydrofluoric acid) or an organic acid, and optionally followed by subsequent treatment with hydrofluoric acid. This treating substantially removes the nanoparticles and the fine particulates that have been removed from a fluid (e.g. wastewater being treated, produced fluids in a formation, etc.). The particle pack may then be re-treated or recharged with nanoparticles.
US08105486B1
A water-cleaner includes a bowl, a tank, a tube, a filtering unit, at least one sleeve, a cover, an exhaust unit and a valve. The tank includes an aperture defined in a lower portion. The tank is located on the bowl. The tube includes apertures transversely defined therein. The tube is inserted in the tank. The filtering unit includes filtering bags stacked on one another and located around the tube. Each of the filtering unit includes an exit in communication with related ones of the apertures of the tube. The sleeve is located around the tank and movable between first and second positions. In the first position, the sleeve and the tank together define a space for containing raw water. The cover is located on the sleeve. The exhaust unit is arranged between the sleeve and the cover. The valve is located in the aperture of the tank.
US08105471B1
The invention includes nanochannel devices and methods for using such nanochannel devices for separating molecules, ions and biomolecules. The nanochannel devices have at least one nanochannel through which fluid can move, wherein ionic double layers form in the fluid near walls of the nanochannel and those ionic double layers overlap within the nanochannel. Electrical voltage can be applied to the nanochannel to modify an electrostatic potential in the nanochannel and thereby control movement of ions and biomolecules through the nanochannel. The invention also includes arrays and networks of such nanochannel devices.
US08105470B2
A sensor (1) including a plate-shaped sensor element (21) extending in a front-rear direction and having at least 3 electrode terminals (25) provided on at least one side surface (24) of the sensor element at intervals in a lateral direction; a plurality of metallic terminal members (51a, 51b) connected to the electrode terminals (25) of the sensor element (21); and a separator (71) surrounding and insulating the plurality of metallic terminal members (51a, 51b). The metallic terminal members (51a, 51b) each has a crimp portion (57a, 57b) formed at a rear end thereof and a lead wire (61) is crimp-connected to the crimp portion (57a, 57b). The crimp portions (57a) located at opposite sides with respect to the lateral direction face the side surface (24) of the sensor element (21), whereas the crimp portion (57b) faces away from the side surface (24) of the sensor element (21).
US08105469B2
Microelectrode comprising a body formed from electrically non-conducting material and including at least one region of electrically conducting material and at least one passage extending through the body of non-conducting material and the region of conducting material, the electrically conducting region presenting an area of electrically conducting material to a fluid flowing through the passage in use. An electrochemical cell which includes such a microelectrode is also disclosed.
US08105462B2
A method for transferring an adhesive film, which contains: conveying the adhesive film to an area between the heating part and the adherend; pressurizing the adhesive film with the heating part from the side of the release layer and heating the adhesive layer up to a first heating temperature so as to bring the adhesive layer into contact with the adherend; bringing a high temperature heating part, which is disposed downstream of the heating part with respect to the conveyance direction of the adhesive film, into contact with the adhesive film from the side of the release layer, and heating the adhesive layer up to a second heating temperature so as to cut the adhesive layer; and releasing the release layer from the adhesive layer which is in contact with the adherend, and transferring the adhesive layer which is in contact with the adherend to the adherend.
US08105461B2
There is provided a method for disassembling a bonded structure obtained by bonding a first base member and a second base member to each other via a bonding film mainly made of a compound having a branched polyorganosiloxane skeleton having a structural unit expressed by a following general formula (1) at a terminal portion, a structural unit expressed by a following general formula (2) at a linking portion, and a structural unit expressed by a following general formula (3) at a branched portion: In the formulas, each R independently represents a non-substituted hydrocarbon group; each Z independently represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolytic group; each X represents a siloxane residue; a represents 0 or an integer of 1 to 3; b represents 0 or an integer of 1 or 2; and c represents 0 or 1. The disassembling method includes heating the bonding film into a molten state at a temperature equal to or higher than a glass transition point of the compound having the branched polyorganosiloxane skeleton and separating the first and the second base members from each other.
US08105457B2
A method for joining at least two members of a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The method includes providing a first member, providing a second member, direct-bonding the first member and the second member to form a direct-bond, and anodically bonding the first member and the second member. At least one of the members includes ultra low expansion glass and/or ultra low expansion glass ceramics.
US08105453B2
In a method for producing a multilayer ceramic substrate, a green ceramic laminate includes green conductive patterns arranged on a plurality of ceramic green sheets and portions to be formed into a plurality of multilayer ceramic substrates. Boundary-defining conductive patterns are arranged on the ceramic green sheets and along boundaries of the multilayer ceramic substrates. The boundary-defining conductive patterns have firing shrinkage characteristics that are different from those of the ceramic green sheets. During firing of the green ceramic laminate, cavities adjacent to edges of the boundary-defining conductive patterns are formed. A sintered ceramic laminate is divided at edges passing through the cavities.
US08105437B2
A method for large scale manufacture of photovoltaic devices includes loading a substrate into a load lock station and transferring the substrate in a controlled ambient to a first process station. The method includes using a first physical deposition process in the first process station to cause formation of a first conductor layer overlying the surface region of the substrate. The method includes transferring the substrate to a second process station, and using a second physical deposition process in the second process station to cause formation of a second layer overlying the surface region of the substrate. The method further includes repeating the transferring and processing until all thin film materials of the photovoltaic devices are formed. In an embodiment, the invention also provides a method for large scale manufacture of photovoltaic devices including feed forward control. That is, the method includes in-situ monitoring of the physical, electrical, and optical properties of the thin films. These properties are used to determine and adjust process conditions for subsequent processes.
US08105433B2
It is an object of the invention to provide a cement admixture that can form concrete having a sufficient self-healing capability and satisfactorily maintaining its self-healing capability for prolonged periods. The cement admixture of the invention contains an expanding material and an alumina-silicate with swelling properties. The cement admixture is combined with cement to form a cement composition. The cement composition is mixed with water and an aggregate to provide concrete with an excellent self-healing capability.
US08105428B2
A method of preparing a universal base composition disclosed which consists of milling a pigment in a resin that is soluble in both water and organic solvent and wherein the resin contains both hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers such that the total weight of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers is at least about 20% of the total weight of the resin and the weight ratio of hydrophobic monomers to hydrophilic monomers is from about 1/5 to about 5.
US08105424B2
A hydrogen permeation/separation thin membrane including a Ni—Ti—Nb alloy. The Ni—Ti—Nb alloy is a cast foil material obtained by roll quenching and a refining heat treatment. The membrane has a thickness of 0.07 mm or less. The Ni—Ti—Nb alloy has the following: (a) a composition consisting of 10 to 47 atomic % of Nb, 20 to 52 atomic % of Ti, and a remainder containing 20 to 48 atomic % of Ni and inevitable impurities; and (b) an alloy structure where fine particles of a Nb-based solid solution alloy, in which Nb forms a solid solution with Ni and Ti in Nb, are dispersed in a basic structure made of a Ni—Ti(Nb) intermetallic compound formed of a solid solution of a Ni—Ti intermetallic compound, in which part of Ti thereof is replaced by Nb.
US08105420B2
The present application includes a method for inhibiting amine degradation during CO2 capture from flue gas streams. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method of inhibiting O2- and/or SO2-induced degradation of amines using sodium sulfite (Na2SO3), potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate (KNaC4H4O6.4H2O), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or hydroxylamine (NH2OH), or analogs or mixtures thereof during CO2 capture by amines.
US08105416B1
A method for reducing tin in lead bullion has the steps of adding an Arrhenius base to a kettle containing lead bullion and tin, adding a byproduct of conventional detinning to the kettle, agitating contents of the kettle, and removing a layer of slag from the kettle. The disclosed method removes tin via chemical oxidation, adds lead via chemical reduction of an oxide from the byproduct of conventional detinning, and preserves most of the antimony content of the lead bullion.
US08105415B2
A method of making a steel with low carbon less than 0.035% by weight including steps of preparing a heat of molten steel composition in a steelmaking furnace to a tapping temperature as desired for desulfurization at a VTD, tapping open into a ladle the molten steel composition with an oxygen level between about 600 and 1120 ppm, providing slag forming compound to the ladle to form a slag cover over the molten steel composition in the ladle, transporting the molten steel to a VTD, decarburizing the molten steel composition at the VTD by drawing a vacuum of less than 650 millibars, after decarburizing, transporting the molten steel to an LMF and deoxidizing the molten steel composition, after deoxidizing, returning to the VTD to desulfurize and degas the molten steel composition, and casting the molten steel composition to form a steel with low carbon less than 0.035% by weight.
US08105411B2
A system, in certain embodiments, includes a fluid filter that includes a first set of strips of a first filter material having a first density, and a second set of strips of a second filter material having a second density greater than the first density, wherein the first set and second set of strips are arranged in an alternating pattern to define a first filter layer. The system also includes a second filter layer comprising a third filter material having a third density greater than the second density, wherein the first filter layer is coupled to the second filter layer. In other embodiments, the system includes a fluid filter which includes a first filter material having a first density, a second filter material having a second density greater than the first density, and a third filter material having a third density greater than the second density. The system may also include the first filter material coupled to both the second filter material and the third filter material, as well as the second filter material coupled to both the first filter material and the third filter material.
US08105407B2
Air filtered through a filter element in a case is supplied via an air outlet port to a carburetor. Bottom plate of the case includes a support frame section bulging inwardly of the case. The support frame section includes a peripheral wall surrounding the periphery of the outlet port, a plurality of posts extending upward from the peripheral wall, and a canopy portion of a plate shape provided on the upper ends of the posts. Interior of the case and the outlet port are in communication with each other via a space between the posts, and the canopy portion covers the whole opening area of the outlet port.
US08105406B2
An air cleaner 10 includes an air cleaner case 3 having an inlet 1 for introducing air and an outlet 2 for ejecting air. An intake pipe 5 having an intake opening 4 opened upward or obliquely upward in the air cleaner case 3 is connected to the outlet 2. The air cleaner 10 includes a main air filter element 6a positioned above the intake opening 4 and an auxiliary air filter element 6b, which is separate from the main air filter element 6a, positioned above the intake opening 4 but below the main air filter element 6a. The main air filter element 6a is configured to be detachable from the air cleaner case 3 with the auxiliary air filter element 6b fixed in the air cleaner case 3.
US08105405B2
A quick release filter assembly for a pneumatic module of a surgical machine includes a housing, an input port, an output port, a filter, and a flange. The housing has first and second sides, a top, and a bottom. The input port is located on the first side of the housing and is configured to permit gas to enter the housing. The output port is located on the second side of the housing and is configured to permit gas to exit the housing. The filter is located in the housing between the input port and the output port. The flange is rigidly connected to the housing along a periphery of the top of the housing. The flange extends outward along a plane generally parallel with the top of the housing. The flange has a mechanism for connecting the housing to a mounting portion of the pneumatic module. When the mechanism is disengaged, the filter assembly can be removed from the pneumatic module.
US08105402B1
A steam reformer is use in a fuel processor system to create a water gas shift reaction between a hydrocarbon fuel and water. A hydrocarbon fuel and water are provided. The water is heated to superheated steam. The hydrocarbon fuel is mixed with the superheated steam to produce a vaporized fuel/steam mixture. The vaporized fuel/steam mixture is directed into a gap space between separate surfaces. The gap space between the separate surfaces is very small. Within this confined gap space, at least one of the separate surfaces is heated to maintain a reaction temperature range that induces the water gas shift reaction. The water gas shift reaction produces reactant gases that include hydrogen gas and contaminant gases. At least some of the contaminant gases are burned to heat the gap space.
US08105399B2
The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for the production of diesel fuel from feedstocks containing fatty acids, glycerated fatty acids, and glycerin by catalytic and/or non-catalytic pyrolysis followed by esterification. Specifically, the present invention relates to the production of Renewable Diesel having low glycerin, water, and sulfur content.
US08105391B2
Provided herein are a method, which comprises implanting in a patient an implantable device comprising a coating that includes a PEGylated hyaluronic acid and a PEGylated non-hyaluronic acid biocompatible polymer and the methods of use thereof.
US08105388B2
A prosthesis can replace at least a portion of an anatomical wrist. The prosthesis can include modular portions and bone ingrowth portions for fixation. The modular prosthesis can include selected portions that are assembled for implantation.
US08105386B2
The present invention is directed to a rotating/non-rotating tibia base plate/insert system. In one illustrative embodiment, the device comprises a tibia base plate, an insert adapted to be positioned above the base plate, and at least one removable pin that, when installed, engages at least a portion of the insert and the base plate to thereby prevent relative rotation between the insert and the base plate. In one illustrative embodiment, the method comprises obtaining a prosthetic knee assembly comprised of a tibia base plate, a tibia insert and a removable pin, the assembly being adapted to be configured in a first state such that the tibia insert may rotate relative to the base plate or in a second state such that said tibia insert cannot rotate relative to said base plate, making at least one incision adjacent a patient's knee, installing the prosthetic knee assembly in the patient, wherein the removable pin is removed such that the assembly is in the first state wherein the tibia insert may rotate relative to the tibia base plate, and closing the incision.
US08105371B1
A vest has a front, a back, a left side, a right side, and top and bottom edges. A plurality of fixed coupling strips is secured to the vest in pairs. The strips of each pair are vertically oriented and spaced apart. The fixed coupling strips include long front and back pairs and short side pairs. A plurality of similarly configured envelopes is provided. A pair of repositionable coupling strips are secured to each envelope in a horizontal orientation.
US08105360B1
This invention is an implantable device for dynamic stabilization of the spine that allows desirable spinal movement and prevents undesirable spinal movement. The device comprises: a longitudinal sequence of incompressible segments; a plurality of substantially-inelastic members that connect the segments through non-central channels; and a plurality of motion-dampening members. Desirable movement includes naturally-dampened flexion, extension, lateral bending, and torsion of the spine within a normal range of motion. Desirable movement may also include gradual correction of abnormal spinal curvature. Preventing undesirable movement includes preventing movement of the spine outside its normal range of motion. Preventing undesirable movement may also include alleviating intervertebral disc compression by providing vertebral support.
US08105359B2
A dynamic stabilization, motion preservation spinal implant system includes an anchor system, a horizontal rod system and a vertical rod system. The systems are modular so that various constructs and configurations can be created and customized to a patient.
US08105356B2
A dynamic stabilization, motion preservation spinal implant system includes an anchor system, a horizontal rod system and a vertical rod system. The systems are modular so that various constructs and configurations can be created and customized to a patient.
US08105348B2
A surgical obturator is provided which has a tubular housing, a blade carrier displaceable in the tubular housing in a longitudinal direction between an advanced cutting position and a retracted protected position. A blade with a cutting edge is held on the blade carrier. A protective cap engages over the blade and is displaceable in the tubular housing in the longitudinal direction between an advanced rest position in which the blade is completely covered in its protected position and a retracted work position. The protective cap has a slit through which the cutting edge passes. In a work position of the protective cap, the blade projects through the slit. A retracting device is arranged in the tubular housing for displacing the blade from the cutting position to the protected position. The retracting device is activatable by displacement of the protective cap from the work position to the rest position.
US08105342B2
In the case where the living tissues in the patient's body is resected as well, it is possible to suture the resected portion immediately without replacement with another treatment device after resection. Thus, prevention of bleeding from the resected portion or earlier repair of an ulcer that occurs with the resected portion can be carried out for the patent lowly invasively and easily.
US08105339B2
A guide is disclosed for use in performing spinal surgery to prepare across a spinal disc and adjacent vertebrae an implantation space. The guide is associated with a computer controlled surgical navigation system employing an energy-detecting array to track positions of the guide in three dimensional space relative to a known reference point. The guide includes a body for providing protected access to prepare across the spinal disc and into the adjacent vertebrae the implantation space. The body has a passage adapted to receive a bone removal device for forming the implantation space through the body. At least one electrically energizable energy emitter array is attached to the body for use in identifying the location of the guide relative to the adjacent vertebrae. A system and method for using the guide in spinal surgery are also disclosed.
US08105338B2
A sterile adaptor, a sterile drape with the integrated sterile adaptor, and a telerobotic surgical system including the sterile drape with a drape interface are provided. The adaptor, drape, and system allow for draping portions of a telerobotic surgical system to maintain a sterile barrier between the sterile surgical field and the non-sterile robotic system while also providing an interface for transferring mechanical and electrical energy and signals between a robotic arm and a surgical instrument in the sterile field.
US08105334B2
A medical device includes a sheath defining a lumen, an elongate member disposed within the lumen, and a basket connected to a distal end of the elongate member and being retractable within and extendable from the lumen. The basket includes a plurality of legs. At least one leg of the plurality of legs includes a material that is substantially resistant to Holmium laser energy.
US08105327B2
An instrument for preparing a cavity for a stem of a prosthetic implant for use in performing joint arthroplasty on a head of a long bone is provided. The instrument includes a body and a punch extending from the body. The punch includes a portion of the punch having a shape similar to the stem of the implant.
US08105323B2
An electrosurgical generator is disclosed. The generator includes a microprocessor configured to generate a target impedance trajectory having at least one slope. The target impedance trajectory includes a plurality of target impedance values. The microprocessor is configured to drive tissue impedance along the target impedance trajectory by adjusting the output level to substantially match tissue impedance to a corresponding target impedance value. The microprocessor is further configured to compare tissue impedance to a threshold impedance value and adjust output of the electrosurgical generator when the tissue impedance is equal to or greater than the threshold impedance.
US08105316B2
The present invention is directed to, in one aspect, a medical apparatus having a nasogastric tube with hypopharyngeal suctioning capability. In one embodiment, the medical apparatus has a flexible nasogastric tube for insertion through a patient's nose. The nasogastric tube has a first end defining a first opening, a distal, second end that defines a second opening, and a length sufficient to allow the second opening to be positioned in a patient's stomach. The medical apparatus also has a flexible oropharyngeal tube for insertion through a patient's mouth. The oropharyngeal tube has a first end and a distal, second end that defines a suction intake. The oropharyngeal tube has a length that is less than the length of the nasogastric tube and which allows the suction intake to be positioned in a patient's hypopharynx region. In another embodiment of the invention, the medical apparatus has a laryngeal mask with hypopharyngeal suctioning capability.
US08105311B2
A catheter is configured to prevent kinking of a catheter during handling or mounting of a pressure device. The catheter has a proximal end of its catheter shaft that is provided with a bending section having a flexibility greater than that of the section of the catheter shaft joining the proximal end.
US08105306B2
Skin antiseptic composition dispensers and methods of use are disclosed. The skin antiseptic composition dispenser may include a container with one or more walls that are substantially impermeable to ethylene oxide gas during normal ethylene oxide sterilization processes. In some embodiments, the container may include flexible walls free of metallic foil barrier layers. The containers may also include one or more vents in addition to one or more openings used to dispense the skin antiseptic composition within the container. The dispenser may include an applicator with a hydrophilic foam.
US08105303B2
A high-density region-containing sheet having a high-density region and a low-density region, a sheet member produced by joining the high-density region of the high-density region-containing sheet to an elastic member, and a disposable diaper using the sheet member as its chassis are provided. A sheet in a soft state by imparting preheat is pressed between a pair of opposed shaping rolls and having a toothed region and rotatable. Thus, a high-density region-containing sheet where high-density regions and low-density regions are formed is produced. Such two high-density region-containing sheets are joined through an extended elastic member to form a projection/recess pattern. In such a way, a high-density region-containing sheet can be produced. A sheet member in which at least one of two sheets is a high-density region-containing sheet, the high-density regions are joined through an extended elastic member, and a projection/recess pattern can be formed when the elastic member is contracted is produced.
US08105301B2
Disclosed is a unitary absorbent structure including a fluid acquisition stratum; a fluid distribution stratum; and a fluid storage stratum between the acquisition stratum and the distribution stratum. Each of the acquisition, distribution, and storage strata are in fluid communication with each other.
US08105297B2
Drainage belongs to medical equipment, particularly to medical tools and is specified for drainage of cavities. Drainage comprises a first tube, an additional tube, which is fixed upon it, a unit of the clot's splitter and the splitter's fixing element. The additional tube has a smaller diameter with an opening, inside which the conductor is mounted, a unit of clots splitter is installed on the working end of the drainage, it comprises a cylinder, a tube with an opening, placed on it, which is the continuation of the additional tube of the drainage and a spring with a cutter inside the cylinder. A cutter is located diametrically inside the working head, while in the end of the wall of the first tube and the splitter's unit comprises a channel, inside which splitter's fixing element was led, its working end is inside the unit's cylinder and fixes the splitter. This design ensures the permeability of the wound channel after the drainage is removed and it is possible to reinstall drainage into the cavity strictly along the existing wound channel.
US08105296B2
A surgical sponge detection system includes a plurality of surgical sponges (2) having radio frequency identification tags (1) securely attached thereto and a non-optical hand-held reader (40) for detecting the sponges by detecting the tags (1). Also disclosed is a device (30) for automatically counting, weighing, and calculating blood loss contained within, soiled surgical sponges (2) which includes a cabinet with an opening (3) at the top through which sponges (2) are deposited, a reader (6) which scans each sponge (2) entered and determines sponge type from a tag (1) affixed to each sponge (2), and a disposable bag (8) into which the sponges (2) are deposited. The disposable bag (8) is removably mounted to a weighing scale (10); there is also a rear door (9) from which the disposable bag (8) can be easily removed, a rechargeable battery (11), a shelf (12) for unused disposable bag storage, a control unit (4) which processes data received from reader (6) and scale (10) and instantaneously calculates total weight of liquid contained within sponges entered, a display panel (5) continuously displays the number and type of sponges entered during a given procedure as well as the total weight of liquids retained in those sponges. There is a means for automatically determining the weight of the sponges when dry which includes a non-optical scanner means (6) which can read an indicating means (1) on the sponges (2) even when the indicating means (1) is covered with blood or other body fluids.
US08105284B2
An assembly and method for percutaneous placement of a catheter comprising an elongated hollow catheter having a distal end and a reduced cross-section portion at a proximal end thereof. An introducer needle is slidably mounted over said catheter. The introducer needle has an elongated slit adapted to slide over the reduced cross-section portion to separate the needle from the catheter. A syringe may be attached to the proximal end of the catheter. Also, a valve may be attached to the catheter to permit easy collection of fluid.
US08105271B2
A housing of the injector is made from a thin-walled sheet-metal part. The sheet-metal part has at least two branches or legs. Each branch has, at the free end thereof, an angled retaining element or a recess as a means of receiving the cylinder of a cylinder/piston unit. The branches are elastic flexural beams which, in the middle area, are each bent in a Z-shape or S-shape to form a supporting portion for the piston-actuating ram. The contact zone situated between an individual supporting portion and the piston-actuating ram represents a wedge gear pairing that forces the respective branch outwards. The trigger unit comprises at least a trigger element which is slidably supported on the metal sheet, wherein the support section or, respectively the contact sections extend outwardly into longitudinal grooves. The branches may be provided with a locking tongue to engage corresponding openings in the trigger element to lock the housing in position as desired.
US08105267B2
A system and method for creating a medicated atmosphere in an organ, or body cavity is disclosed. The system includes a flexible aerosolization catheter that can be manipulated during use, a device for the introduction of the aerosolization catheter, a medication delivery apparatus configured to control delivery of a medication to the catheter, a gas delivery apparatus in communication with the catheter, a gas pressure relief apparatus configured to relieve pressure in the organ or body cavity, and a central controller. The method includes providing insufflation gas and an aerosol of medication to an organ or body cavity while controlling overall pressure in the organ or cavity. The method may also include re-entering a patient through at least one port to apply gas and an aerosolized medicament, in either a post-operative procedure or in a chemotherapy context.
US08105253B2
A kneading massage device comprises a driving unit for supplying power source including first and second output shafts for outputting dynamics; a differential unit including a differential set and a differential stem, and on one end of the differential set being formed an opening for inserting the first output shaft therein, and on one side of the differential set being arranged a recess in communication with the opening, the differential stem being located in the recess and in connection with the first output shaft and keeping a predetermined distance away from a sidewall of the recess; a first kneading set coupled to the differential stem so as to be actuated by the differential stem; a second kneading set coupled to the second output shaft so as to be actuated by the second output shaft.
US08105252B2
The present invention provides a device for providing intermittent compression to a limb, the device comprising, an at least one energy reservoir and an at least one compressing means for compressing the limb, wherein the energy stored in the at least one energy reservoir is pre-stored in the energy reservoir and is directly transformed to provide intermittently compression on the limb. The energy reservoir provides a single energy transformation from energy stored in the reservoir to energy used to compress intermittently the limb. Optionally, the energy stored in the reservoir also provides the energy for a mechanism controlling the intermittent operation of the device and the release of excess energy from the device.
US08105251B1
A massaging device includes a drive mechanism, two rotation shafts mounted on and rotated by the drive mechanism, two eccentric members each having a first end mounted on a respective rotation shaft and a second end provided with an eccentric shaft, and two massaging members each mounted on the eccentric shaft of respective eccentric member. Thus, the two massaging members can be used to massage two different positions of a user's body. In addition, the massaging device is provided with two reduction gears to increase the torque of the drive mechanism to the two rotation shafts, so that the two rotation shafts are driven by the drive mechanism to drive the two massaging members and easily and conveniently.
US08105250B2
A vibration-exercising machine has a supporting frame, a main platform being mounted on the supporting frame, at least one additional platform being mounted on the supporting frame and multiple vibrators being mounted in each corresponding platform. The vibration-exercising machine allows different parts of a user to be vibrated and exercised efficiently at the same time with easy and comfortable poses.
US08105249B2
Apparatus for automatic delivery of chest compressions and ventilation to a patient, the apparatus including: a chest compressing device configured to deliver compression phases during which pressure is applied to compress the chest and decompression phases during which approximately zero pressure is applied to the chest a ventilator configured to deliver positive, negative, or approximately zero pressure to the airway; control circuitry and processor, wherein the circuitry and processor are configured to cause the chest compressing device to repeatedly deliver a set containing a plurality of systolic flow cycles, each systolic flow cycle comprising a systolic decompression phase and a systolic compression phase, and at least one diastolic flow cycle interspersed between sets of systolic flow cycles, each diastolic flow cycle comprising a diastolic decompression phase and a diastolic compression phase, wherein the diastolic decompression phase is substantially longer than the systolic decompression phase.
US08105238B2
A method for determining the position of a surgical tool relative to a target volume inside an animal body according to a pre-plan. The method includes the steps of i) obtaining a plurality of two-dimensional images of said target volume using an imaging device, each 2D-image being represented by an image data slice I(x,y,z); ii) reconstructing from said plurality of image data slices I(x,y,z) a three-dimensional image of said target volume using a transformation device, said 3D-image being represented by a volumetric image data array V(x,y,z); iii) displaying said three-dimensional image of said target volume to an user using a display.
US08105231B2
A living-body tissue removing apparatus includes a grip portion, an inserting portion which is connected to the grip portion and is inserted in the body, and an air feed channel which feeds predetermined air in the inserting portion so as to discharge the predetermined air from an opening arranged to the inserting portion.
US08105202B2
To automatically shift the shift position of an automatic transmission depending on whether or not the rider is seated or the side stand is retracted. When the vehicle is at a stop with an engine running, and it is detected that the rider is not sitting on a rider seat, an automatic transmission is automatically shifted to the neutral range while maintaining the operation of the engine. Further, when the vehicle is at a stop with the engine running, and the automatic transmission has been in the drive range continuously for a predetermined period of time, provided that the rider is not sitting on the rider seat, the automatic transmission is automatically shifted to the neutral range. Further, when, in a state with a side stand retracted, the throttle opening is equal to or smaller than a predetermined opening, the automatic transmission is automatically shifted to the drive range.
US08105199B2
A power transmission mechanism transferring a power output from an engine to a propeller includes a transmission planetary gear train that transforms the output power of the engine before it is transferred to the propeller. The transmission planetary gear train includes a transmission sun gear, a transmission double planetary gear set, and a transmission internal gear, in which the transmission sun gear is connected via the first clutch to the input end shaft extending into the engine, and the transmission sun gear is also connected via the second one-way clutch to the housing. In addition, the transmission double planetary gear set is connected via the second clutch to the input end shaft extending into the engine, and the transmission double planetary gear set is also connected via the first one-way clutch to the housing. Further, the transmission internal gear is connected to the output end shaft extending toward the propeller.
US08105196B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque-transmitting devices. Further, a hydraulic fluid control circuit is provided for controlling the operation of the plurality of torque-transmitting devices. The hydraulic fluid control circuit receives pressurized hydraulic fluid from an off-axis hydraulic fluid pump and has a plurality of fluid passages disposed in the transmission house, input member and other coupling members.
US08105186B1
A reversible cutting apparatus includes a first cutting blade for connection with an arrow shaft such that the first cutting blade extends outwardly from the arrow shaft. The first cutting blade includes an upper, outer surface and a lower, inner surface. A first cutting edge is provided on the upper, outer surface of the first cutting blade and a second cutting edge is provided on the lower, inner surface of the first cutting blade. In another embodiment, in an arrow with a shaft, a reversible cutting apparatus includes a first cutting blade with a connection receiver space for connection with an arrow shaft such that the first cutting blade extends outwardly from the arrow shaft and where the first cutting blade includes a first cutting edge and a second cutting edge. A second cutting blade is provided with a connection receiver space for connection with the arrow shaft such that the second cutting blade extends outwardly from the arrow shaft and where the second cutting blade extends outwardly from the arrow shaft but on a separate plane than the first cutting blade such that the first cutting blade and the second cutting blade are offset from each other when connected with the arrow shaft.
US08105185B2
A shuttlecock including a cap and a skirt part whereto an air passage hole is formed, wherein a rib is provided to the skirt part, adjacent to a rear end of the air passage hole in a generatrix direction of the skirt part, the rib having a shape wherein air pressure difference is generated between an air flow passing through the air passage hole to flow on an inside of the rib and an air flow not passing through the air passage hole but to flow on an outside of the rib, and an aerodynamic force directed from the inside of the rib to the outside is generated.
US08105175B2
A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable panel secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable panel may have a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the removable panel to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable panel. A removable panel of the present invention may generally comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density. Even further, the removable panel may generally be releasably attached via a quick disconnect mechanism that allows easy interchangeability.
US08105170B2
A plurality of first oil passageways are recessed in an annular projected portion of a bearing cup of a cross shaft joint, each first oil passageway communicating with inner and outer periphery sides, and being increasing in groove width gradually from the outer periphery side toward the inner periphery side. A plurality of second oil passageways are recessed in the annular projected portion, and each second oil passageway is disposed between the first oil passageways, and communicates with the inner and outer periphery sides, and is decreasing in groove width gradually from the outer periphery side toward the inner periphery side. When the bearing cup is angularly moved relative to a cross shaft, grease in the first oil passageways is flowed from the outer periphery side of the annular projected portion to the inner periphery side thereof, while grease in the second oil passageways is flowed from the inner periphery side of the annular projected portion toward the inner periphery side.
US08105160B2
An image display apparatus is caused to display a life point meter for showing a total remaining life point within a life point display region on an image display screen. When an action or event occurs to any player character so that the remaining life point thereof changes, an amount of change of a life point thereof is calculated in response to the action or the event. It is determined that the battle possible state of all player characters can be maintained except that the amount of decrease of the life point is the total remaining life point or more. In the case where the remaining life point of the corresponding player character is updated on the basis of the calculated amount of change of the life point, the image display apparatus is caused to change a display form of the life point meter assigned to the corresponding player character.
US08105151B2
A cascading symbol game includes designated symbols such as wild symbols. In the cascading symbol game, a gaming device generates and displays a symbol from a plurality of symbols for each of a plurality of symbol positions. The gaming device removes at least one symbol from at least one of the plurality of symbol positions. The gaming device repositions at least one displayed symbol to another one of the symbol positions to create at least one empty symbol position. If a designated event occurred, the gaming device generates and displays at least one designated symbol, such as a wild symbol, in the at least one empty symbol position, wherein the at least one designated wild symbol is generated independent of the plurality of symbols. The gaming device displays any award associated with any winning symbol combination formed from the displayed symbols.
US08105142B2
The following types of processing are provided in the present invention. 1) Projection processing in which a shadow projected onto the ground of a flying object flying through a virtual space is prevented from becoming too small. 2) Viewpoint moving processing in which a viewpoint is moved automatically so that a character to be displayed is accommodated within the field of vision of the viewpoint at all times. 3) Semi-transparentizing processing in which, when display objects overlap, the display object with the smaller surface area according to [a comparison of] the displayed surface area is made semi-transparent. 4) Relative strength judgment processing in which the relative strength of teams in a team competition is determined on the basis of the sum of the fighting abilities. 5) Leader setting processing in which a leader character is determined and the outcome of the game is judged according to whether or not the leader character is active. 6) Fighting strength balance adjusting processing for adjusting the balance of fighting strength between the teams. 7) Delay preventing processing for causing a communication data receiving side to return a processing result, whereby processing on a transmission side is advanced in response thereto. By means of this processing series, problems specified in conventional communication game systems regarding game screen display, judgments of the relative strength of teams, and game data communication delays can be amended, enabling an improvement in the game quality of a team competition.
US08105139B2
The present invention refers to an air control device (1), in particular for a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation for automotive vehicles, comprising a housing (3) having two apertures (4, 5). It comprises two dampers (6, 7) with at least one portion of sealing. Dampers (6, 7) have a lower part comprising a U-shaped section (22′, 22″) defining a groove (39) operating conjointly with a portion having an inverted U shape (46) of housing (3) to create another portion of sealing. Housing (3) has a lower part (30′, 30″) comprising a groove (47) operating conjointly with a rib (43) disposed on the spiral (13) whereon housing (3) is mounted to define a further portion of sealing.
US08105137B2
A method for mass-production butchering of a chuck roll of beef includes: sectioning the chuck roll anterior to and generally parallel to the first rib to separate a neck portion thereof from a remainder thereof; sectioning the remainder into a first portion and a second portion substantially along a natural seam, the first portion comprising rhomboideus, spinalis dorsi, and serratus ventralis muscles, and the second portion comprising multifidus dorsi, complexus, and longissimus dorsi muscles; sectioning the first portion to substantially remove the rhomboideus and the spinalis dorsi therefrom, leaving a denuded serratus ventralis; sectioning the serratus ventralis into a first set of separate portions. The method may further include: sectioning the second portion into a second set of separate portions, each separate portion in the second set including the multifidus dorsi, complexus, and longissimus dorsi muscles.
US08105132B2
An eccentric grinder has a drive which is arranged in a housing and the drive shaft of which drives a supporting shaft of a back-up pad by way of an eccentric mounting. Also provided is a friction braking device, which comprises a friction braking element on the housing and a friction surface on the back-up pad. The friction surface slopes down in the radial direction from the inside to the outside with respect to a horizontal plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the back-up pad.
US08105130B2
An inlay for reinforcing a bra cup is a pliably resilient plastics material part having the basic shape of a crescent with inner and outer edges that are curved and that have a spacing that increases continuously between a minimum value at one end and a maximum value at an opposite end. A rigidity of the inlay decreases from the outer edge to the inner edge. The inlay is manufactured flat such that a central face running between wide delimiting faces lies in a plane. The inlay is made of a material that is plastically deformable under the action of temperature for form-fitting or material-to-material connection to the textile material layers of the cups.
US08105122B2
In a propulsion device for a marine motor, a shift rod (19) extends vertically in a gear case (1a) provided in a lower part of the marine motor, and is provided with a lower end (19a) cooperating with a mechanism for mechanically actuating a clutch device (18) for shifting a power transmission mechanism of the propulsion device. The lower end of the shift rod is additionally provided with a valve (37, 38) that controls feeding of hydraulic oil to an actuator (36) for assisting an effort required to turn the shift rod and actuate the clutch device. Thereby, the manual torque applied to the shift rod to turn the same to a forward and reverse position is assisted by the hydraulic actuator with a minimum modification to a purely manual arrangement for shifting the power transmission mechanism.
US08105121B2
The present invention provides a ground terminal fitting capable of being fixed to a ground member through a simple operation while permitting production cost to be reduced, and a ground device having the ground terminal fitting. The ground terminal fitting comprises a terminal body surrounding a through-hole, a clamping piece having a rising portion rising from an outer peripheral edge of the terminal body and a distal end portion extending inwardly from the rising portion along the terminal body, and a clampable piece located adjacent to the clamping piece in a circumferential direction of the terminal body. The clamping piece is adapted to clamp, when the ground terminal fitting is superimposed on a second ground terminal fitting, a clampable piece of the second ground terminal fitting to prevent a relative displacement between the ground terminal fittings. The distal end portion is adapted to contact the ground member penetrating through the through hole to prevent a relative rotation of the ground terminal fitting with respect to the ground member.
US08105116B2
A communication jack, system using the jack, and method of fabricating the jack are disclosed. The jack includes a cavity configured to accept a communication plug to form a communication connector. The jack includes a plurality of plug interface contacts that extend into the cavity such that a plug inserted into the cavity makes electrical contact with the plug interface contacts at plug/jack interfaces of the plug interface contacts. One or more of the plug interface contacts is formed from multiple conductive layers. The conductive layers are movable relative to each other at at least one end. A dielectric layer or flexible printed circuit board may be disposed between the conductive layers.
US08105097B2
The present invention provides an electrical blanking plug for a telecommunications socket or jack. The blanking plug having at least one electrical conductor positioned on the body of the plug, which conductor on insertion of the plug into a telecommunications jack or socket electrically connects one or more terminals on the jack to short circuit and/or ground one or more electrical telecommunication circuits terminated at the jack.
US08105096B2
A cable connector may be disclosed. The connector may include a connector housing having a first threaded portion and an insert having compression voids. The insert may be configured for insertion into the connector housing. The connector may also include a compression nut configured to engage the first threaded portion. The compression nut may be configured to compress the insert to close the compression voids when the compression nut engages the first threaded portion. The cable connector may also include an end stop having an adjustable throat diameter configured to adjust in proportion to an adjustable inner diameter of the cable connector as the connector engages or armor of an armored cable.
US08105095B2
An electrical connector assembly, for electrically connecting an IC package and a printed circuit board (PCB) (1), comprises an insulative housing (2); an insulator (4) separated with the insulative housing, and comprising a bottom surface and a guiding portion (42) extending downwardly from the bottom surface; a shell (3) covering the insulative housing, and one end of the shell assembled on the insulator; a PCB comprising a retaining hole (11) for receiving the guiding portion of the insulator, and the bottom surface of the insulator attached to the PCB.
US08105091B2
An adapter includes a device-side component and a wall-side component. The device-side component has a male socket receptacle to receive an electrical plug and a male socket opposite the male socket receptacle. The wall-side component has a female socket plug to insert into an electrical outlet and a female socket opposite the female socket plug. The male socket is configured to interface with the female socket, regardless of orientation of the male socket with respect to the female socket.
US08105082B2
Stain-removing oral compositions, such as gum compositions are herein provided. The compositions include a chelating agent and a surfactant. The surfactant includes a fatty acid salt and at least one component selected from nonionic and anionic surfactants. The fatty acid salt may have at least one hydroxyl functionality. The oral compositions may optionally include an abrasive agent.
US08105073B2
A bottom plug retract mechanism for use in a blow mold having a top die and a bottom die defining at least a portion of a mold cavity, the mechanism including a plug that is operable to move away from the mold cavity at an angle to the parting plane when the mold cavity is opened.
US08105070B2
An apparatus and method for releasing a lens moulded in a cavity between posterior (21) and anterior mould (22) sections and adhered thereto. A post (30) is configured to support a flange (20) of the posterior section whilst the anterior section remains spaced from the post. Posterior section is compressed between a pin (40) applied to, an outer concave surface (29a) of the posterior section and the post, thereby initially releasing peripheral regions of the posterior section and subsequently the remaining portions thereof. Upon separation, the anterior section together with the lens (10) drops onto the post so that its outer convex surface (29a) rests on the post. A collar unit (50) with gas channels (53) presses against a flange (200) of the anterior section whilst blowing jets of gas towards an interface between a “monomer” ring (11) formed around the lens. In this manner, initially the “monomer” ring and then peripheral regions of the lens are separated from the anterior section.
US08105057B2
A fluid transportation device includes a flow-gathering module and multiple double-chamber actuating structures. The flow-gathering module includes two surfaces opposed to each other, multiple first flow paths and multiple second flow paths running through the two surfaces, an inlet channel arranged between the two surfaces and communicated with the multiple first flow paths, and an outlet channel arranged between the two surfaces and communicated with the multiple second flow paths. The multiple double-chamber actuating structures are arranged on the flow-gathering module side by side. Each double-chamber actuating structure includes a first chamber and a second chamber symmetrically arranged on the two surface of the flow-gathering module. Each of the first chamber and the second chamber includes a valve cap arranged over the flow-gathering module, a valve membrane arranged between the flow-gathering module and the valve cap, and an actuating member having a periphery fixed on the valve cap.
US08105041B2
An arrangement is presented for axially securing rotating blades in a rotor, having a shaft collar on whose external circumference rotating blade securing grooves which extend in the axial direction of the rotor are provided. At one end side face of the shaft a projection is arranged in the region of the securing grooves, in which projection a circumferential groove which is open radially towards the outside is provided and said projection having securing grooves which are arranged in each rotating bade, sheet-metal-shaped sealing elements which each engage in the circumferential groove and in the securing groove and form an end side sealing ring in the circumferential direction being provided for axially securing the rotating blades, and at least one of the sealing elements comprising a sheet metal strip which is attached to said sealing ring in order to secure the sealing elements against displacement in the circumferential direction.
US08105033B2
A cooling microcircuit for a turbine engine component has a first cooling passage which has at least one inlet oriented in a radially outward direction for preventing particles from entering the cooling passage and for dislodging particles which may become lodged in the at least one inlet.
US08105024B2
A seal assembly for a gas turbine is arranged in grooves of a rotor heat shield having several bends. The assembly comprises four seal portions overlapping one another and extending in the axial, radial, and circumferential direction with respect to the turbine rotor. A holding means retains the radial sections of one seal portion allowing a limited movement of said seal portion independent of another seal portion. The independent movement assures contact of the individual seal portions with all mating surfaces of the rotor heat shield and improved sealing function regardless of displacements of the rotor heat shield and tolerances of turbine parts.
US08105022B2
A vane configuration for a steam dryer according to an example embodiment of the invention may include a plurality of primary vanes arranged in a radial pattern around (and spaced apart from) a center line. Each of the plurality of primary vanes may be a primary corrugated sheet having alternating primary ridges and primary furrows. As a result, adjacent primary vanes may define a winding flow path, the flow path having an entrance and an exit relative to the center line. The cross-sectional area of the flow path may decrease, increase, or remain constant from the entrance to the exit.
US08105008B2
A load balancing pneumatic manipulator comprising an inflatable reservoir for establishing via an amplifier a pressure within a lift cylinder that is sufficient to balance the weight of an object being lifted. The reservoir is inflated and deflated by inflation and deflation valves, respectively, that may be operated from an operator control center proximal an end effector of the manipulator. The valves may be actuated via pushbuttons or actuated in a mutually exclusively fashion via a neutrally biased reciprocating actuator. The manipulator advantageously allows loads of different weights to be lifted in a semi-automatic fashion with operator involvement to select the load balancing pressure. The manipulator further comprises an air release system that closes a blocking valve in the event of release of the object being lifted and optionally in the event of a loss of air supply pressure. The pressure within the lift cylinder is thereby preserved and can be vented at different rates, depending upon the condition causing closure of the blocking valve.
US08105007B2
A vehicle transport ramp system having a transport vehicle with a transport vehicle bed, a first side wall and an opposing second side wall; an upper ramp having a first upper ramp end and a second upper ramp end operative to form a door, and a first upper ramp edge and an opposing second upper ramp edge; a lower ramp having a first lower ramp side and a second lower ramp side, a first lower ramp edge and a second lower ramp edge, a first lower ramp end pivotally connected to the second upper ramp end, and a second lower ramp end pivotally mountable to the transport vehicle bed; a first lower ramp enclosure panel and a second side wall enclosure panel mountable to the first lower ramp side, and a first side wall enclosure panel and a second side wall enclosure panel to enclose the transport vehicle as the lower ramp is lowered toward the driving surface.
US08105003B2
One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a system for fastening a male terminal with a driver. The embodiment includes a body defining an at least partially threaded recess which intersects with a female recess adapted to receive the male terminal. The embodiment additionally includes a fastener having an at least partially threaded body and a flanged head adapted to mate with the driver, the fastener disposed at least part of the way in the first recess, the flange having a diameter which is larger than a diameter of the at least partially threaded recess. The embodiment includes a flexible septum coupled to the body and covering the first recess, the flexible septum having an opening sized for passage of the driver.
US08104995B2
A marine pipeline installation tensioner comprising a tensioner frame and multiple track units mounted in said frame, wherein each track unit includes an endless track, a chassis, support rollers or other bearing means mounted therein for the endless track, and one more track drive/brake members for effecting drive and/or braking motion of the track, and wherein each track unit is arranged mobile within the associated frame.Each track unit is arranged mobile within the associated frame by a parallel linkage bar system with parallel linkage bars between the chassis of the track unit and the frame of the tensioner.
US08104992B2
A concrete screed apparatus is provided which may be used by a pair of workers, each of whom has the screed apparatus mounted to one of their legs or feet. The screed apparatus enables concrete to be easily screeded and properly finished without the workers doing the same on their knees or bending from the waist. The screed apparatus is adapted to move a screed board back and forth across the concrete to be finished which is also vibrated as it is being screeded.
US08104989B2
A retaining structure is used to retain a wooden first part and a wooden second part together and includes a retainer fitted to a recess of the first part, and a fastening member to be engaged to the second part. The fastening member has a plurality of wings formed on two sides of an acting end thereof. A number of recessed portions is mounted between front and rear sides of the fastening member and spaced apart from each other, and the fastening member further includes a plurality of raised portions. The recessed and raised portions are arranged longitudinally or horizontally between the front and rear sides of the acting end of the fastening member.
US08104987B2
A locking and unlocking apparatus using an engagement pin with beveled surfaces designed to be inserted between two bodies. As the engagement pin is extended axially into a gap between the two bodies, it moves in a transverse direction to wedge tightly between the first and second body, locking them tightly together. When the engagement pin is retracted, the second body is able to move relative to the first body. A plurality of engagement surfaces placed into one of the bodies allows the mechanism to be locked into a plurality of set positions. These engagement surfaces on the first and second bodies also serve to locate the engagement pin when in the fully locked position, thereby reducing the need for tight tolerances.
US08104981B2
A method for commonly using scanning/printing path of a multifunction office machine and a device thereof. The device has a first and a second feeder slots adjacent to each other, whereby documents to be scanned and sheets to be printed can be respectively placed into the first and second feeder slots. A first restricting member is arranged on one side of the output end of the first feeder slot. A second restricting member is arranged on one side of the output end of the second feeder slot. A common pivotal member is disposed between the first and second restricting members. The common pivotal member is able to selectively drivingly abut against the first or the second restricting member. A power source serves to drive the first and second restricting members or the common pivotal member to respectively transfer the documents and the sheets for scanning and printing.
US08104980B2
A projection is provided in a roller holder. Accordingly, in a state wherein the roller holder is pressed against a supporting board to make a platen roller come in close contact with a thermal head, a cassette presses the roller holder through the projection in a process of loading the cassette inside a cassette loading portion. As a result, the roller holder moves in a biasing direction (direction from inward to outward of the cassette loading portion), causing the roller holder to move away from the supporting board. Thus, even if a state is maintained wherein the platen roller adhered to the thermal head and the roller holder is kept pressed against the supporting board, the roller holder can be separated from the supporting board when the cassette is loaded up.
US08104976B2
A device for shifting the imaging axis of a microscope across the endfaces of a multi-fiber connector for inspecting the endfaces comprises: a supporting body attached to the optical tube of a microscope and having an extended portion; a swinging lever mounted at one end to the extended portion of the supporting body and rotatable on an axis perpendicular to the imaging axis of the microscope; a connection piece connecting between the swinging lever and a fitting tip; a bevel wheel fastened to the supporting body; and a torsion spring for pushing the swinging lever against a slanted surface of the bevel wheel. The bevel wheel is adapted to swing the swinging lever relative to the supporting body so that the imaging axis of the microscope is moved relative to the fitting tip to selectively align the imaging axis across the endfaces for inspection.
US08104969B2
A modular bearing unit, including a plurality of bearings and bearing shells, wherein each bearing shell incorporates a main body, composed of two coaxial ball-races between which a ball ring, a coaxial neck, an external diameter of which matches an internal diameter of an interior cylindrical ring of the bearing shell, with a threaded surface, is established, so that each bearing shell can be coupled and fixed coaxially to another bearing shell through the threaded surface of the coaxial neck.
US08104968B2
The sectional shape of a rolling surface of at least one of bearing component parts has the following relation between the order n (n being an arbitrarily chosen natural number) and the amplitude r of waviness relative to the circularity of the sectional shape. The order n and the amplitude r are logarithmically transformed to define X=Log(n) from the order n and Y=Log (rn) from the amplitude r of n-order. When a regression line Y=aX+b is determined, the ratio δ/σ of the deviation δ at each X from the regression line of Y to the standard deviation σ is chosen to be smaller than 4.
US08104960B2
A portable and sealable waste disposal receptacle receives human waste material through an opening in an outer chamber. The waste passes through an inner chamber, which is suspended within the outer chamber, and passes through a one-way valve located at the bottom of the inner chamber into a lower chamber portion of the outer chamber. The one-way valve is fashioned from the bottom edges of the inner chamber, where a biasing strip is mounted in compression along one of the bottom edges, which causes the bottom edges of the inner chamber to be biased closed in sealing contact except when waste enters the inner chamber, the weight of which is sufficient to overcome the closing bias of the biasing strip, allowing the waste to flow into the lower chamber. Once the waste has cleared the inner chamber, the biasing member causes the bottom edges to come together in sealing contact, preventing the flow of waste back through the inner chamber.
US08104952B2
Provided is a micro heat flux sensor array having reduced heat resistance. A micro heat flux sensor array may include a substrate, a plurality of first sensors formed on a first side of the substrate, and a plurality of second sensors formed on a second side of the substrate. Each of the plurality of first and second sensors may include a first wiring pattern layer of a first conductive material, a second wiring pattern layer of a second conductive material contacting the first wiring pattern layer, and an insulating layer in contact with the first and second wiring patterns.
US08104949B2
A time indicator device comprised of first and second interconnected reservoirs containing first and second liquids respectively. A first barrier is provided between said first and second liquids to prevent said liquids mixing. Said first barrier is connected via a conduit to a third reservoir containing a third liquid which is adapted to pass along said conduit over a first predetermined time period and to effect removal of said first barrier upon contact to facilitate mixing of said first and second liquid and generation of a liquid mixture within the second reservoir of different color to the second liquid prior to mixing and thereby provide an indication of when said first predetermined time period has elapsed.
US08104946B2
A backlight assembly, in which several parts are unified so as to reduce a number of parts used and simplify an assembly process includes lamps emitting light, first lamp sockets, each of which includes a first connection member coupled with one end of each of the lamps so as to be electrically connected to the end of each of the lamps, and a reflection plate to reflect the light emitted from the lamps, and including socket fixing units formed integrally therewith to respectively fix the first lamp sockets. Each of the socket fixing units includes a socket fixing groove formed on a bottom plane of the reflection plate.
US08104943B2
A side light type backlight includes a light source including a plurality of LEDs, and a light guide plate. One of the end surfaces of the light guide plate is a light incidence surface at which a plurality of R-LEDs, a plurality of G-LEDs and a plurality of B-LEDs are arranged. LEDs satisfy the relationship of: a distribution range of light emitted from G-LEDs
US08104939B2
A solid-state light source (10) comprising a plurality of LED units (12) arrayed to emit light generally about an axis (14). Each of the LED units (12) can comprise a number of LEDs, for example, up to five. They may all emit in a single color or multiple colors can be combined for a specific effect. A light transmissive light guide (16) is associated with the LED units (12) and has a plurality of input widows (18). Each LED unit (12) faces a respective input window (18) and each window (18) transversely intercepts the axis (14) and receives light from the LED units (12). The input windows (18) lead to a common output window (20) that is axially aligned with the input windows (18). The light guide (16) has smooth sidewalls (22) that extend between the input windows (18) and the output window (20).
US08104937B2
A headlight support structure for a saddle-type vehicle allows a headlight to be easily mounted easily on a handlebar of the vehicle. The headlight support structure includes a support member. The support member, in turn, includes: an attachment portion fixed to a mounting bracket disposed on a handlebar; a first holding portion covering the handlebar from an upward direction; and a second holding portion covering the handlebar from a forward direction. The headlight support member is supported on the handlebar by having the first and second holding portions supported on the handlebar with gaps interposed therebetween, while having the attachment portion fixed to the mounting bracket on the handlebar. The headlight is supported by first and right wall portions, extending respectively forwardly from right and left sides of a front portion of the support member.
US08104936B2
A straddle-type vehicle includes a head light having a lens face, and an auxiliary light arranged above the head light and having a lens face. The auxiliary light is arranged behind the head light. Moreover, the straddle-type vehicle has an outside cover part formed on the sides of the head light and the auxiliary light. The outside cover part is inclined rearward and upward at a specified inclined angle, and the head light and the lens face are inclined at a smaller angle than is the outside cover part.
US08104934B2
A portable lightbox assembly comprises a housing and a lift mechanism having at least one light fixture coupled thereto, the lift mechanism coupled to the housing and movable from a retracted position enclosable within the housing to an extended position protruding beyond the housing.
US08104932B2
A backlight structure includes: light source modules 1 and 1; a light guide plate 2 disposed between the light source modules 1 and 1; a rear plate 3 disposed at the rear side of the light source modules 1 and the light guide plate 2; a fan-mount plate 4 disposed at the rear side of the rear plate 3; and a cooling fan 5 mounted on the fan-mount plate 4. The rear plate 3 has portions thereof at the rear side of the light source modules 1 and 1 formed into protruding portions 3a, and has a portion thereof between the upper and lower protruding portions 3a formed into a flat surface 3b. A cooling wind passage 11 is formed between a front surface 4a of the fan-mount plate and the flat surface 3b of the rear plate. Heat from LED chips 1a of the light source modules is made to concentrate at the protruding portions 3a of the rear plate and is then rejected into the outside by the wind guided from the cooling fan 5 into the cooling wind passage 11.
US08104922B2
A solid state illumination device includes a semiconductor light emitter mounted on a base and surrounded by sidewalls, e.g., in a circular, elliptical, triangular, rectangular or other appropriate arrangement, to define a chamber. A top element, which may be reflective, may be coupled to the sidewalls to further define the chamber. The light produced by the semiconductor light emitter is emitted through the sidewalls of the chamber. The sidewalls and/or top element may include wavelength converting material, for example, as a plurality of dots on the surfaces. An adjustable wavelength converting element may be used within the chamber, with the adjustable wavelength converting element being configured to adjust the surface area that is exposed to the light emitted by the semiconductor light emitter in the chamber to alter an optical property of the chamber.
US08104916B2
This invention provides a flashlight in which locating slots for constraining and fixing conductive strips are provided in a plastic housing. The conductive strips are connected with a conductive heat dissipation element of a light source body and a conductive seat at the tail portion of the plastic housing, and are turned on by the conductive seat and a smart controller such that variation of the light emitted from the light source body is controlled by the smart controller. In addition, the conductive heat dissipation element of the light source body is assembled with the front cover having heat dissipation effect so that the heat dissipation of the light source body is facilitated and hence the lifetime of the light source body is extended.
US08104914B2
A light device and packaging assembly having packaging containing a product. The product may be a solar powered light device. The packaging includes a switch that is operable to activate the product while the product is still within the packaging so that a user may observe operation of the product without removing the product from the packaging.
US08104912B2
Provided is a light emitting module, which includes a module board, a light emitting diode, and a resin material. The module board includes a plurality of holes. The light emitting diode is in the hole. The resin material is in the hole. The module board includes a printed circuit board (PCB), and the PCB includes a photo solder resist (PSR) layer, an electrical conduction layer, and an insulation layer.
US08104902B2
In a projection image display apparatus, a noise removal filter portion 15 is separated from a power source unit body 14. The separated noise removal filter portion 15 is provided in the vicinity of a side wall of a housing on which a power source inlet is provided, and of the power source unit body 14, respectively. Specifically, the power source unit body 14 is provided along a side wall of a front face of the horizontally-long housing of the projection image display apparatus and the noise removal filter portion 15 is provided in a position opposed to the power source unit body 14 in a side wall of the back face. As a result, even when a light source lamp has a higher output, the projection image display apparatus can achieve reduced noise by an improved cooling capability and reduced cost enabled by an efficient Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) measure and the like.
US08104890B2
An eyewear assembly includes an outer first frame, at least one outer first lens, an inner second frame, and at least one inner second lens. The assembly includes a mechanism for holding the first frame and first lens in front of a user's face. The second frame has a mechanism for attachment to the first frame, to hold the second frame between the user's eyes and the first lens. The at least one second lens is carried by the second frame. The mechanism for attachment comprises a tab extending vertically on one of the first frame or the second frame and an aperture on the respective other of the first frame or the second frame for receiving said tab. The first frame includes a central elevated vent to distribute air over top vent openings of the first frame. Grip warts are provided on the first frame for gripping and manipulation by the user.
US08104888B2
A recording apparatus includes: a conveyor which has one or more holes penetrating from a first surface to a second surface thereof, and which conveys, in a conveyance direction, a recording medium supported on the first surface; and a recording unit which is at such a position as to face the first surface, and records an image on a recording medium while the recording medium is conveyed by the conveyor. The recording apparatus further includes an exhauster capable of causing air exhaust through the one or more holes so that airstream in the one or more holes is directed from the second surface to the first surface; and a controller which controls the exhauster so as to cause air exhaust through at least one medium-facing hole out of the one or more holes, the medium facing hole being a hole facing a recording medium.
US08104872B2
An inkjet printhead includes: a substrate in which an ink feed hole is formed; a chamber layer which is formed on the substrate by performing a photolithography process and which includes a first photosensitive resin; and a nozzle layer which is formed on the chamber layer by performing a photolithography process and which includes a second photosensitive resin. The first photosensitive resin and the second photosensitive resin are materials which are developed by different developing solutions, respectively. Additional layers and components may be incorporated into the inkjet printhead and may be formed on an upper surface of the substrate. The additional layers and components may include an insulating layer, one or more heaters, one or more electrodes, a passivation layer, a glue layer, and an anti-cavitation layer.
US08104866B2
An inkjet recording apparatus has: an inkjet head which has an ink ejection surface and ejects droplets of an ink from the ink ejection surface onto a recording medium; a pressure drum which is disposed in a position opposing the ink ejection surface of the inkjet head, has a round cylindrical circumferential surface in which a recording medium holding position and a non-holding position are provided, an opening section corresponding to an ink ejection width of the inkjet head in the non-holding position where the recording medium is not held, a suction flow channel that is connected to the opening section and provided integrally with the opening section inside the pressure drum, and holds and rotates the recording medium at the recording medium holding position in such a manner that the recording medium is conveyed in a circumferential direction of the pressure drum; and a suctioning device which suctions the opening section and the suction flow channel at least in a droplet ejection region where the droplets of the ink are ejected from the inkjet head.
US08104865B2
An apparatus includes an ink jet head and a suction mechanism. The head includes liquid chambers connected with ink tanks by flow passages. The flow passages include a non-branching flow passage and a branching flow passage. The suction mechanism sucks the liquid chamber and ejection ports corresponding to the non-branching flow passage and the branching flow passage, respectively at substantially the same pressure. The distance from the flow passage junction to the ejection ports connected to the branching flow passage is shorter than the distance from the flow passage junction to the ejection ports connected to the non-branching flow passage. The volume of the liquid chambers corresponding to the branching flow passage is less than or equal to the volume of the liquid chamber corresponding to the non-branching flow passage.
US08104853B2
Disclosed are a refrigerator and a method of manufacturing a door of the refrigerator. The door includes a door frame formed with at least one opening, at least one front panel coupled to a front surface of the door frame to open or close the opening, a rear panel coupled to a rear surface of the door frame to form a foaming cavity together with the front panel and provided with a rack receiving water bottles, and a decorative member formed at a front surface of the front panel. A chamfer is formed at an edge portion of the door frame.
US08104848B2
A dryer having a door opening and closing apparatus are disclosed. The door opening and closing apparatus includes a cabinet provided with an opening part, a door installed to the cabinet to open and close the opening part, a hook provided to the door, a fixing part provided to the cabinet, a plate spring provided to the fixing part to allow the hook to be inserted therein and a projection part provided to the fixing part to allow the plate spring to be pivoted.
US08104843B2
The invention relates to a trailer for the transportation by road of cargo, such as containers. The trailer comprises a trailer frame; a tipping frame and lifting means which act on, on the one hand, the trailer frame and, on the other hand, the tipping frame. The trailer frame comprises a front zone which is located on coupling above a tractor unit and which is provided with a coupling member in order to effect coupling. The trailer frame also has a rear zone comprising three sets of wheels. An intermediate zone connects the front zone to the rear zone. The tipping frame extends along the trailer frame and is fastened, in the rear zone, to the trailer frame so as to hinge about a tipping axle. The trailer frame has a longitudinal beam and the tipping frame has two lateral beams. The central beam of the trailer frame is submerged between the lateral longitudinal beams of the tipping frame.
US08104839B2
A chair includes a support frame, a seat frame detachably mounted on the support frame and a backrest frame detachably mounted on the support frame. Thus, the support frame, the seat frame and the backrest frame are combined together easily and quickly so that a user can assemble and disassemble the chair by himself without needing aid of any hand tool, thereby facilitating the user assembling and disassembling the chair. In addition, the support frame, the seat frame and the backrest frame are detached from and laminated with each other before assembly so as to reduce the whole volume of the chair and to decrease the cost of packaging, storage and transportation of the chair.
US08104836B2
A foldable seat headrest assembly including a locking mechanism that includes a lock lever that can be manipulated by a manual release handle that selectively locks the headrest pad component against a groove formed in a portion of a lock post so as to keep the headrest assembly in an upright position. The groove provides both a back stop and a forward stop for the lock lever. When the lock lever is disengaged from the groove by manipulating the release handle in a downward motion, a dump spring allows the headrest portion to assume a folded or dumped position. In the folded or dumped position, the headrest portion fits compactly against the back portion of the seat. The manual release handle can be associated with either the left or the right side of the headrest assembly allowing the same assembly to be used on either side of a vehicle, e.g., the driver or passenger side of the vehicle, as well in the front and rear seats.
US08104821B2
The invention provides a new-style tonneau cover, wherein comprises a cover plate body matching the rear truck bed. The cover plate body is a three-layer structure, comprising an outer layer, an intermediate layer and an inner layer from the exterior to the interior. The outer layer is made of polyurethane foam mixed with glass fiber; the intermediate layer is made of polyurethane foam and the inner layer is made of resin; the density of polyurethane foam in the intermediate layer is lower than that in the outer layer; polyurethane foam is light in weight and high in specific strength. In this invention, the cover plate body is made of three different layers so that the cover is light in weight and high in strength, taking up less room of the rear truck bed, better for free opening and closing operation.
US08104817B2
A motor vehicle has a storage compartment which contains a housing and a lid which closes the housing. The storage compartment further has a locking mechanism which has a housing-side closing bar and a lid-side bolt which interacts with the latter and which engages behind the closing bar in the locked state and releases from the closing bar through rotation. The storage compartment is arranged essentially vertically between two rear seats of the motor vehicle, wherein the lid can be adjusted between a closed position which abuts against the housing and an open position which is moved forward. An arrestor hook, which is formed as an emergency securing device, is arranged on an inner side of the lid. If force is suddenly applied to the housing in the direction of the lid, in particular in the event of a crash, the arrestor hook engages behind the closing bar and as a result prevents undesired opening of the lid.
US08104812B2
A disc transporting mechanism includes a gripping mechanism having a plurality of gripping members configured to grip a disc, a transport arm provided with the gripping mechanism, and a moving mechanism configured to move up and down the transport arm. The transport arm is connected to the moving mechanism through an elastic member.
US08104811B2
A hooking device attaches an equipment like a fall limiter to an anchorage structural element by means of a stick. The device comprises an elongated member to which the equipment is attachable. A hooking head slides along the elongated member. The hooking head has a hook forming an opening in which the anchorage structural element is engageable. An actuating mechanism operates a locking element of the opening in response to a sliding of the hooking head with respect to the elongated member. A stick detachable fastening element is used to slide the hooking head with respect to the elongated member in response to a movement of the stick when the anchorage structural element is engaged in the opening.
US08104807B2
The invention concerns a pneumatic needle gripper that comprises two due slides (33) on board a gripper body (10) each carrying at least one pair of needle grippers (36). The needles on a slide are facing towards the needles on the other slide, each sloping and converging towards a frontal plane (16) of the gripper body. The slides can me moved simultaneously in opposite directions, by means of a pneumatic control piston (19), between an inactive position, in which the needles are retracted compared with the frontal plane and at a distance from each other, and an active position in which they protrude from the frontal plane to penetrate into a material to be picked up and moved.The control piston (19) is associated with an adjustment means (24) interacting with the gripper body (10) so as to vary the stroke of said piston in the direction of the slide movements, and consequently the needle grippers, towards the active position, it being able in this way to adjust the protrusion of said gripper needles from the frontal plane (16) depending on the width of the element to be picked up and moved.
US08104804B2
A safety automobile bumper assembly includes energy absorbers interposed between a fascia and bumper beam comprised of a strip of deformable material formed with a loop with opposite curved ends deformed by relative movement of the fascia and bumper beam in an impact. Additional curved strip positions are provided by one or more additional loops or by one or more inner webs to increase energy absorbing capacity.
US08104801B2
A fixing mechanism for fixing a battery in a sleeve defines a receiving groove therein, a latching member including a body, a restraining flange extending out from one end of the body and a contact end formed at the other end of the body, a latching slot defined in an inner surface of the sleeve, an elastic member compressed and received in the receiving groove and a barrel detachably fixed in the receiving groove. An end of the compressed elastic member resists a bottom surface of the receiving groove and the other end of the elastic member resists the restraining flange, to press the latching member contact end to pass through the barrel and finally to be received in the latching slot, and the restraining flange is blocked by the barrel.
US08104799B2
A duct connection system has a direct-manufactured first duct structure including a first duct section. The first duct section has a passage for conveying a substance and a first interconnect component moveably and captivity coupled to the duct section. The duct connection system also has a direct-manufactured second duct structure including a second duct section. The second duct section has a passage for conveying the substance and a first interconnect component configured to enter a locked state with the first interconnect component such that a sealing force between the first and second duct structures is substantially equal to a predetermined value.
US08104793B2
A vehicle member generally comprises a thermally activated shape memory material in operative communication with a pyrotechnic device. The pyrotechnic device is effective to thermally change a dimension, a shape, an orientation change, an elastic modulus property change or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing properties of the shape memory material, which results in a structural and/or mechanical change to the vehicle member.
US08104791B2
A mechanism (10) for releasably confining pressurized fluid in a container (18) is provided. The mechanism includes a rupturable membrane (22) in fluid communication with an interior of the container (18), thereby exposing the membrane (22) to the fluid. The membrane (22) is configured to obstruct flow of the pressurized fluid when externally supported against pressure exerted by the fluid. The membrane (22) is also rupturable by pressure exerted by the fluid when not externally supported against the pressure exerted by the fluid. A support member (28) is provided for externally supporting the membrane (22) against pressure exerted by the fluid. The support member (28) is configured to be fracturable upon exposure to combustion products formed by activation of a gas generator (66) at least partially encased within the support member (28).
US08104787B2
A material handling cart to assist one person in handling large sheets of material such as sheets of plywood and easily transport said sheets to a machine for machining or other operations. With the tilting table feature in the vertical position it will easily transport a large sheet of material through a walkthrough door 32 inches or wider. Arriving at said machine or workbench, two of the four casters can be locked, the table tilted flat and said material can be slid off the cart into the machine or onto the bench. It was designed for the home workshop or small cabinet shop, but obviously would work well in many other applications. It is also convenient for unloading materials from a pickup truck and transporting to a storage rack or other storage units.
US08104780B1
An adult seat providing an activity and confinement center for individuals suffering from mental impairments. The seat center is comprised of a stationary seat support having a rotatable seat assembly positioned therewith. A removable interlocking tray portion provides for user access and confinement with integrated tray locking and release and seat rotational control enablement therewithin.
US08104779B2
A bearing includes an inner race member having an end surface. An outer race member is disposed about the inner race member. The outer race member has an internal shoulder for engaging the end surface of the inner race member. The inner and outer race members are configured to define a raceway between them and to define a snap ring seat between them. There are cylindrical rollers in the raceway and a snap ring in the snap ring seat. The bearing may be provided as a follower head on a cam follower or may be eccentrically mounted on a drive shaft to serve as a cam. A cargo dolly may include such a cam near a wheel, to help the wheel overcome an obstacle. A bearing can be assembled by inserting the inner race member into the outer race member, disposing cylindrical rollers in the raceway and disposing a snap ring in the snap ring seat.
US08104778B1
The dual purpose wheeled cart apparatus supports and transports a variety of cargo. The cart apparatus, in one mode, supports and transports specialized bags and easily converts from a bag transporter to a varied cargo transporter. The hopper, especially suited to bag filling, is removable via the sleeves attached to the hopper uprights and the sleeve mounts of the hopper, which slideably and removably fit into the sleeves. The hopper is available in various dimensions to especially suit various specific bags that are commonly used in refuse and lawn debris clean up. The apparatus cart and hopper support bags for filling and transport, thereby negating back strain and other issues that typically haunt those attempting to fill and carry large refuse bags. By supporting and transporting bags, only one person can do the jobs normally requiring two or more.
US08104776B2
The invention relates to a snowboard binding comprising a base plate (1) and a central plate (6) that is situated in a circular central opening (5) in the center of the base plate (1). The peripheral section of the central plate (6), which tapers towards the snowboard (8), lies against an edge section (9) of the base plate (1), which widens away from the snowboard (8) and is equipped with fixing openings (11) for the fixing elements that fix said plate to the snowboard (8). A locking device (B) on the edge section (9) of the base plate (1) around the central opening (5) locks the central plate (6) in position on the base plate (1), preventing torsion.
US08104771B2
An oil-control ring for an internal combustion engine, to be mounted between the sidewalls of a respective groove of a piston has two ring segments and an annular expander disposed between the two ring segments and presenting a support body defining a seating plane for each ring segment. The ring has at least one expander portion axially projecting from the support body of the expander, beyond at least one of the seating planes of a ring segment, and at least one superficial irregularity provided in at least one of the ring segments and which is dimensioned to be contained in the thickness of the respective ring segment and to interfere with at least one expander portion, in order to rotatively lock the ring segment in relation to the expander.
US08104762B2
A feeding device includes a feeding roller and a pair of transport rollers. The feeding roller picks up stacked recording medium and feeds the recording medium downstream direction. The pair of transport rollers transport the fed recording medium to a recording section. The feeding roller is provided so as to be capable of contacting a separating unit that separates the overlapped recording medium with plural. Between a contact point of the feeding roller and the separating unit and a nip point of the pair of transport rollers, a first tangent line does not intersect a second tangent line. The first tangent line is situated at the contact point of the feeding roller and the separating unit. The second tangent line is situated at the nip point of the pair of transport rollers.
US08104761B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body provided with an image formation unit and plural paper feeding apparatuses. Paper conveyance paths of the plural paper feeding apparatuses are daisy-chained with respect to the image forming apparatus body. An output unit outputs an instruction signal which instructs a specified paper feeding apparatus to start feeding a paper. A paper feed unit feeds the paper upon receipt of the instruction signal. A recognition unit recognizes a delay time until an analysis that the instruction signal is a paper feed instruction. A correction unit corrects an output timing of the instruction signal based on the delay time.
US08104760B2
An automatic document transport device includes a document stacker that is movable between a stacking position and an open position; a document transport path; a document feed member; a document output section; a document output member disposed downstream of an image reading position, the document output member including upper and lower output members; and a shielding member disposed above a document output slot and between the document output member and the document output section, the shielding member including first and second shielding portions, the first shielding portion extending upward and having a lower end disposed above a region in which the upper and lower output members contact each other, the second shielding portion extending downstream from the lower end of the first shielding portion, the shielding member shielding the upper output member from a space between the document stacker and the document output section.
US08104758B2
A sheet finisher includes: a stacking section having a stacking surface arranged to be tilted, and a stopper located below the stacking surface; a sheet finishing section which post-processes for a sheet bundle that hits the stopper and is stacked on the stacking section; a conveying section which sends two sheets to the stacking section under the condition that the two sheets are shifted each other in a conveyance direction and are superimposed; an input section in which sheet type information is inputted; and a controller which adjusts a shift amount between the two sheets so that the sheet on a lower side precedes toward the stopper by a prescribed amount, when a conveyance condition of the conveyance section is changed based on the inputted sheet type information inputted, and the two sheets are conveyed to the stacking section with the two sheets superimposed.
US08104753B2
Support means are provided for supporting one or more items in use. The support means includes at least first and second members and at least one of said first and second member movable relative to the other member to allow clamping and/or unclamping on an item located between said members. The first and second members being hingedly or pivotably movable between said clamped and/or unclamped positions.
US08104752B2
A unique X, Y, θ (Rotary) positioning system is disclosed that may include a machine base assembly with a substrate slide moving on the machine base with either a recirculating or air bearing in Y direction and two integrated cross stages attached to the slide which can kinetically provide large movements of the slide relative to the base in the X direction as well as generating large motion of the slide in the rotary θ direction about a virtual center of rotation. The positioning system allows a user to position large format glass substrates and the like with precision control. Specifically, depending on the mounting configuration of the present invention, a user may correct for straightness in X, X′ and Y directions, yaw in the A rotation direction and position in the X, X′ and Y direction.
US08104747B2
A humidifier including a housing which is used to receive a humidifier module. The housing can be connected by the housing cover and is provided with at least one first sealing element, which seals the humidifier module in relation to the housing. The humidifier module is arranged in an axially displaceable manner on the first sealing element.
US08104745B1
A reboiling jet apparatus comprises at least two nozzles in series, configured to cause boiling of a hot liquid in the first nozzle, deceleration and reduction of the gas phase in the second nozzle, followed by acceleration and reboiling in the second nozzle. A second deceleration and reduction of the gas phase occurs at the outlet of the second nozzle. Each deceleration causes heating of the liquid by reduction of the gas phase; thus, energy of a pressurized input fluid is efficiently converted into heat by action of the nozzles. A convergent-divergent nozzle for steam injection with a mixing chamber may be used instead of the first nozzle to cause the first boiling. Another nozzle may be used to introduce a cold fluid at the outlet of the second nozzle for mixing with the hot flow prior to completion of the second deceleration.
US08104743B2
The pull string installation device can be described as a torsion spring having a pair of tangential legs, with each leg having a formed protrusion for engaging a fish tape eyelet, and one leg having a looped end adapted for the receiving and securing of a pull string. When used in conjunction with a fish tape, the pull string installation device receives, secures, and installs a pull string into an electrical system raceway, to aid in the future installation of conductors or cables.
US08104739B2
The present invention relates to a pulse valve (10) with a closing body (18) that cooperates with a valve seat (22) and, in a first switching position, establishes a flow connection between a supply channel (12) and a discharge channel (14) and, in a second switching position, blocks the flow connection. The closing body (18) periodically alternates between the two switching positions during the actuation of the pulse valve (10), its movement being hydraulically damped by a throttle point (70). It is provided that the hydraulic damping occurs only in a subrange of motion (62).
US08104725B1
A lifting device for raising and lowering a litter box comprising a first platform for placing on a ground surface and a second platform for supporting the litter box, wherein the second platform is positioned above the first platform; one or more support components attached to the first platform to the second platform; wherein the second platform can move between an up position wherein the second platform is raised above the first platform a certain distance and a down position wherein the second platform contacts the first platform, wherein the second platform is biased in the up position caused by the support components and the second platform can be secured in the down position via a locking means.
US08104716B2
An airborne tracking system including a radiation emitter, a radiation receiver and a signal processor. The radiation emitter is adapted to direct radiation to a positioning area a defined distance from the radiation emitter, the radiation carrying a modulated location signal containing information corresponding to positions within the positioning area. The radiation receiver is adapted to receive at least a portion of the emitted radiation carrying the modulated signal and output a signal to the signal processor indicative of the modulation of the location signal of the received radiation. Signal processor is adapted to process the outputted signal and identify a position within the positioning area indicative of the location in the positioning area of the received radiation.
US08104698B2
In relation to injectors used for internal-combustion engines, it is important to decrease valve closing delay time and also the minimum injection quantity, while these are affected by remanent magnetism in the fixed core, surface tension of the fuel, etc. With reference to a fuel injection valve with a pipe-shaped member to enclose a fixed core and a movable part and further with coils and yokes to cover up the above pipe-shaped member, the anchor to drive the movable member has a plurality of through holes for fuel passage extending in the axial direction, while these through holes are arranged at a certain intervals in the circumferential direction, and projections formed to constitute a contacting surface to touch the fixed core arranged randomly in between the through holes.
US08104688B2
A method and system for determining the presence and identity of a game piece placed at a sensing location by attaching one or more conductive rings at fixed concentric locations on the bottom of the game piece and sensing the presence or absence of the conductive rings by means of sensors that are insensitive to the rotational orientation of the game piece.
US08104667B2
An apparatus for connecting a component with a substrate by means of diffusion soldering in a closed evacuated chamber, wherein the component and the substrate to be connected are displaceable separate from one another in the chamber, and the chamber comprises a combined transfer and pressing unit being displaceable between a current position of the component and a current position of the substrate, for placing and pressing the component on the substrate, and the combined transfer and pressing unit comprises a rotatable element, which, in response to the placing and pressing of the component on the substrate, assumes an angle between the normal of a lower side of the component to be connected and a pressing direction of the component, the angle corresponding to an angle between the normal of a surface area of the substrate to be connected and the pressing direction of the component.
US08104664B2
In a friction stir welding apparatus for overlapped joints provided with a rotor having a shoulder and a probe that is provided so as to protrude from the shoulder of the rotor and also so as to be disposed concentrically with the center axis of the rotor, a helical groove is formed in the peripheral surface of the probe, from the tip of the probe toward the shoulder, and the depth of the groove is formed so as to gradually decrease from the tip of the probe toward the shoulder.
US08104657B2
Methods and apparatus may permit the storage of flexible sheet materials in a space-efficient manner and may provide a continuous point-of-use dispensing capability of such sheet materials at such stored location. Serially joined sheet materials may be separated from one another at sheet materials separation zones utilizing interference tabs having yieldable configurations, intra-planar configurations, trans-axial configurations, movement resistive configurations, and projective configurations. Such interference tab configurations may permit the simplified design and construction of a sheet materials dispensation apparatus, and multiple flexible sheet materials may be serially joined for use with such configurations. A substantially rigid enclosure for storing such serially joined sheet materials and incorporating an interference tab having one or more of such configurations may be dimensioned to dispense sheet materials from within an open-ended receptacle, for example a refuse container.
US08104656B1
Disclosed herein is a spare magazine carrier for securing at least one magazine on a user's belt. The carrier includes at least one pocket for receiving the magazine and a pivotal cover atop the pocket for retaining the magazine therein. The cover normally extends over the top of the pocket and prevents withdrawal of the magazine and can be rotated to the side of the pocket to allow withdrawal of the magazine from the pocket. The cover is pivotally attached to the pocket with a frictional hinge in order to prevent inadvertent cover movement and thus inadvertent magazine removal.
US08104655B2
A laptop carrier includes a case portion, a strap and a pair of clipping members. The case portion includes a first shell, a hinge, a second shell rotatably connected by the hinge, and a latching member for latching and unlatching the first and the second shells. Two ends of the strap are mounted on two respective opposite sides of the case portion. The pair of clipping members is attached on the strap for interlocking part of the strap and one of the first or second shells of the case portion.
US08104654B2
A compact yet expandable waist belt with a pouch preferably formed from a single piece of seamless elastic fabric, designed in some embodiments with pleats in the back, that remains taut around the wearer's body during even the most rigorous physical activities, whether the pouch is holding one smaller item (such as a key) or multiple larger items (such as a cell phone, mp3 player, and/or money). When empty, the pouch is preferably approximately the same width and thickness as the belt holding the pouch in place, and yet the pouch's internal volume can expand up to 300-400% or more to hold larger items or a large number of small items. The single pouch is sealed with zipper or other fasteners such as Velcro® allowing users to access belongings quickly and easily.
US08104646B2
A trigger sprayer has a one piece valve member that includes both an inlet valve element and an outlet valve element. The one piece valve member replaces the separate liquid inlet valve and liquid outlet valve of a conventional trigger sprayer, and thereby provides a more simplified construction for the trigger sprayer and a fewer number of component parts in the trigger sprayer.
US08104641B2
A fluid dispenser hose module includes a housing adapted to enclose the fluid nozzle and at least a portion of a fluid hose within an interior volume of the housing. A first door located adjacent an exterior of the housing allows removal of the fluid nozzle when the first door is adjusted from a closed position to an open position. The first door automatically returns to the closed position from the open position when the fluid nozzle is returned to the boot. A second door adjacent the exterior of the housing automatically adjusts from a shut position to a retracted position when the first door is adjusted from the closed position to the open position. The second door allows access to the fluid hose in the retracted position and automatically returns to the shut position from the retracted position when the first door returns to the closed position.
US08104634B2
A drain pan and drainage system is herein disclosed. The drain pan includes a basin with a wall mount connected to the basin. A drain hole is formed in a bottom surface of the basin. The drain pan also includes at least one side panel connecting the basin and the wall mount. The drainage system includes a wall, drain pan and water containing device. The water containing device is mounted to the drain pan and both are mounted to the wall. The water containing device and drain pan are mounted in such a way that the water containing device is at least partially enclosed by the drain pan.
US08104633B2
A closure assembly has a closure cap adapted to be fitted to the neck of a container to close the container. The cap has an upper wall and a cylindrical skirt depending from the upper wall. A reservoir is formed on the underside of the upper wall radially within the skirt and has a dispensing opening. A sealing member is fitted into the closure cap to close the dispensing opening in the reservoir. When the assembly is fitted to the container the sealing member fits into the neck of the container with an interference fit such that when the closure cap is removed from the container, the sealing member remains held within the neck of the container and is separated from the closure cap so that the dispensing opening is opened and material contained therein is dispensed into the container.
US08104629B1
A device and method for dropping a first drinking vessel into a second drinking vessel includes a holder which outwardly projects from a support member. The holder releaseably suspends the first drinking vessel over the second drinking vessel, so that when the second drinking vessel is pulled away from the support member, the first drinking vessel detaches from the holder and drops into the second drinking vessel.
US08104626B2
A mounting bracket (16) has a mounting pin (24) for fitting round hole racks (18) and a mounting sleeve (26) which slidably extends over the mounting pin (24) for fitting square hole racks (12). A lock pin (28) and a lock sleeve (30) are spaced apart from the mounting pin (24) and slidably extend for fitting within holes of respective racks (18, 12) to prevent removal of the mounting pin (24) and the mounting sleeve (26) from the racks (18, 12). A safety lock (180) is located adjacent the lock pin (28) for preventing removal of the lock pin (28) from a rack mounting hole, which prevents removal of the mounting bracket (16) from the racks (12, 18). A release pin (182) extends through a rack mounting hole and the mounting bracket (16) for moving the safety lock (180) to a position located aside of the lock pin (28).
US08104615B2
A tool positioning pad has a body, at least one positioning slot and two containing recesses. The body is a plastic foam block and corresponds to and is normally mounted in a tool box. The at least one positioning slot is formed in the body and each position slot has two ends and at least one non-straight section. Each non-straight section may be arced or curved and is integrally formed longitudinally in the positioning slot and has a convex inner sidewall. When a thin tool such as a spanner is placed into a positioning slot, the convex inner sidewall is deformed to press and securely hold the spanner inside the positioning slot.
US08104605B2
The material sample collector is adapted to divert a sample of material from a trough conveyor for analysis of the sample. The collector includes at least one, and preferably two or more, laterally offset wheels rotating on axles. The wheels are in a vertical plane forming an acute dihedral angle with a vertical plane in which the central longitudinal axis of the conveyor is disposed. Each wheel subtends an elliptical segment extending across a portion of the width of the conveyor when viewed from an end of the conveyor. A sample chute extends laterally from the conveyor. The wheels are normally raised above the conveyor and its contents, and lowered when a sample is taken. The lowered wheels bear against the conveyor and/or its contents, diverting material from the conveyor onto a chute. The device is preferably manually operated, but may be powered and automated.
US08104598B2
A friction device for an automatic transmission according to the invention includes a retainer, a wave coil spring, a center support, a piston, and a plurality of plates. The retainer is disposed on the inner circumference of a transmission case. The wave coil spring is disposed on a seating portion of the retainer. The center support is disposed in the transmission case. The piston is disposed in a pressure chamber of the center support and provided with a return force by contacting with the wave coil spring. The plates are spline-connected with the inner circumference of the transmission case and pressed by the piston. Further, the retainer has a protruding portion to align the center axis of the wave coil spring with the center axis of the transmission case.
US08104593B2
A resilient shock-absorbing device includes an absorber body having a first absorber layer including a plurality of longitudinal first outer tube halves heat-sealed to each other and each having two transversely opposed first longitudinal ends contacting respectively adjacent first longitudinal ends of two adjacent first outer tube halves, and a plurality of first heat-seal seams each interconnecting two adjacent first longitudinal ends that contact each other, and a second absorber layer including a plurality of longitudinal second outer tube halves heat-sealed to each other and each having two transversely opposed second longitudinal ends contacting respectively adjacent second longitudinal ends of two adjacent second outer tube halves, and a plurality of second heat-seal seams each extending longitudinally and interconnecting two adjacent second longitudinal ends that contact each other. A plurality of first and second foam members are respectively filled in the first and second outer tube halves.
US08104585B2
A method for assigning an elevator car to respond to a call signal includes a controller that determines which elevator car will respond to the call signal based on certain wait time thresholds. The controller receives a hall call signal, and the controller is programmed with wait time thresholds that can include, e.g., an estimated wait time (EWT), and/or estimated travel time (ETT). In this example, these thresholds are time values above which a passenger is likely to become impatient, either waiting for an elevator car to arrive, or waiting for their elevator car to arrive at its destination. Based on system information an EWT and ETT are calculated and compared to the thresholds. An elevator car is assigned based on this comparison. In some versions, an estimated time to destination (ETD) is used in determining which elevator car to assign. In some versions, a handling capacity coefficient (HCx), which reflects current traffic conditions, is used in determining which elevator car to assign.
US08104584B2
An elevator drive assembly (30) includes a voltage regulator (40) that selectively introduces current under certain conditions. In one example, the voltage regulator (40) introduces a negative flux current to an electric motor (32) when the motor (32) is operating under conditions corresponding to constant speed movement of an elevator car (22). In one example, the added negative flux current effectively reduces the back-EMF voltage of the motor (32) during the constant velocity portion of an elevator run. A disclosed example includes controlling the added current to maintain control over a motor torque constant, which becomes a function of the added current.
US08104570B2
A suppressor for suppressing sounds generated by the discharge of a firearm, the discharge generating propellant gases is disclosed. The suppressor includes a host tube. The host tube is generally hollow and generally cylindrical. The suppressor also includes a monolithic baffle stack inserted within the host tube and secured to a first end of the host tube. The monolithic baffle stack includes a first end that includes a first hole. The monolithic baffle stack also includes a second end that includes a second hole. The second end is located opposite the first end of the monolithic baffle stack. The monolithic baffle stack further includes a plurality of chambers in fluid communication with each other via a plurality of holes. The monolithic baffle stack also includes a plurality of recesses in fluid communication with the plurality of chambers via a plurality of side holes. The suppressor further includes a cap secured to a second end of the host tube. The cap includes a hole. Moreover, the suppressor includes a path extending from the first hole adjacent the first end of the monolithic baffle stack through the hole of the cap. The plurality of chambers, the plurality of recesses, and the path are configured to allow propellant gases to travel therethrough.
US08104569B2
A speaker cabinet includes a first surface oriented generally along a first plane and a second surface oriented generally along a second plane. The second plane is generally orthogonal to the first plane. A third surface may be positioned between the first and second surfaces and may be oriented generally along a third plane that intersects the first plane and the second plane. The third surface may be configured to redirect an audio signal.
US08104568B2
A seismic gun assembly comprising a barrel and guide tube assembly for delivering a projectile to the bottom of a bore hole with a non-line-of-sight section. The guide tube being either a large diameter guide tube or a tight fitted guide tube. The large diameter guide tube allowing the projectile to perform shallow angle bounces to reach the bottom of a non-line-of-sight bore hole. The tight fitted guide tube allows the projectile to ride the inner wall of the guide tube to reach the bottom of a non-line-of-sight bore hole. The projectile comprises an outer jacket and a frangible core. The seismic gun barrel assembly additionally comprises a fluid exclusion puck for preventing fluids from entering the guide tube, a suppressing collar for suppressing seismic noise, and a method for modulating recoil.
US08104566B2
A control system for a construction vehicle, such as a motor grader, is provided. The control system includes a plurality of joysticks supported by an operator seat assembly of the motor grader.
US08104563B2
In a hood airbag device for use in a vehicle, left and right bag-expansion openings are formed at the rear end portion of the outer hood panel in a hood width direction, and the deployment positions of corresponding left and right airbags are controlled or restrained by the bag-expansion openings, respectively. Further, the hood-center side ends (60L′) of the left air bag (60L) and the hood-center side ends (60R′) of the right air bag (60R) are adapted to press against each other when they are deployed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the airbags from being raised up by a wind pressure or the like and to quickly deploy the airbags over a broad extent.
US08104561B2
A motorized tricycle comprising a frame including first, second, and third coupling members, two rear wheels, and a rear wheels mounting structure comprising side pieces on either side; cross pieces interconnecting the side pieces; two forward cylindrical first joints; two seats each projecting upward from the topmost side piece and comprising a top second joint and a bottom first threaded hole; two second threaded holes each disposed on a section between the first and second joints of the same side; two inverted L-shaped reinforcement plates comprising a hollow boss projecting inward from a bending point, and first and second through holes at both ends respectively; two sleeves each put on the first joint; two cylinders each disposed in the second joint; and screws for securing the reinforcement plate, the rear wheels mounting structure, and the frame together.
US08104548B2
A rotary steerable apparatus is provided having an actuator for pushing the bit or pointing the bit that includes a shape memory alloy. An elongated form of the alloy, such as a wire or rod, is employed in a mechanism that applies force in a direction transverse to the wellbore in response to a change in length of the alloy. Temperature of the alloy is controlled to change shape and produce the desired force on pads for operating the apparatus. The apparatus may be used with downhole power generation and control electronics to steer a bit, either in response to signals from the surface or from downhole instruments.
US08104542B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing low-viscosity polymer gels by mixing a water-absorbing polymer with water, in which the viscosity is reduced by adding a chelating agent, and also to the use thereof for firefighting.
US08104539B2
Methods and systems for stimulating a wellbore. A coil tubing bottom hole assembly is disclosed which includes a jetting tool. A non-caged ball sub is coupled to the jetting tool and a ported sub is coupled to the non-caged ball sub. Additionally, a caged ball sub is coupled to the ported sub.
US08104534B2
A through tubing conveyed electrical submersible pumping system for use in a wellbore. The system includes a tubing string with an attached deployed drive system having a pump motor and a pump engaging receptacle, a pumping assembly insertable into the tubing deployed system, and sealing elements on both the tubing string and pumping assembly. Engaging the sealing elements while inserting the pumping assembly forms a seal. The system further includes mating latch members on the pumping assembly and the tubing string, the latch members selectively activated by engaging one another. The latch may include locking fingers disposed on the pumping system and a shoulder protruding into the tubing string; wherein inserting the pumping system into the tubing deployed system locking fingers with the shoulder for securing the pumping system to the tubing string.
US08104530B2
In order to increase the endurance and lifetime of highly loaded components (6, 8, 12, 14, 24, 26, 34) of a steelworks, an electrolytically applied coating (38) is provided, having a ductile metallic base material (39), in particular nickel or a nickel alloy, with hard material particles (40), in particular boron carbide particles, incorporated in it. This measure achieves high resistance to corrosion, good thermal conductivity and at the same time high mechanical loadability.
US08104529B2
A feed block unit for a hot-runner feed system of a pressure die-casting machine includes a block body in which is incorporated at least one melt-conveying channel running out of the block body by way of a sprue orifice close to the gate, and a heating system, integrated into the block body, for the at least one melt-conveying channel. The feed block unit is designed as a structural unit which is insertable independently into a respective casting mold, and/or the heating system integrated therein includes at least a first heating device for supply channel heating and a second heating device, which can be controlled independently of the first heating device, for sprue channel heating. With this modular hot-runner feed system, individual temperature profiles can be predetermined and set for the respective feed block unit. A control device authorizes a mold-filling operating to take place dependent on whether temperatures detected in the hot-runner feed system lie within predeterminable setpoint temperature ranges.
US08104522B2
A fluid exchange machine for removing used transmission fluid from a vehicle's cooling system and replacing the used fluid with fresh fluid includes a fresh fluid tank, a used fluid tank, a pump for forcing fresh fluid from the fresh fluid tank to a vehicle's cooling system, a processor for controlling a fluid exchange operation, and a display coupled to said processor for graphically representing a status of the fluid exchange operation. The display can be an LCD display or other display capable of graphical representation of the conditions and status of the fluid exchange operation.
US08104512B2
An apparatus and method for assembling a faucet spout to retain a tube within a body of the faucet spout.
US08104508B2
A plug body housing 16 has a receiving recess 17, and the receiving recess 17 includes a first recess 21 opening toward the outside and a second recess 22 connected to the first recess 21. Check valves 8 and 9 are provided in the second recess 22, and a manual valve 14 is provided in the first recess 21. An internal threaded portion 45 is formed in an inner circumferential surface of the first recess 21, and a housing 35 of the manual valve 14 is threaded into the internal threaded portion 45. The check valves 8 and 9 are held between a bottom surface 22a of the second recess 22 and a bottom 35a of the housing 35 so that the check valves 8 and 9 are secured in the second recess 22.
US08104507B2
A gas switch capable of adjusting fire intensity finely includes a gas switch capable of adjusting fire intensity finely, comprising a switch body inside which a guide is installed, a valve set that revolves inside the switch body and includes a hollow valve and a pilot valve moving elastically through the valve, a drive component installed inside the switch body, which contains a rotating rod that can move along and rotate round the same shaft of the valve set, a guide rod placed on the rotating rod and leaning on the guide, a regulating block installed movably at one end of the rotating rod and leaning against the pilot valve, and a connecting component for linking the drive component with the valve set flexibly.
US08104502B2
A drain water bacteriostatic structure for an air conditioner is provided with a drain pan 8 for holding drain water generated in an air conditioner 1 and an upright antibacterial member 50 which is provided in the drain pan 8. The antibacterial member 50 is provided with an antibacterial agent 50B. The length L3 of the antibacterial member 50 in the up-down direction is set such that the lower end portion 50a of the antibacterial member 50 is immersed in drain water when the drain water is at the minimum water level L1 in the drain pan 8, and the upper end portion 50b of the antibacterial member 50 is exposed above the maximum water level L2 of drain water in the drain pan 8 by a predetermined length H or more.
US08104501B1
A method and apparatus for handling fluids on an oil and gas well drilling platform utilizes detachable peripheral frames to reduce the per square foot load transferred to the platform when reservoirs on the apparatus are filled to (or near) capacity.
US08104492B2
An adjustable offset umbrella has a generally vertical main pole and a sliding member slidably mounted to the main pole. The sliding member includes a locking mechanism for securing it at a desired location along the main pole. One end of an arm is associated with the sliding member, and the other end supports an umbrella canopy. A winding mechanism is associated with the sliding member and moves with it. A line extends from the winding mechanism to the umbrella canopy. Operating the winding mechanism opens and closes the umbrella canopy, and moving the sliding member up or down the main pole adjusts the angle of the canopy with respect to the main pole.
US08104490B2
Provided are a substrate treating apparatus and a method of manufacturing the substrate treating apparatus. Processing units of a process equipment are modularized, and the modularized processing units are detachably disposed in a main frame. According to this characteristic, work time and work effort required for manufacturing the process equipment can be reduced. In addition, maintenance/repair of each of the processing units can be further easily performed.
US08104486B2
This invention relates to a hair increasing device that improves the freedom of hair styles and, is constituted in such a manner that each hair is knotted to a rib constituting a hair-secured frame with one end portion being twice wound, and the other end portion being once wound and pulled out thereafter. The one end portion of the tied hair is supported so as to stand upright with regard to a rib, and the other end portion is knotted so as to extend longitudinally on and along a rib, and thereby hair flow is formed in the longitudinal direction on a plurality of ribs so that the plurality of ribs is covered and hidden, and becomes hardly visible. Hence the rib or wig base linear member is hardly visible, the knot does not loosen, and the hair increasing device provides a rich voluminous appearance and allows versatility of hair styles.
US08104481B2
A light therapy device is taught including a light emitting assembly having light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a light source. The light emitting assembly capable of generating 2,500 lux to 7,500 lux at 12 inches.
US08104466B2
A solar energy collecting assembly useful for transferring solar heat to a heat utilizing system via heat transfer fluid flow, comprising anisotropic graphite sheets coupled to a pipe containing heat transfer fluid, and various configurations and embodiments. Methods useful for extracting collected solar heat and transferring said heat to a heat transfer medium.
US08104465B2
A high-efficiency, small-scale, combined heat and power, concentrating solar energy system (200), designed specifically for residential and other relatively low-power applications, rendering it cost-effective and economically viable. Two-axis tracking of a dish-like reflector (10) of between 1 and 2 meters in aperture ensures very high concentrating ratios of between 200 and 8-suns or even higher. In consequence very high coolant outlet temperatures, of 120-180° C. may be reached at the outlet of the collector coolant, which may be oil, gas, or pressurized water. The high coolant temperatures are advantageous because they may be used for air-conditioning. The high concentration is advantageous because the efficiency of the photo_voltaic cells is improved with higher concentration. The overall efficiency is greater than 60%. Additionally, a simple but accurate drive, designed as a radio-dial drive (14), with substantially zero backlash, and substantially zero drive, is provided for driving the concentrating solar energy system. Preferably, two radio-dial drives are employed and tracking is performed along two axes, of an azimuth-elevation mount, a polar mount, or a cross mount.
US08104444B2
An igniter for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The igniter may have a body, and a pre-combustion chamber integral with the body and having at least one orifice. The igniter may also have at least one electrode associated with the pre-combustion chamber. The at least one electrode may be configured to direct RF energy to lower an ignition breakdown voltage requirement of an air and fuel mixture in the pre-combustion chamber. The RF energy alone may be insufficient to ignite and sustain combustion of the air and fuel mixture. The at least one electrode may also be configured to generate an arc that extends to an internal wall of the pre-combustion chamber and ignites the air and fuel mixture.
US08104430B1
A pole assembly includes a pole having a hollow interior and at least one longitudinally elongated slot formed through the pole communicating with the hollow interior. A sleeve is slidably disposed around the pole and has at least one arm extending through the slot. A pulley and a counterweight are disposed inside the pole. A cord extends over the pulley between the at least one arm and the counterweight within the hollow interior.
US08104426B2
A paint shield for preventing the misapplication of coating material comprises a shielding member having a leading edge and a base member, an extension handle for enabling a user to hold the leading edge of the paint shielding member against a surface, a pivot member connected to the base member for angularly positioning the shielding member, and a storage location positioned in said base member for storing the pivot member and the extension handle when the pivot member is selectively removed from the base member. The pivot member preferably includes two walls having at least one frictional pad disposed on an inner surface of each wall for frictionally engaging the base member and allowing a user to angularly pivot the shielding member without loosening the pivot member.
US08104425B2
A method for electroless plating of a substrate is provided that comprises exposing an electroless plating reagent comprising a metal to be plated and at least one reducing agent to a solid phase Activation Material to form an activated electroless plating reagent prior to application of the electroless plating reagent to the substrate. The activated electroless plating reagent is applied to a substrate in the process chamber under conditions to cause the metal of the electroless plating reagent to deposit on the substrate. Systems and modules are also described.
US08104424B2
The inventions refer to method of product surface treatment, technological line and device for hot applying the coating on lengthy products. Line for applying the coating on lengthy product comprising supplying device, product surface preparing unit, devise for continuous applying the coating, cooling camera and final product acceptance unit. Device for applying the coating comprises camera (13) for applying the coating, fixed above the tank (14) with melt. In cover (16) of camera (13) there is an outlet 19 for creating pressure discharge, and in cover (21) of tank (14) there is an inlet (22). Camera (13) is provided with intake vertical passage (20) plunged into the melt of the tank. In the walls of camera (13) there are passages (23) and (24) for product (2) transporting. In working state the melt in the tank (14) and in the camera (13) occupies levels (25) and (26) correspondingly.
US08104421B2
The present invention relates to a vacuum chamber and to its production. According to the invention, the vacuum chamber comprises a frame into which insert plates are placed. The insert plates form together with the frame a closed space in which a vacuum can be created. Preferably, the shell of the frame is extracted from an integrally formed metal piece, with a large portion of material being removed, leading to openings for the insert plates to be created. This has among others the advantage that no welding seams are necessary where the individual plates are inserted.
US08104401B1
The invention is a plastic bottle crushing that includes a housing having a slidable tray that is positioned underneath the bottle to be crushed in order for any remaining liquids contained within said bottle to be collected. The housing also includes a bottom crushing surface that has a hole in order to support the top portion of the plastic bottle in an inverted position. The invention may be either manually operated or by an automated mechanical means.
US08104400B2
There are provided a first belt-clutch mechanism switching power transmission to a first large-diameter pulley, and, at the same time, a second belt clutch mechanism switching power transmission to a second large-diameter pulley, anda first and a second belt clutch mechanism are provided with a first and a second arm members, tension clutch pulleys installed at point portions of these arm members, and actuators which rotate a first and a second arm members in such a way that a position at which a first no-end belt is wound on the first large-diameter pulley is switched to a position at which winding is avoided, and, at the same time, a position at which a second no-end belt is wound on a second large-diameter pulley is switched to a position at which winding is avoided.
US08104395B2
A safety device comprises a shield, and an supporting frame. The shield is fixed on the body of the rifle to protect the shooter's face. The supporting frame is adapted to support the shield against the impact of a bullet shooting on the shield or other attack.
US08104393B2
The invention relates to a charging handle assembly for a firearm. The assembly includes a handle mechanism having a pull rod to engage an action of a firearm, a handle and a stop surface. A latch mechanism is rotationally secured to the handle and is meant to be manually activated. When the latch mechanism is moved to an open position, a surface of the latch mechanism contacts the stop surface of the handle mechanism. A spring mechanism is used to maintain the latch mechanism in a closed position.
US08104385B2
The brittle workpiece splitting system 1 includes a substrate holding mechanism 10 for holding a substrate 51, and a processing unit 5 for splitting the substrate 51 held by the substrate holding mechanism 10 by a splitting process. The substrate holding mechanism 10 has an edge damper 12 adapted to clamp an edge part of the substrate 51 from the sides of the opposite surfaces of the edge part, and support members 19 for supporting the substrate 51 thereon at a predetermined height. The support members 19 are disposed on the side opposite the side of the edge damper 12 with respect to the intended split line 61 parallel to the edge part of the substrate 51. The edge damper 12 has an edge holder 15 on which the substrate 51 is seated, and a pressure bar 14 for pressing the substrate 51 against the edge holder 15 to hold the substrate 51 between the edge holder 15 and the pressure bar 14. Resin members 14a and 15a made of an elastic material having comparatively high rigidity are attached to parts, to be brought into contact with the substrate 51, of the pressure bar 14 and the edge holder 15, respectively. The support members 19 are made of a low-friction material to permit the horizontal movement of the substrate 51 during the splitting process.
US08104384B2
This invention relates to a demolitions shears, including a body having a fixed jaw and a movable jaw that pivots with respect to the fixed jaw. A main shaft for pivotally mounting the moveable jaw to the body. A hydraulic cylinder for actuating the movable jaw to pivot. The movable jaw includes a first rotation stop and the main shaft including a second rotation stop. When the main shaft is installed in the moveable jaw, the first rotation stop and the second rotation stop are coupled to prevent relative rotation between the main shaft and the movable jaw, without axially fixing the main shaft to the movable jaw. A removable stop assembly is constructed and arranged to limit axial movement between the main shaft and the movable jaw.
US08104381B1
A unidirectional ratchet wrench includes a body. The body has a first containing groove disposed at an action end of the body. A ratchet includes a sheathing portion formed thereof. A brake tooth is in an arc shape, and the brake tooth includes a plurality of latch teeth formed thereon for engaging with the engaging teeth of the ratchet. A control plate is contained in the arc-shaped second containing groove, and the control plate has the same height as the pressing edge of the body. An elastic element is contained in the accommodating groove of the brake tooth. A cover is installed in an upper cover groove of the body. A latch ring is latched to an circular latch groove of the body for fixing the cover onto the body.
US08104380B2
A light bulb changing tool comprising a holding structure configured to engage a light bulb, the holding structure configured along an axis, the motorized holding structure configured to actuate in a first direction and a second direction. The light bulb changing tool further includes a force generator configured to selectively force the light bulb against the holding structure and a control unit configured to remotely communicate with the holding structure and the force generator, wherein the electronic control unit sends control signals to drive the holding structure to selectively move in the first direction and the second direction and/or to activate the force generator. The tool further comprises an arm member for positioning the holding structure in a desired configuration to engage the light bulb, wherein the arm member is coupled to the holding structure. The holding structure further comprises a rotator mechanism configured to rotate the holding structure in the first direction about the axis.
US08104367B2
A transmission connectable to an input member and having an output transfer gear, first and second transmission input shaft members, first and second countershaft members, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of gears, synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
US08104366B2
A double-clutch transmission is provided that includes, but is not limited to an inner input shaft inside an outer input shaft. Two clutch discs are connected to the inner input shaft and the outer input shaft, respectively. A first layshaft and a second layshaft are spaced apart from the inner input shaft and arranged in parallel to the inner input shaft. One or more of the two layshafts comprise a fixed output gearwheel for outputting a drive torque. Gearwheels are arranged on the shafts. The gearwheels comprise six gearwheel groups for providing six forward gears and one reverse gear. Each of the gearwheel groups comprises a first fixed gearwheel on one of the inner input shaft meshing with one of the idler gearwheels on one of the first layshaft, the second layshaft, or the third layshaft. Furthermore, a second fixed gearwheel meshes with a second gear idler gearwheel and a fourth gear idler gearwheel. The double-clutch transmission device further comprises a seventh gearwheel group for providing a seventh gear. The seventh gearwheel group comprises a seventh fixed gearwheel on the outer input shaft, meshing with a seventh gear idler gearwheel on one of the first layshaft, the second layshaft, or the third layshaft.
US08104356B2
A pressure sensing device package including a circuit substrate, a pressure sensing device, a molding compound, and a flexible protection layer is provided. The circuit substrate has an opening. The pressure sensing device is flip chip bonded to the circuit substrate and has a sensing region facing toward the opening. The molding compound encapsulates the pressure sensing device but exposes the sensing region. The flexible protection layer is disposed on the sensing region and exposed by the opening of the circuit substrate.
US08104353B2
A pressure sensor includes a platform and an elastic measuring membrane, which is joined with a surface of the platform to form a measuring chamber sealed closed at the edge, wherein the platform and/or the measuring membrane comprise ceramic, glass or a single crystal material, the measuring membrane has at least a first electrode, which faces the surface of the platform, the surface of the platform has at least a second electrode, which faces that of the measuring membrane. The capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode is a measure for the pressure to be measured; wherein additionally at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises a conductive layer, which contains metal and glass, and wherein the metal comprises at least two noble metal elements.
US08104350B2
A transducer apparatus may include a slide housing, an inner housing, a member attached to the inner housing, a free-floating transducer housing, a transducer, and transducer springs. The inner housing may be moveably disposed within the slide housing. The member attached to the inner housing may be for moving the inner housing relative to the slide housing. The free-floating transducer housing may in at least one position be freely moveably disposed relative to the inner housing. The transducer may be attached to the free-floating transducer housing and may freely change orientations relative to a surface being measured when the free-floating transducer housing is in the at least one position. The transducer springs may attach the free-floating transducer housing to the inner housing.
US08104346B2
An apparatus includes a seismic acquisition system that includes an accelerometer. The accelerometer includes a capacitive MEMS-based sensor, a controller and a charge amplifier. The sensor includes a proof mass; input terminals to receive a first signal; and an output terminal that is electrically connected to the proof mass to provide a second signal. The first signal, which is regulated by the controller, controls an equilibrium restoring force for the sensor and causes the sensor to provide the second signal. The charge amplifier provides a third signal, which is indicative of a position of the proof mass. The charge amplifier has an input terminal to continuously receive the second signal during a time in which the first signal controls the equilibrium restoring force and causes the sensor to provide the second signal.
US08104345B2
A miniature sensor for detecting acceleration and deceleration processes has at least one bar-like spring element which is formed by a nanowire, which is connected by one end to the detector substrate and projects from the latter and which preferably carries at its free end a coating emitting a permanent magnetic stray field, or a nanoparticle of this type, wherein the nanowire and magnetic stray field coating, or mass, together form the inertial mass. A magnetic field detection layer composed, for example, of magnetoresistive material, is disposed at least in the region near the connected end of the nanowire. The substrate is preferably provided with such a layer which preferably, for its part, as sensor component forms a constituent part of a magnetic field detection unit.
US08104333B2
A leak diagnostic apparatus is provided for an evaporative emission control system that purges fuel vapor from an inside of a fuel tank to an intake passage of an internal combustion engine. The leak diagnostic apparatus is basically provided with a pressure detecting device and a leak determining device. The pressure detecting device is configured and arranged to detect a pressure inside the evaporative emission control system, which includes the fuel tank. The leak determining device sets a leak determination threshold value in accordance with a deformation amount of the fuel tank, and determines if a leak exists by comparing the pressure inside the evaporative emission control system while the evaporative emission control system is sealed to the leak determination threshold value.
US08104320B2
An apparatus for bending sheet metal comprises a housing, a first shaft and a second shaft mounted in the housing, a motor, a first gear mounted on the first shaft, and a second gear mounted on the second shaft. The motor rotates both the first gear and the second gear. The first gear comprises a first plurality of components and the second gear comprises a second plurality of components. The first gear and the second gear are capable of engaging sheet metal passed between the gears while they are moving. The first and second plurality of components are capable of being configured to change a bend radius, a wavelength of waves formed in the sheet metal, and a distance between the first shaft and the second shaft can be adjusted to change an amplitude of waves formed in the sheet metal engaged by the first and second gears.
US08104311B2
Tubular pipe insulation is made from a glass fiber mat produced utilizing a rotary glass fiberization process. A spinner disc is rotated to centrifuge molten glass through fiberization holes in an annular sidewall of the spinner disc and form primary glass fibers. The primary glass fibers are attenuated and formed into a veil where the fibers are dispersed to reduce in length the fiber networks formed from the fibers. Binder is applied to the fibers and the fibers are collected into a mat that, when pulled apart by longitudinally directed, opposing forces, separates across the width of the mat into two mat sections having feathered edges with substantially no fibrous stringers extending beyond the feathered edges for a distance greater than about four inches. The leading mat section is then wound about a mandrel and the binder in the mat is cured to form the pipe insulation.
US08104310B2
A mold of a glassware molding machine has two half-molds movable between a closed molding position and an open extraction position by a mold opening/closing assembly, wherein two actuating arms, each fitted to a respective half-mold, are rotated about respective fixed hinge axes by an actuator assembly having a central linear actuator, and two lateral linear actuators located substantially on opposite sides of the central actuator; the actuators having respective movable members translating respectively along a central axis and two lateral axes parallel to one another and to the fixed hinge axes; and the central axis being located at a distance from a plane of the lateral axes.
US08104305B2
Disclosed is a refrigerator capable of purifying water discharged to a spout just before the water is dispensed. The refrigerator includes a spout, a water delivery system guiding water to the spout, and a water purification filter installed on the spout in order to purify the water just before the water is dispensed.
US08104300B2
A method for adjusting a natural refrigeration cycle rate of an air conditioner includes monitoring a time between at least two sequential refrigeration “off” events or at least two sequential refrigeration “on” events, and determining whether the time is below or above a predetermined time. If the time is below the predetermined time, the method further includes increasing a refrigeration “on” temperature threshold. If, however, the time is above the predetermined time, the method further includes decreasing the refrigeration “on” temperature threshold.
US08104297B2
An ice-maker tray (1) has several compartments (4), which each have the form of a segment of a body of rotation. When the content of the compartments (4) is frozen, the tray (1) suspended in a frame (15) of an ice maker is pivoted about an axis, which is parallel to the axes of the segments of the body of rotation, until the openings of the compartments (4) face downwardly and the pieces of ice thawed by heating can slide out of the compartments.
US08104288B2
A combustor for an engine assembly includes a cylindrical wall forming a combustion chamber in which an air and fuel mixture is combusted; and a plurality of effusion cooling holes formed in the cylindrical wall, the plurality of effusion cooling holes oriented such that cooling air flowing therethrough cools the cylindrical wall with effusion cooling, convection cooling, and impingement cooling.
US08104277B1
A pump apparatus for use on a vehicle or industrial application having a housing in which an end cap is disposed. Multiple hydraulic pumps driven by a prime mover are mounted on the end cap and connected to hydraulic ports formed in the end cap. An auxiliary pump may be drivingly coupled to the prime mover and a power take off unit may also be connected thereto. The end cap may further include a charge pump mounting surface and a charge port for connecting a charge pump.
US08104274B2
In various embodiments, energy is stored or recovered via super-atmospheric compression and/or expansion of gas in conjunction with substantially adiabatic compression and/or expansion from or to atmospheric pressure.
US08104272B2
There is provided an exhaust purifying system for an internal combustion engine which can achieve a function of a catalyst without deteriorating a function of ozone at the time of oxidizing and removing PM by using the ozone. The exhaust purifying system for the internal combustion engine comprises a wall-flow type particulate filter (30) for collecting particulate matter in an exhaust gas inside an exhaust passage, wherein the catalyst (38) is supported only in a part of a partition wall (37) of the particulate filter defining a passage (36) on the downstream side of the partition wall (37). In consequence, when ozone is supplied, since the ozone is introduced on the upstream side of the partition wall (37) in which the PM is collected, the ozone does not contact the catalyst supported only in the part of the partition wall defining the passage (36) on the downstream side of the partition wall. Therefore, it is prevented that the ozone is decomposed, and a PM oxidation function is achieved.
US08104270B2
A control system that controls regeneration of a particulate filter is provided. The system generally includes a fuel control module that controls injection of fuel into exhaust that passes through the particulate filter. A regeneration module controls current to the particulate filter to initiate regeneration after the fuel has been injected into the exhaust.
US08104268B2
A method for operating a metering valve and a device for performing the method, providing for diagnosis of the metering valve which defines a flow rate of a reagent to be introduced into an exhaust gas area of an internal combustion engine. The diagnosis is performed on the basis of an analysis of a measure for the flow rate during a diagnosis time. According to a first embodiment, after a diagnosis start signal has occurred with the metering valve closed, the reagent is brought to a predefined diagnosis starting pressure via a pump; the metering valve is then set at a predefined flow rate and the pressure difference occurring during the diagnosis time is analyzed. According to another embodiment, the amount of reagent delivered by the metering valve during the diagnosis time into a graduated beaker is analyzed.
US08104267B2
Provided is an exhaust emission control device with a sensor arranged at a position where no erroneous detection of data occurs.Provided are a casing which encases a catalyst carrier, a mixing pipe, a dispersion chamber which guides exhaust flowing in the mixing pipe to an exhaust inlet end of the casing, and a sensor. Attachment position of the sensor to the casing is set to a part region of a 360° region around a casing axis when viewed from an exhaust inlet end of the casing, the part region being opposite to the mixing pipe with respect to a border line which is perpendicular to an exhaust-flow center line connecting axes of the mixing pipe and of the casing and which crosses the axis of the casing diametrically of the casing.
US08104266B2
In an internal combustion engine, an SOx sensor (16) having a sensor part (53, 60) trapping the SOx contained in the exhaust gas and able to detect the amount of SOx trapped at the sensor part (53, 60) from a change of property of the sensor part (53, 60) is arranged in the engine exhaust passage upstream of the NOx storing catalyst (14). When estimating the amount of SOx stored in the NOx storing catalyst (14) from the amount of SOx trapped at the sensor part (53, 60), deviation of the estimated value of the amount of stored SOx arising due to the difference between the SOx trapping rate of the sensor part (53, 60) and the SOx trapping rate of the NOx storing catalyst (14) is corrected.
US08104261B2
A gas turbine engine system includes a fan (14), a housing (28) arranged about the fan, a gas turbine engine core having a compressor (16) at least partially within the housing, and a fan bypass passage (30) downstream of the fan for conveying a bypass airflow (D) between the housing and the gas turbine engine core. A nozzle (40) associated with the fan bypass passage includes a first nozzle section (54a) that is operative to move in a generally axial direction to influence the bypass airflow, and a second nozzle section that is operative to also move in a generally axial direction between a stowed position and a thrust reverse position that diverts the bypass airflow in a thrust reversing direction. An actuator (42) selectively moves the first nozzle section and the second nozzle section to influence the bypass airflow and provide thrust reversal.
US08104259B2
A method for operating a power plant to facilitate reducing emissions, wherein the power plant includes a gas turbine engine assembly and a carbon dioxide (CO2) separator. The method includes increasing an operating pressure of exhaust gas discharged from the gas turbine engine assembly, separating substantially all the CO2 entrained within the gas turbine engine utilizing the CO2separator to produce a CO2 lean airstream, reducing the operating temperature of the CO2lean airstream, and utilizing the cooled CO2lean airstream to facilitate reducing an operating temperature of air entering the gas turbine engine assembly.
US08104245B2
A roof/wall structure includes a substantially rigid substrate and a waterproof membrane adhesively joined to an outer surface of the substrate. The membrane includes a layer of thermoplastic or elastomeric waterproof material, a layer of cushion material bound to an inner surface of the layer of waterproof material, and a pressure sensitive adhesive bound to a side of the layer of cushion material remote from the layer of waterproof material and bound to the substrate.
US08104243B2
The present invention provides a projected corner column A1 used for an external corner part of a wall of a building, in which a narrow chamfered part 8 is formed on an apex corner 3 of the projected corner column A1, the narrow chamfered part 8 has a continuous curved surfaces 8a, 8b rather than a flat surface so that, when the projected corner column A1 is exposed to a daytime sunlight, light parts and shade parts similar to light parts S and shade parts D that generate on surface patterned parts of a board piece 1a generate on the chamfered part 8, whereby the chamfered part 8 on the apex corner 3 of the projected corner column A1 becomes less visible as far as possible, and shades similar to the shades (S, D) that generate on the surface patterned parts generate on the chamfered part 8 to give a continuity to the patterns on the left and right board pieces 1a, 1a.
US08104242B1
A metal pole is pre-stressed and filled with concrete. The metal pole includes shear transfer connectors projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the metal pole.
US08104241B2
Pre-fabricated kits are provided for window/door trimming/casing that are designed and tailored for various window/door openings, architectural styles and/or manufacturers. According to one aspect, the kit is easy to assemble with everything in the box including prefabricated mutually engaging fasteners to allow all the pieces to be fastened together quickly and by hand. According to another aspect, the kit is prefabricated in a prepared and finished condition with all the pieces already painted, stained and finished, so no finishing such as painting required during or after installation. The kit can be manufactured to fit for any type of window/door and opening as long as the dimensions of openings are substantially known. Optional add-ons such as curtain rods, valances, closet shelves, poles, cabinets, shutters and cornices can also be included in the kit in pre-fabricated condition. The principles of the invention can also be extended to other types of molding such as crown molding and baseboards. Among many advantages, the invention reduces labor costs dramatically, improves quality and consistency in craftsmanship, and provides economies of scale to be applied the production of finished products that has never been previously available.
US08104228B2
Gasket for a refrigerator cabinet having a base portion and a soft bellows portion. The base portion of the gasket is designed to couple with an outer door portion and an inner door portion of a door of the refrigerator cabinet before final filling of the shell defined by the outer door portion and inner door portion with a heat insulating material. The base portion has an inverted U shape, delimited by essentially vertical sections and a horizontal section. The vertical sections each terminate with a foot for resting on the door.
US08104224B1
The ant exterminator apparatus provides reservoirs for 3 different types of bait to thereby best lure pests, especially ants. The overlapping top removably fits over the base to allow pest entrance and egress. The top provides visible and mechanical base access without top removal and also negates bait spillage and exterior contamination of the apparatus by bait, thereby further ensuring against code violations. The apparatus is effectively and legally used both exteriorly and interiorly with respect to structures.
US08104222B2
An animal trap having a jaw pivotally mounted to a base that swings between cocked sprung positions. A spring means biases the jaw toward the sprung position. Cooperatively engaged drive and driven gears are mounted on the side of the base. The driven gear is releasably engaged to the jaw when the jaw is in the sprung position. A lever means is provided for the selective engagement with the drive gear. When the lever is engaged to the drive gear and rotated it causes the driven gear to rotate, pivoting the jaw to the cocked position. After the animal is trapped, the lever is engaged with the drive gear permitting the jaw to be pivotally moved to the cocked position and releasing the animal from the trap. An enclosure permits the animal to enter and step on the trigger member to spring the jaw.
US08104220B2
A fishing pole has a hollow handle and a hollow rod with their interior chambers in communication with each other. The hollow handle can receive an independent light source and also houses a concave reflector. The hollow rod contains a plastic optical fiber which extends along the length of the hollow rod and extends into the hollow handle through the concave reflector. The hollow rod has at least some portions that are translucent. The plastic optical fiber is scuffed on its end where it protrudes through the concave reflector and also in sections within the hollow rod. An independent light source inserted into the hollow handle is directed toward the concave reflector and light is directed into the plastic optical fiber, transmitted to the hollow rod, and diffused out into the hollow rod and then outside. The plastic optical fiber also rattles when the rod is moved.
US08104214B2
A gravity deploying bi-pod leg set is provided which automatically locks into position when fully deployed by a gravity slide lock.
US08104213B2
A method for mounting a bipod support to a forearm stock of a firearm or other bipod mounted device permits a user or shooter to selectively allow panning (or altering the aim point along an azimuth), tilting (or altering the orientation of a device relative to a horizontal line) and canting (or orienting a device at a selected rotational orientation relative to an axis of rotation). The bipod support includes lockable controls for selectively limiting panning, tilting and canting in a manner which lets the shooter or user easily respond to changing situations when in the field.
US08104211B2
A fire arm that includes a mounting rail having remotely powered electrical connectors with which modified prior art tactical accessories, such as tactical lights, night vision devices, laser sighting modules and the like can be interconnected. More particularly, the mounting rail of the invention includes electrical connectors that are operably interconnected with a relatively large, long life battery mounted in the stock of the firearm.
US08104210B2
Rifle body with a basic carrier for anchoring a stock and a barrel, wherein the base carrier is provided on at least one side with the first part of at least one snap fastener connection for detachably anchoring elements which are equipped with the second part of said snap fastener connection.
US08104198B2
Attaching a three-dimensional ornamental article to a shoe upper is achieved using a stiff elongated strip that is bent to form an arcuate upper portion and a J-shaped lower portion. The upper portion is fitted to follow the contours of the top and sides of the ornamental article, while the lower portions are inserted through spaced openings formed in the shoe upper. The bottom ends of the lower portions face each other when they are positioned between the insole and outsole of the shoe. Once the outsole is secured with the insole, the ornamental article becomes securely attached to the shoe.
US08104196B2
Shoe with detachable sole and vamp, in which: the sole (1) has an upper surface (2) on which several tubular elements (4) are applied spaced from each other by a preset value; the vamp (7) has a lower surface (6) on which there are applied several tubular elements (8) spaced from each other by a preset value; the vamp (7) can be positioned onto the sole (1) by positioning said lower surface (6) of the vamp (7) onto the upper surface (2) of the sole (1) with the insertion of the tubular elements (8) of the vamp (7) between the tubular elements (4) of the sole (1); and the vamp (7) is detachably anchored to the sole (1) by inserting a wire (9) through the said tubular elements of the sole and the vamp after positioning of the vamp onto the sole. Said tubular elements of the sole (1) are placed according an open annular path, with two tubular elements (40, 41) disposed in correspondence of a respective end of the open annular path and communicating with the outside of the sole (1).
US08104194B2
The present invention relates to a shoe, and more particularly to a shoe including a mid-sole groove formed at a mid-sole, a texon hole formed at a texon, and an impact absorption member inserted between the mid-sole and the texon hole so that the shoe can absorb impact exerted on user's knees and ankles while the user walks or exercises, thereby protecting them.
US08104192B2
A laundry dryer is provided. The laundry dryer includes a drying drum (14), a drying duct (17), a heater (166), an upper base (22), a lower base (21), and a blower (23). The drying drum (14) hold laundry. The drying duct (17) guides indoor air to be suctioned into the drying drum (14). The heater (16) heats the air suctioned into the drying drum (14) The upper base includes a drum connecting duct (203) that guides air passing from the drying drum (14) in a downward direction. The lower base (21) has the upper base (22) mounted therabove, and forms an air passage (201) that exhausts the air guided downward by the drum connecting duct (203) an indoor space. The blower (23) is mounted on one side of the lower base, and suctions air inside the drying drum (14).
US08104189B2
An articulated arm system can include an articulated measuring arm with a plurality of interconnected support arm segments. The arm segments can be moveable about a plurality of axes. A plurality of rotational angle sensors can mount on the arm and be configured to measure rotational position between the support arm segments. Additionally, a vibration detection device can attach to the arm near an end of the arm. The vibration detection device can be operatively connected to the sensors such that the sensors output a rotational position upon detection of a new vibration exceeding a threshold amplitude.
US08104186B2
The laser aiming system for projecting a X-shaped aiming beam along an aiming axis, has a first and second laser modules which are adapted to project a first and second planar fanned beams along a first and second axes of projection respectively. The first and second axes of projection extend parallel with, and spaced-apart from each other and from the aiming axis. The first and second planar fanned beams are skewed about the first and second axes of projection respectively, intersecting each other on the aiming axis and forming a X-shaped aiming beam having different supplementary angles.
US08104172B2
Embodiments of buffer coatings for semiconductor and integrated circuit manufacturing are presented herein.
US08104168B2
Positioning device to position one or more plates of electronic circuits, in a metal deposition unit
A positioning device to position one or more plates of electronic circuits with respect to an operating unit. The device comprises a rotary member which rotates selectively between a first operating position and a second operating position, and a positioning member mounted on the rotary member. The positioning member comprises a frame, which is mounted removably on the rotary member, and a strip of transpirant material on which each plate is rested. The strip is wound between a pair of winding/unwinding rollers, pivoted on the frame. The positioning member also comprises heating means able to heat the wafer to take it to a determinate operating temperature.
US08104160B2
A method of deploying temporary fencing includes connecting a first end of spooled fencing wire to a first fencepost, and with the spool rotatably on a vehicle, driving the vehicle toward a second position along a perimeter of an area to be fenced in. During this travel, the rotating spool deploys fencing wire for suspension a distance above ground between the fencepost and the spool. The spool is then removed from the vehicle and mounted on a second fencepost at the second position, thereby suspending the deployed fencing wire between the fenceposts. By mounting the spool onto the second fencepost and leaving deployed fencing wire intact with the remaining spooled wire, time and effort is reduced in later retrieval of the fencing, as there is no need to later re-join a cut length of wire to the spool, or to any wire remaining thereon after the initial fence deployment.
US08104156B2
A punching tool for forming an attachment in a side-lapped seam of steel decking includes four cutting jaws each having a cutting edge. Two jaws are positioned against one side of the seam, and two jaws are positioned on the opposite side of the seam. An actuator selectively pivots the cutting edges of opposing jaws generally toward each other to a closed position, driving the cutting edges of a first pair of jaws partially past each other for cutting a first slot through the seam, and driving the cutting edges of a second pair of jaws partially past each other for cutting a second slot through the seam.
US08104146B2
A safety cord release for a window covering has a top section, a middle section, and a bottom section from a top to a bottom thereof. The safety cord release has a right case and a left case combined with the right case. There are several pairs of couplers on the right case and the left case located at the top section, the middle section and the bottom section respectively for engagement to reduce a transverse force from cords and to separate the right case and the left case immediately to release the cords for safety.
US08104137B2
A wiper blade includes a wiper strip for contacting a windshield glass of a vehicle, a lever assembly supporting the wiper strip to squeeze onto the windshield glass, and a cover member containing the lever assembly, wherein the lever assembly includes, a pair of first levers, each with both ends engaged with and point-supporting the wiper strip to form an engaging portion on the wiper strip respectively, and a pair of the second levers, each with one end hinge-coupled to a corresponding one of the first levers and with the other end coupled with the cover member and the wiper strip.
US08104134B2
The invention relates to a windshield wiper device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a fastening device (10) for fastening the windshield wiper device to the motor vehicle. Until now windshield wiper devices were mainly fastened to the vehicle body by means of screwed connections and plugging locations. The objective of the invention is reducing the assembly effort for fastening the windshield wiper device to the vehicle body. As a result, the inventive windshield wiper device can be clamped firmly to a vehicle body panel (13) by the fastening device (10).
US08104117B2
An occupant support apparatus 10 includes a frame 12 and an occupant support deck 14 above which an occupant is supportable. A siderail 22 has a raised position in which at least a portion of the siderail is higher in elevation than the patient support deck. The siderail includes a recess 42. The occupant support also includes a control unit 44 having user inputs configured to be engaged by a user. The control unit is movable relative to the siderail between a first position in which at least a majority of the patient control unit is received in the recess and a second position in which at least a majority of the control unit resides outside the recess and extends past a perimeter of the siderail. In one embodiment the control unit also has an upper portion 50, which is pivotable about a generally vertical axis.
US08104116B2
A sleeping unit or apparatus which is convertible between a low and high cot, toddler bed, a bed and/or a sofa, which sleeping unit comprises one or more walls, said one or more walls comprising one or more upholstered protective panels. Also provided is a sleeping unit or apparatus which is convertible between a low and high cot, toddler bed, a bed and/or a sofa, into which one or more upholstered protective panels may be incorporated, an apparatus for reversibly attaching an upholstered panel to a solid wall of a sleeping unit and a sleeping unit comprising such a reversibly attachable upholstered protective panel.
US08104108B2
A toilet that does not require water for use, which may be used in the home or which may be portable for use at locations outside the home, having a disposable, biodegradable bag for catching and storing human waste for disposal, and a method for disposing of said biodegradable bag.
US08104104B2
A dual flush button assembly includes a unitary button with a full flush surface and a partial flush surface. Pressing the partial flush surface moves the button linearly to active a partial flush. Pressing the full flush surface rotates the button to activate a full flush. An extension member beneath the button is coupled to a link of a dual flush valve. The extension member is moved farther when the full flush surface is engaged. The button is configured to pivot with respect to a housing when the full flush portion is engaged.
US08104095B2
The present invention relates to a protective mask adapted to be worn by a person engaging in the game of paintball. The mask has a main body to cover the front, sides, mouth and ears of a user's face. It also has a removable flexible transparent lens that locks into a rigid support frame formed in the mask. The mask also has a strap to securely support the mask on a wearer's head, and a removable face engaging element provided to accommodate a face of the wearer. This face engagement element evenly engages around the wearer's face in a cushioned manner because its face engagement portion is made of foam that engages the user's face along the entire perimeter of the face engagement element. The face engagement element is securely locked onto the mask by locking clips that fit into openings on both sides of the face engagement element.
