US08143548B2
A clamp is designed for accepting a mail piece at a loading station, and for releasably holding the mail piece while the mail piece is moved to an unloading station via a sorting system. The clamp is manipulated in the sorting system, instead of manipulating the mail piece held by the clamp. The clamp includes jaws for releasably holding the mail piece, plus a machine readable identifier, plus a mechanism for engaging with the sorting system. The clamp's identifier includes clamp information which uniquely identifies the clamp. The clamp information is for use by the sorting system, in combination with address information on the mail piece, to enable sortation of the mail piece held by the clamp.
US08143544B2
A switch includes a housing, a sliding member, and at least one connecting button. The housing includes at least one conductive member. The sliding member is slidably received in the housing. The sliding member includes at least one connecting member and at least one bevel surface. The connecting button is connected to the bevel surface. The connecting button is operable to be pressed to move along a pressing direction, and push the bevel surface such that the sliding member slides along a sliding direction substantially perpendicular to the pressing direction of the connecting button. The connecting member is electrically connected to the conductive member when the sliding member slides to a first position.
US08143541B2
A movable contact assembly includes a light guiding sheet which is light transmittable, and a movable contact provided on the light guiding sheet. The light guiding sheet has a portion having the movable contact provided thereon and a portion having plural grooves provided therein. The grooves constitute a light inlet for introducing light into the light guiding sheet. This movable contact assembly can illuminate a switch preferably with a simple structure, providing the switch with an easily operation.
US08143539B2
An operation lever comprises a main section, a cover section and a photoconductor. While the photoconductor is overlaid on the main section, sliding protrusions of the cover section are inserted into guide grooves formed in the periphery of the main section, the cover section is slidingly pushed to insert a tip end section of the cover section inside an overhanging fringe of the main section. An engaging protrusion and an engaging pawl of the cover section are engaged with the main section to assemble the operation lever.
US08143533B2
There are provided a method for forming a resist pattern for preparing a circuit board having a landless or small-land-width through-hole(s) to realize a high-density circuit board, a method for producing a circuit board, and a circuit board. A method for forming a resist pattern, comprising the steps of forming a resin layer and a mask layer on a first surface of a substrate having a through-hole(s), and removing the resin layer on the through-hole(s) and on a periphery of the through-hole(s) on the first surface by supplying a resin layer removing solution from a second surface opposite to the first surface of the substrate, and a method for producing a circuit board using the method for forming a resist pattern, and a circuit board.
US08143531B2
An electronic component mounting package includes a structure (coreless substrate) in which a plurality of wiring layers are stacked one on top of another with insulating layers interposed therebetween and are interconnected through via holes formed in the insulating layers. The entire surface of the coreless substrate, exclusive of pad portions defined at desired positions of the outermost wiring layers thereof, is covered with a molding resin. Further, an interposer is mounted on the side of the electronic component mounting surface of the coreless substrate, and the molding resin is partially filled into a gap between the coreless substrate and the interposer.
US08143529B2
Plural thermoplastic resin films, each having a circuit pattern formed thereon, are laminated. Via-holes filled with conductor paste are formed in the thermoplastic films to electrically connect neighboring layers. The laminated body is pressed under heat between a pair of hot press plates to thereby form an integral body of multi-layer circuit board. To apply a uniform pressure to the laminated body in the pressing process, a projected portion formed on a pressure-adjusting sheet is pushed against a portion of the laminated body where the number of laminated circuit patterns is smaller than other portions. In this manner, the plural thermoplastic films are uniformly bonded together, and the paste in the via-holes is sufficiently converted into an alloy. Thus, reliability of the laminated multi-layer circuit board is enhanced.
US08143527B2
A golden finger for flexible printed circuitboard, comprises: a frame with a tail, being composed of a stiffening plate, a bottom substrate, a bottom copper layer, a cover layer, and a top copper layer while enabling the bottom copper layer to be formed with at least one first routing and at least one second routing, and enabling the top copper layer to be formed with at least one first pin and at least one second pin; at least one first via hole, each being filled with a conductive material and disposed at a position between its corresponding first pin and first routing for connecting the first pin to the first routing electrically; and at least one second via hole, each filled with a conductive material and being disposed at a position between the its corresponding second pin and second routing for connecting the second pin to the second routing electrically.
US08143525B2
A solar cell lead wire includes a strip-shaped conductive material formed by rolling a wire, and upper and lower melt solder-plated layers formed to be flat on upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the strip-shaped conductive material by supplying melt solder thereto.
US08143519B2
A wind turbine wiring enclosure cabinet is provided having a housing and an electrical circuit connection means. The housing has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a sidewall in contact with the top surface, the top surface having a plurality of apertures formed therein. The housing has an interior, and the sidewall has at least one door accessing the interior. The electrical circuit connection means includes a plurality of non-conductive vertical members, and a plurality of conductive elements having connected thereto a plurality of connector retention means. Each connector retention means has a slot formed therein for insertion therein of a lay-in lug assembly. Each non-conductive vertical member has two sidewalls with an intermediate wall connected to each of the two sidewalls. The apertures formed in the top surface are arranged in a plurality of groups, as are the apertures formed in the bottom surface.
US08143509B1
A pickup processing system for a guitar or other musical instrument. According to one embodiment, a split pickup is employed that separates the sound from the two bass strings from the other four strings. The signal from the bass strings may be provided to an octave divider, which creates a bass sound to add back into the sound. The octave divider produces sound without discontinuities or other artifacts. Other effects include restored acoustical properties of the guitar body, stereo imaging, reverb and others. The present invention may be fully contained within the body of an acoustic guitar.
US08143506B2
A hammer assembly for a grand piano comprising: a hammer, a hammer shank, a tubular lever interface, and a moveable knuckle. A grand piano tubular lever interface comprises: a deep socket; a set of two hinge pin attachment holes; a void area; and a moveable knuckle visual location system. A moveable knuckle comprises: a spline; a resilient core; a synthetic buckskin wear surface, and a moveable knuckle visual location system. Novel hammer assembly allows for a direct lever relationship between hammer shank and knuckle without requirement of a forked end hammer shank with knuckle slot. Best mode spline comprises: an upright rectangular portion and a wide base portion, wherein wide base portion includes an intricate shape. Intricate shape comprises: at least one recess area and at least one protrusion area. The inverse of intricate shape is included on the bottom of the tubular lever interface. Moveable knuckle visual location system further comprises at least one pointer located on the moveable knuckle which fits snuggly into one of several notches on the tubular lever interface. Moveable knuckle can be visually located onto tubular lever interface at any one of multiple distinct locations along a range that runs parallel to the length of the hammer shank and the length of tubular lever interface. The moveable knuckle visual location system allows for custom configuration of a specifically dimensioned hammer assembly with custom “tubular lever interface center-to center” dimension to refurbish any brand of grand piano from one stock-set of hammer assembly components.
US08143504B2
Methods for the targeted integration of nucleotide sequences into a plant are provided. Transfer cassettes comprising nucleotide sequences of interest flanked by non-identical recombination sites are used to transform a plant comprising a target site. The target site contains at least a set of non-identical recombination sites corresponding to those on the transfer cassette. Exchange of the nucleotide sequences flanked by the recombination sites is effected by a recombinase.
US08143503B1
Basically, this invention provides for an inbred corn line designated NPFX8213, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line NPFX8213 with plants of another corn plant. The invention relates to the various parts of inbred NPFX8213 including culturable cells. This invention also relates to methods for introducing transgenic transgenes into inbred corn line NPFX8213 and plants produced according to these methods.
US08143502B1
Basically, this invention provides for an inbred corn line designated NPAQ1505, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line NPAQ1505 with plants of another corn plant. The invention relates to the various parts of inbred NPAQ1505 including culturable cells. This invention also relates to methods for introducing transgenic transgenes into inbred corn line NPAQ1505 and plants produced according to these methods.
US08143500B1
A novel maize variety designated X5M902 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety X5M902 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X5M902 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X5M902, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X5M902. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X5M902 and to the maize varieties derived by the use of those methods.
US08143495B2
A soybean cultivar designated 93334045 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 93334045, to the plants of soybean 93334045, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 93334045, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 93334045 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety 93334045, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 93334045, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 93334045 with another soybean cultivar.
US08143494B2
A soybean cultivar designated 99284915 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 99284915, to the plants of soybean 99284915, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 99284915, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 99284915 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety 99284915, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 99284915, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 99284915 with another soybean cultivar.
US08143492B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB43N09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB43N09, to the plants of soybean XB43N09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB43N09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB43N09 with another soybean plant, using XB43N09 as either the male or the female parent.
US08143486B2
The subject invention relates to the identification of genes involved in the desaturation of polyunsaturated fatty acids at carbon 5 (i.e., “Δ5-desaturase”) and at carbon 6 (i.e., “Δ6-desaturase”) and to uses thereof. In particular, Δ5-desaturase may be utilized, for example, in the conversion of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) to arachidonic acid (AA) and in the conversion of 20:4n-3 to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Delta-6 desaturase may be used, for example, in the conversion of linoleic (LA) to γ-linolenic acid (GLA). AA or polyunsaturated fatty acids produced therefrom may be added to pharmaceutical compositions, nutritional compositions, animal feeds, as well as other products such as cosmetics.
US08143483B2
The invention relates to genes for promoting rapid growth of plant, characterized in genes that are Banana ABC transporter MhPDR1 or MhPDR2 genes, wherein the transporters have amino acid sequences depicted in SEQ ID No: 1 and SEQ ID No: 3, respectively, and the genes have nucleotide sequences depicted in SEQ ID No: 2 and SEQ ID No: 4, respectively. The invention provides further applications of the banana transporter MhPDR1 or MhPDR2 genes, characterized in that the over-expression of the genes in a plant can promote rapid growth of the plant. In addition, the present invention provides a transgenic plant or partial organ, tissue or cells thereof containing the genes or derivatives thereof; as well as provides further a method for promoting rapid growth of a plant.
US08143482B2
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
US08143478B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of imparting a yellowish flower color to a plant having no or little yellowish flower color or enhancing the yellowish flower color in a plant.In accordance with the present invention, a method of producing a plant having yellowish petals with the use of a peptide having transport activity to chromoplasts in petals and a fused gene formed of a gene encoding such peptide and one, or two or more genes encoding enzyme proteins involved in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway is provided.
US08143475B2
The promoter of a soybean lipid transfer protein LTP4 and fragments thereof and their use in promoting the expression of one or more heterologous nucleic acid fragments in plants are described.
US08143471B2
An apparatus for concentration and deactivation of actinide nuclear materials having a pair of spaced apart electrodes made of a composite material including at least one oxide, at least one carbon-containing material and lead, a nuclear waste water stream flowing between the electrodes, and a DC power supply operably connected with the electrodes. When a voltage is applied to the spaced apart electrodes, nuclear cations in the nuclear waste water stream are attracted to one of the electrodes and anions in the nuclear waste water stream are attracted to the other of the electrodes, forming a substantially deionized water stream and a concentrated nuclear waste stream.
US08143468B2
The present invention relates to the preparation of 3-methylbut-1-ene from a hydrocarbon stream I comprising isobutene by feeding a hydrocarbon stream II which comprises at least 70% by mass of isobutene in relation to the olefins present in the hydrocarbon stream and which has been obtained from hydrocarbon stream I or is identical to it to a process step for hydroformylation in which isobutene is hydroformylated in the presence of a rhodium catalyst, hydrogenating the aldehyde obtained from the hydroformylation of isobutene to the corresponding alcohol and preparing 3-methylbut-1-ene by water elimination from the alcohol.
US08143467B2
A process for the preparation of oligomeric poly alpha-olefins comprises oligomerizing low molecular weight PAO in the presence of an ionic liquid catalyst under oligomerization conditions. The low molecular weight PAOs used as a feed or feed component of the present process are the light olefinic by-product fraction including the dimers and light fractions from the metallocene-catalyzed PAO oligomerization process.
US08143464B2
Multiple catalytic processing stations enable a method for producing volatile gas streams from biomass decomposition at discrete increasing temperatures. These catalytic processing stations can be programmed to maximize conversion of biomass to useful renewable fuel components based on input feedstock and desired outputs.
US08143445B2
This invention provides the compound having the structure wherein n is 1-10; X is C—R11 or N, wherein R11 is H, OH, SH, F, Cl, SO2R7, NO2, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, or CO—R7, wherein R7 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, or aryl; Z is R2 is H or NR3R4, wherein R3 and R4 are each independently H, C1-C6 alkyl, or C3-C8 cycloalkyl; R5 is OH or SH; and R6, R12, R13, and R14 are each independently H, OH, SH, F, Cl, SO2R15, NO2, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, or CO—R15 wherein R15 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, or aryl, or a salt of the compound, which is useful in the treatment of tumors.
US08143441B2
This invention relates to an improved catalyst, comprising a carbon support having a noble metal at its surface, for use in catalyzing liquid phase oxidation reactions, especially in an acidic oxidative environment and in the presence of solvents, reactants, intermediates, or products which solubilize noble metals; a process for the preparation of the improved catalyst; a liquid phase oxidation process using such a catalyst wherein the catalyst exhibits improved resistance to noble metal leaching, particularly in acidic oxidative environments and in the presence of solvents, reactants, intermediates, or products which solubilize noble metals; and a liquid phase oxidation process in which N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid (i.e., “PMIDA”) or a salt thereof is oxidized to form N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (i.e., “glyphosate”) or a salt thereof using such a catalyst wherein the oxidation of the formaldehyde and formic acid by-products into carbon dioxide and water is increased.
US08143440B2
There is provided a method for separating and collecting at least alcohol with a high purity from an azeotropic mixture of olefin and alcohol.The method conducts the following steps: an azeotropic mixture crystallization step of subjecting an azeotropic mixture of alcohol and olefin represented by the formula: RfCH═CH2 [wherein Rf represents a linear perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms] to a crystallization procedure to separate the mixture into an olefin portion having a higher olefin concentration than that of the original azeotropic mixture and an alcohol portion having a higher alcohol concentration than that of the original azeotropic mixture; and an alcohol purification step of subjecting the separated alcohol portion to either a crystallization procedure or a distillation procedure to separate the alcohol portion into a low-alcohol portion having a lower alcohol concentration than that of the original alcohol portion and a high-alcohol portion having a higher alcohol concentration than that of the original alcohol portion, and thereby collecting alcohol as the high-alcohol portion.
US08143438B2
The present invention is directed to a process for hydrogenating one or more organic compounds especially unsaturated organic compounds by bringing the compound into contact with a hydrogen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst, which comprises one or more catalytically active metals applied to a porous catalyst support. The one or more catalytically active metals having been derived via a decomposed organic complex of the metal on the support, in particular amine complexes of the metal. The decomposed complex may be treated with hydrogen to activate the catalyst before use as a hydrogenation catalyst.
US08143432B2
The present invention concerns the use of dibutyl tin oxide for regioselective catalytic diol mono-tosylation at a concentration lower than 2 mol %. The present invention also concerns the use of a generic acetal compound of Formula (Ic) in a catalytic process for regioselective diol mono-tosylation, wherein Y is selected from the group of C1-6alkyl, phenyl and benzyl. The concentration of the generic acetal compound of Formula (Ic) is less than about 2 mol %, preferably ranges between about 2 mol % and about 0.0005 mol %, preferably ranges between about 0.1 mol % and about 0.005 mol %.
US08143424B2
A novel thyroid like compounds of formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and Z are as defined in the specification, method for its preparation, composition and use thereof. Further, compounds of formula (I) has significantly low binding affinity to thyroid receptors and thus considerably devoid of thyrotoxic effects. The invention also relates to the use of the compound of formula (I) for the preparation of a medicament for treating various disease conditions including obesity, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome and co-morbidities associated with metabolic syndrome.
US08143423B2
A process for preparing hydroxamic acids is provided. The process comprises reacting an aldehyde with a nitroso compound in the presence of a N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyst.
US08143418B2
Caspase activity and apoptosis are promoted using active, dimeric Smac peptide mimetics of the general formula M1-L-M2, wherein moieties M1 and M2 are monomeric Smac mimetics and L is a covalent linker. Target cancerous or inflammatory cells are contacted with an effective amount of an active, dimeric Smac mimetic, and a resultant increase in apoptosis of the target cells is detected. The contacting step may be effected by administering to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of The compoundic mimetic, wherein the individual may be subject to concurrent or antecedent radiation or chemotherapy for treatment of a neoproliferative pathology.
US08143413B2
The present invention provides novel phospholipid derivatives. Furthermore, the present invention provides lipid membrane structures excellent in gene/nucleic acid introduction efficiency into a cell.
US08143412B2
Pyridine compounds effective in modulation STAT3 and/or STAT5 activation are provided that are useful in the prevention and treatment of proliferative disease and conditions including cancer, inflammation and proliferative skin disorders.
US08143408B2
The present invention relates to new compounds of formula (I) and to pharmaceutical composition containing said compounds and to the use of said compounds in therapy. The present invention further relates to processes for the preparation of said compounds and to new intermediates useful in the preparation thereof.
US08143395B2
5-Substituted-8-alkoxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidin-2-amines are manufactured from 2-substituted-4-amino-5-methoxypyrimidines in a process that avoids hydrazine and cyanogen halide.
US08143393B2
This invention relates to novel pyrrozolotriazine compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and the use of those compounds or compositions for treating hyper-proliferative and/or angiogenesis disorders, as a sole agent or in combination with other active ingredients.
US08143392B2
A method of extracting starch from corn. The method comprises steeping ground corn in a mixture of ammonium hydroxide and water, for a period of between 45 minutes and 20 hours wherein the mixture has a pH level between about 11.3 and 11.4. This method provides the advantage of extracting starch from corn with higher yields in less time.
US08143389B2
Compositions and methods for identifying double stranded DNA molecules that bind with high affinity to metallo-β-lactamase. Methods for inhibiting the activities of the metallo-β-lactamase in bacteria by double stranded DNA molecules.
US08143382B2
The invention provides a specific pyrazole disazo dye which is a yellow dye having excellent solubility in nonpolar solvents, in particular, hydrocarbon solvents, and having a high extinction coefficient. The dye preferably is preferably a pyrazole disazo dye represented by the following general formula (I): (wherein R1 represents a C2-C10 alkyl group; R2 represents a C3-C10 alkyl group; the six-membered ring A represents a phenyl group which may have a substituent; and the six-membered ring B represents a phenylene group which may have a substituent).
US08143378B2
Conjugates of a Factor VIII moiety and one or more water-soluble polymers are provided. Typically, the water-soluble polymer is poly(ethylene glycol) or a derivative thereof. Also provided are compositions comprising the conjugates, methods of making the conjugates, and methods of administering compositions comprising the conjugates to a patient.
US08143371B2
This invention relates to a process for preparing polytrimethylene ether glycols or copolymers thereof having a number-average molecular weight of at least about 250 g/mole by a polycondensation reaction using at least one acid catalyst.
US08143361B2
The present invention relates to a solar module containing at least one layer made up of at least one α-olefin-vinyl acetate copolymer which has a vinyl acetate content of ≧40% by weight, based on the total weight of the α-olefin-vinyl acetate copolymer, and has been prepared by a solution polymerization process at a pressure of from 100 to 700 bar, the use of the α-olefin-vinyl acetate copolymer mentioned in solar modules, the use of the solar module of the invention for stationary or mobile power generation and also a solar power plant containing at least one solar module according to the invention.
US08143360B2
The invention is a composition comprising a curable arylcyclobutene based oligomer or polymer and a dissolution inhibitor which comprises a compound comprising at least two diazonaphthoquinone (DNQ) moieties each of which is pendant from different phenyl groups.
US08143358B2
Installation for the gas-phase polymerization of at least one olefinic monomer, comprising a horizontal stirred reactor (1) consisting of an undivided space, provided with a number of gas feeds (13a-13) in the bottom section of the reactor (1) and a number of liquid feeds (7a-7) in the top section of the reactor (1) and at least two gas outlets (9, 11) at the top of the reactor (1), the installation being provided with means (43, 45) to regulate the discharge capacities of the gas outlets.
US08143353B2
This invention relates to a propylene polymer comprising a component having a crystallinity of 10% or less and a component having a crystallinity of 20% or more, said propylene polymer having: a) a melting point of X ° C. or more where X=−0.0038(Tp)2+0.36(Tp)+150, where Tp is the temperature of polymerization in ° C.; b) an Mw of 10,000 g/mol or more; c) a heat of fusion of from 1-70 J/g; d) Stereodefects per 10,000 monomer units of Y or less where Y=2.35(Tp)−100 (where Tp is the temperature of polymerization in ° C.) for the portion of the blend that is insoluble in hexane at 23° C.; e) a dot T-Peel on Kraft paper of 1 N or more; and f) a branching factor of 0.98 or less, where the branching factor is the ratio of g′ measured at Mz to g′ measured at Mw, and process to produce such polymers.
US08143347B2
The present invention relates to a proteinaceous construct comprising a blood coagulation factor, e.g., Factor VIII (FVIII), being bound to at least one water soluble polymer, including a poly(alkylene oxide) such as polyethylene glycol (PEG). Further the present invention relates to methods of preparing PEGylated blood coagulation factor, e.g., FVIII, in the presence of bound antibodies. The invention also relates to methods for prolonging the in vivo-half-life of blood coagulation factor, e.g., FVIII, in the blood of a mammal having a bleeding disorder associated with functional defects or deficiencies of blood coagulation factor, e.g., FVIII.
US08143345B2
Fluorinated polyurethanes and methods of making the same are provided. The fluorinated polyurethanes are useful for making polyurethane coating compositions for use in aerospace and other applications. The method includes a “split process” by which a hydroxypolyalkylenoxy derivative of a perfluoropolyoxyalkane is separately reacted with isocyanate to produce an isocyanate-terminated compound. The isocyanate-terminated compound is then reacted with an emulsifier to produce an acid- and hydroxyl-functional compound. The acid- and hydroxyl-functional compound is then reacted with isocyanate to form an acid-functional, isocyanate-terminated compound. The acid-functional, isocyanate-terminated compound is then reacted with at least one polyol to produce a higher molecular weight, acid- and hydroxyl-functional compound. Finally, the acid functional groups of the high molecular weight, acid- and hydroxyl-functional compound are neutralized to form a fluoro-urethane salt which is dispersed in water. The resulting fluorinated polyurethane can be used to prepare a polyurethane coating composition.
US08143328B2
The present invention relates to a methacryl resin composition having excellent impact strength and transmittancy, and more specifically, to a graft copolymer prepared by preparing graft prepolymer by inputting a monomer mixture comprising 60 to 100 wt % of alkyl methacrylate, and 0 to 40 wt % of one or more compound selected from a group consisting of aromatic vinyl compound and alkyl acrylate compound to perform graft polymerization and adding acid, salt, or polymer coagulant when the monomer conversion of the polymerization is 70% to 95% and then continuously performing the polymerization to have an increased particle size to 100 to 500 nm in a graft polymerization process among processes of preparing the graft polymer including a seed-rubber core-graft polymerization process, a preparing method thereof, and a methacryl resin composition including the graft polymer.
US08143320B2
A process and a system are disclosed for producing methanol from synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is a stream containing H2, CO, and CO2 that is created using a nitrogen containing oxidant stream, such as air. The synthesis gas is then reacted through a conventional reactor system to create methanol. Unreacted synthesis gas is recycled back through the reactor system. The disclosed methanol production process can be mounted and operated on a seagoing vessel.
US08143315B2
The invention relates to novel salts of the active substance rasagiline. The salts show excellent processability even after prolonged storage and an excellent storage stability usually superior to known salts after being processed into tablets.
US08143313B2
The present invention relates to methods for modulating the inflammatory response of respiratory tract cells using an agent that increases ceramide levels in the cells of the respiratory tract.
US08143305B2
The present invention relates to 2,3-Substituted Indole Derivatives, compositions comprising at least one 2,3-Substituted Indole Derivative, and methods of using the 2,3-Substituted Indole Derivatives for treating or preventing a viral infection or a virus-related disorder in a patient.
US08143300B2
The present invention relates to compounds and pharmaceutical preparations and their use in therapy for preventing or treating trauma, ischemia, stroke and degenerative diseases associated with cell death. Methods and compositions of the invention are particularly useful for treating neurological disorders associated with cellular necrosis.
US08143296B2
The present invention relates to novel thiazole-based compounds and T-type calcium channel inhibitors containing the compound. The T-type calcium channel inhibitor of the present invention is useful as a treating agent for disease associated with overexpression of T-type calcium channel.
US08143293B2
Compounds of the present invention find utility in the treatment of mammalian cancers and especially human cancers including but not limited to malignant, melanomas, glioblastomas, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancers, breast cancers, kidney cancers, cervical carcinomas, metastasis of primary tumor sites, myeloproliferative diseases, leukemias, papillary thyroid carcinoma, non small cell lung cancer, mesothelioma, hypereosinophilic syndrome, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, colonic cancers, ocular diseases characterized by hyperproliferation leading to blindness including various retinopathies, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mastocyclosis, mast cell leukemia, a disease caused by c-Abl kinase, oncogenic forms thereof, aberrant fusion proteins thereof and polymorphs thereof, or a disease caused by c-Kit kinase, oncogenic forms thereof, aberrant fusion proteins thereof and polymorphs thereof.
US08143286B2
Polymorphic forms of 3-(4-amino-1-oxo-1,3 dihydro-isoindol-2-yl)-piperidine-2,6-dione are disclosed. Compositions comprising the polymorphic forms, methods of making the polymorphic forms and methods of their use are also disclosed.
US08143283B1
The present invention comprises a group of compounds that effectively inhibit angiogenesis. More specifically, thalidomide and various related compounds such as thalidomide precursors, analogs, metabolites and hydrolysis products have been shown to inhibit angiogenesis and to treat disease states resulting from angiogenesis. Importantly, these compounds can be administered orally.
US08143281B2
The present invention is concerned with novel indol-3-yl-carbonyl-piperidine-benzopyrrolone, -benzoxazolone and -benzotriazole derivatives as V1a receptor antagonists, their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use for the treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders and other diseases. In particular, the present invention is concerned with compounds of formula (I) wherein X, Y and R1 to R10 are as described in the specification.
US08143280B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I wherein A, n, R1a to R1e and R2 to R5 are as defined in the description and claims, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds are glucocorticoid receptor antagonists useful for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, adrenal imbalance or depression.
US08143279B2
The invention relates to benzimidazole-carboxamide 5-HT4 receptor agonist compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 and X are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate or stereoisomer thereof. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, methods of using such compounds to treat diseases associated with 5-HT4 receptor activity, and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds. The invention further relates to crystalline forms of a compound of formula (I).
US08143277B2
This invention provides compounds of formula I: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8a, R8b, W, a, b, c and m are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate or stereoisomer thereof. The compounds of this invention possess both β2 adrenergic receptor agonist and muscarinic receptor antagonist activity. Accordingly, such compounds are expected to be useful as therapeutic agents for treating pulmonary disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
US08143272B2
The present invention relates to 3-substituted-2-(arylalkyl)-1-azabicycloalkanes, methods of preparing the compounds and methods of treatment using the compounds. The compounds exhibit activity at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), particularly the α7 nAChR subtype, and are useful towards modulating neurotransmission and the release of ligands involved in neurotransmission. Methods for preventing or treating conditions and disorders, including central nervous system (CNS) disorders, which are characterized by an alteration in normal neurotransmission, are also disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for treating inflammation, autoimmune disorders, pain and excess neovascularization, such as that associated with tumor growth.
US08143266B2
Compounds of formula I: (wherein variables A1, A2, B, m, n, J, X, R4, G1, G2, G3 and Y are as described herein) which are antagonists of CGRP receptors and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the CGRP is involved, such as migraine. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which CGRP is involved.
US08143263B2
A compound of Formula (I): is useful in the treatment or prevention of a disease or medical condition mediated through glucokinase (GLK or GK), leading to a decreased glucose threshold for insulin secretion.
US08143260B2
A compound represented by the following general formula (I): [wherein R1 represents hydrogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group, A and B represent —(CH2)2—, —(CH2)3— or —(CH2)4—, X represents —N(R2)— (R2 represents hydrogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group), —CO—, —C(═N—R3)— (R3 represents hydrogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group), or —C(═C(R4)(R5))— (R4 and R5 independently represent hydrogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group), and Ar represents an aryldiyl group or a heteroaryldiyl group], which has an action of controlling physiological activities of retinoids and useful as an active ingredient of a medicament.
US08143248B2
The invention concerns tricyclic N-heteroarylcarboxamide derivatives containing a benzimidazole unit of general formula (I): Wherein A, P, Y, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined herein. The invention also concerns a method of preparing the compounds and their therapeutic use.
US08143243B2
The invention encompasses compounds of formula I as well as compositions and methods of using the compounds. The compounds have activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and are useful in treating those infected with HCV.
US08143239B2
The invention relates to a formulation comprising formoterol and budesonide for use in the treatment of respiratory diseases. The composition further contains HFA 227, PVP and PEG, preferably PVP K25 and PEG 1000.
US08143238B2
Methods of increasing the thickness of the epidermal layer in the skin of a human comprising topically administering a therapeutically effective dose of an active pharmaceutical ingredient comprising a vitamin D analog including 2-methylene-19-nor-20(S)-1α-hydroxy-bishomopregnacalciferol, 19-nor-26,27-dimethylene-20(S)-2-methylene-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 2-methylene-19-nor-(24R)-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2, 2-methylene-1α,25-dihydroxy-(17E)-17(20)-dehydro-19-nor-vitamin D3, 2-methylene-(20R,25S)-19,26-dinor-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 2-methylene-18,19-dinor-(20S)-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 2-methylene-19-nor-1α-hydroxy-pregnacalciferol, 1α-hydroxy-2-methylene-19-nor-homopregnacalciferol, (20R)-1α-hydroxy-2-methylene-19-nor-bishomopregnacalciferol, 2-methylene-(20S)-19-nor-1α-hydroxy-trishomopregnacalciferol, 2-methylene-(20R)-23,23-difluoro-1α-hydroxy-19-nor-bishomopregnacalciferol, 2-methylene-(20S)-23,23-difluoro-1α-hydroxy-19-nor-bishomopregnacalciferol, 2-(3′hydroxypropyl-1′,2′-idene)-19,23,24-trinor-(20S)-1α-hydroxyvitamin D3, or 13,13-dimethyl-des-C,D analog of (20S)-2-methylene-1α,25-dihydroxy-19-nor-vitamin D3, and pharmaceutical topical formulations and topical dosage forms thereof using a pharmaceutically suitable carrier vehicle.
US08143229B2
A method for incorporating a biomolecule into a cell including the steps: i) production of a complex from a biomolecule and a polymer which may be obtained by reaction of an amine monomer having at least two amine groups with an epoxide monomer having at least two epoxide groups and ii) incorporation of the biomolecule into a cell bx bringing the cell into contact with the complex. The invention further relates to the transformed cell obtained by said method, the use of a particular polymer for incorporation of a biomolecule into a cell, a kit for incorporation of a biomolecule into a cell, the use of said kit, a complex made from a biomolecule and a polymer, a therapeutic composition, the use of a complex of a biomolecule and a polymer for therapeutic treatment and a method for treatment of a disease by gene therapy.
US08143213B2
A method of inhibiting a retrovirus production, the method includes administering a retrovirus inhibitor selected from at least one of a TULA protein, a fragment of TULA containing a UBA domain, a UBA domain of TULA, a peptide mimicking TULA, a peptide mimicking a fragment of TULA containing a UBA domain, a peptide mimicking a UBA domain of TULA, a polynucleotide encoding TULA, a polynucleotide encoding a fragment of TULA containing a UBA domain, a polynucleotide encoding a UBA domain of TULA, a polynucleotide encoding a peptide mimicking TULA, a polynucleotide encoding a peptide mimicking a fragment of TULA containing a UBA domain, a polynucleotide encoding a peptide mimicking the UBA domain of TULA, fragments thereof, muteins thereof, variants and splice variants thereof, and combinations thereof to a cell or a tissue infected by a retrovirus.
US08143212B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for treatment of bacterial infections. The composition may be a combination of factors, which include A0, A1, B1, B2, C0, C1, isoB0, and MAG, in the presence of low level solvent. Methods of the invention include administration of dalbavancin formulations for treatment of a bacterial infection, in particular a Gram-positive bacterial infection of skin and soft tissue. Dosing regimens include multiple dose administration of dalbavancin, which often remains at therapeutic levels in the bloodstream for at least one week, providing prolonged therapeutic action against a bacterial infection. Dosing regimens for renal patients are also included.
US08143210B2
Administering an effective dose of glutenase to a Celiac or dermatitis herpetiformis patient reduces levels of toxic gluten oligopeptides, thereby attenuating or eliminating the damaging effects of gluten.
US08143204B2
The present invention relates to methods for removing or preventing scale formation in a liquid food processing operation. Aqueous antiscalant solutions comprising soluble magnesium salts are used to prevent the precipitation of insoluble calcium salts and/or to increase the solubility of insoluble calcium salts.
US08143190B2
There is disclosed a honeycomb structure having a plurality of segments and each including a plurality of cells, wherein each segment has a porous base material having the honeycomb shape, and a modified portion formed by impregnating a part of the base material with a slurry including particles smaller than the average pore diameter of the base material, followed by a heat treatment, the base material has a porosity of 30 to 80% and an average pore diameter of 5 to 40 μm, and the modified portion is partially formed on the section of the segment vertical (orthogonal) to the axial direction of the cells, and has a porosity which is 2 to 20% lower than that of the base material and an average pore diameter which is 0.1 to 10 μm smaller than that of the base material.
US08143189B2
Highly uniform cluster based nanocatalysts supported on technologically relevant supports were synthesized for reactions of top industrial relevance. The Pt-cluster based catalysts outperformed the very best reported ODHP catalyst in both activity (by up to two orders of magnitude higher turn-over frequencies) and in selectivity. The results clearly demonstrate that highly dispersed ultra-small Pt clusters precisely localized on high-surface area supports can lead to affordable new catalysts for highly efficient and economic propene production, including considerably simplified separation of the final product. The combined GISAXS-mass spectrometry provides an excellent tool to monitor the evolution of size and shape of nanocatalyst at action under realistic conditions. Also provided are sub-nanometer gold and sub-nanometer to few nm size-selected silver catalysts which possess size dependent tunable catalytic properties in the epoxidation of alkenes. Invented size-selected cluster deposition provides a unique tool to tune material properties by atom-by-atom fashion, which can be stabilized by protective overcoats.
US08143186B2
A catalyst composition comprising cobalt as an active catalytic element and a lesser amount of nickel as a promoter supported on a metal oxide support. The support may comprise alumina, silica, silica-alumina, zeolite, zirconia, magnesia or titania. The amount of nickel is preferably less than 50 wt %, relative to the amount of cobalt.
US08143180B2
Disclosed are cements for ceramic honeycomb bodies. Such cements can be applied to a fired ceramic honeycomb body then fired, or can be applied to an unfired (green) honeycomb body and co-fired with the green honeycomb body. The cement can also be used to plug one or more cells in a honeycomb body, wherein the cement can be inserted into a green or a fired ceramic honeycomb body, then fired. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing a ceramic honeycomb article with the cement.
US08143166B2
A polishing process in a semiconductor device fabrication process employs a polishing composition in which a gaseous phase is created within the polishing composition. During a polishing process, the gaseous phase dynamically responds to changes in the surface profile of the material undergoing removal by chemical and abrasive action during polishing. The inert gas bubble density dynamically increases in proximity to surface region of the substrate being polished that are prone to dishing and erosion. The increased inert gas bubble density operates to reduce the polish removal rate relative to other regions of the substrate. The dynamic action of the gaseous phase within the polishing composition functions to selectively reduce the localized polish removal rate such that a uniformly smooth and flat polished surface is obtained that is independent of the influence of pattern density during the polishing process.
US08143161B2
An apparatus for processing microelectronic topographies, a method of use of such an apparatus, and a method for passivating hardware of microelectronic processing chambers are provided. The apparatus includes a substrate holder configured to support a microelectronic topography and a rotatable case with sidewalls arranged on opposing sides of the substrate holder. The method of using such an apparatus includes positioning a microelectronic topography upon a substrate holder of a processing chamber, exposing the microelectronic topography to a fluid within the processing chamber, and rotating a case of the processing chamber. The rotation is sufficient to affect movement of the fluid relative to the surface of the microelectronic topography. A method for passivating hardware of a microelectronic processing chamber includes exposing the hardware to an organic compound and subsequently exposing the hardware to an agent configured to form polar bonds with the organic compound.
US08143159B2
A method for forming deep lithographic interconnects between a first metal and a second metal is provided. The method comprises depositing a first insulator layer on a semiconductor substrate; etching the first insulator layer at a selected location to provide at least a first via to the semiconductor substrate; depositing the first metal on the semiconductor substrate to form at least a first metal contact plug in the first via in contact with the semiconductor substrate; treating the semiconductor substrate with an in-situ plasma of a nitrogen containing gas wherein the plasma forms a nitride layer of the first metal at least capping a top surface of the first metal plug in the first via; and forming a second metal contact to the metal nitride layer capping at least the top surface of the first metal plug.
US08143155B2
After forming a pressure-bonded ball and a ball neck by bonding an initial ball to a pad, a capillary is moved upward, away from a lead, and then downward, thereby the ball neck is trodden on by a face portion that is on the lead side of the capillary. Subsequently, the capillary is moved upward and then toward the lead until the face portion of the capillary is positioned above the ball neck, thereby a wire is folded back toward the lead. Then, the capillary is moved downward such that a side of the wire is pressed by the capillary against the ball neck that has been trodden on. After the capillary is moved obliquely upward toward the lead and then looped toward the lead, the wire is pressure-bonded to the lead.
US08143148B1
A method for forming a laser diode structure. The method includes providing a laser diode material having a surface region. A multilayer dielectric mask structure comprising alternating first and second dielectric layers is formed overlying the surface region. The method forms a laser diode structure using the multilayer dielectric mask structure as a mask. The method selectively removes a portion of the first dielectric layer to form one or more undercut regions between the second dielectric layers. A passivation layer overlies the multilayer dielectric mask structure and the undercut region remained intact. The dielectric mask structure is selectively removed, exposing a top surface region of the laser diode structure. A contact structure is formed overlying at least the exposed top surface region.
US08143146B2
A method for manufacturing a nonvolatile storage device with a plurality of unit memory layers stacked therein is provided. Each of the unit memory layers includes: a first interconnect extending in a first direction; a second interconnect extending in a second direction; a recording unit sandwiched between the first and second interconnects and being capable of reversibly transitioning between a first state and a second state in response to a current supplied through the first and second interconnects; and a rectifying element sandwiched between the first interconnect and the recording unit and including at least one of p-type and n-type impurities. In the method, the first interconnect, the second interconnect, the recording unit, and a layer of an amorphous material including the at least one of p-type and n-type impurities used in the plurality of unit memory layers are formed at a temperature lower than a temperature at which the amorphous material is substantially crystallized. The amorphous material used in the plurality of unit memory layers is simultaneously crystallized and the impurities included in the amorphous material used in the plurality of unit memory layers are simultaneously activated.
US08143140B2
There is provided a method of producing a thin GaN film-joined substrate, including the steps of: joining on a GaN bulk crystalline body a substrate different in type or chemical composition from GaN; and dividing the GaN bulk crystalline body at a plane having a distance of at least 0.1 μm and at most 100 μm from an interface thereof with the substrate different in type, to provide a thin film of GaN on the substrate different in type, wherein the GaN bulk crystalline body had a surface joined to the substrate different in type, that has a maximum surface roughness Rmax of at most 20 μm. Thus a GaN-based semiconductor device including a thin GaN film-joined substrate including a substrate different in type and a thin film of GaN joined firmly on the substrate different in type, and at least one GaN-based semiconductor layer deposited on the thin film of GaN, can be fabricated at low cost.
US08143138B2
Described herein are methods for fabricating dual-damascene interconnect structures. In one embodiment, the interconnect structures are fabricated with a dual-damascene method having trenches then vias formed. The method includes novel liner depositions after the trench and via etches. The method includes etching trenches in a dielectric layer. Next, the method includes depositing a first liner layer on the dielectric layer. Next, the method includes etching vias in the dielectric layer and an etch stop layer. Next, the method includes depositing a second liner layer on the first liner layer. The second liner layer is deposited on the exposed surfaces of the first liner layer, dielectric layer, etch stop layer, and the first metal layer. Then, a second metal layer is deposited on the second liner layer.
US08143134B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an SOI substrate, to improve planarity of a surface of a single crystal semiconductor layer after separation by favorably separating a single crystal semiconductor substrate even in the case where a non-mass-separation type ion irradiation method is used, and to improve planarity of a surface of a single crystal semiconductor layer after separation as well as to improve throughput. The method includes the steps of irradiating a single crystal semiconductor substrate with accelerated ions by an ion doping method while the single crystal semiconductor substrate is cooled to form an embrittled region in the single crystal semiconductor substrate; bonding the single crystal semiconductor substrate and a base substrate with an insulating layer interposed therebetween; and separating the single crystal semiconductor substrate along the embrittled region to form a single crystal semiconductor layer over the base substrate with the insulating layer interposed therebetween.
US08143126B2
A method is used to form a vertical MOS transistor. The method utilizes a semiconductor layer. An opening is etched in the semiconductor layer. A gate dielectric is formed in the opening that has a vertical portion that extends to a top surface of the first semiconductor layer. A gate is formed in the opening having a major portion laterally adjacent to the vertical portion of the gate dielectric and an overhang portion that extends laterally over the vertical portion of the gate dielectric. An implant is performed to form a source region at the top surface of the semiconductor layer while the overhang portion is present.
US08143122B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a first and a second diffusion layer regions, a floating gate electrode disposed, with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween, on a channel region between the first and second diffusion layer regions, and a control gate electrode serving as a word line and disposed on the floating gate electrode with an interelectrode insulating film interposed therebetween. The interelectrode insulating film covers whole side portions of the floating gate electrode located in a direction different from a direction in which the word line extends, and the control gate electrode covers the side portions of the floating gate electrode located in the direction different from the direction in which the word line extends.
US08143116B2
A thin film transistor array substrate includes a gate line disposed on a substrate, the gate line comprising a gate electrode including a lower film and an upper film thicker than the lower film, a gate insulating layer formed on the gate line, a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer, an ohmic contact layer formed on the semiconductor layer, a data line electrically connected to a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the ohmic contact layer, the lower film of the gate line is in contact with the gate insulating layer at a crossing portion of the gate line and the data line and the heights of the source electrode and the drain electrode are substantially the same as or less than a height of the semiconductor layer.
US08143114B2
System and method for reducing contact resistance and prevent variations due to misalignment of contacts is disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises a non-planar transistor with source/drain regions located within a fin. An inter-layer dielectric overlies the non-planar transistor, and contacts are formed to the source/drain region through the inter-layer dielectric. The contacts preferably come into contact with multiple surfaces of the fin so as to increase the contact area between the contacts and the fin.
US08143105B2
An improved semiconductor seal ring and method therefore is described. The seal ring comprises a thick layer wherein at least a portion of the thick layer is removed from a singulation street prior to singulation, thereby avoiding damage to the thick layer during the singulation process. A thin moisture-proof barrier layer is preferably deposited over at least a portion of the thick layer to seal at least an edge of the thick layer. A thick nonmetallic layer preferably used for fabrication of active circuit elements may advantageously be employed as the thick layer (for example, an aluminum nitride (AlN) layer in, for example, a bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filter device). A thin amorphous nonmetallic layer (e.g., a silicon nitride (SiN) layer) may preferably be deposited over the thick layer. Alternatively, other materials may be used.
US08143104B2
A method for manufacturing a ball grid array package stacking system includes: providing a base substrate; coupling an integrated circuit to the base substrate; coupling a stacking substrate over the base substrate; mounting a heat spreader, having an access port, around the base substrate and the stacking substrate; and coupling a stacked integrated circuit to the stacking substrate through the access port.
US08143101B2
The present invention relates to semiconductor package and the method of making the same. The method of the invention comprises the following steps: (a) providing a first substrate; (b) mounting a first chip onto a surface of the first substrate; (c) forming a plurality of conductive elements on the surface of the first substrate; (d) covering the conductive elements with a mold, the mold having a plurality of cavities accommodating top ends of each of the conductive elements; and (e) forming a first molding compound for encapsulating the surface of the first substrate, the first chip and parts of the conductive elements, wherein the height of the first molding compound is smaller than the height of each of the conductive elements. Thus, the first molding compound encapsulates the entire surface of the first substrate, so that the mold flush of the first molding compound will not occur, and the rigidity of the first substrate is increased.
US08143095B2
A method is provided of forming a capped chip which includes a conductive interconnect exposed through an opening in the cap. A cap having openings extending between outer and inner surfaces is aligned and joined to a chip. A mass of fusible conductive material is positioned through a first such opening onto a first such bond pad of the chip. The positioned mass is heated to bond the mass to the first bond pad. The steps of positioning and heating the mass form at least a portion of a conductive interconnect extending from the first bond pad at least partially through the first opening.
US08143094B2
A manufacturing method of a silicon carbide semiconductor device in which an electric field applied to a gate oxide film can be relaxed and thereby reliability can be ensured, and by the method manufacturing costs can be reduced. Well regions, channel regions, and gate electrodes are formed so that, given that extending lengths, with respect to the inner sides of source regions, of each of the well regions, the channel regions, and the gate electrodes are Lwell, Lch, and Lg, respectively, a relationship of Lch
US08143090B2
A method of fabricating a photo sensor includes the following steps. First, a substrate is provided, having a conductive layer, a buffer dielectric layer, a patterned semiconductor layer, a dielectric layer, and a planarization layer disposed thereon from bottom to top, wherein the patterned semiconductor layer comprises a first doped region, an intrinsic region, and a second doped region disposed in order. Then, the planarization layer is patterned to form an opening in the planarization layer to expose a portion of the dielectric layer, wherein the opening is positioned on the intrinsic region and portions of the first and the second doped regions. Thereafter, at least a patterned transparent conductive layer is formed in the opening, covering the boundary of the intrinsic region and the first doped region and the boundary of the intrinsic region and the second doped region.
US08143080B2
A method for manufacturing a number of LED packages includes following steps: providing an electrode plate and at least one insulating plate; thermally pressing the electrode plate and the at least insulating plate together, wherein the electrode has a plurality of first and second electrodes; grinding two ends of the electrode plate to expose the first and second electrodes for obtaining a substrate; disposing a plurality of LED chips on the substrate plate and electrically connecting the LED chips to the first and second electrodes; and cutting the substrate plate to obtain the number of LED packages.
US08143079B2
Multiple films of red-green-blue (RGB) luminescent silicon nanoparticles are integrated in a cascade configuration as a top coating in an ultraviolet/blue light emitting diode (LED) to convert it to a white LED. The configuration of RGB luminescent silicon nanoparticle films harnesses the short wavelength portion of the light emitted from the UV/blue LED while transmitting efficiently the longer wavelength portion. The configuration also reduces damaging heat and/or ultraviolet effects to both the device and to humans.
US08143068B2
Compounds having enhanced oxidation stability are disclosed. The compounds have an aryl boronic acid residue having one or more electron withdrawing groups on the aromatic moiety which contains the boronic acid residue, such that the molecule has enhanced oxidation resistance as compared to a corresponding molecule without the one or more electron withdrawing groups.
US08143067B2
Hydrophilic membrane particularly suited for blotting applications, preferably Western blotting. A pre-wet hydrophobic membrane substrate, preferably made of PVDF, is contacted with a monomer solution and subjected to a UV-initiated free radical polymerization step to render the substrate permanently hydrophilic. The resulting membrane exhibits low background fluorescence, high protein binding, excellent retention of protein sample spot morphology, and extended dynamic range (high signal-to-noise ratio, enhanced sample detectability). The membrane demonstrates comparable or higher performance in Western blotting applications than conventional nitrocellulose Western blotting membranes, particularly for protein detection at low sample concentrations, and is directly water-wettable, eliminating the need for an alcohol pre-wet step prior to use.
US08143056B2
The invention relates to new polypeptides in isolated form belonging to a subfamily of the human immunoglobulin superfamily, which polypeptide shows at least 70% sequence homology with the amino acid sequence of the murine Confluency Regulated Adhesion Molecules 1 or 2 (CRAM-1 or CRAM-2) as depicted in FIG. 3, upper and second row, respectively, and antibodies thereto as well as their use in treatment of inflammation and tumors.
US08143054B2
The invention relates to fusion proteins comprising the amino acid sequence of at least three HIV proteins selected from Vif, Vpr, Vpu, Rev, and Tat or derivatives of the amino acid sequence of one or more of said proteins, wherein the fusion protein is not processed to individual HIV proteins having the natural N and C termini. The invention further concerns nucleic acids encoding said proteins, vectors comprising said nucleic acids, and methods for producing said proteins. The fusion protein, nucleic acids and vectors are usable as vaccines for the at least partial prophylaxis against HIV infections.
US08143036B2
Genetically modified microorganisms that produce itaconic acid at high yields and uses thereof.
US08143035B2
The invention relates to the synthesis of polyketides in Actinomycetes by overexpression of pantothenate kinase and supplementation with pantothenic acid. This results in increasing in vivo CoA production and thereby drives increased production of secondary metabolites, such as polyketides.
US08143028B2
The present invention relates to Bacillus licheniformis B1 strain, alkalophilic enzyme solution and a method for preparing the same, in particular the method for producing cellulase demonstrating optimal activity at pH 10-13 by using Bacillus licheniformis B1 strain. The enzyme produced by the method of the present invention and the enzyme solution containing the same have excellent enzyme activity in alkali condition, so that they can be effectively applied in diverse uses including the production of detergent or bio-fuel.
US08143027B2
The present invention provides polynucleotides encoding clot-specific streptokinase proteins possessing altered plasminogen characteristics, including enhanced fibrin selectivity. The kinetics of plasminogen activation by these proteins are distinct from those of natural streptokinase, in that there is a temporary delay or lag in the initial rate of catalytic conversion of plasminogen to plasmin. Also disclosed are processes for preparing the proteins.
US08143018B2
According to the following steps, live cells, injured cells, VNC cells and dead cells of a microorganism in a test sample are detected by flow cytometry: a) the step of treating the test sample with an enzyme having an activity of decomposing cells other than those of the microorganism, colloidal particles of proteins or lipids existing in the test sample, b) the step of treating the test sample with a topoisomerase poison and/or a DNA gyrase poison. c) the step of treating the test sample treated in the steps a) and b) with a nuclear stain agent, and d) the step of detecting the microorganism in the test sample treated with the nuclear stain agent by flow cytometry.
US08143016B2
Rationally-designed LAGLIDADG meganucleases and methods of making such meganucleases are provided. In addition, methods are provided for using the meganucleases to generate recombinant cells and organisms having a desired DNA sequence inserted into a limited number of loci within the genome, as well as methods of gene therapy, for treatment of pathogenic infections, and for in vitro applications in diagnostics and research.
US08143013B2
An object of the present invention is to produce a luminescent probe that has less biological effects, efficiently emits visible to near-infrared light, which is excellent for the imaging of individuals, and the use thereof. The present invention provides a sugar chain-containing-luciferase derivative, wherein an organic fluorescent dye is bonded to the luciferase through the sugar chain.
US08143010B2
The present invention relates to novel prostate specific nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides and related methods for diagnosing or predicting susceptibility to a prostate neoplastic condition.
US08143008B2
A nucleic acid molecule can be annealed to an appropriate immobilized primer. The primer can then be extended and the molecule and the primer can be separated from one another. The extended primer can then be annealed to another immobilized primer and the other primer can be extended. Both extended primers can then be separated from one another and can be used to provide further extended primers. The process can be repeated to provide amplified, immobilized nucleic acid molecules. These can be used for many different purposes, including sequencing, screening, diagnosis, in situ nucleic acid synthesis, monitoring gene expression, nucleic acid fingerprinting, etc.
US08143005B2
The present invention relates to epilepsy. More particularly, the present invention relates to idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) and to the identification of three genes mapping to chromosome 2, which show mutations in patients with epilepsy. The invention further relates to nucleic acid sequences, and protein sequences of these loci (SCNA) and to the use thereof to assess, diagnose, prognose or treat epilepsy, to predict an epileptic individual's response to medication and to identify agents which modulate the function of the SCNA. The invention also provides screening assays using SCN1A, SCN2A and/or SCN3A which can identify compounds which have therapeutic benefit for epilepsy and related neurological disorders.
US08143000B2
A purified polynucleotide having a chain of nucleotides corresponding to a mutated sequence, which in a wild form encodes a polypeptide implicated in hereditary sensory defect, wherein said mutated purified polynucleotide presents a mutation responsible for prelingual non-syndromic deafness selected from the group consisting of a specific deletion of at least one nucleotide.
US08142997B2
The present invention generally relates to the field of diagnostic microbiology, and, more particularly, to compositions and methods for detecting and differentiating one or more viruses or other intracellular parasites present in a specimen. The present invention also provides compositions and methods to evaluate the susceptibility of organisms to antimicrobial agents.
US08142995B2
A method for assessing arteriosclerosis comprising measuring the serotonin level in whole blood, serum or platelet-rich plasma and rating the serotonin level on such a scale that the lower it is, the more serious the arteriosclerosis is.
US08142993B1
Methods of producing neutrophil-depleted platelet-rich plasma by passing a blood, platelet or platelet-rich plasma fraction through a narrow, twisted and/or charged environment to remove neutrophils and produce neutrophil-depleted platelet-rich plasma is described. The neutrophil-depleted platelet-rich plasma may be depleted in neutrophils by 75% or more and includes at least 0.5×106 platelets per ml. The pH of the neutrophil-depleted platelet-rich plasma may be adjusted to 7.3-7.5.
US08142986B2
A method of forming fine patterns of a semiconductor device, in which a plurality of conductive lines formed in a cell array region are integrally formed with contact pads for connecting the conductive lines to a peripheral circuit. In this method, a plurality of mold mask patterns, each including a first portion extending in a first direction and a second portion which is integrally formed with the first portion and extends in a second direction, are formed within a cell block on a substrate comprising a film which is to be etched. A first mask layer covering sidewalls and an upper surface of each of the plurality of mold mask patterns is formed on the substrate. First mask patterns are formed by partially removing the first mask layer so that a first area of the first mask layer remains and a second area of the first mask layer is removed. The first area of the first mask layer covers sidewalls of adjacent mold mask patterns from among the plurality of mold mask patterns by being located between the adjacent mold mask patterns, and the second area of the first mask layer covers portions of the sidewalls of the plurality of mold mask patterns, the portions corresponding to an outermost sidewall of a mold mask pattern block.
US08142985B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including: forming a resist film 11 on a film to be processed 32; baking the resist film 11; performing immersion exposure on the resist film 11 after the baking; performing post exposure bake on the resist film 11 after performing the immersion exposure; developing the resist film 11 after performing the post exposure bake; and after the post exposure bake is performed on the resist film 11, removing an edge 15 of the resist film 11, the edge not being exposed.
US08142969B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a conductive support; a photosensitive layer; and a surface protective layer as an outermost layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the electrophotographic photoreceptor satisfies following formulas (a) and (b): 3.6≦(A+B)/C×100≦6 (a) B≦0.3 (b) wherein A (μm) represents a ten-point-averaged surface roughness RZJIS94 of the conductive support, B (μm) represents a ten-point-averaged surface roughness RZJIS94 of the surface protective layer, and C (%) represents a reflectivity of the surface protective layer against the conductive support.
US08142965B2
A sample having a patterned area and a method for use in controlling a pattern parameter is presented. The sample comprises at least one test structure having a patterned region similar to a pattern in the patterned area, the patterns in the patterned area and in the at least test structure being produced by the same patterning process. The at least one test structure comprises at least one pattern parameter of a predetermined value intentionally increased above a natural value of said certain parameter induced by a patterning process. By this, the natural value of the parameter induced by the patterning process can be determined.
US08142964B2
In a multiple-exposure lithographic process a developed resist pattern derived from a first exposure is present within a second resist layer that is exposed in a second exposure of the multiple-exposure lithographic process. The second mask pattern used in the second exposure process includes at least one localized adjustment to at least one feature thereof to compensate for scattering effects of the developed resist pattern that is present when the second exposure is performed.
US08142956B2
The invention provides a fuel cell which comprises a cathode and an anode arranged to sandwich a proton-conductive ion exchange electrolytic membrane, oxygen and hydrogen containing carbon monoxide being supplied to the cathode and the anode, respectively, in which the cathode comprises an electroconductive porous substrate which carries thereon platinum or a platinum alloy and a proton-conductive ion exchange electrolytic polymer, and the anode comprises an electroconductive porous substrate which carries thereon platinum or a platinum alloy and a proton-conductive ion exchange electrolytic polymer, and further at least the anode carries a proton-supplying material thereon.
US08142950B2
The invention is a hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant (10, 200). During shut down of the plant (10, 200), hydrogen fuel is permitted to transfer between an anode flow path (24, 24′) and a cathode flow path (38, 38′). A controlled-oxidant flow device (209) near an oxygen source (58′) permits a minimal amount of atmospheric oxygen to enter the power plant (200) during shut down to equalize pressure between ambient atmosphere and the flow paths (24′, 28′) and to keep limited atmospheric oxygen entering the power plant (200) through the device (209) as far as possible from fuel cell flow fields (28′, 42′). A non-leaking hydrogen inlet valve (202), a non-leaking cathode exhaust valve (208), and a combined oxidant and fuel exhaust line (206) also minimize penetration of oxygen into the shut down power plant (200).
US08142948B2
A power generator is formed with a container adapted to hold a hydrogen generating fuel. A valve assembly has a valve plate with a border less than a border of the container. A fuel cell is laterally disposed outside and around the valve assembly having a lateral width that fits within the border of the container. A cover is adapted to mate with the container and enclose the valve plate and fuel cell.
US08142939B2
In a fuel cell unit that generates electric power using fuel gas supplied via an anode gas passage and air supplied via a cathode gas passage, an anode-off gas passage is connected to the downstream side of the anode gas passage. An orifice is provided at the anode-off gas passage and anode-off gas is discharged to the downstream side via the orifice.
US08142917B2
The present invention relates to a proton-conducting polymer membrane which comprises polyazole blends and is obtainable by a process comprising the steps A) preparation of a mixture comprising polyphosphoric acid, at least one polyazole (polymer A) and/or one or more compounds which are suitable for forming polyazoles under the action of heat according to step B), B) heating of the mixture obtainable according to step A) under inert gas to temperatures of up to 400° C., C) application of a layer using the mixture from step A) and/or B) to a support, D) treatment of the membrane formed in step C) until it is self-supporting, wherein at least one further polymer (polymer B) which is not a polyazole is added to the composition obtainable according to step A) and/or step B) and the weight ratio of polyazole to polymer B is in the range from 0.1 to 50.
US08142916B2
Provided is a magnetic recording medium which maintains high S/N ratio and coercive force (Hc) and has high recording density, even with fine magnetic particles, by further improving crystal orientation of a magnetic recording layer. The magnetic recording medium is provided with an orientation control layer (16), a nonmagnetic under layer (18), and a magnetic recording layer (22) on a substrate. The orientation control layer (16) has an fcc structure and a (111) plane parallel to the substrate. The under layer (18) has an hcp structure and a (0001) plane parallel to the substrate. An atomic distance of the (111) plane of the orientation control layer (16) is −0.2 Å to +0.15 Å to a lattice spacing of the under layer (18).
US08142914B2
The invention provides a set gypsum-containing product having increased resistance to permanent deformation and a method for preparing it comprising forming a mixture of a calcium sulfate material, water, and an appropriate amount of one or more enhancing materials chosen from condensed phosphoric acids, each of which comprises 2 or more phosphoric acid units; and salts or ions of condensed phosphates, each of which comprises 2 or more phosphate units. The mixture is then maintained under conditions sufficient for the calcium sulfate material to form a set gypsum material.
US08142905B2
Provided is a copper foil for a printed circuit board comprising a layer including nickel, zinc, a compound of nickel and that of zinc (hereinafter referred to a “nickel zinc layer”) on a roughened surface of a copper foil, and a chromate film layer on the nickel zinc layer, wherein the zinc add-on weight per unit area of the nickel zinc layer is 180 μg/dm2 or more and 3500 μg/dm2 or less, and the nickel weight ratio in the nickel zinc layer {nickel add-on weight/(nickel add-on weight+zinc add-on weight)} is 0.38 or more and 0.7 or less. This surface treatment technology of a copper foil is able to effectively prevent the circuit corrosion phenomenon in cases of laminating a copper foil on a resin base material and using a sulfuric acid hydrogen peroxide etching solution to perform soft etching to the circuit.
US08142903B2
A construction board (10) comprising a cellular body and at least one facer (22,23), where the at least one cellulosic facer (22,23) is characterized by a burst strength of at least 250 kPa pursuant to T403 om-02 (TAPPI).
US08142898B2
The present invention relates to an electrocatalytic coating and an electrode having the coating thereon, wherein the coating is a mixed metal oxide coating, preferably ruthenium, titanium and tin or antimony oxides. The coating uses water as a solvent that provides for a smoother surface than alcohol based solvents. The electrocatalytic coating can be used especially as an anode component of an electrolysis cell and in particular a cell for the electrolysis of aqueous chlor-alkali solutions.
US08142885B2
Silicon wafers and a process for their manufacture wherein both slip dislocation and occurrence of warpage are suppressed include heat treatment to provide wafers having plate-shaped BMDs, a density of BMDs whose diagonal lengths are in a range of 10 nm to 120 nm, of BMDs present in the bulk of the wafer at a distance of 50 μm or more is 1×1011/cm3 or more, and the density of BMDs whose diagonal lengths are 750 nm or more in the wafer bulk is 1×107/cm3 or less, and the interstitial oxygen concentration is 5×1017 atoms/cm3 or less. The process involves low and high temperature heat treating at under defined temperature ramping rates.
US08142884B2
The present invention provides a release film which has a release layer on a film substrate, which has excellent long-term preservation stability and yet maintains a stripping performance of the release film, which serves to make inspection for foreign materials easy, and which provides excellent design effect when a print layer is formed. The release film has average luminous reflectance of the release film on the surface of the side on which the release layer is formed being in the range of 0.5-2.5%, spectral reflectance curve of the release film surface on which the release layer is formed having a local minimal value and no local maximal value in the wavelength region in the range of 400-800 nm, reflection hue of the release film on the side on which the release layer is formed satisfying both −8≦a*≦8 and −16≦b*≦8 in the L*a*b* color coordinate system.
US08142882B1
Improved methods and apparatus for cross-sectional scanning of transparent (or nearly transparent) parts that cannot otherwise be effectively scanned, because the transparency of the part prevents the scanner from discriminating between the part and the potting material, into which the part is placed, as viewed through the transparent material. Certain coatings added to such parts create opacity where the coatings contact the parts. Thus, scanning of the coated part is not interpreted as scanning of the potting material into which the parts are placed.
US08142881B2
A superconductor for mitigating the effects of local current disruptions in a superconducting filament. The superconductor comprises superconducting filaments covered by a medium in electrical communication with the filaments. The covering medium has anisotropic conductivity, the conductivity in a direction substantially aligned with the filaments being selected to stabilize the superconductor near the critical temperature, and the conductivity of the covering in a direction substantially perpendicular to the filaments being selected to permit controlled current sharing between the filaments, especially when a filament is compromised, while simultaneously limiting alternating current (ac) losses. In various embodiments, the covering comprises a wire mesh having longitudinal wires made of a first material having a first conductivity, and transverse wires made of a second material having a second conductivity, different from the first conductivity.
US08142873B2
A rod for supporting components in a fuselage cell structure, in particular produced with fibre-reinforced composite materials, of an aircraft, in particular for supporting at least one floor frame on at least one annular former and/or at least one further component of the fuselage cell structure.In accordance with the invention the rod is formed, at least in portions, with a metal foam, in particular for the absorption of crash loads.The metal foam can transform, irrespective of its inherent weight, the high mechanical loads produced in the event of an accident into work of plastic deformation at the microcavities within the metal foam.A first variant of the rod is almost completely formed by a metal foam, whereas a second embodiment comprises merely a core made of the metal foam with a relatively small diameter, which core is surrounded coaxially by a support casing and an outer sleeve.
US08142860B2
A 3D-inkjet printing method includes the steps of a) providing two or more fluids having a different composition to an inkjet printer; b) mixing the two or more fluids in a controlled amount; c) jetting the mixture of the two or more fluids with the inkjet printer onto a support; d) at least partially curing the jetted mixture by actinic radiation or electron beam; and e) repeating steps b) to d) in order to build a 3D-relief on the support. The method is capable of printing 3D-objects with inkjet fluid sets in an inkjet printer.
US08142856B2
A method of preparing a hydrophobic mineral and/or filler material, for example a gypsum material, comprises (i) preparing a hydrolyzate containing polysiloxanes by hydrolyzing a hydrolysable silane or hydrolysable silane mixture in the presence of an acid hydrolysis catalyst; and (ii) combining the polysiloxane hydrolyzate with the mineral and/or filler, and optionally water and/or a catalyst for condensation of the hydrolysate.
US08142854B2
There is provided a method for forming a corrosion-resistant protective film, which can preventing peel off of the protective film and enables long-term stable use of the film under high-temperature conditions. The corrosion-resistant film forming method includes the steps of: carrying out Ni (or Ni—B) plating of a surface of a substrate of a Ni—Cr alloy to form a Ni (or Ni—B) layer on the substrate surface; and carrying out Al diffusion treatment of the surface of the Ni (or Ni—B) layer to form a protective layer of Ni—Al.
US08142842B2
The present invention relates to a ink-jet recording method for printing with a glycol ink which contains 60 parts by weight or more of glycol ether based on 100 parts by weight of the ink, comprising printing by ejecting the glycol ink on an ink-jet recording material, wherein the ink-jet recording material comprises a support, at least one porous ink-receptive layer which contains inorganic fine particles having an average secondary particle size of 500 nm or less and a resin binder provided on the support, and a front surface layer containing an acrylic resin emulsion provided on the ink-receptive layer.
US08142839B2
A display device includes an underlying layer formed over a substrate; an insulating layer formed over the substrate to expose the underlying layer; and an organic EL layer formed on the exposed portion of the underlying layer, wherein a thickness of the insulating layer is formed to a predetermined thickness to prevent defects in the organic EL layer that can occur in an edge portion of the exposed portion.
US08142830B2
Generally, a method of pressure regulated supercritical fluid fractionation of oil seed extraction materials which can be utilized to refine oil seed extraction material established in an amount of supercritical fluid. Specifically, a method of pressure regulated supercritical fluid fractionation of corn germ extraction material to produce a refined corn oil extraction material.
US08142827B2
A packaged bottled beverage has a base component of the beverage in a container under vacuum separate from an additive in a sealed compartment of an ingredient release closure. Upon opening the sealed compartment, suction is created forcing the additive to quickly and thoroughly exit the ingredient release closure, a region of relatively higher pressure, and flow into the base component in the container, a region of relatively lower pressure.
US08142822B2
A novel canola protein isolate consisting predominantly of 2S canola protein and having equal to better solubility properties and improved clarity properties in aqueous media, has an increased proportion of 2S canola protein and a decreased proportion of 7S canola protein. The novel canola protein isolate is formed by isoelectric precipitation of aqueous supernatant from canola protein micelle formation and precipitation, to effect precipitation of 7S protein which is sedimented and removed.
US08142809B2
The invention provides for a diet that significantly reduces the glycohemoglobin levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. A diet plan can be provided to an individual in the form of cards and/or pages with an appropriate meal plan, food items and/or pre-packaged meals, or in an electronic medium for the individuals to use to develop appropriate meal plans. The diet comprises food items having a nutritional composition that consists essentially of 30% protein, 50% fats, and 20% carbohydrates, or food items having a nutritional composition that consists essentially of 30% protein, 40% fats, and 30% carbohydrates.
US08142804B2
A sheet for pest control, wherein said sheet is of polymeric material and comprises at least two layers; a top layer and a bottom layer, wherein the bottom layer contains a herbicide and one or more pesticides selected from among fungicides and insecticides, and the top layer optionally containing an insecticide and/or fungicide. Other aspects of the invention include a polymeric composition used in the preparation of the sheets and a method for pest control in agriculture, horticulture and gardens.
US08142799B2
A practical high potency anti-craving medication is disclosed which comprises three components: an amino-acid component, a vitamin component, and a mineral component, wherein each component is selected for maximum efficacy in the body of an individual suffering from substance abuse disorder as opposed to the body of a healthy individual. Additionally, the active agents are received by means of a prolonged administration, preferably by means of an IV drip, thus assuring a period of time in which the active agents are present in desired concentrations, and more preferably a prolonged time during which they are simultaneously present in desired concentrations. The agents of each component are also selected so as to allow easy administration of the medication to patients in three vials of medication rather than as a large number of individual vials.
US08142795B2
The present invention relates to stabilizers for compositions, including immunogenic compositions, such as vaccine compositions, comprising one or more live attenuated flaviviruses, to bulk vaccine compositions stabilized with these stabilizers, particularly dry vaccine compositions prepared from these bulk vaccine compositions, and to methods for stabilizing one or more live attenuated flaviviruses.
US08142786B2
The invention relates to peptides which bind to MHC Class I and to MHC Class II molecules. These peptides are useful in different therapeutic and diagnostic contexts.
US08142785B2
β-(1-6)-Glucanase treatment of glucan from yeast cells, pure or feed grade especially yeast from the family Saccharomyces and particularly Saccharomyces cerevisiae, provides a novel glucan product suitable for use in enhancing the stimulation of host animal immune systems. Solubilization of such yeast cell glucan is further disclosed to extend the usefulness of yeast cell glucan as an adjuvant.
US08142783B2
Novel fully human anti-VAP-1 antibodies and fragments thereof are disclosed. Nucleic acids encoding anti-VAP-1 antibodies or fragments thereof, as well as expression vectors and host cells incorporating these nucleic acids for the recombinant expression of anti-VAP-1 antibodies are also given. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising said antibodies and therapeutic uses thereof are also disclosed.
US08142782B2
Compositions and methods for promoting neural regeneration in a patient determined to have a lesion in a mature CNS neuron are disclosed. The method comprises the step of contacting the neuron with an EGFR inhibitor sufficient to promote regeneration of the neuron.
US08142775B2
Oxalate decarboxylase crystals, including stabilized crystals, such as cross-linked crystals of oxalate decarboxylase, are disclosed. Methods to treat a disorder associated with elevated oxalate concentration using oxalate decarboxylase crystals are also disclosed. Additionally disclosed are methods of producing protein crystals.
US08142772B2
This invention is directed to therapeutic compositions containing non-MHC-restricted Tcells/NK-cells in combination with MHC-restricted T-cells and especially to therapeutic compositions, which comprise LAK cells. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to the use of the above combination in the treatment of tumors in humans, which tumors show a missing, low or aberrant expression of MHC class Ia or Ib molecules. By using the aforementioned compositions/combinations it is possible to provide a balanced selective pressure against emergence of tumor cell variants that would otherwise escape immune detection.
US08142744B2
An air pollution control system includes an emission treatment system configured to receive flue gas, to reduce at least one pollutant therefrom, and to output emission treated flue gas. A first air heater in fluid communication with the emission treatment system includes a heat exchanger for heating forced air introduced thereto above a base temperature and thereby cooling emission treated flue gas from the emission treatment system to a stack discharge temperature. A second air heater in fluid communication with the first air heater to receive heated forced air therefrom includes a heat exchanger for heating forced air introduced thereto to a preheat temperature for combustion in a boiler and thereby cooling flue gas introduced from a boiler to the second air heater to an emission treatment temperature. The second air heater is in fluid communication with the emission treatment system to introduce cooled flue gas thereto.
US08142737B2
The invention relates to a device for containing, reacting and measuring, and a method of containing, reacting and measuring, and provides a device for containing, reacting and measuring, and a method of containing, reacting and measuring which is also able to effectively and quickly perform the reaction processing, measuring and identification.The invention comprises; a transparent container section having a liquid inlet/outlet and which is able to contain a base member with several kinds of substances for detection having predetermined chemical structures fixed at respective fixed positions which are arranged at predetermined spacing, and with each of the chemical structures associated with each of the fixed positions, a drawing and discharging section which is able to draw and discharge the liquid into and from the container section via the inlet/outlet, and a measuring device which is able to receive light from the contained base member, external to the container section and in a condition associated with the fixed position.
US08142735B2
A test apparatus is disclosed for measuring a component. The test apparatus maintains the amount of a specimen to be used for a reaction with a reagent at a constant value by allowing all of a fluid specimen to be measured and thus improves the accuracy and reproducibility of a test. The test apparatus includes a solution storage unit capable of holding a solution beforehand or allowing a solution to be filled therein, a capillary having a first end part and a second end part for storing the fluid specimen, and a test piece for measuring the component to be measured in the specimen. The solution storage unit and the second end part of the capillary are communicable with each other, and the first end part of the capillary is placed so as to be in contact with the test piece.
US08142732B2
An autoclave for the sterilization of clinical dental instruments is described, of the type comprising a sterilization chamber (1) equipped with a series of appliance fittings (4) for the inflow and outflow of fluids, and apt to contain a load of instruments onto which to carry through a sterilization cycle, characterized in that said appliance fittings (4) are gathered on at least one connection body or partition (3), with which a reducing container (7) is quickly able to be engaged and disengaged, which container has a volume apt to contain at least one instrument to be sterilized, the inner volume of such container (7) communicating with said appliance fittings (4) and said container (7) being apt to be entirely contained within said sterilization chamber (1). The small-volume container for said autoclave is further described, as well as a full treatment system employing said container.
US08142715B2
A method of deactivating chemical contaminants and biological agents from a target surface by and aerosol spraying the target surface with an electrostatically charged, photosensitizer solution, and then illuminating the surface with ultraviolet light.
US08142711B2
A forged copper burner enclosure capable of being mounted within the side wall of a steel melting furnace for the purpose of providing an improved cooling characteristic to a burner lance. The burner enclosure is provided with a central passage adapted to receive a burner lance for injecting oxygen into the batch of molten metal of an electric arc furnace. The forged burner enclosure is positioned such that only a solid forged copper face is on the furnace side when installed. The burner enclosure has an optional through hole which can be used for the purpose of treating the metal melt with particulate supply ranging from slag forming materials to metallurgical materials. The burner enclosure further has a number of coolant holes and tubes which provide a unique bidirectional flow of cooling fluid through each hole and increases cooling fluid velocity while reducing stalling and hot spots of the cooling fluid thereby providing better heat transfer and physical characteristics over cast or weld-assembled burner enclosures.
US08142706B2
The present invention relates to device and method for injection molding a product having a hydrophobic pattern, which permits mass production of the product having a hydrophobic surface and clear formation of the hydrophobic pattern on the product. The method includes the steps of heating a mold having a stamper with a hydrophobic pattern formed thereon mounted thereto, bringing the mold into close contact with other molds for enclosing an inside of the molds, injecting a predetermined resin material into the inside of the molds, and cooling down the molds, and separating the molds.
US08142699B2
A process for the production of virtually full density polyolefin suitable for further processing by drawing to form a high tenacity, highly oriented polyolefin sheet comprising: a) feeding a metered amount of polyolefin powder into the nip between two heated calender rolls initially set at a gap smaller than the size of the smallest polyolefin powder particle and at a temperature above the melting point of the powder; b) rolling the powder through the nip under these conditions until a coherent sheet of polyolefin is produced: and c) once a coherent sheet of polyolefin exits the nip lowering the temperature in the nip to a temperature below the melting point of the polyolefin powder and increasing the gap to a desired level above the thickness of the largest powder particle. Apparatus for the performance of such a process is also described.
US08142689B2
Disclosed herein is a composition for imparting superior fire retardancy and shape-retaining properties to polyester. The composition comprises 55 to 75% by weight of a sodium silicate solution, 0.5 to 7% by weight of carboxyl methyl cellulose, 0.7 to 10% by weight of a urethane resin, 0.7 to 10% by weight of an acrylic resin mixture and the remaining weight percent of water, based on 100% by weight of the composition, wherein the sodium silicate solution consists of Na2O and SiO2 in a molar ratio of 1:2.1 to 1:2.9, the urethane resin consists of 70 to 80% by weight of methylene diphenyl isocyanate and 20 to 30% by weight of methylpolyglycol, and the acrylic resin mixture consists of 36 to 40% by weight of a butyl acrylate monomer, 10 to 13% by weight of methyl methacrylate, 1 to 2% by weight of an emulsifier, 3 to 5% by weight of acrylic acid and the remaining weight percent of water.Disclosed herein are further a method for preparing the composition and a method for applying the composition to a polyester resin. The composition-applied polyester resin is suitable for use as an automobile NVH component, in particular, a sound-absorbing heat-insulation component of an engine room.
US08142688B2
The present disclosure provides a conductive pattern formed body with a conductive pattern formed efficiently and highly precisely in a simple process, a conductivity variable laminated body used for formation of the conductive pattern, and the like. The disclosure provides a conductivity variable composition characterized by containing insulating particle including a conductive inorganic material and an organic material adhered on the circumference of the conductive inorganic material, and a photocatalyst.
US08142684B2
Method of manufacturing blue silicate phosphor, and blue silicate phosphor and light-emitting device
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a blue silicate phosphor having high luminance and a chromaticity y comparable to or lower than that of BAM:Eu. The present invention is a method of manufacturing a blue silicate phosphor represented by the general formula aAO.bEuO.(Mg1−w,Znw)O.cSiO2.dCaCl2, where A is at least one selected from Sr, Ba and Ca, and 2.970≦a≦3.500, 0.006≦b≦0.030, 1.900≦c≦2.100, 0≦d≦0.05, and 0≦w≦1 are satisfied. In this manufacturing method, heat treatment is carried out in a gas atmosphere having an oxygen partial pressure of 1×10−15.5 atm to 1×10−10 atm at a temperature of 1200° C. to 1400° C.
US08142682B2
The invention discloses a multilayer of cholesteric liquid crystal polymer (CLCP), wherein at least two layers of CLCP differing in at least one optical property are arranged on top of each other, characterized in that said at least two layers are chemically inter-layer cross-linked through the polymer network, such as to form a mechanically unique solid body which can be comminuted to pigment without deterioration of its inner structure, and which has an abrupt change of cholesteric liquid crystal pitch at the interface between said at least two layers of cholesteric liquid crystal polymer. Corresponding pigments, coating compositions and there use in security and decorative printing and coating applications are disclosed as well.
US08142681B2
Surfactant compositions which comprise (i) 10 to 90% by weight of one or more compounds selected from the group (a) to (e), and (ii) 10 to 90% by weight of water, based on the composition, are disclosed, where the compounds (a) to (e) are defined as follows: (a) addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with allyl alcohol, (b) addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with allyl alcohol, terminally capped with C1-20 alkyl, (c) compounds of the formula R1—O—X—R2, where X is 1 to 40 ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide units and where R1 and R2 independently are C1-20 alkyl, excluding allyl, (d) compounds of the formula R3—O—X—H, where X is 1 to 40 ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide units and where R3 is C1-20 alkyl, excluding allyl, (e) compounds of the formula H—O—X—H, where X is 1 to 40 ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide units. The surfactant compositions are liquid and pourable at 20° C., with a pour point below 0° C., and are useful as emulsifiers in emulsion polymerization.
US08142679B2
The present invention provides a piezoelectric ceramic composition having a high thermal resistance and a high piezoelectric distortion constant and a piezoelectric element using the piezoelectric ceramic composition. The piezoelectric ceramic composition of the present invention contains Na, Bi, Ti, Cr and O, wherein the content ratio of Na, Bi, Ti and Cr in terms of oxides thereof falls within the following composition range: aNa2O-bBi2O3-cTiO2-dCrO3/2 where a, b, c and d are mole fractions; 0.030≦a≦0.042; 0.330≦b≦0.370; 0.580≦c≦0.620; 0
US08142674B2
The invention provides a plasma processing apparatus and a plasma processing method capable of controlling the voltage of the processing substrate with high accuracy, thereby enabling a highly accurate plasma processing. According to the invention, a voltage of the processing substrate is measured using a processing substrate with a voltage probe prepared in advance, and based on a bias voltage supplied to an electrostatic chuck mechanism and a bias current flowing through the electrostatic chuck mechanism, a capacity component which is an impedance representing the electric property of the electrostatic chuck mechanism is computed numerically. Then, based on a predetermined expression, the voltage of the processing substrate is estimated using the bias voltage of the processing substrate to be measured, the bias current flowing through the electrostatic chuck mechanism and the capacity component which is the impedance acquired in advance.
US08142672B2
An opto-electric hybrid board manufacturing method which improves the alignment accuracy of an optical element with respect to a core of an optical waveguide. When a core (7) of an optical waveguide (W) is formed on a surface of an electric circuit board (E), the core (7) and optical element positioning alignment marks (A) are simultaneously formed from a photosensitive resin layer including a core formation region and an alignment mark formation region by a single photolithography process. In an optical element mounting step, a light emitting element (11) and a light receiving element (12) are mounted at proper positions with respect to the core (7) of the optical waveguide (W) with reference to the alignment marks (A).
US08142670B2
A micro-oscillating element includes a frame, a movable functional portion, and a torsional joint for joining the frame and the functional portion. The micro-oscillating element also includes first and second comb-tooth electrodes for generation of the driving force for the oscillating motion of the movable functional portion about the torsional joint. The first comb-tooth electrode includes a plurality of first electrode teeth each having a first conductor, an insulator and a second conductor laminated in the direction of the oscillating motion, where the first conductor and the second conductor are electrically connected with each other. The second comb-tooth electrode includes a plurality of second electrode teeth caused not to face the second conductor but to face the first conductor of the first electrode teeth during non-operation. The second electrode teeth are longer than the first conductor in the direction of the oscillating motion.
US08142669B2
An electromechanical element includes a mechanically movable element through a hollow formed on a substrate, and a plurality of holes formed in the movable element. In the electromechanical element, the plurality of holes are arranged such that at least two holes are in a same line, at least one hole is in another line located adjacent to the one line with at least two holes, and a distance between one of the holes arranged in the same line and the other hole located at the closest position from the one of the two holes arranged in the same line is longer than a distance between the holes adjacently arranged in the same line.
US08142668B2
A method is provided for filtering a fluid. The method includes the step of selecting a first surface filtration medium to include layers of a first mesh material (FMM). The method also includes the step of selecting a second surface filtration medium to include layers of a second mesh material (SMM). The layers of FMM are selected to include a first number of layers (FNL) for collectively providing a first absolute micron filter rating (FAMFR) and a first capacity for collecting a first type of particles. The layers of SMM are selected to include a second number of layers (SNL) different from the FNL. The SNL is selected for collectively providing a second absolute micron filter rating (SAMFR). The SAMFR is different from the FAMFR. The SNL is also selected for providing a second capacity for collecting a second type of particles. The second capacity is different from the first capacity.
US08142665B2
In a method of fast reduction of all iodine species, exclusively, including all volatile iodine species, into non-volatile iodide ions in an aqueous solution, a reducing agent and a co-agent with phase transfer catalyst—ion-exchanger property are simultaneously added to the aqueous solution and concurrently, thermal and radiolytic oxidation of iodide ions, otherwise yielding to revolatilzation, is suppressed producing an efficient retention of all iodide species in the aqueous solution.
US08142660B2
A filtrate monitoring device and a filtrate monitoring system, which can monitor a membrane-type water filtrating/purifying system at all times and which can flexibly adjust themselves to the contents and sizes of impurities, are provided. The filtrate monitoring device monitors the filtrate having passed through the membrane-type water filtrating/purifying device. The filtrate monitoring device comprises: imaging/detecting means for shooting images in the filtrate having passed through the filtrating/purifying device, on the filtrate flowing in an observation bath of a filtrate observing cell disposed midway of the branched filtrate pipeline, thereby to specify the particles contained in the filtrate, and/or optical detecting means disposed midway of the filtrate pipeline before or after branching.
US08142658B2
Processes for microbial digestion of organic material, and preparation of substrates for microbial digestion, suitable for the production of biomethane, from municipal and industrial waste water or from municipal or agricultural waste. In addition, a method for identifying a composition of matter that is suitable for microbial digestion, more particularly anaerobic digestion and/or mixed aerobic and anaerobic digestion. Also, a system and process for detoxifying organic wastes, such as those which may be present in waste water from industrial processes.
US08142656B1
Disclosed is a system for reducing the demand of wastewater volume flowing through a wastewater collection piping system and thereby increasing the effective capacity of the system. A portion of the wastewater is diverted from a sewer main. The solids are separated from the liquid, for example, by a vortex separator. The recovered liquid can be treated and made available for reuse or can be disposed of, for example, in a body of water or pumped into the ground. The concentrated solids are reintroduced into the main sewage line in a portion that adjusts the wastewater loading in the sewer main to a predetermined amount or predetermined range. Also disclosed is a system capable of reintroducing the concentrated solids into the sewer main in a portion that adjusts the solids loading in the sewer main to a predetermined amount or predetermined range.
US08142655B2
A filtration unit (A) is immersed in raw water (W) that is held inside a reservoir tank, and includes a membrane module (5) that filters the introduced raw water (W). This filtration unit (A) includes a casing (3) which is in the shape of a box having a bottom and includes the membrane module (5) housed therein, and an activated carbon cartridge (4) inside which activated carbon is provided in cartridge form. Inside the casing (3) are provided an intake port that is used to introduce the raw water into the interior of the casing, and an opening/closing device that is installed on this intake port and controls a flow of the raw water into the interior of the casing, and the activated carbon cartridge (4) side and the membrane module (5) side are separated so as to allow the raw water (W) introduced into the interior of the casing 3 to circulate from the activated carbon cartridge (4) side to the membrane module (5) side.
US08142654B2
A disposable and recyclable water bottle formed of a non-toxic plastic composition includes a flexible sidewall, a neck with an open top and cap, and an open bottom end. A filter cartridge is received within the open bottom and contains activated carbon sandwiched between 0.7 to 50 microns filtration membranes, all contained between upper and lower perforated plates. A lower portion of the filtration cartridge provides a filling chamber for receiving a flow of unfiltered water on to the lower perforated plates for passage through the filter. An arrangement of slots in the walls of the filling chamber allows a portion of the flowing water to bypass the filter in order to prevent overflow when filling the bottle. A cap containing internal screw threads attaches to the external screw threads of the open bottom end, sealing the interior of the bottle. Once sealed, the contained water is allowed to move around in a fluid motion between the interior of the bottle and the filling chamber.
US08142650B2
A water treatment system comprises: an oil removal apparatus including a fixed-bed reactor configured to hold an adsorption particles by use of a magnetic unit, the adsorption particles each including a base material containing magnetite, the adsorption particles configured to adsorb oil included in to-be-treated water; a pretreatment apparatus configured to recover the oil from the adsorption particles sent from the oil removal apparatus; and a thermal energy generating apparatus configured to obtain thermal energy from the oil recovered by the pretreatment apparatus.
US08142647B2
A process for adsorbing aromatic sulfur compounds, where an adsorbent is contacted with a C6-C20 aromatic and/or aliphatic stream which comprises a solution of (i) at least one benzothiophene compound, (ii) a solvent which comprises at least one C6-C16 aliphatic compound, and (iii) optionally at least one C6-C12 aromatic compound. In this process, the adsorbent is regenerated using an organic regenerant such as, but not limited to, toluene. Also disclosed is another process for adsorbing aromatic sulfur compounds. In this process, an adsorbent is contacted with a mixture comprising a model diesel feed comprising at least one benzothiophene compound. In this process, the adsorbent is regenerated using an organic regenerant such as, but not limited to, toluene.
US08142644B2
A process for hydrocracking and hydro-isomerization of a paraffinic feedstock obtained by Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis comprising at least 50 wt % of components boiling above 370° C. to obtain a hydro-isomerized feedstock, the process comprising contacting the feedstock, in the presence of hydrogen, at elevated temperature and pressure with a catalyst comprising a hydrogenating compound supported on a carrier comprising amorphous silica-alumina, the carrier having a pore volume of at least 0.8 ml/g, wherein at most 40% of the pore volume comes from pores having a pore diameter above 35 nm and wherein at most 20% of the pore volume comes from pores having a pore diameter below 50 Å and above 37 Å, the carrier having a median pore diameter of at least 85 Å, wherein the product of (surface area per pore volume) and (median pore diameter as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry) of the carrier is at least 34,000 Å·m2/ml.
US08142634B2
A method of treating an invert emulsion drilling fluid, the method including pumping the drilling fluid to an electrophoresis unit that includes a positively charged electrode and a negatively charged electrode, applying a voltage between 200 V and 5000 V across the two electrodes to deposit water and solids on one of the charged electrodes, and removing deposited solids and water from the collection electrode is disclosed. An apparatus for treating an invert emulsion drilling fluid, the apparatus including a bath, a drum disposed in the bath, a power supply capable of applying a voltage between the housing and the drum in the range of 200 V to 5000 V, a motor coupled to the drum to rotate the drum at a predetermined speed, and a scraper having a first position in which the scraper contacts the rotating drum to remove deposited solids and water and a second position in which the scraper is retained away from the drum is also disclosed.
US08142632B2
A method of manufacturing a fuel cell separator, the method including: subjecting the peripheral surfaces other than the respective gas passages of a pair of separator substrates formed from stainless steel to a cathodic electrolytic treatment within an alkali solution, thereby forming an iron-based hydrated oxide film on the peripheral surfaces of the pair of separator substrates (S200), conducting a water treatment by wetting the surface of the iron-based hydrated oxide film with water (S202), performing electrodeposition coating of an electrocoating material containing an aqueous resin onto at least one of the water-treated iron-based hydrated oxide films provided on the pair of separator substrates (S204), and baking the aqueous resin obtained by electrodeposition coating (S206).
US08142629B2
A biosensor according to the present invention comprises a support 1, a conductive layer 2 composed of an electrical conductive material such as noble metal, for example gold, palladium or the like, and carbon, slits 3a and 3b parallel to the side of the support 1, slits 4a and 4b vertical to the side of the support 1, a working electrode 5, a counter electrode 6, a detecting electrode 7, a spacer 8 which covers the working electrode 5, the counter electrode 6 and the detecting electrode 7 on the support 1, a rectangular cutout part 9 forming a specimen supply path, an inlet 9a of the specimen supply path, a reagent layer 12 formed by applying a reagent including an enzyme or the like to the working electrode 5, the counter electrode 6 and the detecting electrode 7, which is exposed from the cutout part 9 of the spacer 8, and a cover 13 which covers the spacer 8, as shown in FIG. 1. The so-constructed biosensor can be formed by a simple method, and a biosensor which is excellent in a measuring accuracy as well as a biosensor in which a reagent layer is placed uniformly on the electrodes regardless of a reagent liquid composition, and which has a uniform performance can be realized.
US08142627B2
A system to monitor, control and management of a plant where hydrometallurgical processes of electrowinning or electrorefining of non ferrous metals which enables measuring the process variables which comprises: at least one group of electrolytic cells, said cells having means for the collection and transmission of the variables of the process; a plurality of electrodes (5) installed in the interior of each electrolytic cell, making up, alternately, anodes and cathodes of basic cells; a plurality of electrode (5) hanger bars forming, alternately, hanger bars for electrical contact of anodes (20) and hanger bar for electrical contact of cathodes (18); a plurality of support electrical insulators (15) which are positioned in the upper portion of the lateral walls between two adjacent cells; a plurality of electrical bus bars (6) which are fitted on top of each support electrical insulator (15) and underneath the plurality of electrodes (5); a plurality of electrical spacer insulators (16) each spacer insulator (16) having monolithic non contact chairs (17) allowing installation, alternately, of hanger bar of anodes (20) and hanger bar of cathodes (18); a plurality of acid mist collection hoods (7); in which the constituting elements have at least one multifunctional chamber (12) which lodges circuits and/or electronic sensors (11) for measuring process variables which enable to monitor, control and manage the productive process.
US08142625B2
An electrochemical gas detector includes a superhydrophobic, nanostructured gas porous electrode. The electrode exhibits a physically disrupted porous region. In an embodiment, electrode material can be deposited around a templating material which is removed before use. Such electrodes exhibit repeatable and reproducible characteristics.
US08142618B2
A process comprising: continuously distilling a crude xylylenediamine in a column to form a pure xylylenediamine and a bottom product, wherein the column comprises a distillation column having a side draw and the distillation column is operated under a reduced pressure and a bottom temperature of 185° C. or less; drawing off the pure xylylenediamine from the side draw; evaporatively concentrating the bottom product of the distillation column in an additional evaporation stage to form a condensate; and returning the condensate into the distillation column.
US08142606B2
Methods and apparatus having a gradient spacing created between a substrate support assembly and a gas distribution plate for depositing a silicon film for solar cell applications are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for depositing films for solar cell applications may include a processing chamber, a substrate support disposed in the processing chamber and configured to support a quadrilateral substrate thereon, and a gas distribution plate disposed in the processing chamber above the substrate support, wherein a bottom surface of the gas distribution plate has a perimeter that includes edges and corners, and wherein the corners of the gas distribution plate are closer to the substrate support than the edges of the gas distribution plate.
US08142605B2
A circuit-connecting material which is interposed between circuit electrodes facing each other and electrically connects the electrodes in the pressing direction by pressing the facing electrodes against each other; the circuit-connecting material comprising as essential components (1) a curing agent capable of generating free radicals upon heating, (2) a hydroxyl-group-containing resin having a molecular weight of 10,000 or more and (3) a radical-polymerizable substance. Also provided are a circuit terminal connected structure and a circuit terminal connecting method which make use of such a material.
US08142602B2
A method of forming a bonded structure comprises the steps of: mounting a semiconductor device having an electrode; a convexity protruding higher than the electrode and formed of a resin; and a conductive unit electrically coupled to the electrode and extending over the surface of the convexity, onto a specific substrate with an intermediary of a bonding material; and mounting the semiconductor device by hot pressing within a temperature range including the glass transition temperature of the resin.
US08142598B2
A hollow filter tube is produced with a longitudinal seam and a fixed diameter. In the formation of the hollow tube glue is applied along a longitudinal side edge portion of an endless strip, and the strip is then formed into a tubular shape with an unglued longitudinal edge portion tucked directly under and against the glued side edge portion. The hollow tube is then heated to drive moisture from the glue and size and shape the hollow tube. Ultimately the formed hollow tube is cut into specific lengths.
US08142597B2
A method for manufacturing a printed-wiring board having an organic resin insulating layer and a metal wiring layer and having a film-like resistive element formed on the metal wiring layer thereof, the method including: disposing a metal wiring layer on one surface of one organic resin insulating layer 1 to form an organic resin printed-wiring board 4; forming a pair of electrodes 5 on the metal wiring layer of the organic resin printed-wiring board; forming a film-like resistive element 7 between the electrodes; applying a temperature and a pressure of a laminating press to the side of the metal wiring layer in the wiring board without use of a laminating adhesive agent to change a resistance value of the film-like resistive element; trimming the film-like resistive element for adjusting a resistance value; providing a circuit member 12 having at least one layer of insulating layer; and laminating the circuit member with a laminating adhesive agent 13 in between so as to contact with a layer of the organic resin printer-circuit board having the film-like resistive element formed thereon. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a printed-wiring board with built-in resistive element formed by resistive paste with high accuracy and high yield at low cost.
US08142592B2
A method allows for rapid manufacture of relatively thick adhesive coatings using a continuous process, where a single thin coating is continuously converted into a single thicker adhesive laminate. An exemplary process includes the steps of: (1) producing a web having a first surface with an adhesive layer and a second surface with a release liner; (2) slitting the web longitudinally into a first section and a second section, (3) laminating a backing film to the adhesive layer of the first section; (4) removing the release liner of the laminate of step (3) exposing the adhesive layer of the first section; and (5) laminating the second section to the laminate of step (4), wherein the adhesive layer of the laminate of step (4) is combined with the adhesive layer of the second section.
US08142586B2
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced composite sabot for use in APFSDS (Armor. Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot) wherein a plurality of fiber mats are laminated instead of one-directional prepreg ply and whole part is reinforced by stitching through long fiber bundle in order to enhance circumferential shear strength, and high quality fiber-reinforced composite sabot is manufactured in a short time using resin-injection vacuum assisted resin transfer molding after stitching.
US08142585B2
An off-line stretching device includes a film supply chamber, a tenter section, a relaxation chamber, a cooling chamber, and a winding chamber. The film supply chamber includes a splicing section, where a rear end of a preceding film and a front end of a trailing film are overlapped to be spliced to each other by thermal welding. The thermal welding is performed from above and below the film while a temperature of welding heads of a heat sealer, contacting with the film, is kept at a level equal to or less than a decomposition temperature of the preceding and trailing films. The spliced film is stretched in the tenter section and subjected to heat treatment for stress relaxation in the relaxation chamber, to shrink in a film width direction.
US08142584B2
An insulation product is provided comprising an insulation sheet containing randomly oriented fibers bonded together. The sheet has first and second major surfaces and a pair of side portions. A nonwoven facing layer is bonded to at least one of the major surfaces. The nonwoven facing layer comprises randomly oriented bicomponent fibers, each of the bicomponent fibers including first component and second component portions. The nonwoven facing layer is bonded to the at least one major surface at least in part by a meltbond between the first component portion of the bicomponent fibers and the randomly oriented fibers in the insulation sheet.
US08142580B1
A process for the adsorption of nitroglycerine from aqueous streams using nitrocellulose as the adsorbent.
US08142579B2
According to the present invention, a process for producing an aluminum alloy material, whereby reduction in toughness and in fatigue strength of the aluminum alloy material can be inhibited even after solution treatment is provided. Also, the following is provided: a process for producing an aluminum alloy material comprising at least the steps of subjecting a heat treatable aluminum alloy material to solution treatment and applying aging treatment to the aluminum alloy material subjected to solution treatment, which further comprises the following step between the solution treatment step and the aging treatment step: the step of subjecting the aluminum alloy material to plastic forming in a manner such that a given amount of equivalent strain is imparted to the aluminum alloy material from at least two directions while the aluminum alloy material subjected to solution treatment is maintained under temperature conditions that do not cause softening of the aluminum alloy material by over-aging.
US08142573B2
An R-T-B based sintered magnet includes both a light rare-earth element RL (which is at least one of Nd and Pr) and a heavy rare-earth element RH (which is at least one of Dy and Tb) and Nd2Fe14B type crystals as a main phase. The magnet has a first region, which includes either the heavy rare-earth element RH in a relatively low concentration or no heavy rare-earth elements RH at all, and a second region, which includes the heavy rare-earth element RH in a relatively high concentration. The first and second regions are combined together by going through a sintering process.
US08142570B1
An extraction device for a filter element containing collected particles of target material and an extraction fluid, wherein the device may have a piston and a vibration apparatus for vibrating the filter element to cause particles to move from the filter element and into the extraction fluid. The piston may first create compressed air to urge a first amount of extraction fluid and particles out of the filter element, and may then compress the filter element to urge a second amount of extraction fluid and particles out of the filter element.
US08142563B2
A stable aqueous soy flour slurry comprising defatted soy flour, water, and a water soluble polymer dispersing agent having a molecular weight in the range of from 1,000 to 20,000, wherein the viscosity of the slurry is in the range from 200 to 2,000 cps as measured by a DV-III Ultra LV Viscometer viscometer at 6 rpm using spindle #31 at 25° C.; and a method for providing such a slurry.
US08142555B2
The invention aims at making a volatile organic compound harmless, and in addition comprehensively improving the energy efficiency within a facility where treatment of the volatile organic compound is necessary. In the invention, in order to achieve this aim, a solution means is adopted where, a discharge gas containing a volatile organic compound is supplied to an adsorption apparatus to adsorb the volatile organic compound in an adsorbent. The volatile organic compound is desorbed from the adsorbent with pressurized steam and mixed with the steam. The steam containing the volatile organic compound is supplied, in the pressurized state, to the combustion chamber of a gas turbine, and burned together with a fuel gas.
US08142548B2
A method and apparatus for treating a coal combustion flue gas. In one embodiment, the method includes injecting a halogen into a flue gas, and injecting partially combusted, carbon enriched alkaline coal ash solid particles into the flue gas ahead of a particulate collection device. In another embodiment, the method includes exposing partially combusted, carbon enriched alkaline coal ash solid particles to a halogen containing atmosphere, and injecting the halogen atmosphere treated alkaline carbon containing solid particles into the flue gas ahead of a particulate collection device.
US08142544B2
A system and a method are described for monitoring pressure imbalances in the adsorbent beds of a portable gas concentrator. Using the programmability features found in modern portable concentrators, various mitigative procedures to adjust for pressure imbalances and to predict the need for service are disclosed.
US08142542B2
Offgas containing carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide that is produced in the reduction of ores and other metal oxides in a reactor is treated to reduce its carbon dioxide content and is then contacted with metal oxide to reduce the oxidation state of the metal and oxidize carbon monoxide therein to carbon dioxide, following which the reduced metal is oxidized with steam to produce hydrogen that can be fed to the reactor.
US08142532B2
Abrasive particles which are shaped abrasive particles each with an opening is disclosed. The shaped abrasive particles are formed from alpha alumina and have a first face and a second face separated by a thickness t. The opening in each of the shaped abrasive particles can improve grinding performance by reducing the size of a resulting wear flat, can provide a reservoir for grinding aid, and can improve adhesion to a backing in a coated abrasive article.
US08142526B2
Artificial fire logs made from non-petrochemical based, renewable materials are described. These artificial fire logs perform substantially equivalent to existing commercial fire logs. The artificial fire logs are made from cellulosic materials, a lignin containing composition and a non-petroleum based wax where the lignin containing composition comprises lignin and 1,3-propanediol derived from a renewable resource.
US08142521B2
An apparatus for fabricating thin films on substrate panels includes a deposition chamber enclosed by sidewalls, a lid, and a base. The apparatus includes a mixing chamber disposed above the lid and configured to receive vapor species and form a mixed vapor. The mixing chamber is coupled with the deposition chamber via inlets through the lid, including a diffuser plate. Two heater plates disposed side by side on the base supporting and heating two substrates.
US08142515B2
The present invention relates to a composite prosthesis for reinforcement of a tissue structure, including a porous textile support which includes an arrangement of threads each composed of at least one filament of nonabsorbable polymer material, said textile support defining a microporous texture including the interstices located between at least two threads at the sites of contact of one thread with at least one other thread, wherein, in at least one protected zone of the textile support, a hydrophilic absorbable material coats the textile support, forming a film enveloping and penetrating into the arrangement of threads, occluding at least the microporous texture, but without forming a plane layer covering at least one face of the textile support.It also relates to a process for preparing such a composite reinforcement prosthesis.
US08142509B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide patellar component designs that are optimally shaped to help reduce shear force and accommodate slight implantation error. Further, they help lessen anterior knee pain, particularly during deep-flexion activities and help ease the transition during the range of knee movement in a controlled way.
US08142508B1
A spinal cage with a wall extending in a longitudinal direction defining an interior space is disclosed. There is also provided a deployable element in movable relation to the spinal cage.
US08142504B2
The invention relates to a system which is used to fix a part to a bone element. The invention is essentially characterized in that it consists of: at least one hole which is disposed in part; a rigid rod comprising a first end, the rod being wound into a spiral along a first helicoidal curve; and a device for rotating the rod around the axis of the first helicoidal curve, such that the first end of the rod moves alternatively inside and outside the bone element and, during the rotation thereof, the first end of the rod moves at least once into the opening. The invention is particularly suitable for fixing intervertebral disks or fusion cages to the vertebral bodies of two consecutive vertebrae.
US08142500B2
An ossicular prosthesis has a first fastening element for connection to the tympanic membrane or a component of the ossicular chain, a second fastening element for connection to a further component of the ossicular chain, or directly to the inner ear, an elongated connecting element that connects the two fastening elements in a sound-conducting manner and includes an adjusting device for adjusting the axial length of the prosthesis and including at least two partial strands that extend symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the connecting element, are extendable and/or compressible in the axial direction, are permanently plastically deformable, and are folded into a plurality of loops transversely to the longitudinal axis before being deformed. As a result, a relatively simple design of the adjusting device considerably reduces the number of different prostheses that must be kept on hand, while ensuring that the prosthesis may be optimally adapted for a specific case.
US08142495B2
A system (1) for altering the geometry of a heart (100), comprising an annuloplasty ring; a set of elongate annulus-papillary tension members (21, 22, 23, 24), each of which tension members are adapted for forming a link between said ring (10) and a papillary muscle, each of said tension members (21, 22, 23, 24) having a first end (21b, 22b, 23b, 24b) and a second end (21a, 22a, 23a, 24a); and a first set of papillary anchors (30) for connecting each of the first ends (21b, 22b, 23b, 24b) of said tension members (21, 22, 23, 24) to said muscle; and where said annuloplasty ring (10) has at least one aperture (12, 13); where each of said annulus-papillary tension members (21, 22, 23, 24) are extendable through said ring (10) through said apertures (11, 12, 13), and through an atrium to an exterior side of said atrium, such that the distance of each link between the annulus and the muscles is adjustable from a position exterior to the heart.
US08142493B2
Catheter based systems and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems and methods employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty.
US08142491B2
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient and a method for manufacturing the same. The stent has front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The stent has a plurality of adjacent hoops that are held in alignment with the longitudinal axis between the front and back open ends by a thin film tube. The hoops are attached to either the inner or outer surface of the thin film tube. The stent is compressed into a first smaller diameter for insertion into the vessel with a delivery tube and a second larger diameter for deployment into the vessel. The inventive stent can be retracted into the delivery tube if it is improperly deployed.
US08142482B2
An apparatus for securing a spinal rod within an anchoring device, wherein the anchoring device has an open end and a locking cap for securing the spinal rod within the open end. The apparatus includes a handle, an elongated body connected to the handle, a pair of jaws attached to the elongated body, a rod persuader for advancing the rod toward the anchoring device, and a locking shaft for use in locking the locking cap against the anchoring device to secure the spinal rod relative to the anchoring device.
US08142480B2
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.
US08142477B2
A retaining system for affixing a component to a vertebral body is disclosed. The system comprises a component and a retaining mechanism. The component comprises an inner surface configured to engage at least a portion of an endplate surface of the vertebral body, and an outer surface configured to engage the retaining mechanism, wherein the outer surface of the component comprises a first face directed substantially toward the vertebral body. The retaining mechanism comprises an inner surface configured to engage the outer surface of the component, and an outer surface configured to receive a fastener, wherein the inner surface of the retaining mechanism comprising a second face directed substantially away from the vertebral body.
US08142473B2
An endoscopic surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft, which may be articulated to facilitate positioning of an end effector. The instrument accommodates reactionary forces associated with closing the end effector without substantial disruption to the position of the end effector. The instrument includes an elongated shaft housing generally defining distal and proximal shaft axes, and a torsion member extending through the shaft housing. The torsion member transmits rotational displacement from a handle portion of the instrument to the end effector to selectively move the end effector between open and closed configurations. The torsion member comprises a flexible shaft exhibiting a plurality of generally radial slots spaced longitudinally along a length of the flexible shaft.
US08142459B2
A device for performing an anterior capsulotomy procedure and a method using the same is presented. The device includes a body having a rotatable cutting element rotatably disposed on the proximal end. The cutting element further includes multiple surgical blades. In certain embodiments, the device further includes an arcuate member, wherein two surgical blades are attached at opposing ends and extend outwardly from the arcuate member. In using the device to perform an anterior capsulotomy, the device is inserted into an incision made in an eye and the surgical blades are brought in contact with the anterior capsule wall. The anterior capsule wall is then transformed by rotating the rotatable cutting element, creating an aperture there through.
US08142458B2
A rotational atherectomy device for removing a stenotic tissue from a vessel of a patient is disclosed. The device comprises a rotatable, flexible, hollow drive shaft having a fluid impermeable wall defining a lumen of the drive shaft and, an abrasive element mounted to a distal end portion of the drive shaft proximal to and spaced away from a distal support element formed at a distal end of the drive shaft. The distal support element is inflatable by pressurized fluid which flows in an antegrade direction through said lumen of the drive shaft and is least partially re-directed into the distal fluid inflatable support element. The distal fluid inflatable support element has an outer wall comprising an outflow opening located such that said outflow opening faces an inner surface of a treated vessel during rotation of the drive shaft so that a flow of fluid through said outflow opening forms a layer of fluid between the outer wall of the rotating fluid inflated distal support element and a wall of the treated vessel to form a fluid bearing between the outer wall of the rotating fluid inflated distal support element and the wall of the treated vessel. The fluid impermeable drive shaft comprises at least one torque transmitting coil and at least one fluid impermeable membrane which extends beyond a distal end of the torque transmitting coil and conveys torque to the abrasive element mounted to the drive shaft distal to and spaced away from the distal end of the torque transmitting coil.
US08142457B2
Methods and devices for performing intravascular endarterectomy. Methods includes intravascularly advancing a catheter having a carbon dioxide delivering distal end past a plaque-occluded vessel site, passing the distal end between the plaque and vessel wall. Other methods include intravascularly advancing paddles between plaque and vessel walls, including ultrasonic imaging paddles, ultrasonic vibrating paddles, and mechanically vibrating paddles. Some methods include providing intravascular devices having radially expandable jaws or paddles, and advancing those jaws or paddles along vessel walls to separate plaque from vessel walls. Still other methods include providing an anchoring guide catheter adapted to establish a suction grip around the left coronary artery ostium, and to use the anchored guide catheter to support intravascularly introduced endarterectomy devices operating on plaque in the left main coronary artery. One method utilizes retroperfusion of the coronary arteries to allow the anchoring guide catheter to remain in position for longer periods. Scissors-type expanding devices and stents for use after endarterectomy procedures are also provided.
US08142451B2
A clip applier for deploying a surgical clip includes an actuator having a flexible wire and a collet chuck coupled to a piston. Further, actuation of the piston in a forward direction towards a distal end of the clip applier advances the flexible wire in the forward direction.
US08142450B2
The present invention involves new interventional methods for reducing gastric volume, and thereby treating obesity. The procedures are generally performed laparoscopically and may generally be described as laparoscopic plication gastroplasty (LPG) in which, after obtaining abdominal access, spaced apart sites on a gastric wall are engaged and approximated to create one or more tissue folds that are then secured to produce one or more plications projecting into the gastrointestinal space. The serosal tissue may optionally be treated during the procedure to promote the formation of a strong serosa-to-serosa bond that ensures the long-term stability of the tissue plication. These procedures are preferably carried out entirely extragastrically (i.e. without penetrating through the gastrointestinal wall), thereby minimizing the risks of serious complications. Methods for reversing the procedure are also disclosed.
US08142444B2
A circumcision clamp and surgical kit including a rod having a bell-shaped member at a first end for receiving the head of a penis and an engagement structure at an opposing end; a base including: two hinged arms, wherein when closed the arms include at least three upwardly tapered apertures aligned along an arc and having unequal diameters, wherein each upward taper is complementary to the bell-shaped member, at least three fulcrum recesses aligned along an arc and in radial alignment with the at least three apertures; a lever including: a proximal end in radial alignment with the at least three apertures and the at least three fulcrum recesses, a distal end including a fulcrum foot complementary to the at least three fulcrum recesses and adapted for engagement with the engagement structure of the rod; and an adjustment structure for raising and lowering an engaged rod by pivoting the lever at one of the at least three fulcrum recesses.
US08142443B2
A surgical instrument featuring a combination cauterizing and surgical capture component. The instrument is deployable from a distal end of a lumen to a first position partially exposing a cauterizing loop and restrained radially deployable members wherein a plurality of cauterizations may be performed. The instrument is deployable to a second position fully translated from the lumen wherein the plurality of radially positionable members may be released by activation of a release member to allow the biased members to deploy radially around an axis running through the loop.
US08142442B2
An intravascular snare device for use in capturing debris found in blood vessels. The snare device is fabricated from a tube and includes longitudinally and circumferentially extending members. The snare device specifically embodies structure that provides enhanced radial opening and angular resistance to collapse.
US08142439B2
A method of connecting an impactor to an orthopaedic implant includes the steps of: providing the impactor including a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a trigger pivotably connected to the distal end, the trigger including a cam end, a push rod within the shaft and connected to the cam end of the trigger and a threaded pair connected to an end of the push rod opposite the trigger; providing the orthopaedic implant including a threaded hole; locating the threaded pair within the threaded hole; pivoting the trigger; linearly displacing the push rod; and radially expanding the threaded pair to engage the threaded hole.
US08142430B2
An integrated catheter assembly for enabling diverse endoscopic in situ therapies. The assembly includes a catheter with an irrigation fluid lumen, a distal electrode tip portion that acts as a hemostat, and a cutting wire for making incisions in or ablating tissue. A cutting wire hub provides a sealing entrance for a cutting wire. An operator enables the physician to displace the cutting wire between extended and retracted positions. The cutting wire and electrode are electrically isolated. In addition, the catheter assembly may include a planar tip which, when extended outside the distal end of the assembly, assumes a substantially flat unbiased configuration for use. The apparatus of the present invention allows the physician to make incisions in or ablate tissue using electrosurgery, irrigate tissue, and cauterize or coagulate tissue without having to remove the apparatus from the working channel of the endoscope.
US08142426B2
The invention provides a system and method for achieving the cosmetically beneficial effects of shrinking collagen tissue in the dermis or other areas of tissue in an effective, non-invasive manner using an array of electrodes. Systems described herein allow for improved treatment of tissue. Additional variations of the system include array of electrodes configured to minimize the energy required to produce the desired effect.
US08142421B2
The present invention is directed to a tool having a wrist mechanism that provides pitch and yaw rotation in such a way that the tool has no singularity in roll, pitch, and yaw. A positively positionable multi-disk wrist mechanism includes a plurality of disks or vertebrae stacked in series. Each vertebra is configured to rotate in pitch or in yaw with respect to each neighboring vertebra. Actuation cables are used to manipulate and control movement of the vertebrae. In specific embodiments, some of the cables are distal cables that extend from a proximal vertebra through one or more intermediate vertebrae to a distal vertebra, while the remaining cables are medial cables that extend from the proximal vertebra to one or more of the intermediate vertebrae. The cables are actuated by a pivoted plate cable actuator mechanism. In specific embodiments, the actuator mechanism includes a plurality of small radius holes or grooves for receiving the medial cables and a plurality of large radius holes or grooves for receiving the distal cables. The holes or grooves restrain the medial cables to a small radius of motion and the distal cables to a large radius of motion, so that the medial cables to the medial vertebra move only a fraction of the amount as the distal cables to the distal vertebra, so as to achieve precise control and manipulation of the vertebrae.
US08142419B2
A reduced-pressure, wound closure system is presented that generates a closing force on a surface wound and optionally provides reduced pressure to a body cavity or tissue site. The sealed contracting member, when placed under reduced pressure, generates the closing force. One illustrative system includes a first attachment member and a second attachment member, a sealed contracting member coupled to the first attachment member and the second attachment member, and wherein the closing force is generated between the first attachment member and the second attachment member when reduced pressure is supplied to the sealed contracting member. Other systems and methods are presented.
US08142410B2
A fluid absorption mat for use in a medical environment, the fluid absorption mat being a substantially planar mat having at least one fluid absorption layer. At least two absorption portions, presenting substantially juxtaposed projections on a principle plane of the mat, and present different absorption capacities are provided. Furthermore, use of the fluid absorption mat in a medical environment is provided.
US08142409B2
An absorbent article containing a top sheet, a bottom sheet, an absorbent core, and a scrotal catch, wherein the scrotal catch is configured to support, protect or cover at least a portion of a male's scrotum is provided. The absorbent article optionally contains a moisture-indicating device which allows a caregiver to be alerted to the presence of moisture in the absorbent article without removing clothing from the infant or individual wearing the absorbent article.
US08142399B2
A safety interlock for use in a medical device includes a central tubular portion defining a fluid passage for passing fluid through the safety interlock. An outer ring portion is adapted for mounting on the medical device. The outer ring portion is formed of a light transmitting material and includes at least one interposing surface. A connector portion connects the central tubular portion to the outer ring portion so that the outer ring portion is spaced radially outwardly from the central tubular portion in opposed relation with at least a portion of the central tubular portion. The safety interlock device is adapted for mounting in medical device in a path of electromagnetic radiation from a source of electromagnetic radiation for reflecting the electromagnetic radiation to a electromagnetic radiation detector when properly loaded on the medical device.
US08142391B2
A method and apparatus for delivering therapeutic or diagnostic agents as a low pressure high velocity spray into tissue. According to the particular desired spray characteristics, the spray may be generated via the combined use of pressure atomization and electrostatic spray charging, or via the combined use of pressure atomization and electrostatic atomization. Particle velocity, spray flow-rate, and spray dispersion are further controlled via electrostatic means.
US08142386B2
An anti-reflux ureteral stent includes an elongated member with a distal end having a first retention structure and a proximal end having a second retention structure. A lumen extends between the distal and proximal ends. The elongated member may include a valve near the proximal end and distal to the second retention structure. The valve may include one or more slits or windows tending to render the elongated member collapsible. The valve may include one or more protrusions to partially occlude the lumen. A protrusion, if present, may be shaped as a helical thread. The second retention structure may be shaped as a barb to engage a ureteral orifice in a bladder.
US08142379B2
The present invention relates to a portable device for providing continuous passive motion of a limb comprising a brace for supporting said limb. A programmable motor, mechanically connected to the brace, provides continuous passive motion of a limb. The movement of the limb is controlled in two control points of movement at the lower arm. Flexible positioning means are provided with a fastening means positioning the brace and the programmable motor on the body of a person carrying said device in a stable position. The programmable motor is partially housed within the positioning means. The invention is particularly suitable for use in paramedical and orthopedic applications. It allows adduction and abduction, rotation and exo/endo rotation of a limb.
US08142376B2
A massage device includes a support, a grip or gripping means firmly attached to the support and capable of being grasped in order for a user to handle the massage device, and at least two massage members rotatably mounted on the support around respective axes of rotation. The two massage members each typically include a roller that extends along a main axis of elongation, and massage components configured to bear against a skin surface, the massage components including free ends that project outwardly relative to the roller and that are arranged along at least one helix around the main axis of elongation of the roller, the massage components being distributed around at least one turn of the helix, said helix including an irregularity relative to the roller.
US08142371B2
A power transmission system, which transmits a driving force from a rotary actuator to a third joint of a leg link, applies a driving torque to the third joint from an output shaft of the rotary actuator via a driving crank arm, a connecting rod, and a driven crank arm. A translational force (rod transmitting force) generated at the connecting rod in the longitudinal direction thereof is measured on the basis of an output of a force sensor fixed to the connecting rod. With the rod transmitting force or a driving torque applied to the third joint by the rod transmitting force as a controlled variable, the driving force of the rotary actuator is feedback-controlled according to the measured value of the rod transmitting force and a desired value of the controlled variable so that the controlled variable coincides with the desired value.
US08142359B2
An enhanced intraluminal flow measurement system and method is conducive for a low-power ultrasonic system that can use continuous-wave (CW) Doppler sensing and wireless RF telemetry. Applications include measurement of blood flow in situ in living organisms. Implementations include an extraluminal component located outside of a body, such as a human or animal body, containing a lumen. The extraluminal component can be wirelessly coupled via an RF magnetic field or other RF field to an implantable intraluminal component. The intraluminal component (i.e. implant) is implanted inside of the lumen of the body such as a heart or elsewhere in a vasculature (such as in a dialysis shunt). The intraluminal component can telemeter, via RF electromagnetic signals, flow data directly out of the body housing the intraluminal component to be received by the extraluminal component.
US08142357B2
A condition monitoring device for monitoring conditions related to a user. A monitor main unit includes a connection structure for detachably attachment to a first sensor unit. The first sensor unit includes a first connector mated with the connection structure of the monitor main unit and a second connector detachably attachable to a second sensor unit. Data associated with the monitored condition detected by the first sensor unit is provided to the monitor main unit via the first connector and the connection structure. Data associated with a monitored condition detected by the second sensor unit is provided to the monitor main unit via the second connector, the first sensor unit, the first connector, and the connection structure.
US08142343B2
An external counterpulsation apparatus has an efficient cuff and bladder system. Embodiments of this system generally allow effective treatment at lower pressures and a reduced total body surface area being compressed. An accurate and reliable combination of automatic and preset timing for inflation and deflation of the bladder system is used to simplify use of the apparatus.
US08142341B1
A method and apparatus deliver consecutive foil leaves for use by a hair stylist during the course of a hair styling procedure. Each leaf is of a selected length severed from a supply of foil of indeterminate length, with a unitary tab folded along a fold line extending across the leaf, adjacent a leading edge of the leaf. The foil preferably is drawn from a roll of foil and is advanced along a feed path to a delivery station, and a cutter and folder are moved across the feed path to sever the leaf from the indeterminate length of foil and establish the tab adjacent the leading edge of the leaf. In the preferred arrangement, the cutter and the folder are moved simultaneously along respective arcuate paths by pivotal movement about a common pivotal axis.
US08142321B2
A control drive, consisting of an electric motor and a planetary gear mechanism flush with the electric motor on the same axis of symmetry, comprising a ring gear, a planet carrier and three planet gears mounted on the planet carrier, the planet gears each having a front surface in the assembly direction in the area of their external teeth and the ring gear in the region of its internal teeth having three angle areas assigned to the planet gears of its end opposite the assembly direction in a defined angle position of the planet carrier to ring gear. The task of the present invention is to ensure that an economical and time-decoupled simple and rapid assembly of the three planet gears in the ring gear is possible without increasing the manufacturing expense on this account, in which only slight changes to existing forms are necessary. This task is solved in that the axial spacing between the front surface of the first planet gear and the first angle area of ring gear assigned to it differs from the axial spacing between the front surface of the second planet gear and the second angle area of ring gear assigned to it and the axial spacing between the front surface of the third planet gear and the third angle area of ring gear assigned to it.
US08142320B2
A shift control apparatus that disconnects and connects respective pairs of friction engagement elements during downshift to a speed spaced apart by two or more steps through an intermediate shift speed. A shift controller controls a hydraulic pressure of a second shift release element by feedback control, and in accordance with the increase in the torque capacity of the second shift release element, also controls the torque capacity of a first shift engagement element so as to be sufficiently higher than the amount of change in the torque capacity of the second shift release element. The occurrence of adverse consequences in which a shift shock is generated is effectively suppressed because a sufficient reaction force cannot be ensured during engagement switching due to insufficient torque capacity of the first shift engagement element, and since the second shift release element cannot be appropriately feedback-controlled, difficulty in control of rotation change results.
US08142319B2
A sun gear of a first planetary gear train is connected to an input shaft. A carrier 9 of the first planetary gear train is connected to a sun gear of a second planetary gear train and to a first pump/motor. A ring gear of the first planetary gear train is connected to a second pump/motor, and a ring gear of the second planetary gear train is connected to an output shaft. A first clutch is provided for engaging and disengaging a carrier of the second planetary gear train and the ring gear of the first planetary gear train with and from each other, and a second clutch is provided for engaging and disengaging the carrier of the second planetary gear train and a fixed end with and from each other.
US08142316B2
A belt has a compression section, a tension section, and a load carrying section disposed between the compression section and the tension section. The belt has an elastomeric/thermoplastic material, the elastomeric/thermoplastic material has 50 to 90 parts per hundred of an elastomer and 10 to 50 parts per hundred thermoplastic.
US08142313B2
A hydraulic tensioner for a drive system, including a flexible, inextensible drive element, has a bi-directional travel limiter associated with a hydraulically biased tensioning cylinder. The travel limiter is bi-directional because it limits not only loading of the tensioning cylinder against a tensioner shoe in a direction tending to tighten a drive element, but also resists movement of the tensioner shoe in a direction tending to allow slack in a drive element.
US08142305B2
A sports activity swing trainer having a concave curved surface area on which a person stands to practice a swing for a sports activity.
US08142304B2
Golf club telemetry equipment sends signals to a receiver in a golf round data system. The signals uniquely identify the particular club a player has selected for a stroke and the fact that a stroke has been taken. The club identification can occur either before or during a stroke. Automatic detection of clubs and strokes simplifies round data collection for the player. Club identification before a stroke permits a forecast of the result of the stroke to be presented to the player prior to the stroke. The signals can be either acoustic or electromagnetic.
US08142295B2
Described is a levitating disk for performing illusions of levitation. The disk includes a disk-shaped housing, with a circuit board, microprocessor, and batteries encased within the housing. A series of LEDs are connected with the housing and are activated via a centrifugal force switch. The circuit board and batteries are positioned within the housing such that they distribute the weight evenly from a central axis toward the periphery of the housing. A micro-thread is included for attaching with the disk. Thus, in operation, a user can hang the disk with the micro-thread and spin the disk about the central axis to cause the lights to illuminate and cause the disk to appear as if it is levitating.
US08142286B2
A control system comprises a control device comprising a programmable macro button, a memory containing view change settings, a driver program and a microprocessor. The driver program includes a view change output that is produced in response to actuation of the macro button and is based on the view change settings. The microprocessor is configured to move the orientation of the character view of the game environment from a beginning orientation to an ending orientation in response to the view change output. Also disclosed is a method of using a control system to move an orientation of a character view of a game environment in a video game.
US08142281B2
The invention relates to a device which can be used in a gaming environment, typically to allow the user to place bets on specific games which are represented on the display screen of the device. The device is wireless which allows the user to be free to move around an area rather than be confined to a specific location to play the game. The device connects with a server via which bets can be placed and results notified to the device. The results data can be generated from a selected source such as a live game result or data generated by the server.
US08142273B2
Gaming machines, systems and methods for presenting gaming wheels are disclosed. Gaming machines can include an exterior housing, master gaming controller, display device, specialized wheel processor, speakers and a network interface. A multi-layer display device adapted to display a gaming wheel having a plurality of wheel stops distributed thereupon can include a display controller that generates or transmits display signals, a first display screen that presents a first visual display and a second display screen that presents a second visual display, where the second display screen is positioned behind the first display screen such that the first and second visual displays combine for a single visual presentation that can include a gaming wheel. Different portions of the gaming wheel can be presented on both of the first and second display screens. Multiple spinning wheels can overlap and/or align concentrically for alternative wager-based games.
US08142264B2
Computer program products for ruckers for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a translating member disposed in a housing having an axis of movement configured to reciprocally translate a chute body about the axis of movement; and at least one gripping member disposed in the housing in cooperating alignment with the translating member. In operation, the at least one gripping member has an automated stroke cycle whereby the at least one gripping member is configured to travel inwardly a distance sufficient to snugly abut an outer surface of the chute body while the chute body travels in a first direction about the axis of movement and to travel outwardly a sufficient distance to prevent contact with the chute body while the chute body travels in a second opposing direction about the axis of movement.
US08142262B2
The invention relates to a grinding device, comprising a mounting body which is detachably connected to a grinding element, said detachable connection being designed such that the mounting body has a first adhering arrangement and the grinding element has a second adhering element and the adhering elements correspond in the manner of a Velcro fastener. The aim of the invention is to improve the quality and efficiency of the detachable connection for exchange of the grinding element of the claimed grinding device. Said aim is achieved, wherein the first adhering element (1) and the second adhering element (2) comprise a number of projections (3) each with a cross-sectional widening in the direction of the free end (7) of the projection (3).
US08142259B2
A grinding machine includes a holding table adapted to hold a workpiece, a grinding unit operative to grind the workpiece held on the holding piece, and a grinding unit transfer mechanism operative to shift the grinding unit in a direction coming close to or moving away from the workpiece. The grinding unit includes a porous pad having fine pores opposed to the workpiece, a gel-like slurry storing portion provided on the porous pad so as to store a gel-like slurry therein, and a water supply unit to supply water between the porous pad and the workpiece. The porous pad contains relatively larger superabrasives at least at an outer circumferential portion. The fine pores of the porous pad have a diameter greater than that of relatively small superabrasives contained in the gel-like slurry.
US08142255B2
A pad for relieving breast engorgement includes a material comprising absorbent fibers and an acidic agent. The pad is configured to insert within the cup of a bra. A bra pad has a layer of absorbent fiber material with a front surface and a back surface. A liquid barrier layer has a first side interfacing the back surface of the absorbent fiber material and an opposing second side. An acidic agent is disposed within the absorbent fiber material. A method of relieving breast engorgement includes providing an absorbent pad including absorbent fibers and an acidic agent shaped to insert within a cup of a bra and disposing the pad between the cup of the bra and an engorged breast to be relieved.
US08142253B2
A box turkey call comprising a sound box with a bottom wall, side walls, front end wall and back end wall, a first quick changeable attachment component secured to the front end wall, a striker having a front end, a distal back end, a top surface and a bottom surface, where the back end of the striker comprises an integrated handle, where the bottom surface of the striker is rounded laterally, and where the front end of the striker has a second quick changeable attachment component, where the first quick changeable attachment component and the second quick changeable attachment component are in pivotal but quickly detachable engagement.
US08142245B2
An air intake passage system includes an external air intake port provided in a rear portion of a top cover and a passageway section projecting upwardly from the engine cover for directing taken-in external air to the engine. The top cover is provided over the engine cover with a gap therebetween such that the taken-in external air is allowed to flow into the passageway section and a water discharge section is provided between the engine cover and the top cover. Water, having entered together with external air, flows along the upper surface of the engine cover, bypasses the passageway section and is then discharged via the water discharge section.
US08142243B2
Outboard engine body is mounted via a swivel shaft to a stern bracket. Angle sensor, provided on the stern bracket, includes a contact having a maximum operating angle set to be not greater than half of a maximum steered angle of the engine body, and it outputs detection information indicative of an operating angle of the contact. Curved member is provided on the engine body and normally held in engagement with the contact, and it has a continuously varying radius of curvature from the central axis of the swivel shaft, so that the contact varies in operating angle while sliding along a curved outer peripheral surface of the curved member in response to steering operation. Thus, a steered angle is determined on the basis of the detection information from the angle sensor.
US08142242B2
Illustrative marine propulsion systems are disclosed. In a non-limiting, illustrative embodiment, a marine propulsion system includes a pump housing that is configured to be disposed below a waterline of a marine vessel and a centrifugal pump assembly that is disposed in the pump housing. The centrifugal pump assembly includes an inlet pump stage configured to receive inlet water and to discharge impulse water. The centrifugal pump assembly also includes an outlet pump stage that includes an impulse turbine wheel configured to rotate about an axis responsive to the impulse water and an outlet pump stage impeller integral with the impulse turbine wheel. The outlet pump stage impeller is configured to rotate about the axis.
US08142237B2
An exemplary embodiment relates to a measuring device for measuring a current flowing in a first cable. The measuring device includes a measuring shunt in the form of a plate connected in series with the first cable and associated with a measuring electronic card connected to a data transmission cable. The measuring shunt further includes a measuring portion of resistive alloy coupled to connection portions on either side of the measuring portion. The connection portions are integrally formed with the measuring portion, and the first cable is secured to at least one of the connection portions of the measuring shunt.
US08142235B2
The invention relates to a potential distribution system for motor vehicles, which makes provision for a reserve on contact bars of an excess number of connection possibilities for further outlets. The connection possibilities which are not required can be closed off with a blanking plug and the connection possibilities which are required are brought in contact by means of an intermediate element, wherein the intermediate element can be designed as a fuse box or as an intermediate plug with integrated fuses.
US08142233B2
A connector for connecting together two ends of flat flexible cable includes a base member and a cover member. The base member has a plurality of slots that receive a corresponding number of conductive terminals. The terminals have two upward bends in them near their midpoint and these bends are spaced apart longitudinally along the terminals so as to mate with exposed ends of the lengths of flat cable. Two projections serve as press arms to retain a cover in place upon the base member. The cover exerts a pressure on the cable ends and the terminals to provide a reliable electrical contact between them.
US08142224B2
An cable assembly includes an insulative housing; a plurality of terminals received in the insulative housing; a cable having a plurality of wires connected to the terminals; and a metallic shell enclosing the insulative housing and the terminals, the metallic shell includes a first shell, a second shell and a third shell, the first shell enclosing the second shell, and the third shell arranged between the first shell and the second shell.
US08142223B2
A connector of termination assembly for a mini-coaxial cable in different embodiments is made up of an extension tip which is preassembled in a connector body to receive the inner conductor pin on the cable, a first inner sleeve which fits over an exposed end of the dielectric layer, a second outer sleeve which surrounds a compression ring, and a crimping ring is mounted on the outside of the outer sleeve to force the sleeves to be radially contracted into crimping engagement with the cable. Variations of the connector body may be employed for different types of connectors including modifications in the extension tip to facilitate insertion of the conductor into the assembly and color bands to signify the size of cable and intended application.
US08142218B2
An electrical plug connector based on the push-pull system, with a plug component and a matching plug component that can be connected to the plug component, both of which each include one or several associated electrical contacts held by a contact carrier, and with a locking mechanism that is provided on the plug component and includes at least one movable locking element with a latch surface that is associated, on the matching plug component, with a fixed locking element with a matching surface for the latch surface. The plug component includes a plug component housing with an axially displaceable sliding sleeve with an actuation element for the locking element formed on the inside wall, wherein, when the plug component is connected to the matching plug component, a—in the plug-in direction—frontal section of the circumferential wall area of the plug component housing overlaps the matching plug component on the outside in a plug-in area. The locking element projects radially beyond an inner surface of the circumferential wall area, and the locking of the locking element with the matching locking element is achieved by moving the locking element transversely to the plug-in direction of the plug connector along the circumferential wall area.
US08142212B2
According to various embodiments, an exemplary locking mechanism for a USB connector comprises a hook, a hook bracket at least partially inserted within the hook to form a first assembly, a holder, the holder enclosing at least a portion of the first assembly to form a second assembly, and a button, the button enclosing at least a portion of the second assembly to form the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may further comprise a spring fitted around a protruding portion of the hook bracket, the protruding portion extending outward from the first assembly. The locking mechanism may further comprise one or more screws attaching the first assembly to the holder to form the second assembly. The locking mechanism may include a cap enclosing at least a portion of the button to form a locking cap.
US08142211B2
A device for preventing electrical shock from a device with electrical interfaces. A shutter or other barrier associated with the device that physically prevents access or contact to one of the electrical interfaces while another electrical interface is in use.
US08142209B2
An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) having a base (11) and a tongue plate (12) protruding beyond the base (11); a set of contacts (2) having contacting portions (26) arranged in one row along one side of the tongue plate (12), the contacts (2) consisting of a first type of grounding contacts (G) and a second type of a set of pairs of differential contacts (24, 23, 22, 21), the differential contacts comprising a first pair of differential contacts (24) for bi-directionally transmitting data and a second pair of differential contacts (23) for unidirectionally transmitting data, in the contacting portions (26), the grounding contacts having at least two grounding contacts (G1, G2) arranged between the first pair of differential contacts (24) and the second pair of differential contacts (23); and a metal shell (3) covering the insulative housing (1) and having a receiving space (30) for the tongue plate (12) extending into.
US08142205B2
An electronic apparatus includes a housing; a terminal block fixed to the housing at both ends thereof in a width direction; and a printed circuit board extending in a depth direction of the terminal block, one end of the printed circuit board in the depth direction being fixed to the housing, and the other end of the print circuit board in the depth direction being fixed to the terminal block at a position below the terminal block.
US08142186B2
The invention relates to an arrangement for preparation of a fuel for combustion including a burner, a combustion chamber associated with the burner and in which combustion of a fuel is to take place in use of the arrangement as well as means for supplying liquid fuel to the arrangement through an internal passage in the burner for said combustion, solid portions of the burner body being heated by said combustion in use of the arrangement, wherein said internal passage is located inside said solid portions of the burner body for receiving heat energy evaporating said fuel from these body portions, and that it comprises means for conveying vaporized fuel to the combustion chamber to take part in the combustion.
US08142184B2
Tools of plastics processing machines are cooled over their surface and/or at particular points as soon as compound supply is finished. Heat is thus suitably withdrawn from the shaped compound, ensuring the fastest possible cooling and shortening cycle times. The invention relates to a closed, coolant-filled cooling system for tools of plastics processing machines having at least one compressor, a supply pipe, a tool region to be cooled and a discharge pipe, the supply pipe being connected to the outlet of the compressor and the discharge pipe being connected to the inlet of the compressor, while at least one open end of the supply pipe plunges into at least one bore arranged in the tool region to be cooled, and an open end of the discharge pipe is sealed to this bore. The supply pipe and the discharge pipe may be combined in a coaxial pipe with the supply pipe arranged in the centre and the discharge pipe enveloping the supply pipe.
US08142180B2
An improved forming wire is described. A forming wire in a first embodiment comprises a base comprising a structure with a bore therethrough, a first support arm and a second support arm, each said arm projecting normally from said base, each said arm having a proximal tip connected to said base and a distal tip remote from said base, a bending loop having an arcuate shape and extending from the distal tip of the first support arm to the distal tip of the second support arm, an inner arm having a helical shape and extending from the distal tip of the first support arm to the base; and an outer arm having a helical shape and extending from the distal tip of the second support arm to a point above the base, thereby defining a space between the base and the outer arm. In other embodiments, the forming wire has a single support arm. In some embodiments, the forming wire is made of poly-tetrafluoroethylene tubing over stainless steel rods.
US08142174B2
An air pump set includes an air pump, at least two air distributors and a pressure reducer. At least two air distributors are serially connected with the air pump for further distributing the pressurized air to respective air-requiring targets. The pressure reducer is serially connected between any adjacent two of the at least two distributors for reducing the pressure of the pressurized air to a downstream one of any adjacent two of the at least two distributors. The pressure reducer includes a hollow cylinder and a cylinder core. The hollow cylinder includes a first pair of inlet and outlet and a second pair of inlet and outlet. The cylinder core is loosely fitted within the hollow cylinder, and comprises a first air channel and a second air channel. The cylinder core is rotatable between a first position and a second position relative to the hollow cylinder.
US08142169B2
An ejector for a turbine engine is described herein. The ejector may include a variable geometry motive nozzle and a variable geometry mixing tube positioned downstream of the variable geometry motive nozzle.
US08142160B2
Disclosed is a high speed type impeller, including: a body having a shaft coupling hole into which a rotation shaft of a motor is coupled, the outer circumference of the body being widened from the top to bottom end in the insertion direction of the rotation shaft to form a bent surface, a step portion shadowed in the radial direction being formed on the top end of the body; a plurality of blades installed on the bent surface of the body to be bent at a predetermined angle to the rotation shaft direction; and an upper reinforcing ring installed at the step portion of the body. Even through the impeller is made of a low cost material, the reinforcing ring reinforces the weak portion of the impeller to improve durability. Reliability of the impeller is attained with high economical efficiency.
US08142159B2
A fan includes a plurality of blades and a motor. The motor includes a hub and a shaft having an end connected to the hub, a bushing, a bearing, and an oil-sealing structure. The blades are connected with and surrounding around the hub. The bushing is for supporting the other end of the shaft, and the bearing is disposed in the bushing and used to telescope the shaft. The shaft passes through the oil-sealing structure. The oil-sealing structure is telescoped to the shaft to fit tightly and the oil-sealing structure includes a main body and a barricade inwardly extending toward the shaft so that the oil-sealing structure is fixedly connected with the bushing.
US08142144B2
Disclosed is an aircraft turbine engine. The turbine engine includes an air intake having a tubular internal wall and a fan enclosed by a tubular fan casing, and the rear end of the said air intake internal wall and the front end of the fan casing are joined together by at least one fastener. The air intake internal wall, the fan casing, or both, are comprised of a resin/fiber composite. The rear end of the air intake internal wall and the front end of the fan casing are uniform, and have no projections that join the internal wall and casing together.
US08142139B2
Due to variations arising during manufacturing, axial fans often are slightly imbalanced, resulting in noise during operation, which is undesirable in many contexts, for example when the fan is used for ventilation purposes in a motor vehicle. A fan with improved vibration and noise damping can be achieved by elastically suspending the fan wheel within a first ring formed of a hard plastic, the first ring having a tubular extension formed of a softer plastic, and serving to mechanically connect the first ring to a surrounding annular carrier part. Optionally, the first ring and extension unit can include a spring element. Preferably, the first ring and tubular extension are produced by a multi-component forming technology such as two-plastic technology. The fan is preferably driven by an electronically commutated motor (ECM).
US08142136B2
An oil-sealing arrangement for cooling fan includes a fan housing provided with a central hollow pipe having a hollow bearing fitted therein in a clearance fit relation, and the bearing having a front end formed into a forward tapered projection; and a blade carrier including a fitting cylinder with a rearward tapered projection. When the fitting cylinder is extended into the hollow pipe on the fan housing, the rearward tapered projection and the forward tapered projection together define a seeped oil chamber between them. When the cooling fan operates, lubricating oil seeped out of the hollow pipe along the bearing is recovered in the seeped oil chamber and flows back to the hollow pipe via the clearance between the bearing and the hollow pipe without being centrifugally thrown out of the cooling fan, allowing the cooling fan to have extended usable life.
US08142135B2
A dolly is disclosed for a semi-trailer that has a compromised structure due to a load shift or an accident. The semi-trailer dolly can also be used to extricate a semi-trailer stuck under a bridge without damaging the wheels or tires of the semi-trailer. In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the dolly is configured to provide transverse support of a semi-trailer in an area between the rear axles of the semi-trailer and the front of the semi-trailer. More particularly, the dolly is configured to provide a uniform transverse lifting force to a semi-trailer in an area between the rear axles of a semi-trailer and the front of a semi-trailer where a structural failure of the semi-trailer is likely to occur. The semi-trailer dolly includes a removable saddle and a wheeled cart that includes lifting mechanisms. The removable saddle can be removed from the wheeled cart and positioned under the trailer. Tow truck boom winches connected to opposite sides of the saddle can then be used to lift the saddle and thus the trailer to enable the wheeled cart to be put in position under the saddle. Once the wheeled cart is positioned under the saddle, adjustable lifting mechanisms on the wheeled cart enable the height of the saddle to be varied. The lifting mechanisms are then used to level the floor of the semi-trailer and provide support for the floor of the semi-trailer 24 so that the breached semi-trailer can be transported by a tractor. The wheeled cart may include self steering wheels which facilitate transport of the breached semi-trailer by a tractor.
US08142126B2
According to a preferred embodiment, a multi-piece fastener with self-indexing nut is disclosed. The multi-piece fastener is designed for use in low clearance areas such as aircraft wing side-of-body joint locations. The multi-piece fastener comprises a stud comprising an elongated part extending between a first end face and a second end face, a threaded head fastener, a threaded tail fastener, and a wrenching feature. A self-indexing feature is provided on the stud and head fastener which allows automatic orientation of the head fastener with respect to the stud.
US08142117B2
A locating system and method for accurately positioning key blanks with respect to a key cutter where the key head is clamped between opposing jaws with the key blade working edges projecting therefrom, the key head is provided with shaped recesses having at least a partially specifically shaped edge wall and wherein at least one jaw member is provided with a projection having a correspondingly shaped sidewall, the pin being positioned with respect to the clamp such that when the key blank head is abutted against the pin with the key blank edge configuration mating to the pin sidewall configuration, the key blade will project from the jaw in a proper position for engagement by either the bitting follower or bitting cutter respectively.
US08142116B2
A tool for rotary cutting machining includes a tool body and a replaceable cutting head detachably attachable to the tool body. At its front end, the tool body is provide with two coupling legs projecting in an axial direction. The respective coupling leg is provided with a stop surface for transferring torque from the tool body to the cutting head, which stop surface is designed for abutment against a corresponding stop surface of the cutting head. The respective coupling leg is provided with a shoulder protruding from the stop surface of the coupling leg. The cutting head is provided with two shoulders facing the front end of the cutting head and arranged on opposite sides of the center axis of the cutting head, which shoulders border on a respective one of said stop surfaces of the cutting head and are arranged to extend in under a respective one of said shoulders of the coupling legs of the tool body when the cutting head is attached to the tool body, so as to thereby present the cutting head from being displaced in axial direction away from the tool body. The invention also relates to a tool body and a cutting head included in such a tool.
US08142110B2
Provided are an anchor fixing agent which can fill up fine concave and convex portions present on the inner surface of a hole formed in a base material and can maintain great strength, in particular, even after the lapse of a long period of time; an anchor fixing agent ampule; and a method for fixing an anchor. An anchor fixing agent which comprises an alumina cement, a lime and/or a portland cement, and water. Preferably, it further comprises an agent for the retardation of setting and light magnesia. The anchor fixing agent ampule holds a solid component and a liquid component in the anchor fixing agent in the state wherein the components are separated from each other.
US08142109B2
A corrosion-protected, self-drilling anchor and an anchor subunit and to a method for the production thereof is provided. A self-drilling anchor of the invention includes a number of anchor subunits, each with a hollow bar element, which are connected together by the formation of an axial bell butt joint to form a connected pull and pressure member. The first subunit t its end has a drill bit and the subunit is connected non-rotatably with its end to a drilling and injection device. It is provided according to the invention that each hollow bar element is surrounded by a sheathing except for its end sections and the annular gap between the sheathing and hollow bar element is grouted with a first corrosion protection compound. A coupler in the area of the bell butt joint fits tightly against the sheathings of the two hollow bar elements which are part of the bell butt joint. The hollow space between the coupler and hollow bar elements is filled with a second corrosion protection compound. A method of the invention provides for the prefabrication of a number of anchor subunits at the factory to drill these into the substrate at the site of the anchor to be produced and thereby for connecting them together with the formation of bell butt joints, whereby in the area of the bell butt joint a coupler fits tightly against the ends of two neighboring sheathings and the hollow space between the coupler and hollow bar element is filled with a second corrosion protection compound.
US08142107B2
This invention relates to an offshore system, comprising a drilling vessel, e.g. a semi-submersible drilling vessel comprising a deck on which a drilling tower for performing drilling operations is mounted. The vessel is furthermore provided with a support for a tiltable J-lay tower for laying a pipeline, said support being arranged next to the drilling tower, and the offshore system further includes a J-lay tower which is or can be mounted on said support.
US08142100B2
This invention pertains to an animal crossing warning zone wherein a motorist is alerted that he or she is entering, passing through, and then exiting a section of roadway where wild animals, such as whitetail deer, have a tendency to cross the road. A method of applying the animal crossing warning zone onto, into or out of an upper surface of a roadway is also disclosed.
US08142099B2
An automatic transmission that includes an input shaft; an output shaft; and a speed change mechanism portion that shifts a rotation of the input shaft to be transmitted to the output shaft, wherein: the output shaft has a spline formed in a range in which the output shaft fits in a power transmission shaft included in a vehicle, and n-stage (n is an integer of at least 2) chamfering is performed on a larger diameter portion of the spline.
US08142098B2
Technology which enables a first member and a second member to be firmly fastened together is provided. A bar-shaped section is formed on the first member, a hole is formed in the second member, and the bar-shaped section of the first member is pressure fitted into the hole of the second member. Here, peak sections which extend intermittently in the axial direction or peak sections which extend obliquely with respect to the axial direction are formed in a repeating fashion in the circumferential direction, on the side face of the harder of the bar-shaped member and the hole.
US08142094B2
A floor mop for cleaning a surface by wet mopping in which the mop has a spray nozzle mounted in the mop head. There is a handle connected to the mop head by a universal joint. A cloth is removably mounted on the under surface of the mop head for easy replacement when it is soiled or worn out. A fluid tank is mounted in the mop head. A pump is connected to the fluid tank. A wireless signal generator is mounted on the handle for sending a wireless signal to a receiver in the mop head for activating the pump for spraying fluid onto the surface to effect wet mopping when the wireless signal is received.
US08142079B2
A liner motion guide unit has a means to keep a cage against wandering, in which a pinion is made up of holder halves that are adapted to squeeze each other against the cage to make sure of keeping a pinion in place with accuracy. The means for keeping the cage against wandering is comprised of a pinion holder fitting into a window cut in the cage, racks lying on sides of the guideway members, one to each side, and a pinion provided with teeth mating with the racks and installed in the cage for rotation. The pinion holder is made up of holder halves, any one of which lies on any one side of the cage at a marginal edge of the cage at the same marginal edge of the window. The holder halves have sidewise extensions to firmly squeeze the cage between them along the marginal edge of the window.
US08142072B2
The invention provides an indicator excellent in constitutional simplicity and capable of indicating both the temperature of an article to be indicated and elapsed time at that temperature, as well as an indicator of simple constitution capable of indicating the level of deformation of the article by external force. Disclosed is an external stimulus indicator including a polymer composition composed of a polymer and a dye, wherein the polymer composition has the dye fixed in a specific molecular dispersion state in the polymer, and when kept at a temperature not lower than a specific temperature for at least a predetermined time or deformed to at least a certain level by external force, changes its color to a hue different from the initial hue thereof.
US08142059B2
An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes a control and an imaging device having a forward field of view. The control is operable to process image data captured by the imaging device to determine if an object imaged by the imaging device is an object of interest present generally forwardly and/or sidewardly of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along the road. An illumination source is operable to illuminate generally forwardly and/or sidewardly of the vehicle. The illumination source includes an array of light emitting diodes and illumination emanating from the illumination source is adjustable via selectively activating at least some individual light emitting diodes of the array of light emitting diodes. Adjustment of the illumination source is responsive to determination by the control that an imaged object is an object of interest to the driver of the vehicle.
US08142055B2
A system for leveling a lampshade comprising, a pivot member operative to engage a post of a lamp harp and support a spyder portion of a lampshade, and a retaining member operative to engage the post and induce a force on the spyder portion.
US08142048B2
A lighting assembly includes a housing enclosing a lamp for illuminating a target area. The housing has an open end and an end wall removably coupled to the open end of the housing. A retaining member such as a spring clip extends between the end wall and the internal portion of the housing for retaining the end wall to the housing. The spring clip has one end coupled to the end wall and a hook-like portion received in an aperture in the housing for applying a biasing tension on the end wall.
US08142038B2
A refrigerator has a door, a lampshade and a lamp set, internal and external clamping walls and a seal retainer formed on the frame of the door. The lampshade and the lamp are set on the inner side of the frame of the door. The lamp is installed on the inner side of the doorframe, so that on the one hand the inner space of the refrigerator is not occupied by the illuminating device, and on the other hand, damage to the lamp caused by placing or taking goods relative to the refrigerator is prevented. Also, the lamp is installed on the door, and the light generated by the lamp irradiates inwardly to enhance the illuminating effect.
US08142035B2
A coated article such as a mirror or window is provided, the coated article including a coating supported by a glass substrate. The coating may include at least a reflective layer in certain example embodiments of this invention. In certain example embodiments, the reflective layer and/or a layer proximate thereto is selectively oxidized or oxidized in areas corresponding to draw lines or other non-uniformities in the glass substrate. This permits reflections from the coated article to be more uniform and/or less distorted.
US08142026B2
Projector alignment in a multiple-projector projection system is checked by determining a location of at least a portion of a boundary of an image field projected by at least one of the projectors and comparing the determined location of the at least the portion of the image field to a system-calibrated reference location of the at least the portion of the boundary of the image field.
US08142021B2
In a light projection system, potentially hierarchical levels of light intensity control ensure proper laser-light output intensity, color channel intensity, white point, left/right image intensity balancing, or combinations thereof. The light projection system can include a light intensity sensor in an image path, in a light-source subsystem light-dump path, in a light-modulation subsystem light-dump path, in a position to measure light leaked from optical components, or combinations thereof.
US08142018B2
Imaging apparatus and filters are provided for accurately imaging, assessing and measuring a patient's macular pigment. A multi-band filter is employed in combination with a color digital fundus camera to provide a method that operates with a single imaging exposure. The multiband filter has bandpass regions within spectral ranges of the red, green and blue detectors of the CCD array employed within the fundus camera, the bandpass regions being sufficiently sharply defined so as to avoid regions where the CCD detector responses spectrally overlap. This provides three discrete channels of grayscale data corresponding to the bandpass regions of the multiband filter, which can be used to calculate macular pigment topographically. Methods are also disclosed for calculating the optical density of the macular pigment and advantageously displaying the resulting data.
US08142013B2
A glasses structure includes a frame, two temple arms and a bridge. The frame has two end portions arranged at lateral sides thereof and a middle portion connecting the two end portions. Each temple has a elastic engagement member at a front end thereof for clamping the respective end portion of the frame. The bridge has a elastic clip member clamping the middle portion of the frame. Therefore, the temple arms and the bridge could link to the frame without screw members.
US08142012B2
Eyeglasses, the eyeglasses defining substantially opposed lateral sides, the eyeglasses comprising: a pair of lenses provided in a substantially side-by-side relationship relative to each other between the eyeglasses lateral sides; a pair of connectors each provided substantially adjacent a respective one of the eyeglasses lateral sides; and a pair of side arms, each of the side arms being pivotally coupled to a respective one of the connectors so as to be pivotable in a side arm pivoting plane to a closed, an opened, an extended and a released configuration. In the closed configuration, the side arms are each substantially adjacent and substantially parallel to the lenses. In the opened configuration, the side arms extend substantially perpendicular to the lenses. In the released configuration, the side arms are located opposite to the lenses relatively to the connector and are substantially freely pivotable in the side arm pivoting plane. In the extended configuration, the side arms are between the opened and released configurations and are biased toward the opened configuration.
US08142010B2
The invention provides a transporting belt for inkjet use, the belt having a seamless belt shape having at least one layer, the innermost layer comprising at least one of polyamide, polyester, and polyimide resins as the resin component and a conductive filler, and having a volume resistivity of about 1010 to 1014Ω·cm.
US08142009B2
An inkjet printer including an inkjet head unit having inkjet heads for ejecting UV inks, an UVLED unit having a UVLED for emitting ultraviolet light, and a control unit for controlling the inkjet head unit and the UVLED unit. The control unit controls the inkjet head unit and the UVLED unit to move in the scanning direction, controls the inkjet heads to eject UV inks, and controls the UVLED to emit ultraviolet light of a first light quantity. After that, the control unit controls the inkjet head unit and the UVLED unit to move in the direction opposite to the scanning direction and controls the UVLED to emit ultraviolet light of a second light quantity.
US08141999B2
A valve mechanism includes a particular wall having a first opening formed therethrough, and a tube member including a particular surface which contacts the particular wall, and a central axis. The valve mechanism also includes a lid member configured to selectively cover and uncover the first opening, and a flexible inner wall positioned in an interior of the tube member. The flexible inner wall extends from the tube member to the lid member in a direction which intersects the central axis, and the flexible inner wall has a second opening formed therethrough. Moreover, a cross-sectional shape of the flexible inner wall in a particular plane is bent, and the central axis lies on the particular plane.
US08141996B2
Disclosed is a liquid ejecting device including a liquid ejecting head including a liquid ejecting nozzle, a head tank configured to store liquid to be fed to the liquid ejecting head, a liquid storing container configured to store liquid to be fed to the head tank, a first liquid sending device configured to send liquid from the liquid storing container to the head tank, a pressure adjusting tank configured to store liquid suctioned from the liquid ejecting head, and a second liquid sending device configured to send liquid from the liquid ejecting head to the pressure adjusting tank, wherein the head tank includes a liquid receiving port configured to receive liquid from the liquid storing container via a liquid receiving valve being opened at a predetermined or less pressure and a liquid feeding port configured to feed liquid to the liquid ejecting head and the liquid ejecting head includes a liquid inflow port communicating with the liquid feeding port and a liquid outflow port communicating with the pressure adjusting tank via the second liquid sending device.
US08141993B2
A fluid ejecting apparatus including a head that ejects fluid, a first fluid storing section for storing the fluid that is located below the head, a second fluid storing section for storing the liquid that is located above the first fluid storing section, a pumping mechanism capable of moving the fluid from the first fluid storing section to the second fluid storing section through the head, and a controller that alternates between a first control mode wherein the pumping mechanism moves the fluid from the first fluid storing section to the second fluid storing section and a second control mode in which the fluid is allowed to flow from the second fluid storing section to the first fluid storing section through the head. Upon receiving an instruction to turn off the power, the controller shifts to the second control mode and then turns off the power.
US08141991B2
A liquid ejecting head includes a pressure generating chamber that communicates with a nozzle opening and a piezoelectric element that includes: a first electrode; a piezoelectric body layer that is formed on the first electrode and which has a perovskite structure with a general formula of ABO3, and a second electrode that is formed the piezoelectric body layer. There is lead in a B site of the piezoelectric body layer, and the peak position of A1(3LO) for a Raman shift of the piezoelectric body layer that is acquired by Raman scattering is 710 cm−1 to 712 cm−1.
US08141982B2
An imaging apparatus is disclosed that includes plural heads that are arranged in a main scanning direction, the heads including plural nozzle arrays that are arranged in the main scanning direction and configured to discharge droplets of recording liquids in at least three different colors including a yellow recording liquid. At least two of the nozzle arrays that are configured to discharge the yellow recording liquid are separately arranged in at least two of the heads. At least two of the nozzle arrays that are configured to discharge a first recording liquid of the recording liquids in a first color other than yellow are arranged together in one of the heads. At least two of the nozzle arrays that are configured to discharge a second recording liquid of the recording liquids in a second color other than yellow are arranged together in one of the heads.
US08141976B2
A printing control method for a serial inkjet printer prevents paper dust that is dispersed by the air current produced by a vacuum platen from adhering to the ink nozzle area. An inkjet head that prints while moving along the width of the vacuum platen is moved to a position where the ink nozzle area is outside of a first or second retraction position separated a first distance from the first and second paper edge positions of the recording paper, and the recording paper is then advanced. Paper dust and other dust particulate does not adhere to the ink nozzle area when the paper is advanced because the ink nozzle area does not stop in the first and second paper edge positions of the recording paper where paper dust and other dust particulate can be made airborne by the air current produced by the vacuum platen.
US08141973B2
A liquid droplet ejection head comprises an ejector, a liquid viscosity-increase prevention structure and a liquid viscosity-increase prevention controller. The ejector includes a nozzle for ejecting a liquid droplet, a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle through a communication path, and an actuator for applying pressure to a liquid in the pressure chamber. The liquid viscosity-increase prevention structure prevents an increase of viscosity of the liquid in the ejector. The liquid viscosity-increase prevention controller changes the operation frequency of the liquid viscosity-increase prevention structure between when the liquid droplet is ejected from the nozzle and when ejection of the liquid droplet is paused and no liquid droplet is being ejected from the nozzle.
US08141971B2
An image recording apparatus includes a recording section having a head holding member holding a plurality of head units ejecting ink, and a position adjusting mechanism including position adjusting members, each being provided for each head unit, for adjusting a position of the head unit relative to the head holding member according to movement thereof, a driving mechanism for generating a force moving the position adjusting member, and transmission mechanisms, each being provided for each position adjusting member, for transmitting the force generated by the driving mechanism to the position adjusting member, the driving mechanism selecting the transmission mechanism to be transmitted with the force from the plurality of transmission mechanisms to supply the force to only the selected transmission mechanism.
US08141969B2
Provided is a print control apparatus for controlling a printing apparatus that is able to perform color printing by using coloring agents of a plurality of colors. The print control apparatus includes: a residual amount acquisition section that acquires residual amounts of the coloring agents; a print instruction receiving section that receives instruction for printing an image; a required amount information acquisition section that acquires information on required amounts of the coloring agents required for the image instructed to be printed; and a control section that performs a residual amount precedence print control for controlling the printing apparatus to preferentially perform printing of the image, among a plurality of images instructed to be printed, which requires the smaller amount of the coloring agent having the smallest residual amount on the basis of the acquired information on the required amount and the residual amounts of the coloring agents.
US08141967B2
An exemplary display device (2) includes a display body (22) and a support body (23) configured for supporting and moving the display body. The support body includes at least one trolley wheel assembly (28) capable of moving horizontally, and at least one stopper (380) corresponding to the trolley wheel assembly, which is capable of braking the trolley wheel assembly. The display body is moved horizontally when the trolley wheel assembly is moved horizontally.
US08141957B2
A cushion assembly defining a thickness direction comprises at least one covering layer and a core layer. The core layer comprises a first member and a second member. The covering layer spans continuously across both the first and second members in a direction generally transverse to the thickness direction, and the first member is disposed adjacent a forward area of the cushion assembly. The second member is disposed adjacent a back surface of the first member. The second member has a higher resistance to resilient deformation than the first member, and the first member has a higher resistance to resilient deformation than the at least one covering layer.
US08141943B2
Children's chair having a height adjusting device and a folding device completes folding up by height adjusting. A first leg frame of the children's chair includes a first upper leg and a first lower leg capable moving relatively. When operating the height adjusting device to adjust the first upper leg relative to the first lower leg, an actuator on the first upper leg pushes a slider of the folding device, which locates at the pivot of the first leg frame and a second leg frame. The slider then interferes with a coupler locating at the second leg frame to disengage from a base mounted on the first leg frame. The second leg frame is then rotatable relative to the first leg frame and may be folded to a folding position. The children's chair is easy to perform height adjustment and folding movement by simply operating a button at the handle.
US08141932B2
A locking mechanism for latching a convertible top to a cross-member of a windshield frame of a vehicle. The locking mechanism includes a support element, a locking hook, and a pin having a retaining section and a shaft connected together. The support element is mountable to a front portion of the convertible top. The locking hook is pivotably connected to the support element to be movable between resting and operating positions. The retaining section of the pin is fixedly mounted to the support element. The shaft of the pin is projectable along a direction into a corresponding recess of a receptacle in the cross-member of the windshield frame. The pin is of a plastic material that is rigid in shape and plastically deformable and the shaft is constricted in the direction in which the shaft is projectable into the corresponding recess of the receptacle in the cross-member.
US08141929B2
A power operated retractable tailgate assembly for a vehicle that includes a tailgate with opposite end edges thereof connected via sliding pivots to a respective one of a pair of elongate slide rails. The slide rails mount in lateral spaced apart relation on the underside of the floor of the cargo carrying box on the vehicle. A first extendible and retractable assembly, having relatively movable respective first and second portions, has the first portion anchored to the vehicle and a second portion that is hingedly connected to the tailgate proximate a lower marginal edge thereof. A power means is operatively connected to the extendible and retractable assembly and is operable from within the cab of the vehicle selectively to extend and retract the tailgate by moving the tailgate along the slide members. A second power operated extendible and retractable assembly is connected to the tailgate to move the same from its open position wherein it is horizontally disposed and projects rearwardly from the vehicle to a raised closed position wherein it is disposed vertically. Each of the extendable and retractable assemblies include a hydraulic cylinder unit operatively associated with a motor-driven pump. An alternate method of opening and closing the tailgate uses an electric motor directly driving a cable system which opens and closes the tailgate utilizing for example a winch unit comprising an electric motor driving a cable drum rather than the use of a screw drive or hydraulic means to control the cables.
US08141928B2
A cover made of an elastomer material to act as protection for a steel hopper of very heavy-duty trucks and train cars. The cover protects the metallic hopper or cars from shocks from boulders and material of varied granulometry, in addition to providing protection against abrasion, unloading and corrosion. Fastening elements prevent the cover from loosing as a result of the dragging generated by the unloading of materials from the hopper. The protection provided by the cover increases equipment availability and decreases stopping time during repairs.
US08141924B2
A gripper system having a pair of jaws operable in a first plane and having a central closure axis; each jaw including a finger member and finger tip member disposed on its distal end; and a gripper drive assembly for moving the jaws toward and away from each other; each finger member having a shaped inner contour for accommodating an object to be gripped; each finger tip member including an inner surface which generally aligns with the shaped inner contour for gripping a range of larger objects and an outer surface which generally aligns with the gripper central closure axis upon closure for gripping a range of smaller objects. Alternatively, each finger tip member may include a forcep element extending transversely to said plane.
US08141922B2
A pick-and-place apparatus for transferring and loading semiconductor devices between first and second loading elements is provided. The pick-and-place apparatus includes a multiplicity of picking unit modules, each of which has at least one or more picking units, and an interval regulation apparatus for regulating intervals between the picking unit modules at the first to third modes. The first to third row interval values are different from each other. The intervals between the picking unit modules are all regulated to be identical to the first row interval at the first mode, are alternately regulated to the second row interval and the third row interval in turn at the second mode, and are alternately regulated to the third row interval and the second row interval in turn at the third mode.
US08141919B2
A nestable ball retrieval and storage device for collecting balls from the ground is provided. The device includes a receptacle and a handle connected to the receptacle. The receptacle has a bottom grate with a plurality of elongated members spaced apart from one another by a distance slightly less than a diameter of a ball to define at least one bottom opening through which a compressed ball on the ground can be forced through. The receptacle further has a receptacle wall structure surrounding and connected to the bottom grate. The receptacle wall structure has an open top and converges inwardly from the open top to the bottom grate to establish a tapering cavity shaped to permit nesting therein of another device that is substantially identical to the ball retrieval and storage device. The handle is constructed and arranged to extend through a bottom opening defined by elongated members of a bottom grate of the other device when the other device is nesting in the tapering cavity of the ball retrieval and storage device.
US08141907B2
The invention relates to a document folder (10, 110, 200) with a document pocket (12), defined by a front cover (14) and a back cover (16) made of plastic foil, used for holding documents, comprising a label strip (24) movable in relation to the document pocket (12) that, in a first position, extends at least partially beyond the outline of the document pocket (12) on one first side (20). According to the invention, the label strip (24) is permanently connected to the document pocket (12) and can be folded into a second position, around a fold (22) parallel to the first side (20), onto the front cover (14) or the back cover (16).
US08141904B2
A frontal collision energy absorbing structure includes a pair of left and right main frames. A front cross member and a rear cross member each connect the left and right main frames. A suspension tower and an engine mount bracket may each be attached to each main frame. Each front suspension tower is spaced out from the joint between the front cross member and the main frame. Each rear suspension tower is spaced out from the joint between the rear cross member and the main frame. Each of engine mount bracket is longitudinally spaced apart from the following joints: the front cross member and the main frame; the rear cross member and the main frame, and the suspension tower and the main frame.
US08141902B2
An airbag (10) has a vent hole (18) in one side end portion. One end of a third base fabric (20) is sewn to the airbag (10) through a first sewn portion (23) that closes the vent hole (18), and the other end of the third base fabric 20 is sewn to the other side end portion of the airbag (10) through a second sewn portion (24). The first sewn portion (23) has weaker binding force by sewing than the second sewn portion (24) so that the first sewn portion (23) is separated to open the vent hole (18) when tension force is applied from the third base fabric (20) to the first and second sewn portions (23) and (24).
US08141900B2
As ignition control patterns for a multi-stage inflator, a first control pattern for controlling a maximum internal pressure of an airbag in a deployed state to be a set pressure or higher and a second control pattern for controlling the maximum internal pressure of the airbag in a deployed state to the set pressure or lower are set to a control unit. A connecting band for partially limiting deployment of an airbag body in a side closer to an occupant protecting portion by connecting the side closer to a base and the side closer to the occupant protecting portion of the airbag body is provided to the airbag, and the strength of the connecting band is set such that the connecting band is to be torn when an internal pressure of the airbag in a deployed state reaches the set pressure or higher.
US08141896B2
A pivot assembly for a tandem suspension is provided which includes a balancer and an elastomeric assembly operable to allow the balancer to rotate about a vehicle chassis. In addition, an elastomeric assembly for a suspension system is provided which includes an elastomeric element provided with a slot for allowing a deformation in response to a tension load imparted by a balancer, and a groove for preventing bulging in response to a compression load imparted by the balancer. A balancer for a vehicle suspension is also provided which includes first and second plates, an open area formed between the plates, an engaging member provided within the open area and first and second pins which define an axis of rotation about which the balancer is rotatable. A kit for the pivot assembly is also provided.
US08141893B2
A folding apparatus for a bicycle frame includes a bicycle frame and at least one engaging device assembled on the bicycle frame. The bicycle frame includes at least one first tube and at least one second tube. Each of the at least one engaging device includes a stationary sleeve disposed on the second tube and has a series of second tooth formed thereon. A rotary sleeve is fixed to the first tube and rotatably mounted on the second tube. The rotary sleeve has a series of first tooth formed thereon for correspondingly engaging with the stationary sleeve. A locking device is movably mounted on the second tube for securely retaining the rotary sleeve firmly engaging with the stationary sleeve. When the locking device is released, the rotary sleeve and the first tube rotate relative to the second tube, and the bicycle frame is folded.
US08141890B2
A vehicle that includes a vehicle body and a vehicle support assembly. The vehicle body has a longitudinal axis and is configured for supporting a rider thereon. The support assembly includes first (421A) and second (421B) tilting wheels disposed respectively at different lateral positions with respect to the longitudinal axis, a tilt-mechanism (452) supportively associating the vehicle body from the tilting wheels to enable the vehicle body to tilt through a first tilt range with respect to a surface on which the tilting wheels are disposed, and a tilt-limiter (456) operably associated with the tilt-mechanism (452) to restrict the tilting of the vehicle body to less than the first tilt range, and releasable to allow the tilting through the first tilt range.
US08141888B1
A surfboard transportation device for allowing a user to transport a surfboard comprising a first vertical support component connected to a second vertical support component via a first telescopic center support bar and a second telescopic center support bar. Attachment ropes can be attached to the first and second vertical support components to secure the surfboard in the device.
US08141887B1
A tubular frame has leading and trailing sections. The leading section has a leading end with parallel rearwardly extending legs. The trailing section has a trailing end with parallel forwardly extending legs receiving the rearwardly extending legs. An axle has central and end sections with wheels rotatably mounted on the end sections. A riser plate has a lower edge pivotably coupled to the axle. The riser plate has an upper edge with a concave curve. The riser plate is pivotably coupled to the frame. A handle assembly has a tubular grip with parallel downwardly extending arms. The handle assembly also has parallel upwardly extending arms receiving the downwardly extending arms. The upwardly extending arms are pivotably coupled to the axle.
US08141885B2
A rack includes a chassis, and a plurality of wheel assemblies secured to the chassis. Each wheel assembly includes a bracket, a wheel, and a handle. The bracket is rotatable relative to the chassis between a first position and a second position. Each wheel is capable of rotating about an axis. A distance between the axis and the chassis when each bracket is in the first position is less than a distance between the axis and the chassis when the bracket is in the second position. The handle is secured to the bracket and configured to rotate the corresponding bracket, and extends inside the chassis.
US08141884B2
The invention relates to a clamping device which comprises a base, having a center holding fixture for a structural component to be clamped and a plurality of cavities arranged around the holding fixture. The base can be elastically deformed in such a manner by radial compressive forces applied from the outside in the area of the cavities that a structural component to be clamped can be inserted in the holding fixture and can be elastically returned to its former shape by reducing or releasing the radial forces, thereby establishing a pressure connection with the structural component to be clamped. The invention is characterized in that centrifugal counterweights are provided inside the cavities.
US08141883B2
The present invention publicly discloses a self-locking mechanism of a manually tightened drill chuck, including a ratchet wheel, a clamp bearing, at least one resilient pawl, and a clip ring, wherein said ratchet wheel is fixed in connection with the main unit of said manually tightened drill chuck, and on its back there are provided ratchet teeth facing the end surface of said main unit; said clamp bearing is fixed in connection with the outside surface of a screw ring on said manually tightened drill chuck, and the end surface of this clamp bearing is provided with at least one ratchet wheel slot; said resilient pawl is fixed on said ratchet wheel slot, and it includes a protuberance and a tooth piece; and said clip ring includes at least two arc segments that can mutually antagonistically snap onto the front end position of said main unit, the outer perimeter surface of this clip ring is fixed in connection with a front cap of said manually tightened drill chuck, said clip ring is connected with said clamp bearing and drives said clamp bearing to rotate, and the end surface of said clip ring is provided with deep and shallow recesses for receiving the protuberance on said resilient pawl.
US08141878B2
The rolling target device includes a base and an upstanding target window frame disposed at one end of the base. The target window frame has an opening for displaying a printed target. The opposite end of the base includes a clamp for holding a roll of paper. A selective printing assembly is disposed in the base and operatively connected to a paper feeding assembly such that discreet portions of the paper web may be printed with a desired target design and fed through the target window to expose the target design at the cutout. The printing assembly includes interchangeable printing stamps of various designs that may be selectively attached to a printing platen. The paper roll may be paper towels or toilet paper.
US08141867B2
A medium delivery device comprising a medium insertion section into which a sheet-shaped medium to be delivered is inserted in a stacked state, first and second medium guide surfaces that are opposed to each other to guide the sheet-shaped medium to the medium delivery port, a feed roller that is disposed at a side of the first medium guide surface and delivers the sheet-shaped medium inserted into the medium insertion section, to the medium delivery port, a first pressing member that presses the sheet-shaped medium inserted into the medium insertion section against the feed roller, a second pressing member that presses the sheet-shaped medium inserted into the medium insertion section against the first medium guide surface at a position deviating from the feed roller, and a driving mechanism that drives the first pressing member in directions in which the first pressing member moves close to and away from the feed roller.
US08141854B2
A gas spring assembly includes a first end member, a piston assembly and a flexible wall extending therebetween. The piston assembly includes a piston body receiving a portion of the flexible wall and a retainment ring for retaining the flexible wall on the piston body. A method of assembly is also included.
US08141852B1
A strap securing system for preventing damage and tangling caused by the flapping of excess strap material when using a ratchet strap. The strap securing system generally includes a frame which includes a first strap slot for receiving a secured strap portion. A securing member will generally be rotatably attached to the frame. The securing member will preferably include a second strap slot positioned therein for receiving an excess strap portion. A crank member will generally be fixedly attached to the securing member for providing rotational force to the securing member. By rotating the securing member in a first direction with the crank member, the excess strap portion which has been inserted within the second strap slot will be wound around the securing member, thus preventing it from flapping around and causing damage or becoming tangled.
US08141850B2
Various embodiments of a vehicle jack include a base, an upright support mounted adjacent to and extending upwardly from the base, a toothed rack, a toothed bar pin, and a release handle. The toothed rack has a first end and a second end and defines a plurality of ratchet troughs therebetween, and the toothed rack is mounted adjacent the upright support. The ratchet assembly is adapted to move along a path defined by the upright support, and the toothed bar pin, which is mounted adjacent the ratchet assembly, is adapted to selectively engage a portion of the toothed rack adjacent one of the plurality of ratchet troughs as the ratchet assembly moves along the path. The release handle is mounted adjacent the second end of the toothed rack, and the release handle is adapted to selectively disengage the toothed bar pin from one of the plurality of ratchet troughs.
US08141847B2
A method for controlling or regulating a vacuum valve that includes a valve body (1) with a valve opening (2), a closing member (3), an actuator (5) for moving the closing member (3), and a control device (9) by which the actuator (5) is triggered and by which the pressing force acting on the elastic seal (4) in the closed position of the closing member (3) is set. The setting of the pressing force acting on the elastic seal (4) is performed as a function of at least one parameter that can be input by a user.
US08141844B2
Improving the accuracy of the flow rate of a valve in a fluidic delivery device in which a desired flow rate may be achieved by varying the duty cycle of the valve. The flow rate of fluid delivery from the valve over its lifetime is stabilized by minimizing the voltage OPENING time of the valve to account for valve and piezoelectric actuator drift. Also, the valve OPENING time of one or more fluidic parameters that impact on the flow rate delivery by the valve and differ among fluidic delivery devices is compensated to optimize the flow rate accuracy.
US08141843B2
A valve includes a body, a throttling ball, and a shoe. The body includes an upstream flow passage and a downstream flow passage in fluid communication with an interior cavity of the body. The throttling ball is rotatable within the interior cavity on an axis to adjust the valve from a closed position to an open position and includes a fluid conduit extending through the throttling ball, where the fluid conduit is alignable with the upstream flow passage and the downstream flow passage. The shoe is disposed in the cavity abutting an interior surface of the cavity and includes a fluid passage there through having an inlet being alignable with the flow conduit of the throttling ball and an outlet being alignable with the downstream flow passage of the body. The interior surface of the shoe is disposed adjacent to and tracking an external surface of the throttling ball.
US08141838B2
An adjustable picture hanger for suspending an object from a surface. An exemplary embodiment may include a base mounted to a wall, a central plate selectively rotatable with respect to the base, and/or a hook slidable in a slot in the plate. The position of the hook relative to the wall may be adjusted by rotating the plate with respect to the base and/or by sliding the hook along the slot.
US08141837B2
An improved vehicle support apparatus, also referred to as a hub stand, for use with a vehicle. Certain aspects of the invention include a vertically disposed plate-like body or hub plate (20) which is adapted to receive a vehicle hub. In one embodiment, the plate-like body defines a plurality of openings (e.g. 21, 22) adapted to receive a vehicle hub and/or hub bolt. In certain aspects, the plate-like body is vertically adjustable and/or slidably received between clamp members. In another aspect, the plate-like body has openings adapted to receive pins, rods or bolts, and a clamp member has corresponding openings adapted to receive pins, rods or bolts, whereby the hub plate may be adjusted vertically relative to a vehicle.
US08141834B2
An apparatus (1) for manipulating a load includes a first support structure (60) for supporting the load and a second support structure (4) for supporting the load. The apparatus also includes a coupling (3) coupled between the first support structure (60) and the second support structure (4). The coupling (30) includes a compliant mechanism (340a) for providing a compliant range of motion to the load about a rotative axis where a center of gravity of the load is located away from the rotative axis. The rotative axis is a non-vertical axis.
US08141832B2
A one-piece molded holder clip is provided for retaining an associated sunshade rod. The clip has a body in which a hook element is formed with the body and having a generally C-shaped conformation to receive the rod therein. A sunshade guide surface is formed in the body and extends substantially tangentially from the hook element. A fastener is formed with the body and extends from a rear surface of the sunshade guide surface. First and second legs are received over a bracket extending from the automotive vehicle frame and at least one of the legs includes a locking tab dimensioned for snap-fit engagement with an associated bracket. A cover is formed with the one-piece body and extends from the hook element, and covers the fastener to provide an aesthetically pleasing design.
US08141827B2
Provided is a tripod structure of a stand, which is combined on a central post of the stand and allows the leg units of the stand to be folded, and includes: an upper tripod unit having a central post orifice and at least three leg unit connection parts evenly arranged at the outer periphery of the central post and formed with at least an accessory part, wherein the upper tripod unit is fastened at a preset location of the central post of the stand via the central post orifice, and each leg unit of the stand is respectively hinged with each leg unit connection part; and a lower tripod unit having a post plug and at least three moveable support rod connection parts evenly arranged at the outer periphery of the post plug, and each moveable support rod connection part is correspondingly formed with a leg unit buckling part and formed with at least an accessory part, wherein the post plug is installed at the distal end of the central post of the stand, and hinged to the leg unit and the moveable support rod connection part through a support rod, such that the leg units can be folded and respectively buckled with each corresponding leg unit buckling part.
US08141823B2
Takeoff and landing modes are added to a flight control system of a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV). The takeoff and landing modes use data available to the flight control system and the VTOL UAV's existing control surfaces and throttle control. As a result, the VTOL UAV can takeoff from and land on inclined surfaces without the use of landing gear mechanisms designed to level the UAV on the inclined surfaces.
US08141819B2
Methods and apparatus for aircraft according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a fuselage and a wing. The fuselage may be configured to generate lift in response to airflow over the fuselage. In addition, the fuselage may have at least one hole defined therethrough. A spar may be disposed through the hole and extend into at least a portion of the wing and at least a portion of the fuselage. The spar may connect the fuselage to the wings.
US08141818B2
A ram door assembly is provided for an intake opening of an intake duct of an auxiliary power unit of an aircraft. The ram door assembly includes a ram door hingeably mounted adjacent to the intake opening and moveable between an open position to a closed position. The ram door has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The ram door assembly further includes a fairing positioned on the interior surface of the ram door.
US08141817B2
A turbojet suspended from an aircraft mast is disclosed. The turbojet includes a front fan, an intermediate casing downstream of the fan with an outer shroud and a hub connected together by radial arms, and an exhaust casing with an outer shroud, the two casings being aligned on one and the same axis XX. The mast includes a structural strut assembly of elongated shape. The strut assembly is attached upstream rigidly to the outer shroud of the intermediate casing by a front attachment including a device for transmitting the axial and lateral forces and downstream by a rear attachment to the exhaust casing.
US08141816B2
An inlet door system including an aft inlet duct mounted door actuator providing RAM air to an auxiliary power unit (APU) contained within an aircraft is provided. The inlet door system includes an inlet duct, the aft inlet duct mounted door actuator, and a door. The inlet duct is configured to extend from the auxiliary power unit to the aircraft housing and has a sidewall that defines a flow passage. The door actuator is mounted to an exterior surface of the aft portion of the inlet duct. The door is coupled to the actuator. The actuator is configured to selectively rotate the door between at least a first position and a second position.
US08141806B2
A seat belt apparatus for a vehicle including: a belt reel; a emergency locking retractor which performs a mechanical locking of the belt reel so as not to rotate in a direction of unwinding a webbing when an unstable behavior of the vehicle is detected by a vehicle condition detection device, and then automatically release the locking if the belt reel rotates in a direction of winding the webbing greater than or equal to a predetermined amount; and a locking continuity determination device which determines whether or not the locking continues after the emergency locking retractor performs the locking based on the vehicle condition and variation of the rotational position of the belt reel, wherein a control device makes a driving motor rotate so as to release the locking if the locking continuity determination device determines the locking continues for greater than or equal to a predetermined amount of time.
US08141799B2
The invention relates to a process for whole-grain conditioning, in particular of native and malted brewing cereals. To improve the mashing process and to increase the number of brews and product quality, the brewing cereals are conditioned and subsequently fed to a hulling and/or mechanical comminution process.
US08141798B2
An emitter for atomizing and discharging a liquid entrained in a gas stream is disclosed. The emitter has a nozzle with an outlet facing a deflector surface having a closed end cavity. The nozzle discharges a gas jet against the deflector surface. The emitter has a duct with an exit orifice adjacent to the nozzle outlet. Liquid is discharged from the orifice and is entrained in the gas jet where it is atomized.
US08141797B2
A rotary atomizer applies particulate paints with good color matching by reducing paint droplet size deviation and then optimizing the other paint spraying parameters. Paint droplet size parameters are reduced by using a bell cup having reduced flow deviations, including an overflow surface having a generally constant angle between a deflector and an atomizing edge.
US08141793B2
The present invention is a gel air freshener article of manufacture comprising a gel air freshener composition and a container that provides a method for unsealing and opening without undue exertion by the consumer. The article of manufacture according to the present invention includes the gel air freshener composition and a container comprising a base portion and axially displaceable cover in telescopic registry, wherein the cover is axially displaced away from the base portion by rotation. The unsealing of the container is achieved through the coordination of camming locks, which comprise an upper ramped surface, with spike-shaped locking wedges that comprise a beveled toe portion, elongated shaft portion and camming head portion. Rotation of the cover in a first direction relative to the base portion locks the toe end and shaft portions of the spike-shaped locking wedges beneath the camming locks. Rotation in a second opposite direction relative to the base portion backs the camming head portion of the spike-shaped wedges up the upper ramped surfaces of the camming locks such that the cover is axially distanced from the container, thus unsealing the cover from the base and breaking loose the gel air freshener composition bound inside surface of the cover. An optional pin-hole in the cover allows for pressure equalization of the momentary vacuum created when the cover is first unsealed and displaced.
US08141785B2
The invention relates to an optical delay module for lengthening the propagation path of a light beam comprises a first spherical mirror and a second spherical mirror, the first spherical mirror and the second spherical mirror having equal radii of curvature, the first and the second mirror being arranged on a common axis of symmetry with concave sides of the first and second mirrors being situated opposite one another at a distance from one another which corresponds to the radii of curvature of the first and second mirrors. The module also includes a coupling-in area for coupling the light beam into a space between the first and second mirrors and a coupling-out area for coupling the light beam out of the space between the first and second mirrors. The propagation path of the light beam between the coupling-in area and the coupling-out area corresponding at least approximately to quadruple the mirror distance, at least one optical arrangement arranged between the first and second mirrors, the optical arrangement being arranged to transfer the light beam between the first and second mirrors in such a way that the propagation path of the light beam without masking out of beam parts between the coupling-in area and the coupling-out area corresponds approximately to 2N times the mirror distance, where N is an integer >2.
US08141780B2
An improved system and method for data card emulation is provided that enables a single data card to emulate any one of multiple data cards. The data card includes an improved system and method for conveying data involving pulsed light that can read a barcode and can emulate a barcode. The improved system and method for conveying data may also include at least one of a magnetic stripe reader or a magnetic stripe emulator. The data card uses the improved system and method for conveying data to interface with conventional barcode and/or magnetic stripe readers, to interface with other such data cards or other devices having similar circuitry, and to interface with a data management system used to manage barcode and/or magnetic stripe information stored in a memory on the data card.
US08141776B2
Method and system for implementing a virtual automated teller machine (“VATM”) system are described. In one embodiment, the system includes a VATM host connectable to each of a plurality of disbursement entities (“DEs”) via a secure connection. The system further includes an accessing computer connectable to the VATM host via a secure connection, the accessing computer comprising a device for acquiring user account information and having installed thereon VATM client software executable by the accessing computer to interact with the VATM host to validate the acquired user account information and an associated PIN provided by the user. Responsive to the validation, the user is presented with a list of DEs and prompted to select one DE from the list of DEs from which funds are to be disbursed to the user and specify an amount of funds to be disbursed. The VATM host sends a disbursement order to the selected DE indicating the specified amount of funds to be disbursed.
US08141775B1
The present disclosure facilitates gesture-based interaction with a computer-system. The method may comprise pairing a transaction account with a likeness, receiving the likeness and a transaction request based upon the location of a marker in three dimensional space, retrieving the transaction account paired with the likeness, and approving the transaction request at least partially based upon the transaction account and the likeness.
US08141770B2
A surplus ball removing apparatus including a substrate stage, a substrate including a connection pad, a mask with opening to supply conductive ball onto the substrate, a surplus ball adhering head for removing surplus ball mounted on the substrate, adhering head moving system, an image processing portion, an adhesive material stage, and a ball recovering stage.
US08141765B2
A cutting blade for a wire bonding system is provided. The cutting blade comprises a body portion having an end portion. The end portion includes a blade tip configured to penetrate into a conductive material The end portion further includes a stepped portion proximate the blade tip that is configured to limit penetration of the blade tip during use thereof.
US08141758B2
A holster for retaining a pistol has a frame configured to receive a pistol, with a first pistol retention facility on the frame. The first pistol retention facility has a secure condition and a release condition, and operates operable to prevent extraction of a pistol from the holster when in the secure condition, and to enable extraction of the pistol when in the release condition. The first pistol retention facility includes a first actuator operable in response to deliberate user force to set the first pistol retention facility in the release condition. The holster has a second pistol retention facility on the frame, and having a secure condition and a release condition, and operable to prevent extraction of a pistol from the holster when in the secure condition, and to enable extraction of the pistol when in the release condition. The second pistol retention facility includes a second actuator operable in response to deliberate user force to set the second pistol retention facility in the release condition. The actuators may be adjacent to each other to enable simultaneous actuation, and operation of one actuator may operate the other.
US08141754B2
A pressurized fluid dispenser includes a base unit and a reservoir. The base unit includes a pump and a battery compartment including electrical contacts electrically connected with the pump. The reservoir is supported by and selectively removable from the base unit. The reservoir includes an internal compartment that is in fluid communication with the pump when the reservoir is connected to the base unit. A female panel mount for an electrically operated unit is also disclosed.
US08141752B2
The invention relates to a hand-held applicator unit for viscous materials having a screw pump disposed in a pump casing which is in communication with a drive, wherein the pump inlet has a product intake with a flexible supply line and the pump outlet contains a shaped mouthpiece.
US08141751B2
A dosage-dispensing device, for substances in powder- or paste form, includes a supply container and a dosage-dispensing head that is connected or connectable to the supply container. A housing has an outlet orifice of circular cross-section and a delivery- and closure element with a closure portion serving to close off the outlet orifice. The device further has a conveying tool with at least one conveying element that serves to direct the substance to the outlet orifice, wherein the outlet orifice and the delivery- and closure element are arranged on the central lengthwise axis of the dosage-dispensing head. The conveying tool is rotatable about the central lengthwise axis in relation to the housing and the at least one conveying element is designed to move on a circular path about the central lengthwise axis. The delivery- and closure element includes a delivery portion which serves to deliver a substance that is to be dispensed, and the delivery- and closure element is configured to be rotatable about the central lengthwise axis in relation to the housing and to be capable of translatory displacement along the central lengthwise axis relative to the outlet orifice. The at least one conveying element of the conveying tool which serves for the delivery of substance is slanted in the direction of its rotation at an acute angle to the plane of its circular path.
US08141742B2
Several molded, hard plastic cover pieces and attached fabric or hard side wall assemblies are disclosed for mounting over a storage container. One cover piece provides raised channel rails that support a layered sub frame assembly. The sub frame secures fabric or plastic side wall assemblies to the cover piece. Fabric or expansible hinge pieces mount between fabric or plastic panels to provide flexible transitions to facilitate the mounting and removal of the cover piece and/or sidewall assembly. Cross pieces fitted to channel rails define lifting supports to permit attachment or removal of the cover piece from a wooden storage container. Truss pieces formed between channel pieces strengthen and control water runoff. Alternative cover pieces provide lifting towers, panels with tine receiving apertures or interconnected tension members.
US08141734B2
A container includes a container body having a receiving cavity and a container opening communicating with the receiving cavity, a cover panel movably coupled mounted at the container opening to fold between a closed position and an opened position, and an induction actuation system. The induction actuation system includes an actuation unit to automatically drive the cover panel moving between the closed position and the opened position in responsive to a presence of a user and a power recharging arrangement which includes a battery unit detachably supported by the container body, wherein the battery unit is mounted at the container body to electrically connect to the actuation unit for resuming proper operation thereof and is detached from the container body for recharging purpose.
US08141729B2
Convertible closure for a container includes an outer closure member having a first child-resistant portion on an inner surface, a first inner closure member having an inner surface arranged to engage with a neck of the container and a second child-resistant portion arranged to selectively engage with the first child-resistant portion on the outer closure member, and a second inner closure member arranged to engage with both the outer closure member and the first inner closure member. The selective engagement of the first and second child-resistant portion is designed so that when engaged, the closure has a non-child resistant configuration (only grasping and rotation of the outer closure member is sufficient to twist the closure out of engagement with the container) and when not engaged therewith, the closure has a child-resistant configuration (grasping, rotation and downward pressure is required to remove the closure from engagement with the container).
US08141728B1
An infant feeding system for feeding an infant seated especially in a car seat with the bottle sitting in a cup holder. The infant feeding system includes a bottle assembly including a bottle and a cap removably fastened to the bottle, and also includes a feeding assembly being positioned for transporting fluid therethrough from the bottle to an infant.
US08141713B2
A container formed from a corrugated material having a first lower compartment and a second upper compartment. The container having a lower pull-out panel for accessing the lower compartment, and an upper pull-out panel for accessing the upper compartment.
US08141712B2
A plastic insert is configured to provide support of thin wafers in wafer carriers configured to provide peripheral wafer support. The invention includes the insert, the insert in combination with a wafer carrier, and the methods of supporting the thin wafers as provided by the insert and the wafer carrier. The inserts, in preferred embodiments, utilize tabs that fit into the side wall recesses and have an interference fit in said recesses to secure the insert in place. In preferred embodiments the inserts have a top surface with a plurality of ribs positioned inwardly from the wafer periphery for supporting the wafers with minimal contact. In preferred embodiments the insert has a lower surface having strengthening structure providing rigidity to the insert. The top surface ribs may preferably be oriented parallel to the insertion and withdrawal direction of the wafers and extend upwardly to position the supported wafer in the slot immediately above the slot defined by the recesses in which the tabs are positioned. Thus, the inserts may be inserted into alternate slots in the carrier. The insert, in preferred embodiments may have an h-shape offering an optimal combination of support of each wafer and precise positioning of the wafer while minimizing the amount of plastic and correspondingly the weight of the insert.
US08141707B2
A package for storing and dispensing a consumable product is provided. The package can be easily constructed from a suitable blank of material and can be composed of first and second compartments hingedly and detachably secured to each other. The package has an initially unopened configuration where the first and second compartments define a substantially common plane. The package is openable from the initially unopened configuration by relative movement of the first and second compartments about the hinge. The package is reconfigurable to either of first and second closed configurations after the initial opening. In the first closed configuration the first and second compartments define a substantially common plane and in the second closed configuration the first and second compartments define spaced apart substantially parallel planes. A blank for a package, a method of making the package and a method of reconfiguring the package are also disclosed.
US08141700B2
A dispensing cap system for dispensing a supplement material through a bottle neck opening and into the bottle. An exemplary embodiment includes a cap member configured for connection to beverage bottle necks of different sizes. A seal member is arranged to provide a liquid seal against the neck opening. A valve member passes through a storage member attached to the cap member, and is configured for movement between a storage position and a dispensing position, in which passage is permitted of the supplement material from the storage member into the bottle. A nipple member may be positioned over the valve member to allow the bottle contents to be utilized or consumed.
US08141699B2
An improved contact lens case which includes domes that are provided on hinged members. Preferably, the contact lens case is configured to efficiently utilize space and volume such that no more than 10 cc's of contact lens solution are required to disinfect contact lenses in the case. The hinged members are preferably non-planar which allows the domes to be provided on the hinged members, and allows the use of deep larger diameter, back-to-back cages on the stem, without having to resort to using more than 10 cc's of fluid to immerse contact lenses that are disposed on the domes, between each of the domes and a respective cage. Each of the hinged members has a cylindrically-curved shell form in which the axis of its curve is approximately parallel to the central axis of the central planar stem member.
US08141684B2
An elevator, preferably an elevator without counterweight, comprising a number of diverting pulleys in the upper part of an elevator shaft or equivalent, a number of diverting pulleys in the lower part of the elevator shaft and a number of diverting pulleys on an elevator car, is installed in such manner that at least some of the diverting pulleys for the upper part are rigged in the lower part of the elevator shaft and at least some of the diverting pulleys from which the passage of the ropes is directed upwards are rigged at the same time. The diverting pulleys for the upper part thus rigged are raised in the rigged state to the upper part of the elevator shaft or equivalent and mounted in place.
US08141682B2
A first embodiment of the security apparatus comprises a retaining collar; a plurality of segments forming a generally frusta-conical enclosure, with one or more of the segments having an access opening therein; and a lockable access door covering the opening. The retaining collar is separable into portions that conforms to the shape of the periphery and are coupled together around the structure. The segments have an upper portion that attaches to the collar; and have a bottom portion that extends radically downwardly from the collar at an angle of about 30 degree; with the radial edges interconnected forming the enclosure.A second embodiment of the apparatus secures a ladder supported on a wall and a retaining bar; a plurality of segments forming a generally semi-frusta-conical enclosure, with one or more of the segments having an access opening therein; and a lockable access door covering the opening.
US08141673B2
An engine for vehicle includes an oil hydraulic automatic transmission for changing the change gear ratio by control of an oil pressure. The oil pressure control unit of the transmission includes a plurality of control valves for controlling the oil pressure, and is mounted to an upper portion of a crankcase. A power transmission shaft interlockedly connected to a counter shaft and having an axis parallel to the counter shaft is disposed on the lower rear side of the counter shaft, and a drive bevel gear on the power transmission shaft and a driven bevel gear are meshed with each other on the rear side of the axis of the power transmission shaft. The resulting configuration eliminates the need for a special measure to protect the oil pressure control unit, and prevents interference of the driven bevel gear with the gear speed change mechanism.
US08141670B2
A radiator attachment structure for a motorcycle in which a down tube is formed in a shape having a curved portion, and a radiator can be disposed in a less visible manner while being erected. An upper portion of each of down tubes is formed as a curved portion curved in a side view. A lower portion of each of the down tube is formed as a linear slope portion extending linearly downwardly from a corresponding one of the curved portions in the side view. A radiator is disposed while being overlapped with the linear slope portions of the down tubes in the side view.
US08141658B2
A tilted drive sub is disclosed with a center line of the internal diameter (ID) offset at an angle from the center line of the outer diameter (OD) starting at a point near to a top end of the tilted drive sub. This results in the ID being at an angle to the OD, with the OD of the tilted drive sub remaining straight. The offset ID has the same threads of a mud motor without a tilted drive sub. The tilted drive sub replaces the outer bearing housing of a normal performance mud motor.
US08141657B2
The present invention provides a directional drilling apparatus and method for use in drilling bore holes. The apparatus comprises a plurality of movably mounted cutting elements, wherein the cutting elements are movable between radially retracted and extended cutting positions. A rotary valve is provided for synchronizing the movement of the cutting elements between their respective extended and retracted positions. Control of the directional drilling system is affected by synchronized movement of the cutting elements from an inner to an outer radial position in accordance with the angular position of the drill bit. Means are provided for directing high pressure cutting fluid to the region between the cutting elements and the rotatable body to prevent the accumulation of debris that could prevent movement of the cutting elements. The cutting elements enlarge the bore hole formed by the drill bit, so that the cutting elements continuously engage the wall of the bore hole.
US08141654B2
A quick assembly pneumatic tool may be connected to a tool bit and has a housing, an anvil casing, a rear cover, an air inlet assembly, a rotor assembly and an impact assembly. The housing has a handle and a rotor casing. The rotor casing is formed on the handle and has a front chamber and a rear chamber. The anvil casing and rear cover respectively cover the front and rear chambers. The rotor assembly is mounted in the rear chamber and is selectively driven by the air inlet assembly. The impact assembly is mounted in the front chamber and the anvil casing and is selectively rotated by the rotor assembly. The separate rotor and anvil casings allow the rotor and impact assemblies to be inserted respectively in the front and rear chambers so that assembling the pneumatic is easy and quick.
US08141653B2
In an embodiment, an agricultural implement includes a first wing tool bar and a second wing tool bar on each lateral side of the implement. The first wing tool bar and the second wing tool bar are configured to rotate from a working position to a transport position. The first wing tool bar and the second wing tool bar each include a respective tool frame configured to rotate upwardly from a working position to a transport position. In addition, the second wing tool bar is configured to articulate with respect to the first wing tool bar during transport. A fold-away frame section is rotatably coupled to the first wing tool frame and configured to rotate out of a plane formed by the first and second wing tool frames to avoid contact between the tool frames during transport.
US08141647B2
A method is provided of radially expanding a tubular element. The method comprises inducing the wall of the tubular element to bend radially outward and in axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded section of the tubular element extending around an unexpanded section of the tubular element, wherein said bending occurs in a bending zone of the wall, and wherein an annular space is defined between the unexpanded and expanded sections. At least one guide member is located in the annular space, each guide member being arranged to guide the wall during said bending so that the wall bends at an increased bending radius relative to bending of the wall in case the guide member is absent from the annular space.
US08141645B2
During an Extended Well Test or Early Floating Production at an offshore hydrocarbon production site, where oil and gas hydrocarbons are produced by a production vessel, applicant stores the natural gas as pressured gas in a storage tank and occasionally transfers the pressured gas to a shuttle vessel which carries the gas to a site where it is used, as by pumping it into a natural gas pipeline. The transfer of natural gas to the shuttle can be accomplished by pumping it through a conduit extending between the vessels to a second tank on the shuttle, or can be accomplished by moving a gas-filled tank on the production vessel to the shuttle.
US08141639B2
An apparatus for use in dispensing fluid into a wellbore includes a piston element releasably coupled to a housing and a detonator in the housing that applies a force sufficient to release the piston element from the housing when activated. The apparatus also has an intermediate section that mates with the upper section, an elongated member coupled to the piston and that is positioned in a bore of the intermediate section; and a lower section having a housing that mates with the intermediate section. The housing includes at least one opening providing communication between a bore of the housing and an exterior of the housing; and a movable barrier in the lower section. The movable barrier has a first position, wherein the barrier substantially blocks communication between the bore of the intermediate section and the at least one opening, and a second position, wherein the barrier does not substantially block communication between the bore of the intermediate section and the at least one opening.
US08141636B2
Thermal oil recovery operations, such as SAGD, result in waste heat that is typically released to the environment. Bitumen mining operations require heat input for heating fluids used in the mining process. A method and system of recovering heat from a thermal recovery operation for use in bitumen mining operation may include a heated donor fluid from a thermal recovery operation which heats an acceptor fluid for use in bitumen mining via proximal heat exchange using a power cycle or heat exchange module, such as an ammonia and water based Kalina® Cycle.
US08141627B2
In some embodiments, apparatus useful for cleaning at least part of the interior surface of a cylindrically-shaped member disposed in a subterranean well includes a housing and a plurality of retractable mill blades supported on the housing. The mill blades of such embodiments are capable of cleaning the entire circumference of the interior surface of at least a portion of the cylindrically-shaped member upon reciprocation of the housing.
US08141622B2
A console air conditioner includes an evaporator, a heater, a face vent, a floor vent, and a vent door for controlling the opening degrees of the face vent and the floor vent and is installed in the console space between front seats of a vehicle. Both sides of the air mixing zone where a cool air passageway meets a warm air passageway in the console air conditioner are connected to a pillar duct extending toward the middle pillar of the vehicle. A temperature control door controls the opening degrees of a cool air passageway and a warm air passageway of the air conditioner case and is installed such that rotational trace of the temperature control door is overlapped with a pillar vent area that is defined between the pillar ducts.
US08141619B2
A fin inspection method comprising a step of having an imaging device capture an image of the core and inputting into an image processing device the image data for storage, a step of setting a first region in the image data in which an image of the entire core is captured and setting a second region in which an image of at least a portion of all of the tubes is captured so as to identify position information of the tubes, a step of setting a third region for fin detection between adjacent tubes based on the identified position information of the tubes, a step of performing binarization and noise removal in the third region to obtain an image of the fins and identifying from the image of the fins the edge position information of the fins along a long direction of the tubes, and a step of performing statistical processing of the pitch intervals based on the edge position information of the fins and judging fin defects.
US08141618B2
A method of continuously casting metal strip may include assembling a pair of casting rolls having casting surfaces laterally positioned to form a nip therebetween through which thin cast strip may be cast, a metal supply system capable of delivering molten steel above the nip, the casting rolls having a crown shape so that edge portions of the cast strip within 50 millimeters of edge of the cast strip have a higher temperature than the cast strip in center portions of the strip width and controlled edging up, forming a casting pool of molten steel supported on the casting surfaces above the nip and controlling side dams adjacent the ends of the nip to confine the casting pool, and forming a cast strip such that the edge portions of the cast strip within 50 millimeters of each edge of the cast strip is of a higher temperature than the strip in the center portions of the strip width.
US08141616B2
A gravity casting method includes: situating a molding die having a feeder portion in communication with a cavity above the cavity to a horizontal state and pouring a molten metal from a runner in communication with the cavity; putting the molding die to a state inclined at a predetermined angle during pouring of the molten metal from a stage where the molten metal is filled in the runner and prevailing the molten metal while pouring to the inside of the cavity and the feeder portion; and returning the molding die to the horizontal state after the molten metal has been poured completely, and solidifying the molten metal.
US08141614B2
An actuator to be inserted in a headrail of a window covering, the actuator comprises a damping body configured to reduce vibrations when the actuator is operating, and an expanding mechanism configured to expand the damping body against the headrail.
US08141611B2
A separation apparatus for separating two planar devices bonded together by an adhesive layer is provided. The separation apparatus includes a base, a sliding module, a cutting member, and a positioning stage. The sliding module is mounted on the base. The cutting member is connected to the sliding module and is moveable in a two-dimensional plane with respect to the base by the sliding module for cutting the adhesive layer. The positioning stage is mounted on the base for positioning the planar devices and the adhesive layer therebetween on the base.
US08141607B2
An object is to provide an optical component lens assembling apparatus which is capable of automating the assembly of an optical component having a minute lens and an optical fiber. This apparatus includes: a fiber block fixing device 20 that fixes in position a fiber block 13 on which an optical fiber 11 is provided; a lens grasping device 21 for grasping the outer peripheral side surface of a lens 12 supplied to a lens supply position; an adhesive applying device 22; a lens moving device 23 for placing the one end surface of the lens 12, to which the adhesive has been applied, at a predetermined position of the fiber block 13; and an optical axis alignment state detecting device 24 for detecting the optical axis alignment state of the optical fiber 11 and the lens 12.
US08141598B2
The filling of a syringe can be performed at a faster rate using a filling sequence which expels air from the fill tube before filling the syringe. A similar method is used when changing contrast containers during a filling sequence to ensure that all the air is expelled from the fill tube before filling resumes with the new contrast container. Additionally, by including a contrast container holder that is affixed to an injector head and holds the container near the syringe tip, the filling sequence can be accomplished without requiring the operator to hold the contrast container during the sequence.
US08141585B2
A rocker type diaphragm valve is disclosed. The diaphragm (428) in the diaphragm valve is asymmetric and the stroke of the diaphragm is offset from the center of the diaphragm. The two sealing surfaces (318, 320) that the diaphragm acts against form two planes that make an angle with respect to ones another. The diaphragm (428) may be fabricated in only one piece. The diaphragm (428) may also be made from a resilient material and shaped in such a way as to create a spring force holding the diaphragm into a default position in the valve.
US08141577B2
A liquid filled pressure/vacuum valve for underground storage tanks has a body having an inlet coupled to the UST and an outlet coupled to atmosphere. The valve has a suction zone disposed in the body and fluidly coupled to the inlet. The valve has a pressure zone disposed in the body and fluidly coupled to the outlet, with the suction zone in fluid communication with the pressure zone. The valve has a separator disposed in fluid communication with the outlet and the pressure zone, and a fluid that flows between the suction zone and pressure zone. The flow of fluid is determined by an increased force due to a pressure differential between the suction zone and pressure zone.
US08141561B2
A mascara applicator includes a hollow grip portion connected to which is one end of a shaft, the other end of which carries a mascara brush. The shaft and mascara brush are hollow and the mascara brush is flexible. An elongate flexible connector extends within the shaft and the mascara brush. A first end of the connector is fixed with respect to the distal end of the mascara brush and the second end of the connector is fixed with respect to actuating means within the grip portion. The actuating means are selectively operable to move the second end of the connector in the direction away from the mascara brush, thereby applying a force to the distal end of the mascara brush and causing it to adopt a curved configuration.
US08141560B2
An apparatus for fixing a wig to head of a user, including a flexible plane sheet including a first opening and a second opening, a plurality of monofilaments each including a swollen head and protrusively provided on a first side of the flexible plane sheet, a first adhesive layer provided so as to cover the monofilaments, a net member provided on a second side of the flexible plane sheet, and a second adhesive layer provided on the net member of a first half area, the flexible plane sheet being divided into the first half area and a second half area by a line bisecting the flexible plane sheet.
US08141549B2
An appliance includes a housing having an airflow channel communicating with outside of the appliance; a first chamber in the housing and having a first opening; a first door for selectively closing the first opening, the first door having a first airway communicating with the outside of the appliance; a second chamber in the housing and having a second opening; a second door for selectively closing the second opening, the second door having a second airway communicating with the outside of the appliance; and a fan in the airflow channel. The airflow channel includes a central segment disposed between the first and second chambers and communicating with the first and second airways. When activated, the fan causes ambient air to pass through the first and second airways before entering the central segment so that the first and second doors are cooled off by the ambient air.
US08141543B2
A vehicle has an engine and a fuel tank, which is located above the engine, mounted on a vehicle-body frame. A fuel pump, which supplies fuel is spaced-apart from the fuel tank and is located below the fuel tank and in front of the engine. Further, a center of the fuel pump in the vehicle-width direction is located so as to overlap a vehicle-body center line which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Additionally, the fuel pump is mounted on lower main frames, which are positioned below the vehicle body.
US08141537B2
A controlling device for an internal combustion engine includes an estimating portion to calculate an estimation value relative to an open degree of a valve based on a predetermined estimation formula. A signal of a sensor is changed, when the valve has a predetermined open degree defined between a full close and a full open. The estimating portion determines that an actual open degree of the valve is smaller than the predetermined open degree, in a case that the signal of the sensor is not changed when the estimation value becomes equal to or larger than the predetermined open degree.
US08141536B2
ObjectIt is intended to prevent intrusion of air-fuel mixture into an air cleaner by blow-back in an air-fuel mixture passage of a stratified-scavenging two-stroke engine.SolutionThe air cleaner (24) includes a guide member (30). A blow-back flow of air (20) flowing back to the air cleaner (24) through a first air opening (23A) due to blow-back of air is induced to a vicinity of a second air opening (23M) by the guide member (30). A blow-back flow of air-fuel mixture (21) occurring in an air-fuel mixture passage (2) prior to the blow-back phenomenon in an air passage (3) collides the air flow 20 moving toward the vicinity of the second air opening (23M), and retains the air-fuel mixture near the second air opening (23M).
US08141529B2
A valve timing control apparatus includes a locking mechanism having a locking member disposed in an accommodating portion formed in one of a drive-side rotor and a driven-side rotor and projectable into and retractable from the other rotor than the one rotor having the accommodating portion and a locking groove defined in the other rotor for receiving and retaining the locking member projecting therein, the locking mechanism for restraining a relative rotational phase when the locking member is retained within the locking groove. The apparatus further includes a restricting mechanism having a restricting member disposed within the accommodating portion and projectable into and retractable from the other rotor to be movable relative to and together with the locking member in a projecting/retracting direction of the locking member and a restricting groove defined in the form of an elongate slot in the other rotor for receiving the restricting member projecting therein, the restricting mechanism restricting the relative rotational phase within a predetermined range when the restricting member projects into the restricting groove.
US08141526B2
Impurities of a lubricant in traditional camshaft adjusters can cause a problem, leading to impairment in the function and service life of the camshaft adjuster. In order to address this, flow channel areas are provided in the lubricant circuit, which include a dead chamber (37) where impurities can be deposited as a result of centrifugal force. Alternatively or additionally, a labyrinth is used to deposit impurities.
US08141523B2
Method and apparatus for controlling an electric motor employing an electrolysis subassembly connected in an electrical circuit which includes the electric motor. While controlling the throughput of electrical current through the electrolysis subassembly, there is simultaneously generated a fuel gas useful for fueling an internal combustion engine. The invention includes a novel electrolyte utilizing novel electrode structure and mode of operation. The electrolysis may be powered by a battery pack.
US08141521B2
An animal toy features the ability to connect two or more separate toys of varying shape, size, color, and/or texture, together to create larger and more complex toy systems. The animal toy allows an almost endless variety of toy systems to capture the interest as well as challenge and develop the animal's problem solving skills. The animal toys are either solid or include internal chambers for holding and ultimately dispensing food. When two or more toys with the internal chambers are combined the food may flow from the chamber of one toy into another toy several times before exiting the toy system. The increased problem of extracting the food challenges and develops the animal's skills. Morever, by combining solid and food dispensing toys in random combinations further increases the problem solving skills required to completely extract the food from the toy system.
US08141518B2
A shelter for an animal comprises a base member having a plurality of recessed channels formed in an upper surface thereof and adjacent to a perimeter thereof, a plurality of wall members coupled with the recessed channels in the base member so as to form an enclosure that defines an interior space, and a roof member pivotally attached to at least one of the wall members so as to move between an open and closed configuration. The shelter comprises a removable storage member positioned between the base member and the roof member so as to vertically separate the interior space into an interior storage compartment and an interior residential compartment for the animal. The shelter comprises a movable partition member positioned between at least two of the wall members and adapted to vary the dimension of the interior residential compartment.
US08141515B2
A method of aquaculture is applicable to a novel culture arrangement for diversified farming of generally deep sea fin fishes, shrimps, and shellfishes. A pre-manufactured enclosed cultivation tank is provided and air compressor facility is included for pressurization and oxygenation so as to make the interior of the cultivation tank a pressurized water environment of predetermined high pressure. A low pressure siphon tube is included for sucking and removing excrements from the cultivation tank and to realize water replacement in a natural manner thereby providing a deep sea mimicked clean cultivation environment. The drained water is subjected to multiple steps of filtration and purification for separating the excrements from the water and for purifying water to allow cyclic use of the water. An arrangement of multiple cultivation tanks allows for diversified and multi-species cultivation of fishery products and deep sea fishes.
US08141514B2
A plasma processing apparatus having a substrate processing chamber, which enables leakage of plasma into an exhaust space to be prevented. The substrate processing chamber has therein a processing space in which plasma processing is carried out on a substrate, an exhaust space for exhausting gas out of the processing space, and an exhaust flow path that communicates the exhaust space and the processing space together. The plasma processing apparatus further has a grounding component that is electrically grounded and is disposed in the exhaust flow path. The grounding component has a conducting portion made of a conductive material, and the conducting portion has an exposed area exposed to the exhaust flow path in a range of 100 to 1000 cm2.
US08141509B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a subsea salvage operation using a lifting magnet. In one embodiment, a method of salvaging a submerged production platform includes deploying a salvage vessel to a wreckage site of the submerged production platform; lowering a lifting magnet from the salvage vessel to the submerged production platform; and activating the lifting magnet, thereby capturing at least a portion of the submerged production platform.
US08141499B2
A wireless actuator includes a track rail, a slide member movable along the track rail, a driver which is mounted on the slide member and which allows the slide member to travel with respect to the track rail, a radio receiver portion which is mounted on the slide member and which receives a drive control signal for the driver, a control unit which generates the drive control signal and transmits the drive control signal to the radio receiver portion, and a non-contact power supply which includes a primary side member provided to the track rail and a secondary side member provided to the slide member and supplies electric power from a side of the track rail to the driver and the radio receiver portion which are mounted on the slide member.
US08141498B2
A rail car extension system including a first main rail section, a second main rail section and a plurality of bow structures. The first main rail section is mounted with respect to an upper surface of the first side wall. The first main rail section includes a first upper rail portion and a first lower rail portion that extends from the first upper rail portion. The second main rail section is mounted with respect to an upper surface of the second side wall. The second main rail section includes a second upper rail portion and a second lower rail portion that extends from the second upper rail portion. The plurality of bow structures are each attached to and extend between the first main rail section and the second main rail section.
US08141497B2
A sliding-type apparatus for absorbing front shock energy is disclosed. The sliding-type apparatus of the present invention includes a driver panel (130), which is provided on the front surface of a driver's cab defined by a front part protective shell (110) of a railway vehicle so as to be movable backwards, and a bottom shock absorber (150), which is provided under the lower surface of the driver panel (130). The sliding-type apparatus further includes a front shock absorber (170), which is provided on the front surface of the driver panel (130), and a driver panel shock absorber (190), which is provided at a position towards which the driver panel is moved backwards. Thus, when a railway vehicle is involved in a collision, the several shock absorbers are consecutively collapsed to efficiently absorb shock energy. Furthermore, the driver panel is moved backwards without being deformed by the shock energy. Therefore, the safety of the driver is ensured.
US08141492B1
A means of increasing the velocity of projectiles using multiple charges ignited at different times to facilitate a sustained pressure pulse in the barrel is provided. The propellant charges are separated with one or more rigid barriers and ignited in series; igniting the propellant nearest to the projectile first and the propellant that is farthest from the propellant last. By timing the ignition of the charges a higher average pressure is sustained in the gun tube without risking a breach blow. After the peak pressure of the first propellant charge is reached the second propellant is ignited. The energy of the second propellant causes the pressure in the gun tube to fall more gradually. Thus the average pressure that acts on the projectile is safely increased. The following includes several methods of accomplishing this.
US08141486B2
An ink-storage unit (1) for a hand-operated stamp, comprising a trough-shaped container (2) which is open at the top and inside of which an ink-storage body (3) is arranged, the latter being configured to deliver stamping ink (13) to a printing plate in the operating state, wherein at least an attachment frame (5A) is associated with the container (2), the attachment frame being detachably fixable, or fixed, to the upper side of the container (2) to serve as a filling aid.
US08141467B1
A bullet sizing and lubrication device for use with reloading presses for improved operation and durability having a sizing die, lube valve, and lube actuator member. The sizing die has a centering portion for centering bullets to be sized and lubricated and at least one lube opening. The lube valve and lube actuator member has a first position where fluid is blocked from entering the at least one lube opening and a second position where fluid is communicated through the at least one lube opening. The principle use is for sizing and lubricating cast bullets, however, other components will benefit from this invention. For example, any number of applications where devices need to be sized and lubricated, such as, shafts and pins will benefit from this application.
US08141460B2
A ratcheting wrench having ratchet structure, a ratchet body, a socket wheel, a plurality of ratchet teeth and at least one pawl. The ratchet body is received into the ratchet structure and is rotatable about a first axis. The socket wheel is received in an aperture in the ratchet body and includes a plurality of tool members that are spaced circumferentially apart from one another about a second axis that intersects the first axis but is not coincident with the first axis. The ratchet teeth and the at least one pawl cooperate to control relative rotation between the ratchet structure and the ratchet body about the first axis.
US08141451B2
A shift drive device with a shift arm having one end secured to a shift spindle with a guide hole for receiving a pin, provide to project therefrom, inserted therethrough and engaged therewith. A turn-restriction hole receives a restriction pin provided on a transmission case. A space that is needed for turning the shift arm is reduced. A turn-restriction hole is provided in a shift arm so as to be disposed on a straight line connecting an axial line of a shift spindle with the center of a guide hole.
US08141447B2
A spiral-toothed gear wheel for a rack and pinion steering. The spiral-toothed gear wheel includes a pinion, which meshes on the power take-off side with a toothed rack, and a spiral-toothed gear, which is arranged on the pinion on the drive side in such a way that they rotate in unison, and on which a torque caused by a steering power or/and steering assist power acts. The spiral-toothed gear is designed as a built-up gear and includes a gear rim, which is arranged, relative to the axial direction of the gear or of the pinion thereof, between two flanges. The gear rim is pushed over a hub formed at one of the flanges and is fitted together with the flanges in a positive-locking manner. One of the flanges, namely, the flange having the hub for the gear rim, is made in one piece with the pinion.
US08141443B2
A probe adaptor assembly includes a probe opening into which a probe can be inserted. The probe is held in place by a compression fitting such that the probe depth, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the assembly, can be adjusted prior to the compression fitting being tightened to secure the probe. A conduit adaptor port is provided. A lubrication fitting provides an opening for a lubricant to be injected into the assembly. The lubrication fitting is coupled to the probe opening so that the lubricant injected into the fitting can exit the probe opening in order to lubricate the system into which the probe is inserted. In one embodiment, the probe adaptor assembly is configured to replace a lubrication fitting for a bearing so that a temperature of the bearing can be monitored while also providing lubrication.
US08141442B2
A pipe scanner for non-destructively scanning an extended length of the circumference of a pipe along an axial dimension. The pipe scanner includes a collar sized to fit around the outer circumference of the pipe. Wheels supported on the collar ride on the surface of the pipe while maintaining a space between the inner surface of the collar and the outer surface of the pipe. A track extends circumferentially around the collar for guiding a circumferential drive unit that rides on the track and carries a non-destructive sensor for monitoring the surface of the pipe as the circumferential drive unit moves around the track. An axial drive unit is connected to the collar, having a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive wheels in contact with the pipe for moving the collar along the extended length.
US08141439B2
A device is provided for sampling metal melts, in particular molten iron and molten cast iron, with a sample chamber having an inlet opening and tellurium arranged in the sample chamber. The sample chamber contains 0.01 to 0.05 g/cm3 tellurium based on the volume of the sample chamber and the tellurium is in powder form having an average particle size of at most 150 μm. Additionally or alternatively, the tellurium is in powder form having an average particle size of at least 150 μm and a specific surface area of 0.03 to 0.1 m2/g.
US08141433B2
A method of measuring the gas flow of an incondensable gas in a flowing mixture of said incondensable gas and a condensable gas comprising the steps of calibrating a leak detector; injecting a known quantity of gauge gas at a known mass flow rate into said flowing mixture of gases; drawing a sample of the said gauge mix off at a sample point; passing said sample through a condenser so as to remove said condensable gas from the gauge mix, resulting in a test mix; passing the said test mix into the leak detector so as to measure the concentration of the gauge gas within the test mix; and calculating the mass flow rate of said incondensable gas within said flowing mixture. There is also provided a method of measuring the rate of ingress of an incondensable gas at an ingress point along a flow path of a flowing mixture of said incondensable gas and a condensable gas.
US08141430B2
A monolithic manometer and method of sensing pressure changes may include sensing a change in parasitic capacitive coupling between multiple parasitic capacitive coupled conductive elements in response to a diaphragm disturbing the parasitic capacitive coupling between the conductive elements. A signal representative of the sensed change in parasitic capacitive coupling may be output.
US08141419B2
Estimating formation properties includes a member coupled to a carrier, the member having a distal end that engages a borehole wall location, the distal end having a curved surface having a radius of curvature in at least one dimension about equal to or greater than a borehole radius. A drive device extends the first extendable member with a force sufficient to determine formation strength, and at least one measurement device providing an output signal indicative of the formation property. Articulating couplings may be used to change an angle of extension of the extendable member.
US08141418B2
An apparatus and a method for sampling from a product flow, where the sampling is performed continuously and where the product is collected in a cup for determining physical conditions, for example, weight in relation to volume, and where the cup is emptied after ending the sampling. The apparatus is provided with at least one sampling cup provided with a filling opening and an emptying opening with different cross-sectional areas. It is not necessary to perform a turning movement of the sampling cup in order to empty it. Instead, preferably, the sampling cup is emptied by opening/uncovering the bottom. Emptying of the cup and subsequent cleaning of the cup are effected with open bottom by passage of the product flow through the cup; but, emptying may also occur in a separate duct.
US08141417B2
The present invention includes medical fluid injector systems that detect the contents and/or volume of such contents within a syringe of the system. For example, an RF signal from a first antenna of a medical fluid injector may be transmitted through a syringe associated with the medical fluid injector. At least some of the transmitted RF signal may be received by a second antenna of the medical fluid injector. An amount of the RF signal received by the second antenna may be measured to provide information regarding the contents and/or volume of such contents within the syringe.
US08141414B2
A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a tire tread of a vehicle wheel including a rim and a tire configured to perform the steps of: (1) emitting an electromagnetic radiation towards the tread of the tire, (2) receiving a reflected electromagnetic radiation from said tread of the tire in response to the emitted radiation, (3) processing the reflected radiation to obtain height data including respective heights of a plurality of points located on the tread of the tire, (4) repeating the steps (1) to (3) in successive time intervals within which the vehicle wheel has driven a predetermined distance, and storing the respective height data, particularly average values of the height data, each in dependence of the driven distance, and (5) deriving from the succession of the stored height data a residual mileage of the tire.
US08141393B2
A glass fiber and a method of manufacturing a glass fiber for reinforcing a transparent composite matrix is disclosed. The glass fiber includes a first glass material having a first refractive index, a first modulus, and a first durability characteristic and a second glass material having a second refractive index, a second modulus, and second durability characteristic. The second durability characteristic is greater than the first durability characteristic. Durability characteristic is selected from the group comprising resistance to chemical attack, resistance to acid attack, resistance to fading from exposure to ultra-violet radiation, and resistance to mechanical abrasion.
US08141388B2
A glass manufacturing system and a method are described herein that use an enhanced temperature control device to help manufacture a uniformly thick glass sheet that is substantially stress free. In one example, the enhanced temperature control device includes an array of temperature controlled elements and a radiation collimator which together cool the glass sheet with a high degree of spatial resolution so as to reduce stress in the glass sheet and control the thickness of the glass sheet.
US08141385B2
A blow head mechanism for an I.S. machine wherein the blow head has a final blow tube. The final blow tube is supported for vertical displacement between an up position where the open end of the final blow tube is proximate the top of a blown parison and a down position where the open end of the final blow tube is proximate the bottom of a blown parison. The final blow tube is oscillated a plurality of times during the time when the blow head is “on.”
US08141363B2
A nozzle includes a nozzle body and a cavity defined at least in part by the nozzle body. A plenum extends through the nozzle body into the cavity. At least one passage through the plenum provides fluid communication between the plenum and the cavity. Orifices through the nozzle body and circumferentially spaced around the nozzle body provide fluid communication through the nozzle body. A method for cooling a face of a nozzle having a nozzle body that defines a cavity includes flowing a fuel through the cavity and inserting a plenum through the nozzle body into the cavity. The method further includes flowing a fluid through the plenum so that the fluid impinges on the face of the nozzle to remove heat.
US08141358B2
A method for controlling cylinder air charge of an engine having a compressor is presented. In one example, the description includes a method for coordinating the control of the throttle, turbo charger, and valves such that the desired cylinder air charge may be achieved while engine pumping work may be decreased.
US08141352B2
In an internal combustion engine, an NOX selective reducing catalyst is arranged in the engine exhaust passage, and an NOX storage catalyst able to store NOX contained in the exhaust gas is arranged at the upstream of the NOX selective reducing catalyst. The NOX storage catalyst is fed with mist fuel, and the NOX stored in the NOX storage catalyst and the fed fuel are used to produce an intermediate product comprising bonded molecules comprised of NH2 and a hydrocarbon molecule more than an equivalent ratio with respect to one NOX molecule. These intermediate products are adsorbed at the NOX selective reducing catalyst, whereby the adsorbed intermediate product reduces the NOX in the exhaust gas.
US08141350B2
A system comprises a regeneration module and a diagnostic module. The regeneration module controls an electric heater to heat exhaust gas produced by an engine. The regeneration module determines when a regeneration cycle of a particulate matter (PM) filter begins by comparing a temperature of the exhaust gas input to the PM filter and a first temperature threshold. The diagnostic module determines a regeneration status by comparing a temperature of the exhaust gas output by the PM filter and a second temperature threshold during a predetermined period after the regeneration cycle begins.
US08141348B2
A method of controlling dosing of a hydrocarbon fuel into the exhaust gas of a combustion engine upstream of a particulate filter when the exhaust gas temperature into an oxidation catalyst upstream of a particulate filter has dropped below the light-off temperature of the catalyst.
US08141344B2
An individual exhaust passage is provided independently for each cylinder group in an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinder groups each having a plurality of cylinders. A first catalyst is provided in each of the individual exhaust passages. Downstream of those first catalysts, the individual exhaust passages merge to form a common exhaust passage in which a second catalyst is provided. When control of the internal combustion engine is switched from cylinder group-specific control to stoichiometric control, an air-fuel ratio control portion makes the air-fuel ratio of a cylinder group in which the air-fuel ratio was made rich by cylinder group-specific control lean for a predetermined period of time, and makes the air-fuel ratio of a cylinder group in which the air-fuel ratio was made lean by the cylinder group-specific control rich for a predetermined period of time.
US08141342B2
In a region where the engine load is less than a first predetermined value, only a second exhaust valve that opens and closes a second exhaust passageway that bypasses a turbine of a supercharger is opened. In a region where the engine load is greater than or equal to the first predetermined value and less than a second predetermined value, both the second exhaust valve and a first exhaust valve that opens and closes a first exhaust passageway that leads to the turbine are opened. In a region where the engine load is greater than or equal to the second predetermined value, only the first exhaust valve is opened. A predetermined value for the time of lean combustion is set lower than a predetermined value for the time of stoichiometric combustion.
US08141341B2
The catalyst smell reducing control in which the fuel cutoff is performed is not executed regardless of the catalyst smelling flag Fs1 equal to ‘1’ (step S140) when the vehicle speed V becomes less than the preset vehicle speed Vref (step S130) while the catalyst deterioration reducing control in which the fuel cutoff is prohibited is being executed (step S150). Such control prevents from executing the catalyst smell reducing control while the suspension of the catalyst deterioration reducing control and prevents performing the fuel cutoff after performing a fuel injection and performing the fuel injection again for a relatively short time in the internal combustion engine. Therefore, it is enabled to reduce an occurrence of a shock due to the temporal decline of the output torque from the internal combustion engine, and is thereby enabled to reduce a sense of incompatibility given to the driver or passenger by reducing the occurrence of the shock due to the execution of the catalyst deterioration reducing control and the catalyst smell reducing control.
US08141338B2
The injector device for injecting a liquid mono-propellant with a large degree of flow rate modulation and an injection speed that is stable, and that is closable for extinction and re-ignition purposes, is disposed at an upstream end of the wall of a combustion chamber of a rocket engine. The device includes at least one feed channel for feeding mono-propellant from a tank, and first and second concentric annular speed-up channels connected to the feed channels and having outlets opening out respectively via first and second annular injection sections situated in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the chamber. The first and second concentric annular channels are oriented to converge on each other with a resultant that lies substantially along the axis of the chamber, forming an angle that is predefined in such a manner as to output two sheets of injected liquid mono-propellant that mutually in an atomization ring at a predetermined distance from the upstream end forming the end wall of the combustion chamber and in the vicinity of the axis of the combustion chamber.
US08141334B2
A combustor for a combustion turbine engine that includes: a chamber defined by an outer wall and forming a channel between windows defined through the outer wall toward a forward end of the chamber and at least one fuel injector positioned toward an aft end of the chamber; and a multilayer screen filter comprising at least two layers of screen over at least a portion of the windows and at least one layer of screen over the remaining portion of the windows. The windows include a forward end and a forward portion, and an aft end and an aft portion. The multilayer screen filter is positioned over the windows such that, in operation, a supply of compressed air entering the chamber through the windows passes through at least one layer of screen. The multilayer screen filter is configured such that the aft portion of the windows include at least two layers of screen, and the forward portion of the windows includes one less layer of screen than the aft portion of the windows.
US08141330B2
Systems and methods of automatically dispensing tablets are disclosed. The systems and methods of the invention provide a highly secure, highly accurate and rapid means of dispensing tablets. The system includes an automatic dispensing tablet dispensing system as shown in the Figures and provides a means of lowering errors while preventing unauthorized tampering by non-authorized personnel. Moreover, the invention relates to systems and methods for packaging vials, packaging items from totes, and packaging items from totes with vials.
US08141325B2
A composite panel assembly includes: a first composite panel having first and second contact surfaces, and including upper and lower protective layers, and a first core; and a second composite panel having third and fourth contact surfaces, and including upper and lower protective layers, and a second core. The first contact surface of the first composite panel is disposed above and abuts against the third contact surface of the second composite panel, and the second contact surface of the first composite panel is disposed below and abuts against the fourth contact surface of the second composite panel.
US08141322B2
The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and system to conserve resources, particularly rain water, by providing for water storage within building walls and other structural components. The building water storage allows reuse of water at that location that in the past has generally flowed to storm drains as runoff. Besides allowing reuse, another advantageous effect is that the structure may become a well insulated unit.
US08141320B2
An anchor member securing system includes a securing member and a rebar cage structure secured to the member. The securing system may include at least a first foundation placement guide. The anchor members may comprise mudsill anchors and anchor bolts, and the system provides more exact placement of the member or members in a foundation.
US08141312B1
A wooden strip and a plurality of metal clips comprise or define a batten for securing tiles to a roof. Each clip includes a generally flat bottom and a pair of upwardly extending arms. Each arm includes an outwardly extending flange. Each flange includes at least a single barb extending upwardly for securing the clip to the wooden strip. The barbs are punched out of the flanges and extend into the bottom of the wooden strip to secure the clips to the wooden strip. The bottoms of the clips are flat to be disposed on the roof, with the arms supporting the wooden strip off the roof.
US08141291B2
An insect trap including a suction device to suck insects into a catch where they are killed or detained. The insect trap also includes a catalytic reactor that uses a portion of the air and a combustible fuel to produce CO2. The CO2 is expelled from the trap at one end and the intake air is sucked in at the other. Intake and outlet ports for the intake air and lure respectively are angled toward each other. Accordingly, more insects that are drawn to the lure become trapped in the intake air.
US08141268B2
The present document describes a bag for storing and drying garments or sports equipment. The bag comprises an external envelope substantially made of flexible resistant material. The bag further comprises a frame supporting the external envelope and comprising frame sections capable of adopting a retracted position and an extended position in which the frame occupies more space than in the retracted position. The bag further comprises a tubular structure for hanging the garments or sports equipment and through which air can be blown for drying the hung garments or sports equipment. The tubular structure is mounted on the frame and comprises tube sections capable of adopting a retracted position and an extended position in which the tubular structure occupies more space than in the retracted position.
US08141266B2
A length measurement device comprises a first connector, a measurement wire, and a second connector. The second connector comprises a substrate and a fixer pivotally connected to the substrate. The measurement wire is an electrical wire with a scale. One end of the measurement wire is connected to the first connector, and another end is movably connected to the substrate of the second connector and the fixer.
US08141263B2
An apparatus for measuring an inside diameter of hole of a workpeice comprises a main body, two probing legs, two pressure sensors, a controller unit, a display unit, and a step-motor. The two probing legs have a first end and a two second end. Two pressure sensors are respectively mounted on the second end and configured from generating a pressure signal in response to a reacting force applied thereon by an inner wall in the hole. The step-motor is configured for driving the two probing legs to rotate so as to enable the pressure sensors to about against the inner wall. The controller unit is configured for controlling the step driving the probing legs to rotate in response to the pressure signal and computing a rotation angle of each probing leg. The display unit is configured for display the inside diameter of a the hole.
US08141262B1
A fish measuring device includes a flat, flexible base and an elongate, flexible tape measure secured to the base. A fish is positioned atop the base and the base is wrapped around the fish to inhibit its movement. Releasable fasteners maintain the base in the wrapped configuration during the measurement. The tape measure is extended into parallel, overlying relation to the fish so that the length of the fish may be measured. At least one stiffener is disposed in sliding engagement to the tape measure and is held in a vertical plane near the head of the fish. The tape measure is held taut from an exit point of the stiffener in parallel relation to the fish so that the measurement can be made. At least one suction cup is formed in a reverse side of the base so that the base is releasably secured to a flat support surface.
US08141241B2
A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board having a metal bump, including: forming a recess for creation of the metal bump on a metal carrier; forming a barrier layer on the metal carrier including the recess; forming an upper circuit layer on the barrier layer, the upper circuit layer including the metal bump charged in the recess and a circuit pattern; preparing an insulating layer, and transferring the upper circuit layer to the insulating layer; and removing the metal carrier and the barrier layer.
US08141234B2
A method for magnetizing a rotor of an electrical machine is provided. The method includes assembling an array of non-magnetized anisotropic permanent magnet segments around a rotor spindle encased in a metallic ring. The method also includes determining multiple optimal magnetization orientation directions of the non-magnetized anisotropic permanent magnet segments. Further, the method includes positioning the assembled non-magnetized anisotropic permanent magnet segments around the rotor spindle such that the optimal magnetization orientation directions of the anisotropic permanent magnet segments are aligned with multiple flux lines produced by a magnetization fixture. Finally, the method includes energizing the magnetization fixture for magnetizing the segments via a pulse direct current for an optimal duration of the pulse.
US08141225B2
A method of manufacturing a blisk comprising a disc joined to an aerofoil, wherein a union piece of partially sintered powder and having an alignment feature is provided. The union piece is connected between the disc and the aerofoil, which is aligned relative to the disc by the alignment feature of the union piece. Heat and pressure is subsequently applied to consolidate the first workpiece, union piece and second workpiece.
US08141219B2
A tool for assisting in cutting the conductors of an electrical cable to a precise length includes a body, the body being pierced with a channel which is orthogonal to a reference face and which is equipped with a shoulder. The distance between the shoulder and the reference face is equal to the desired length of the end portions of the conductors of the electrical cable outside the outer insulating sheath thereof.
US08141218B2
A method for manufacturing a double walled pipeline comprises providing a pipeline section including an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member, providing a coupling member, and controlling the stress distribution in the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member by coupling the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member directly to the coupling member.
US08141217B2
In the process for producing dental prostheses such as bridges, crowns implants, etc. from ceramic material, production is carried out at least by way of one CAD/CAM machining station. The ceramic material to be worked consists of an unsintered disk-shaped blank or one which has not been subjected to final sintering, working of the blank into dental prostheses being undertaken at a right angle or quasi-right angle to the parallel or quasi-parallel surfaces of the blank.
US08141216B2
An ultrasound probe comprising a transmitting piezoelectric layer, an electrode layer and a receiving piezoelectric layer laminated in that order, the ultrasound probe transmitting and receiving an ultrasound, wherein a polarization treatment on the receiving piezoelectric layer is carried out by providing a peelable dielectric layer on the receiving piezoelectric layer.
US08141214B2
A method of making a textile pattern includes forming a design module having a substantially square shape, forming a motif from the design module by repeating the design module to form a unitary array of design modules, where the design modules of the unitary array of design modules have various orientations with respect to one another in fixed positions within the unitary array, and repeating the motif along a length and a width of a continuous textile web so that the continuous textile web comprises a first occurrence of the motif and a second occurrence of the motif.
US08141197B2
The present invention relates to a splash guard that partially encircles a rotary floor cleaning apparatus allowing for support wheels to maneuver the apparatus when the rotary brushes are not in operation. The splash guard prevents cleansing material or debris from being splattered onto walls and other surfaces adjacent to the surface being cleaned.
US08141190B2
A walk-up, user accessible cleaning workstation having a sensor and ionization nozzle arranged on a frame. The frame mounts the sensor in a fixed position to the nozzle in operative proximity to a cleaning area. The frame partially encloses the nozzle's electrode. The sensor detects manual workpiece placement into the cleaning area to open the gas valve and activate the power supply. The panel deflects dust flying off the workpiece from reaching the user's face. The workstation improves safety in the cleaning and destaticizing of ophthalmic lenses.
US08141188B2
An arm is pivotally coupled to a support structure at one end and a patient care equipment support, such as a service head, is pivotally coupled to the arm at the other end. The arm has a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion for extension and retraction relative to the first portion. Brakes are provided to brake the extension and retraction of the portions of the arm, to brake the pivoting movement of the arm relative to the support structure, and to brake the pivoting movement of the patient care equipment support relative to the arm. Each of the brakes is releasable.
US08141187B2
The present invention is related to a supportive head and neck pillow with a supportive bone structure inside the pillow. The invention is used for head and neck support, and comfort while sleeping sitting up during transportation. It can also be used for head and neck support for people who have neck injuries, or to prevent neck injuries during transportation. The main components are made up of two things; a pillow with a bone structure support inside the pillow and a clip/strap system.
US08141186B2
According to various embodiments, a bassinet assembly includes a floor and one or more side walls that extend upwardly from a perimeter of the floor and surround the floor. Each side wall has an upper perimeter and includes a mesh portion that extends substantially the height of the side wall from the upper perimeter to the floor. Each side wall also includes a substantially solid wall portion that extends from the upper perimeter to an intermediate portion disposed between the upper perimeter and the floor. At least a portion of the side wall between the intermediate portion and the floor of the bassinet assembly is mesh to allow a child lying therein to breathe.
US08141183B2
A prefabricated modular curb suitable for attaching to a sidewall of a prefabricated shower module for constructing a tiled shower includes a mounting wall, an exterior wall, and a top wall extending from the upper edge of the exterior wall to the upper edge of the mounting wall in a plane substantially perpendicular to the mounting wall and to the exterior wall, or pitched downward from the exterior wall toward the mounting wall. In one embodiment, the modular curb further includes at least one reinforcing curb rib connected to the top wall, the mounting wall, and/or the exterior wall. In another embodiment the top wall terminates beyond the outer surface of the mounting wall in a ledge having a width substantially equal to the width of the sidewall of the shower module.
US08141179B2
A toilet has a source (42) that applies a vacuum to a trapway (14) at the beginning of a flushing to immediately flush the toilet bowl (12). As a result, water from the water tunnel 26 and the toilet bowl top channel 28 flow into the bowl after the flushing to create a large water spot (98) in the toilet bowl. A low water flush (e.g. 1½ liters to flush urine) can be obtained by not letting water flow out of a secondary volume (63) that lies outside a divider (140) in an isolator (40).
US08141173B2
A garment for use in a shower is disclosed. The shower garment includes a first panel, a second panel, and a strap. The strap has a first end releasably coupled to a second end thereof and is adapted to extend around a waist of a user. The first panel and the second panel depend from the strap and substantially cover the pelvic region and the buttocks, respectively, of the user.
