US08207080B2
The invention concerns a compound comprising a combination of two crystal phases. The first crystal phase corresponds to the formula: AaEbVcModPeOfHg wherein A is an alkali-metal; E is Te, Sb or Bi; and 0≦a≦3, 0
US08207078B2
A close coupled three-way catalyst for purification of exhaust gas of motor vehicle and the preparation thereof. The support is selected from cordierite honeycomb ceramic materials having a pore volume of 0.25-0.35 ml/g. The coating layer is the mixture of hexaaluminate and perovskite-type composite oxide, cerium-zirconium solid solution, rare-earth oxide and alumina, alkali-earth oxide and zeolite having a high Si/Al ratio. The active components are palladium-rhodium, rare-earth oxide and transition metal in the hexaaluminate and perovskite-type composite oxide. The catalyst has not only the function of low-temperature catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons, but also the function of reduction of nitrogen oxides, and can be used for purifying the exhaust gas of motor vehicles using gasoline, liquid gas, or CNG as fuel.
US08207077B2
The present invention provides a dense, abrasion resistant ceramic. The ceramic of the invention includes alumina crystal particles and a grain boundary phase. The invention also includes an abrasion resistant sliding member and a pump comprising the same.
US08207076B2
A high-refractive index, low-dispersion optical glass which is small in a change of imaging properties due to a change in temperature of the use environment, specifically one capable of realizing an absolute value of multiplication (α×β) of an average coefficient of linear expansion (α) at from −30 to +70° C. and a photoelastic constant (β) at a wavelength of 546.1 nm of not more than 130×10−12° C.−1×nm×cm−1×Pa−1, is manufactured without using large qualities of components which are high in an environmental load and scarce mineral resources. The optical glass of the invention has an absolute value of multiplication (α×β) of an average coefficient of linear expansion (α) at from −30 to +70° C. and a photoelastic constant (β) at a wavelength of 546.1 nm of not more than 130×10−12° C.−1×nm×cm−1×Pa−1; and contains more than 0% of SiO2, B2O3 and La2O3, more than 13% and less than 20% of (ZrO2+Nb2O5) and less than 2.0% of ZnO in terms of % by mass on the oxide basis.
US08207059B2
A layer of a porous insulating film precursor is formed on or over a substrate, a layer of a specific silicon compound is then formed, this silicon compound layer is pre-cured as necessary, and the porous insulating film precursor is exposed to UV through the silicon compound layer or pre-cured layer.
US08207054B2
A III group nitride semiconductor substrate according to the present invention is fabricated by forming a metal film or metal nitride film 2′ with mesh structure in which micro voids are provided on a starting substrate 1, and growing a III group nitride semiconductor crystal layer 3 via the metal film or metal nitride film 2′.
US08207053B2
A layout of a cell of a semiconductor device is disclosed to include a diffusion level layout including a plurality of diffusion region layout shapes. The layout of the cell also includes a gate electrode level layout is defined to include a number of linear-shaped layout features placed to extend in only a first parallel direction. Each of the number of the linear-shaped layout features within the gate electrode level layout of the restricted layout region is rectangular-shaped. The gate electrode level layout includes linear-shaped layout features defined along at least four different lines of extent in the first parallel direction. The layout of the cell also includes a number of interconnect level layouts each of which is defined to pattern conductive features within corresponding interconnect levels above the gate electrode level.
US08207045B2
An object is to reduce occurrence of defective bonding between a base substrate and a semiconductor substrate even when a silicon nitride film or the like is used as a bonding layer. Another object is to provide a method for manufacturing an SOI substrate by which an increase in the number of steps can be suppressed. A semiconductor substrate and a base substrate are prepared; an oxide film is formed over the semiconductor substrate; the semiconductor substrate is irradiated with accelerated ions through the oxide film to form a separation layer at a predetermined depth from a surface of the semiconductor substrate; a nitrogen-containing layer is formed over the oxide film after the ion irradiation; the semiconductor substrate and the base substrate are disposed opposite to each other to bond a surface of the nitrogen-containing layer and a surface of the base substrate to each other; and the semiconductor substrate is heated to cause separation along the separation layer, thereby forming a single crystal semiconductor layer over the base substrate with the oxide film and the nitrogen-containing layer interposed therebetween.
US08207037B2
A semiconductor component that includes a field plate and a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor component. A semiconductor material includes an epitaxial layer disposed on a semiconductor substrate. A trench having an upper portion and a lower portion is formed in the epitaxial layer. A portion of a field plate is formed in the lower portion of the trench, wherein the field plate is electrically isolated from trench sidewalls. A gate structure is formed in the upper portion of the trench, wherein a gate oxide is formed from opposing sidewalls of the trench. Gate electrodes are formed adjacent to the gate oxide formed from the opposing sidewalls and a dielectric material is formed adjacent to the gate electrode. Another portion of the field plate is formed in the upper portion of the trench and cooperates with the portion of the field plate formed in the lower portion of the trench to form the field plate.
US08207034B2
A semiconductor memory device is formed to include: a substrate; a floating gate formed on the substrate via a gate insulating film; a control gate formed on an adjacent position to the floating gate via a tunnel insulating film; a spacer insulating film formed on the floating gate; and a protection film formed between the spacer insulating film and the control gate. In such a semiconductor memory device (MC), the protection film functions as a stopper of a side surface of the spacer insulating film when a part other than the spacer insulating film is etched.
US08207030B2
A method for producing one or more nMOSFET devices and one or more pMOSFET devices on the same semiconductor substrate is disclosed. In one aspect, the method relates to the use of a single activation anneal that serves for both Si nMOS and Ge pMOS. By use of a solid phase epitaxial regrowth (SPER) process for the Si nMOS, the thermal budget for the Si nMOS can be lowered to be compatible with Ge pMOS.
US08207029B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a stacked body of a dielectric layer including a silicon oxide and a conductive layer including silicon above a substrate; and forming a hole penetrating through the dielectric layer and the conductive layer in the stacked body, the forming the hole including: forming a first mask layer including a silicon oxide above the stacked body; etching the conductive layer while using the first mask layer as a mask; and forming a second mask layer having more silicon content than the dielectric layer above the first mask layer to etch the dielectric layer while using the second mask layer as a mask.
US08207022B1
An exposed die overmolded flip chip package includes a substrate. A die is flip chip mounted to an upper surface of the substrate. The package further includes a mold cap filling a space between an active surface of the die and the upper surface of the substrate. The mold cap includes a principal surface, sidewalls extending from the upper surface of the substrate to the principal surface, an annular surface coplanar with the inactive surface of the die and extending outward from a peripheral edge of the inactive surface of the die, and protruding surfaces extending between the principal surface and the annular surface. The mold cap does not cover the inactive surface of the die such that heat transfer from the die to the ambient environment is maximized and the package thickness is minimized.
US08207020B2
There is provided a semiconductor device whose cost is low and whose case is restrained from breaking. In the semiconductor device having a semiconductor sensor chip, a signal processing circuit for processing signals output from the semiconductor sensor chip and a hollow case for mounting the semiconductor sensor chip and the signal processing circuit therein, the case is constructed by bonding a concave bottom member whose one end is opened with a plate-like lid member that covers the opening of the bottom member. Then, the bottom and lid members are both made of a semiconductor material and are bonded by means of anode bonding or metal bonding for example.
US08207019B2
A method of making a semiconductor chip assembly includes providing first and second posts, first and second adhesives and a base, wherein the first post extends from the base in a first vertical direction into a first opening in the first adhesive and is located within a periphery of the second post, the second post extends from the base in a second vertical direction into a second opening in the second adhesive and the base is sandwiched between and extends laterally from the posts, then flowing and solidifying the adhesives, then providing a conductive trace that includes a pad and a terminal, wherein the pad extends beyond the base in the first vertical direction and the terminal extends beyond the base in the second vertical direction, providing a heat spreader that includes the posts and the base, then mounting a semiconductor device on the first post, electrically connecting the semiconductor device to the conductive trace and thermally connecting the semiconductor device to the heat spreader.
US08207013B2
A simplified method for fabricating a solar cell device is provided. The solar cell device has silicon nanowires (SiNW) grown on an upgraded metallurgical grade (UMG) silicon (Si) substrate. Processes of textured surface process and anti-reflection thin film process can be left out for further saving costs on equipment and manufacture investment. Thus, a low-cost Si-based solar cell device can be easily fabricated for wide application.
US08207010B2
It is an object to form a high-quality crystalline semiconductor layer directly over a large-sized substrate with high productivity without reducing the deposition rate and to provide a photoelectric conversion device in which the crystalline semiconductor layer is used as a photoelectric conversion layer. A photoelectric conversion layer formed of a semi-amorphous semiconductor is formed over a substrate as follows: a reaction gas is introduced into a treatment chamber where the substrate is placed; and a microwave is introduced into the treatment chamber through a slit provided for a waveguide that is disposed in approximately parallel to and opposed to the substrate, thereby generating plasma. By forming a photoelectric conversion layer using such a semi-amorphous semiconductor, a rate of deterioration in characteristics by light deterioration is decreased from one-fifth to one-tenth, and thus a photoelectric conversion device that has almost no problems for practical use can be obtained.
US08207003B2
Provided are a method of manufacturing a gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device with a low driving voltage (Vf) and high light outcoupling efficiency, a gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device, and a lamp. In the method of manufacturing the gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device, a transparent conductive oxide film 15 including a dopant is laminated on a p-type semiconductor layer 14 of a gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor device 1. The transparent conductive oxide film 15 is subjected to a laser annealing process using a laser after the lamination of the transparent conductive oxide film 15.
US08207001B2
A manufacturing method for an axially symmetric light-emitting diode assembly disclosed herein includes steps of: providing a substrate; and forming a plurality of light-emitting areas on the substrate. The substrate has a central axis. The light-emitting areas are arranged with axial symmetry around the central axis while being insulated from each other. Each of the light-emitting areas has at least one light-emitting diode, and the light-emitting diodes are electrically connected to each other. Since the light-emitting areas are formed on the substrate with the axially symmetric arrangement, the axially symmetric light-emitting diode assembly can present a well symmetric light pattern.
US08206983B2
The subject invention provides simple and consistent methods to break suspension cell aggregates to single cells with intact primary cell walls. The subject invention relates in part to cell separation of suspension cell aggregates cultured in medium containing pectin-degrading enzymes or tubulin de-polymerizing compounds including colchicine. The subject invention also relates to novel uses of compounds for such purposes. Another aspect of the subject invention relates to transformation of the subject, isolated cells. Such processes simplify and integrate single-cell-based transformation and selection processes into transgenic and transplastomic event-generation work processes. The subject invention also removes technical constraints and produces marker-free and uniformly expressing transgenic lines in a high throughput fashion to support various needs of animal health, biopharma, and trait and crop protection platforms.
US08206982B2
This invention relates to a composite material that comprises a support member that has a plurality of pores extending through the support member and, located in the pores of the support member, and filling the pores of the support member, a macroporous cross-linked gel. The invention also relates to a process for preparing the composite material described above, and to its use. The composite material is suitable, for example, for separation of substances, for example by filtration or adsorption, including chromatography, for use as a support in synthesis or for use as a support for cell growth.
US08206975B2
A method and a microfluidic device are provided to regulate fluid flow by equalization of channel pressures. The fluid flow is regulated by way of valve-actuated channel pressures.
US08206974B2
The invention provides methods and systems for ruggedizing a nucleic acid analyzing apparatus. The ruggedized apparatus can be used reliably and effectively in uncontrolled environments, such as, for example at a crime scene to collect and analyze forensic data, as well as in semi-controlled environments, such as, for example at a point of care location.
US08206970B2
Methods for the fermentive production of four carbon alcohols are provided. Specifically, butanol, preferably 2-butanol is produced by the fermentive growth of a recombinant bacteria expressing a 2-butanol biosynthetic pathway. The recombinant microorganisms and methods of the invention can also be adapted to produce 2-butanone, an intermediate in the 2-butanol biosynthetic pathways disclosed herein.
US08206969B2
A protein having acrylation activity having a polypeptide sequence derived from SEQ ID NO: 1 or NO:2 by introducing at least one of the following amino acid substitutions: L278A, L278V, W104F, T42A, S47A.
US08206968B2
The present invention provides a mutant 27 kDa NIa proteinase having reduced self-cleavage activity relative to the self-cleavage activity of its wild-type proteinase. The mutant has the same substrate cleavage activity as the wild-type proteinase but is more stable than the wild-type proteinase. The present invention also provides a method of obtaining large quantities of active 27 kDa NIa proteinase for use as a tool for purification of other proteins.
US08206966B2
Disclosed are compositions comprising variants of alpha-amylase that have alpha-amylase activity and which exhibit altered properties relative to a parent AmyS-like alpha-amylase from which they are derived. The compositions comprise an additional enzyme such as a phytase. Also disclosed are methods of using the compositions, and kits related thereto.
US08206962B2
The present invention relates to phytases having at least 76% identity to a phytase derived from Hafnia alvei and comprises at least one modification in the amino acid sequence thereof. These phytase variants have modified, preferably improved, properties, such as, reduced protease sensibility, preferably they exhibit improved properties in respect of thermal performance, such as heat-stability (temperature stability, thermostability), steam stability, pelleting stability and/or temperature profile; and/or protease stability, in particular pepsin stability, pH profile, specific activity, substrate specificity, performance in animal feed (such as an improved release and/or degradation of phytate), susceptibility to glycation, and/or glycosylation pattern. The invention also relates to DNA encoding these phytases, methods of their production, as well as the use thereof, e.g., in animal feed and animal feed additives.
US08206953B2
Disclosed is a single stranded primer-promoter-selector construct comprising (in 3′ to 5′ orientation) a primer subsequence annealing to the target, a T7 or other promoter subsequence (the template strand), and a selector subsequence. The primer can be extended by template mediated elongation, including reverse transcription, or ligation to another oligonucleotide. The promoter sequence is oriented to direct the in-vitro transcription (IVT) opposite to that of primer extension, where the selector subsequence serves as a template for IVT. The selector is associated with the target subsequence of interest and it, and the amplified product are unique subsequences, dissimilar to other sequence present in the sample. The construct's is useful for determination of the presence and relative abundance of designated subsequences in the sample, multiplex gene expression analysis, multiplex allele counting, determination of polymorphic/mutation site, and loss of heterozygosity.
US08206950B2
Fusion antigen used as vaccine and method of making them. The method includes: (1) selecting a segment of a virus protein sequence that contains a least one epitope; (2) engineering a DNA fragment encoding the selected segment of the virus protein; (3) inserting the DNA fragment into a Pseudomonas Exotoxin A (PE) vector to obtain a chimeric gene plasmid, and expressing the chimeric gene plasmid in a host cell to obtain the chimeric vaccinal virus antigen. The PE vector contains a PE fragment, which has a binding domain and a translocating domain, and a carboxyl terminal moiety, which includes an endoplasmic reticulum retention sequence. The DNA fragment encoding the selected segment of the virus protein is inserted between the PE fragment and the carboxyl terminal moiety.
US08206948B2
Described are codon optimized sgp130 encoding nucleic acid molecules as well as a method for the highly efficient recombinant production of sgp130 in mammalian cells or bacteria using a nucleic acid molecule of the invention.
US08206947B2
The invention provides human transmembrane proteins (HTMPN) and polynucleotides which identify and encode HTMPN. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, antibodies, agonists, and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for diagnosing, treating, or preventing disorders associated with expression of HTMPN.
US08206944B2
A novel dry stick device construction for the determination of an analyte in a sample is provided. The device comprises: (i) optionally a solid support, (ii) at least one reagent pad comprising a reagent or a combination of reagents capable of reacting with the analyte, a derivative of said analyte or an indicator compound for said analyte to provide a detectable signal when in a moistened state, the at least one reagent pad providing a first environment for said reagent(s), said first environment permitting an improved storage stability of the reagent(s) and dry stick device when in a non-moistened state, and (iii) a regulating pad being in contact with the at least one reagent pad, the regulating pad creating a second environment for said reagent(s), when in a moistened state, said second environment permitting an increased rate of reaction between the analyte and the reagent.
US08206943B1
The present invention provides methods for identifying modulators of PCSK9, for example, using a variety of assay formats. Inhibitors of PCSK9 can be used for example, to treat diseases such as hyperlipidemia and related disorders.
US08206937B2
The invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of novel human tumor suppressors, antibodies to such tumor suppressors, methods of detecting such nucleic acids and proteins, methods of screening for modulators of tumor suppressors, and methods of diagnosing and treating tumors with such nucleic acids and proteins.
US08206936B2
Methods for categorizing antibodies based on their epitope binding characteristics are described. Methods and systems for determining the epitope recognition properties of different antibodies are provided. Also provided are data analysis processes for clustering antibodies on the basis of their epitope recognition properties and for identifying antibodies having distinct epitope binding characteristics.
US08206935B2
This invention is related to a method for rapidly quantifying hydroxymethylated DNA by binding DNA to a plastic carrier followed by immunodetection of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine or a hydroxymethylcytosine structure that is marker of DNA hydroxymethylation.
US08206933B2
A method of detecting a proliferative disease, such as a disease associated with the abnormal expression of BORIS, in a mammal comprising testing for the expression of a BORIS isoform in the tissue of a mammal that does not express BORIS in the absence of disease, as well as a method of treating or preventing such a disease, isolated or purified BORIS isoform polypeptides and nucleic acids, and kits and arrays comprising same.
US08206932B2
Antibodies and molecules derived therefrom that bind to novel PSCA protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein PSCA exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, PSCA provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The PSCA gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with PSCA can be used in active or passive immunization.
US08206931B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for identifying compounds which modulate cellular glycosylation. The invention further provides methods for treating subjects suffering from or at risk of developing a glycosylation associated disorder.
US08206928B2
Disclosed is a method for determining whether or not a wild rose of interest is crossed with a cultivated rose. The method comprises the steps of: examining whether or not a KSN gene containing a transposon (an indicator) is contained in the rose of interest; and determining that the rose of interest is crossed with a cultivated rose when the individual has the transposon-containing KSN gene.
US08206910B2
The invention is directed to methods of diagnosing breast cancer, susceptibility to breast cancer, nodal metastasis of a breast cancer and screening for breast cancer in an individual in need thereof comprising detecting the presence of a loss of heterozygosity/allelic imbalance (LOH/AI) at one or more specific loci (markers) in the genome of the individual, wherein the presence of the LOH/AI at the one or more specific loci in the genome of the individual is indicative of a diagnosis of breast cancer in the individual.
US08206906B2
The invention relates to methods and compositions for analyzing plant acetohydroxy acid synthase large subunit (AHASL) genes. In particular, the invention relates to methods for the detection of wild-type AHASL alleles and mutant AHASL alleles that encode imidazolinone-tolerant AHASL proteins. The methods involve the use of PCR amplification and novel compositions comprising allele-specific and gene-specific primers to detect the presence of mutant and/or wild-type alleles present at the individual AHASL genes of a plant. Specifically, the methods and compositions are useful for analyzing the three AHASL genes of Triticum aestivum and the two AHASL genes of Triticum turgidum ssp. durum.
US08206900B1
A probe, a set of probes, and a probe carrier on which the probe or the set of probes is immobilized, are provided for classification of fungus species. The probe or the set of probes is capable of collectively detecting fungus of the same species and distinguishingly detecting those fungus from fungus of other species. The probe is an oligonucleotide probe for detecting a pathogenic fungus DNA and includes at least one of base sequences of SEQ ID NOS. 1 to 2 and mutated sequences thereof.
US08206899B2
The invention relates to novel nucleic acids encoding a mammalian PCADM-1 gene, and proteins encoded thereby, whose expression is increased in certain diseases, disorders, or conditions, including, but not limited to, prostate cancer. The invention further relates to methods of detecting and treating prostate cancer, comprising modulating or detecting PCADM-1 expression and/or production and activity of PCADM-1 polypeptide. Further, the invention relates to novel assays for the identification of DNA-binding proteins and the double-stranded oligonucleotide sequences that specifically bind with them. Finally, the invention relates to DNAZYMs or DNA enzymes which specifically bind PCADM-1 mRNA to inhibit PCADM-1 gene expression and thereby destroy tumor cells and tumor tissue.
US08206889B2
A manufacturing technique of a semiconductor integrated circuit device utilizing a defect correction technique of a reflection-type mask using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light with a wavelength of about 13.5 nm as an exposure light source is provided. An auxiliary pattern having an opening diameter finer than that of an opening pattern in which a phase defect is generated is formed in an absorption layer in the vicinity of the opening pattern. The auxiliary pattern is a pattern for adjusting the exposure light amount at the time when the opening pattern is transferred to a photoresist film on a wafer.
US08206888B2
It is intended to provide a radiation-sensitive resin composition, which comprises a radiation-sensitive acid generator excellent in resolution performance, heat stability, and storage stability, suppresses fluctuations in line width and deterioration in pattern profile attributed to standing waves, and produces a resist pattern improved in nano edge roughness and LEF. The radiation-sensitive resin composition is characterized by (A) a radiation-sensitive acid generator comprising: a sulfonium salt compound typified by 2,4,6-trimethylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 2,4-difluorobenzenesulfonate, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 4-trifluoromethylbenzenesulfonate, or the like; and a sulfonimide compound. It is preferred that the composition should further comprise (B) a resin typified by a 4-hydroxystyrene/4-t-butoxystyrene copolymer, a 4-hydroxystyrene/t-butyl (meth)acrylate, or the like.
US08206886B2
A photosensitive composition comprises (A) a sulfonium or iodonium salt having an anion represented by one of formulae (I) and (II): wherein Y represents an alkylene group substituted with at least one fluorine atom, and R represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group.
US08206880B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor, including an electroconductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer overlying the substrate, wherein the photosensitive layer comprises a complex azo pigment comprising an azo compound having the following formula (a): A(H)n (a) wherein A represents a residue of an azo compound, bonded with n pieces of hydrogen atom through one or more heteroatom being N or O and forming a part of the residue A; H represents a hydrogen atom; and n represents an integer of from 1 to 9, and a pigment.
US08206878B2
A liquid developer includes an insulating liquid and toner particles obtained by surface-modifying toner mother particles made of a material containing a rosin resin with a polyalkyleneimine.
US08206868B2
A direct liquid feed fuel cell system includes fuel cells including an electrolyte membrane, a plurality of cathode electrodes formed on a first surface of the electrolyte membrane, and anode electrodes formed on a second part of the electrolyte membrane; and a high concentration fuel storage unit and a low concentration fuel storage unit which are separated from each other and store a liquid fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell. The liquid fuel in the low concentration fuel storage unit is supplied to the anode electrodes wherein the liquid fuel in the low concentration fuel storage unit is supplied to the anode electrodes when pressure is applied to the low concentration fuel storage unit, such as when the direct liquid feed fuel cell system having the low concentration fuel storage unit is mounted on an electronic device.
US08206859B2
A fuel cell system that controls the speed of the compressor providing cathode air to a fuel cell stack just after a system start-up procedure has ended so as to reduce the chance that the compressor current draw will cause a stack quick stop. The method includes recognizing a command for high compressor speed just after the system start-up procedure ends, where the stack is in the run state, and instead of providing a step change in the compressor command, ramping up the compressor speed so that the current draw from the compressor does not spike.
US08206853B2
The objective of the present invention is to prevent deterioration and expanding of anode active material and to improve charge-discharge cycle characteristics in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising an anode of which current collector has thereon a thin layer of an anode active material containing a metal. To solve this problem, in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery wherein a thin layer of anode active material containing a metal which absorbs and discharges lithium is formed on a current collector and the thin layer of the anode active material is divided into columns by a gap formed along the thickness thereof, a compound represented by the following formula is contained in the non-aqueous electrolyte. A-N═C═O In the above formula, A represents an element or a group other than hydrogen.
US08206850B2
A positive electrode and a gelled negative electrode are stored with a separator interposed therebetween in a battery case and an opening portion of the battery case is sealed with a gasket. The battery case is formed so that a thickness of a body portion thereof is smaller than a thickness of an opening portion thereof, the gasket includes a center portion, an outer circumference portion and a connection portion, an edge portion of the separator is in contact with the connection portion and bent toward the center portion and contact part of the edge portion with the connection portion has a length in a range of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm, and the positive electrode contains at least manganese dioxide and graphite and a mixture ratio by weight of manganese dioxide and graphite is within a range of 92.6/7.4 to 94.0/6.0.
US08206848B2
A secondary battery includes collector electrodes, a contact area of the collector electrode in contact with a cathode or a anode, a terminal portion formed in the collector electrode and not in contact with the cathode or anode, and a connecting portion to which a conductive member is connected. As compared with cross-sectional area of the terminal portion forming a first current path between the connecting portion and a first portion of the contact area closest to the connecting portion in the contact area, cross-sectional area of a terminal portion forming a second current path between the connecting portion and a second portion positioned in a region of the periphery of the contact area and extending along the terminal portion, of which length to the connection portion is longer than path length of said current path, is made larger.
US08206847B2
A battery pack couples first and second batteries mutually linearly via a connector of a metallic plate. The connector formed of a tube with a bottom is composed of a bottom portion and a side wall. Regarding the bottom portion, an outer periphery is welded to a bottom wall of a second battery casing, while an inner periphery inwardly of the outer periphery is welded to a sealing plate of the first battery. The side wall of the connector, protruded toward the first battery, has an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter at an end portion of the first battery. Regarding the battery pack, the end portion of the first battery is inserted inside the side wall of the connector in a non-contact state, and the bottom portion is welded to the first and second batteries, thus the first and second batteries being mutually coupled by the connector.
US08206844B2
A battery with improved safety that can more surely short-circuit electrodes when flattened out by the external force is provided. A center pin (30) is inserted in the center of a spirally wound electrode body formed by layering and spirally winding a cathode and an anode with a separator in between. The center pin (30) has a cut line (31) provided in the longitudinal direction and a first cutout (32) vertically crossing the cut line (31). When flattened out by the external force, a corner (33) at an intersection of the cut line (31) and the first cutout (32) is projected, and short-circuit is surely generated. Further, it is preferable that the center pin (30) has a second cutout (34) in the direction perpendicular to the cut line (31) in a position facing the cut line (31) in the circumferential direction. It is also preferable that the center pin (30) has a cross sectional shape of an oval or an ellipse, and the cut line (31) is provided in a position where the diameter of the oval or the ellipse is the largest.
US08206843B2
Disclosed are a gradient bioceramic coating comprising a rare earth oxide, a broadband laser method for preparing the bioceramic coating, and the use of the bioceramic coating in the field of medical materials.
US08206836B2
A conductive clip having a riser or post formed along a side thereof includes a notch or opening formed in the riser or post to create a first riser or post section and second riser or post section separated by the notch or opening through which a tiebar extends. The conductive clip organization is will suited for formation as elongated strips of such conductive clips for automated machine assembly of the conductive clips in an integrated circuit package context.
US08206835B2
A hanging ornament for color painting has a substrate, a first ridge area and a second ridge area. The substrate has a first surface, a second surface and a protrudent surface. The first and second surfaces are both sides of the substrate. The protrudent surface protrudes from a partial area of the first surface to the second surface and is formed on the second surface. The first ridge area and the second ridge area are integrally formed on the second surface and the protrudent surface and have different heights and the recesses delineated by the first and second ridge areas are available for users to paint. The present invention addresses a means being more convenient to paint and visually appealing to users, and a solution to manufacturers saving more material, simplifying the production procedures and requiring minimum mold.
US08206831B2
This invention relates to a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive composition including: (A) a polydiorganosiloxane composed of a linear polydiorganosiloxane (A1) having two or more alkenyl groups within each molecule and a linear polydiorganosiloxane (A2) having SiOH groups at terminals thereof and no alkenyl groups, which is represented by the formula R22(HO)SiO—(R22SiO)d—SiR22(OH), wherein d represents an integer satisfying 500≦d≦20,000; (B) a polyorganosiloxane including R33SiO1/2 units, SiO2 units and Si atom-bonded hydroxyl group-containing units; (C) a polyorganohydrogensiloxane having three or more SiH groups within each molecule; (D) a reaction retarder; (E) a platinum group metal-based catalyst; and (F) a metal compound represented by formula MYx, wherein the polyorganosiloxane (B) is condensed with the linear polydiorganosiloxane (A2). The composition exhibits powerful adhesive strength to silicone rubbers and is useful for, by example, producing a pressure-sensitive tape.
US08206829B2
Plasma resistant coating materials, plasma resistant coatings and methods of forming such coatings on hardware components. In one embodiment, hardware component is an electrostatic chuck (ESC) and the plasma resistant coating is formed on a surface of the ESC. The plasma resistant coatings are formed by methods other than thermal spraying to provide plasma resistant coatings having advantageous material properties.
US08206827B2
The invention herein relates to a surface protective dendritic polymer composition and to the cross-linked surface protective coating formed therefrom.
US08206826B2
A production method for heat-expandable microspheres, which have high expanding ratio and are thermally expanded into hollow particulates having excellent repeated-compression durability, and application thereof are provided. The method produces heat-expandable microspheres a shell of thermoplastic resin and a blowing agent being encapsulated therein and having a boiling point not higher than the softening point of the thermoplastic resin.
US08206825B2
A coated or jacketed wire or cable, and components thereof are disclosed. The coating, jacket, and components, which comprise a polyolefin and a phenolic polymeric antioxidant, exhibit outstanding oxidative thermal stability (as indicated by the increase in the oxidative inductive time (OIT)), when compared to polyolefins containing traditional non-polymeric antioxidants. A greater improvement in the thermal oxidative stability is observed after the polyolefin mixtures have been aged in water-blocking filler(s).
US08206824B2
A particle-rod nanostructure is disclosed. The nanostructure comprises an inorganic nanoparticle coated with a capping agent and an organic crystalline rod nucleated on the capped inorganic nanoparticle in a one-dimensional growth pattern.
US08206823B2
The invention is directed to an integrated lightning strike protection system adapted for automated placement on a composite structure comprising a surfacing layer consisting of an organic polymer resin, a conductive layer of an expanded metal foil, an isolation/tack layer, and a carrier paper layer. In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided an integrated lightning strike protection system comprising an integrated lightning strike protection material consisting of an expanded metal foil encapsulated in organic polymer resin mounted on a carrier paper, and an automated placement machine suitable for placing the material on an aircraft composite part for protection of the composite part from lightning strikes. In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for fabricating a composite structure with lightning strike protection.
US08206814B2
The present invention provides a novel technology and a novel material having excellent pliability, gas barrier properties and water resistance, for the technical fields of packaging materials, sealing materials, electric insulating materials and the like, the present invention relates to a film of a material having a denatured clay as a main constituent thereof, wherein (1) the film comprises a denatured clay and an additive, (2) the weight ratio of the denatured clay is not less than 70% relative to total solids, (3) the film has gas barrier properties and water-vapor barrier properties, (4) the film has heat resistance, (5) the film has water resistance, (6) the film has sufficient mechanical strength to be used as a self-supporting film, and (7) the film can be formed on the surface of metals, plastics, rubber, paper and the like, and the present invention can provide a material comprising the denatured clay film in which denatured clay particles are highly oriented and which has excellent heat resistance, excellent pliability, excellent gas barrier properties, excellent water-vapor barrier properties, and high water resistance.
US08206808B2
A prepreg composite material that includes a fiber layer and a resin comprising a thermoset resin component, a curing agent and a fibrous micropulp. The micropulp component is an aramid fiber having a volume average length of from 0.01 to 100 micrometers. The prepreg is useful in composite panel construction for minimizing fluid permeation into the cured structure. This prepreg is particularly suitable for making honeycomb sandwich panels. Film adhesives, liquid and paste resins containing aramid fiber micropulp are also disclosed.
US08206805B2
An object of the invention is to provide an optical recording medium and a method for producing an optical recording medium that enable to improve the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal. The optical recording medium satisfies: t3−t4≧1 μm, t4−t2≧1 μm, t2≧10 μm, and t1−(t2+t3+t4)≧1 μm, where t1 is a thickness between a surface of the optical recording medium, and the first information recording surface, t2 is a thickness between the first optical recording surface and the second information recording surface, t3 is a thickness between the second optical recording surface and the third information recording surface, and t4 is a thickness between the third optical recording surface and the fourth information recording surface.
US08206798B2
The formed product of the present invention is a formed product selected from the group consisting of a vertical form fill seal pouch, a container cover and a vacuum packaging pouch. The formed product is formed using a gas barrier layered product. The gas barrier layered product includes a base, and at least one layer with gas barrier properties that is stacked on the base. The layer is formed of a composition that includes a hydrolyzed condensate of a compound (L) and a neutralized product of a polymer (X) containing a carboxyl group or a carboxylic acid anhydride group. The compound (L) includes a compound (A) that contains M1 (Al, Ti or Zr) to which a hydrolyzable characteristic group is bonded and a compound (B) that contains Si to which a hydrolyzable characteristic group is bonded. At least part of —COO— group of the polymer (X) is neutralized with a metal ion having a valence of at least two. At least 80 mol % of the compound (B) is a compound expressed by a specific formula. The ratio of [the number of moles of M1 in the compound (A)]/[the number of moles Si in the compound (B)] is in the range of 0.1/99.9 to 35.0/65.0.
US08206796B2
An article comprises a first polylactic acid layer and a second layer directly adjacent the first layer. The second layer comprises any of ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer, ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate/glycidyl (meth)acrylate copolymer, and styrenic block copolymer. The article may be a shrink sleeve.
US08206791B2
A process for coating a metallic surface of an aircraft. The process includes applying to the metallic surface a composition that polymerizes to form a polyurea having a tensile strength of more than 3500 psi and at least 700% elongation. The polyurea can be formed from an A-side and a B-side, where the weight percents of components for the A-side are: from about 30 to about 65 percent of polyisocyanate; from about 15 to about 70 percent of a polytetramethylene ether glycol; diluent, from 0 to about 20 percent; where the weight percents of components for the B-side are: from 35 to about 40 percent of one or more aromatic diamines; from about 20 to about 70 percent of one or more amine terminated polyether polyols.
US08206789B2
A method for forming a glass substrate comprises the steps of forming a glass blank with opposing substantially planar surfaces and at least one edge, coating the glass blank in silica-alumina nanoparticles, the silica-alumina nanoparticles comprising an inner core of silica with an outer shell of alumina, annealing the coated glass blank to form a conformal coating of silica-alumina around the glass blank, and polishing the coated glass blank to remove the conformal coating of silica-alumina from the opposing substantially planar surfaces thereof.
US08206787B2
A process for producing a honeycomb body from a noncatalytically active ceramic material for thermal regenerators, comprising the steps of (a) providing a block-shaped monolithic honeycomb body created by extrusion that includes in its interior longitudinal channels; (b) applying a thermal pretreatment to the honeycomb body; (c) after step (b), coating or masking the outer walls of the honeycomb body with a glaze-repellent coating, coating all the longitudinal channels of the honeycomb body with a glaze, and then drying the honeycomb body; and (d) after step (c), performing a firing operation at a temperature typical for the glazed material.
US08206785B2
A cap metal forming method capable of obtaining a uniform film thickness on the entire surface of a substrate is provided. The method for forming a cap metal on a copper wiring formed on a processing target surface of a substrate includes: holding the substrate so as to be rotatable; rotating the substrate in a processing target surface direction of the substrate; locating an end portion of an agitation member so as to face the processing target surface of a periphery portion of the substrate with a preset gap maintained therebetween; supplying a plating processing solution onto the processing target surface; and stopping the supply of the plating processing solution and moving the agitation member such that the end portion of the agitation member is separated away from the processing target surface of the substrate.
US08206783B2
Methods and process steps for cleaning and providing barrier coatings to interior walls of piping systems. An entire piping system can be cleaned in one single pass by dry particulates forced by air and the piping system coated in one single pass. Pipes can be protected from water corrosion, erosion and electrolysis. Pipes having diameters of approximately ⅜″ up to approximately 6″ are treatable. Piping systems such as potable water lines, natural gas lines, HVAC, drains, and fire sprinkler systems in homes. apartments, high-rise hotel/resorts. office towers, high-rise apartment and condominiums and schools, can be treated. The coating forms an approximately 4 mils or greater covering inside the pipes. Buildings can return to service within approximately 24 to approximately 96 hours.
US08206781B2
The method of manufacturing a balloon which includes providing a web shaped material having first and second sides that is substantially impermeable to a gaseous substance; depositing a quantity of adhesive on the first side of the web shaped material; depositing flocking fibers in substantially perpendicular relationship to the first side of the web shaped material into the quantity of adhesive; and fabricating a balloon from the web shaped material with the first side thereof on the outside of the balloon envelope. In other embodiments the method of manufacturing a balloon includes forming a balloon from a web shaped material having first and second sides that is substantially impermeable to a gaseous substance, the first side of the web shaped material being the outside of the balloon; depositing a quantity of adhesive on the first side of the web shaped material; depositing flocking fibers in substantially perpendicular relationship to the first side of the web shaped material into the quantity of adhesive.
US08206780B2
A method for forming photonic particles, where the method includes the steps of preparing a porous photonic material layer, patterning a soluble polymer on the porous photonic material layer, leaving dividing portions of the material layer untreated, infusing the polymer into the material layer, and removing the dividing portions of the material to obtain the photonic particles.
US08206771B2
A process for preparing a shelf-stable dairy-based sauce comprising oil/fat and a diary component (e.g. cheese or cream), which sauce is low in reducing sugars, and wherein the composition, prior to packing, is not subjected to temperatures above 50° C.
US08206767B2
The present invention relates to a process for removing acrylamide and/or melanoidin forming cellular ingredients from starchy plant material without enabling to remove a considerable amount of starch from the cells by washing, comprising the process steps of: providing the biological material, irreversible electroporation of the biological material, and obtaining plant material having a reduced amount of acrylamide and/or melanoidin forming cellular ingredients, the starch content of which is not enabled to be considerably reduced by washing as compared to the starting material. Furthermore, the present invention relates to plant material having a reduced of amount of acrylamide and/or melanoidin forming cellular ingredients producible by said process, to a nibble product, respectively a snack having a reduced content of acrylamide and/or melanoidins producible from said plant material, and to a device for producing the nibble product, respectively the snack comprising an electroporation reactor, a cutting equipment, optionally at least one dipping bath and a fryer or a drying device.
US08206764B2
Methods for preparing black soybean hull extracts and uses thereof. The methods can comprise: (1) extracting crushed black soybean hull with aqueous solution containing enzyme and filtering the extracted liquid; (2) ultrafiltration of the extract liquid with an ultrafiltration membrane; (3) absorbing the ultrafiltration liquid with an absorption resin or an ion exchange resin, and elution with ethanol to obtain purified extract liquid; (4) concentrating the purified extract liquid under vacuum; (5) spray drying the concentrated liquid. The extract can contain: 10-45% of cyanidin, 10-25% of catechin, and 40-80% of OPC, and with a total polyphenol content as high as 70-100%. The extract can be used for preparing drugs or food containing antioxidants, or used for improving metabolic syndrome or eyesight.
US08206758B2
Solids, including fibers can be easily removed from olive juice by mixing the olive juice with a water-miscible solvent to form two phases and separating the phases. Preferably the solvent is ethanol.
US08206754B2
A personal care composition is provided that when the composition is applied to the skin provides improved translucency to reveal a healthy skin color. The composition is based upon a mixture of dihydroxypropyl quaternary ammonium salt and cocoa butter.
US08206748B2
A powdery composition for nasal administration, where (1) the composition contains (i) a drug, (ii) a water-absorbing and gel-forming base material such as hydroxypropyl cellulose or hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and (iii) a water-absorbing and water-insoluble base material such as crystalline cellulose or α-cellulose, (2) wherein the amount of the water-absorbing and gel-forming base material is about 5-40 wt % based on the total of the water-absorbing and gel-forming base material and the water-absorbing and water-insoluble base material, and (3) wherein the drug is unevenly dispersed more on/in the water-absorbing and water-insoluble base material than on/in the water-absorbing and gel-forming base material.
US08206732B2
The present invention is directed to an antimicrobial composition, comprising pyrithione or a pyrithione complex; and a zinc or copper or silver source selected from the group consisting of zinc or copper or silver salts, oxides, hydroxides, sulfates, chlorides, metals, and combinations thereof; wherein the weight ratio of the zinc or copper or silver source to the pyrithione or the pyrithione complex is in the range from about 1:300 to about 50:1, and wherein the antimicrobial composition has an enhanced biocidal effect against a variety of free-living microorganisms or biofilms. Also disclosed is a method of inhibiting the growth of free-living microorganisms or biofilm utilizing the above antimicrobial composition, as well as use of such antimicrobial compositions in various products including fuels, fluids, lubricants, coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, soaps, cosmetics, plastic or woven or non-woven fibers, pharmaceuticals, and as preservatives for the above products.
US08206726B2
Certain zwitterionic polysaccharides, including those naturally expressed by commensal B. fragilis in the gut, interact with cells of the immune system and affect the TH1/TH2 balance so as to promote health. Nutritional formulas and nutritional supplements containing isolated preparations of such zwitterionic polysaccharides, and methods for preparing the nutritional formulas and supplements, are provided. Also provided is a method of promoting immune system maturation in an infant involving enteral administration of a nutritional formula or nutritional supplement of the invention.
US08206724B2
The instant invention relates to antigens and nucleic acids encoding such antigens obtainable by screening a Chlamydia genome. In more specific aspects, the invention relates to methods of isolating such antigens and nucleic acids and to methods of using such isolated antigens for producing immune responses. The ability of an antigen to produce an immune response may be employed in vaccination or antibody preparation techniques.
US08206721B2
The present invention relates to the use of an extract from snow algae, especially an extract from Chlamydocapsa sp (snow algae) in cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical products. More particularly, the invention relates to Chlamydocapsa sp. (snow algae) in cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical products employed to guard against extrinsic aging of the skin caused by negative environmental exposure, for instance, UV radiation or air pollution, but also to guard against intrinsic aging of the skin as influenced by aging-specific gene expression levels. The invention relates furthermore to a method for producing extracts from snow algae, suitable for topic applications.
US08206719B2
The present invention provides nonapeptides selected from peptides comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, 3, 5, 8, 11, or 12; nonapeptides or decapeptides selected from peptides comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:29, 30, 33, 34, 40, or 46; and peptides with cytotoxic T cell inducibility, in which one, two, or several amino acids are substituted or added to the above-mentioned amino acid sequences, as well as pharmaceuticals for treating or preventing tumors, where the pharmaceuticals comprise these peptides. The peptides of this invention can be used as vaccines.
US08206717B2
The invention provides the antibody 2C3 and target binding members based on 2C3 which binds interleukin-25. These are useful in therapy, e.g. the treatment of asthma.
US08206715B2
Antibodies that bind CSF1R are provided. Antibody heavy chains and light chains that are capable of forming antibodies that bind CSF1R are also provided. Polynucleotides encoding antibodies to CSF1R are provided. Polynucleotides encoding antibody heavy chains and lights chains are also provided. Methods of treatment using antibodies to CSF1R are provided. Such methods include, but are not limited to, methods of treating rheumatoid arthritis, bone loss, and multiple sclerosis.
US08206708B2
Disclosed are human VEGF-2 antibodies, antibody fragments, or variants thereof. Also provided are processes for producing such antibodies. The present invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing, treating or ameliorating a disease or disorder comprising administering to an animal, preferably a human, an effective amount of one or more VEGF-2 antibodies or fragments or variants thereof.
US08206703B1
Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) polypeptide variants of the presently-disclosed subject matter have enhanced catalytic efficiency for (−)-cocaine, as compared to wild-type BChE. Pharmaceutical compositions of the presently-disclosed subject matter include a BChE polypeptide variant having an enhanced catalytic efficiency for (−)-cocaine. A method of the presently-disclosed subject matter for treating a cocaine-induced condition includes administering to an individual an effective amount of a BChE polypeptide variant, as disclosed herein, to lower blood cocaine concentration.
US08206702B2
The present invention discloses an improved method for expansion and activation of tumor-reactive lymphocytes, in particular CD4+ helper and/or CD8+ T-lymphocytes, which may be used for treating and/or preventing cancer. The method provides high numbers of tumor-reactive T-lymphocytes within a short time span and the possibility of directing development of tumor-reactive CD4+ helper and/or CD8+ T-lymphocytes towards specific subpopulations. The method comprises a first phase of stimulating tumor-reactive CD4+ T helper and/or CD8+ T-lymphocytes with tumor-derived antigen together with at least one substance having agonistic activity towards the IL-2 receptor to promote survival of tumor-reactive CD4+ T helper and/or CD8+ T-lymphocytes; and a second phase of activating and promoting growth of tumor-reactive CD4+ T helper and/or CD8+ T-lymphocytes, wherein the second phase is initiated when the CD25 cell surface marker (or IL-2R marker) is down-regulated on CD4+ T helper and/or CD8+ T-lymphocytes.
US08206696B2
An antimicrobial skin composition comprised of an antimicrobial agent, an alcohol, one or more pH sensitive viscosity builders and water. Preferably, the viscosity builders of the present invention are comprised of pH sensitive methacrylic polymers which are alcohol compatible and have pH controlled water solubility. The composition combines the advantages of an antimicrobial agent and an alcohol, and has a viscosity of from 100 cp to 1,000. This viscosity is sufficiently low for purposes of dispensing and applying the preparation, yet sufficiently high to cause the solution to remain in the area of the wound and not flow away or pool under the patient. The preparation further forms a water-resistant film that is difficult to remove during wound irrigation, but can be easily removed upon completion of the procedure. Finally, the preparation is fast drying so as to take advantage of the fast high initial kill properties of alcohol.
US08206688B2
The present invention relates to a novel foam-forming composition suitable for rectal administration of locally-acting pharmaceutically active ingredients, and the product adapted to administer said foam-forming composition. Also, the present invention relates to a method for its preparation. According to the present invention a foam-forming composition is provided which exhibits a high expansion ratio and at the same time conferring optimal appearance of the formed foam to allow sufficient contact time of the active to the target site in the intestine in order to obtain optimal local effect. The composition according to the present inventions provides superior properties for the treatment of rectal diseases.
US08206684B2
Disclosed is a method of regulating fluid flow for a targeted lung region. The method comprises injecting a therapeutic agent into the targeted lung region. The therapeutic agent induces a reaction in lung tissue of the targeted lung region or in a collateral pathway to the lung region to reduce collateral fluid flow into the targeted lung region. In one aspect, the method additionally comprises deploying a bronchial isolation device in the direct pathway to regulate fluid flow to the targeted lung region through the direct pathway. The therapeutic agent can comprise, for example, a sclerosing agent that induces a reaction that causes sclerosis in the lung tissue.
US08206678B2
The invention relates to a vapor grown carbon fiber having a mean fiber diameter of 80 to 500 nm, an aspect ratio of 100 to 200 and preferably a bulk density of 0.02 g/cm3 or less, wherein filaments having a diameter within ±20% of the mean fiber diameter occupies 65% (on a number basis) or more of the total. The production method involves thermal decomposition of a carbon source at 800 to 1,300° C. in the presence of, as a catalyst, a transition metal compound having a vapor pressure of 0.13 kPa (1 mmHg) or more at 150° C. and spraying of the carbon source and the transition metal compound in gas form toward the reactor inner wall to allow reaction to proceed. The vapor grown carbon fiber having a larger aspect ratio has excellent dispersibility, and when added in a resin, a smaller amount contributes to enhancement in electroconductivity and thermal conductivity, as compared with a case using conventional one.
US08206673B2
A method of preparing a boron-nitrogen compound includes combining an ammonium salt and an ionic compound in the absence of solvent to form a mixture. The ionic compound includes a cation and an anion. The anion is represented by the general formula B(R1)4−, wherein each R1 is independently selected from the group of hydrogen, alkyl groups, aryl groups, and combinations thereof. The method also includes agitating the mixture in the absence of solvent to form a reaction product, and separating the boron-nitrogen compound from the reaction product.
US08206656B2
A liquid dispenser includes an exterior surface and an interior surface. The interior surface encloses a volume that tapers outwardly in a downward direction so that any horizontal cross-section of the volume fits inside each horizontal cross-section below it from a full to an empty level of the dispenser. The interior surface also includes a projection oriented opposite the exterior surface and configured to limit a motion of solids within the dispenser. The structure so provided enables the solid, e.g., a frozen liquid, to slide to the heated, bottom portion of the dispenser as liquid is drawn from the dispenser thus providing faster melting.
US08206652B2
The present invention provides a flow duct type jet reactor and a process for preparing isocyanates using it. The flow duct type jet reactor situates flow ducts in inner feed pipe which form whirlpool and reinforce vortex, thereby amine steam rapidly admixes and reacts with phosgene, and the byproducts are reduced. In addition, the present process uses a jet-absorption apparatus which rapidly cools the high temperature gas discharged from the reactor to a temperature at which the product is thermally stable, and at the same time provides negative pressure for the reaction process of the system, and thus saving bulky vacuum system.
US08206651B2
The illustrative embodiment of the present invention is a system and a method for the detection and limited identification of biological agents. The system is small, light weight, requires little power to operate and uses few consumables. The system can be configured for use in either stationary or mobile applications. The system incorporates elements that enable it to obtain an air sample, extract particulates from the air sample, exposes the particulates to electromagnetic radiation, and monitor for fluorescent emissions. To the extent that fluorescent emissions are detected and exceed a predetermined value, an alarm is triggered.
US08206637B2
An apparatus comprises a deformable platform and a laser delivery system. The deformable platform has a surface capable of changing to conform to a shape of an object as the object is being manufactured during a sintering process. The laser delivery system is capable of sintering powder on the deformable platform to manufacture the object.
US08206634B2
Disclosed are a method of manufacturing a light guiding panel by means of carving fine engravings on a surface of a transparent substrate by plasting fine particles and an apparatus for the same. A distributed degree of the engravings gradually increases as they become far away from a light source position. The light guiding panel which has been so manufactured does not need a diffusion sheet and has a good brightness uniformity and a good light effectiveness.
US08206633B2
A method and apparatus for forming a transversely curved or formed strip of material which can be cut to length for use in a fabric for coverings for architectural opening includes a supply role of a flexible fabric strip material that is sequentially passed through a heating chamber with an elongated upwardly convex extrusion across which the strip material is drawn and a cooling station before being wrapped on a take-up drum. The apparatus includes driven rollers about which the strip material passes and the strip material is exposed to tension detectors and controlled temperatures such that the strip material formed in the apparatus is uniform along its length.
US08206632B2
A method of making a composite prosthetic device, such as a hernia repair device, includes providing a support layer, juxtaposing a layer of an absorbable material with the support layer, and disposing an absorbable adhesive between the support layer and the layer of an absorbable material. The method includes heating the layers for melting the absorbable adhesive so as to bond the support layer with the layer of the absorbable material. Before the heating step, the moisture content of at least one of the layers is increased for improving thermal conductivity between the layers so as to enhance the strength of the bonds formed between the layers. The moisture content may be increased by exposing at least one of the layers to an environment having elevated relative humidity. In one embodiment, the support layer is polypropylene mesh, the layer of the absorbable material is oxidized regenerated cellulose, and the absorbable adhesive is polydioxanone.
US08206625B2
A filter element, and filter apparatus, include a filter pack, a seal member, and a seal support frame operatively connecting the seal member to the filter pack. The seal support frame includes an annular extension, which is preferably canted at an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis, for supporting the seal member. The seal support frame also preferably includes a first end thereof including the annular extension, and a second end thereof spaced from the first end thereof along the longitudinal axis, with the first and second ends of the seal support frame joined by a hub of the outer peripheral sidewall of the seal support frame to define a cavity within the seal support frame for receiving the filter pack. The first and second ends of the seal support frame, and the filter pack are preferably joined and sealed to one another by a single bead of adhesive.
US08206620B1
There is provided a composition and a method for forming fire resistant panes containing borate-phosphate anions and the window pane and window assemblies prepared therefrom.
US08206619B2
A color correction material contains at least one type of cyanine compound composed of a cyanine cation represented by general formula (I) below (wherein the symbols are as defined in the description) and a q-valent anion represented by pAnq− (wherein the symbols are as defined in the description), and at least one type of layered clay mineral; or a color correction material containing a clay mineral composite obtained by intercalating a cyanine cation represented by general formula (I) below, or preferably the cyanine cation and an organic cation, into a layered clay mineral. Also described is a film-forming composition containing the color correction material and an optical filter having a layer composed of the film-forming composition. Ring A represents a benzene ring or a naphthalene ring; X represents CR3R4, NR5, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a selenium atom.
US08206600B2
A method of etching a foil for use in an electrolytic capacitor utilizes a nanoimprinted optic to control the etch pattern. The optic is formed by creating a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of hemispheres onto the surface of an optical quartz substrate. A laser is directed onto the optic while the foil underlies the optic, and the concentrated light source is used to effectively image an array of submicron spots. The resulting spots allow for controlled initiation of etch tunnels during a subsequent electrochemical etch of the foil, with the purpose of ultimately increasing foil capacitance through the increased surface area.
US08206594B2
A novel system and method for fluid management for accurate continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CWH) in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The fluid management or CWH system is automated and configured for operation as a stand alone unit and can be easily integrated with an ECMO system. The fluid management system is capable of producing either perfect or negative fluid balance between ultrafiltrate removal and replacement fluid delivery. The fluid management system can achieve electrolyte replacement over a range of flow rates needed to care for patients ranging from neonates to adults. Finally, the novel fluid management system preserves patient safety, maintains sterility during operation, is easy to operate, and is compact enough to fit near a patient's bed.
US08206590B1
A method is described for separating and processing liquid-borne particles within an aliquot thereof following injection into a field flow fractionator. Said fractionation method may be employed also to capture, for subsequent segregation, specific predefined classes of such particles. The unique fractionation method disclosed contains means to control the applied transverse flow at each designated location along the length of said channel. In one embodiment of the method a separate compartment lies below each distinct location and corresponding membrane supporting permeable frit segment of the fractionator, providing the individual means to control the localized flow through the membrane section thereabove. Employment of a corresponding concentric compartment implementation achieves the same type of compartmentalized cross flow when applied to a hollow fiber fractionation means.
US08206586B2
Wastewater treatment systems, methods and apparatus for polishing a wastewater stream comprising a plurality of contaminants are provided. One system includes a vessel containing a plurality of natural media filtration agents selected to remove selected ones of the plurality of contaminants from the wastewater stream. In one embodiment, the vessel includes a bed of bauxite residue and at least one other natural media filtration agent. In another embodiment, the vessel includes a bed of compost and at least one other natural media filtration agent. The vessel includes a wastewater inlet that is in fluid communication with one or more of the natural media filtration agents. The vessel includes a wastewater outlet that is in fluid communication with one or more of the natural media filtration agents.
US08206584B2
Fluid treatment elements substantially inhibit electrical charge imbalances and/or build-ups of electrical charges. A fluid treatment element may comprise a multilayer composite including an electrically conductive fibrous matrix, having an upstream side and a downstream side, disposed on a porous substrate, also having an upstream side and a downstream side, which supports the fibrous matrix. The fibrous matrix may include a combination of conductive and nonconductive fibers. The multilayer composite may also include a drainage layer positioned along one of the upstream side of the fibrous matrix and the downstream side of the porous substrate.
US08206582B2
A shaking device for filter plates of a filter press including a fixed support, a movable frame, a sleeve spring device, and a shaking rod. The fixed support includes a main beam and a support crossbeam. The movable frame includes a frame crossbeam and a vertical beam. The movable frame is disposed on the support crossbeam. One end of the sleeve spring device is attached to the frame crossbeam and the other end is attached to the shaking rod. The movable frame is driven by a gear motor. The shaking device further includes a cylinder assembly. The cylinder assembly is coaxially connected with the sleeve spring device and the shaking rod in a straight line. When the cylinder assembly acts on the shaking rod, the shaking rod shakes to separate and shakes a plurality of filter cloth rods of the filter plates to remove the filter cakes.
US08206581B2
A high efficiency reverse osmosis system which utilizes a tuned injector in fluidic communication with a reverse osmosis membrane. The tuned injector includes an injector housing, an injector nozzle, a mixing chamber and an injector throat. The tuned injector utilizes line hydrostatic pressure to inject raw water with an injector nozzle into the mixing chamber to mix with recirculated concentrate water drawn into the mixing chamber by venturi effect and hydrostatic pressure to form feed water. The feed water is then discharged through the injector throat across a reverse osmosis membrane to produce permeate water using the line hydrostatic pressure.
US08206578B2
A dialysis system includes: a water purification unit; a dialysate generation unit configured to use water purified by the water purification unit; a dialysate delivery unit configured to deliver dialysate prepared by the dialysate generation unit; a supplemental power source; and electronic circuitry including: (i) a first electrical connection configured to electrically connect a branch power source with at least one of the water purification unit, the dialysate generation unit and the dialysate delivery unit, and (ii) a second electrical connection configured to electrically connect a supplemental power source with at least one of the water purification unit, the dialysate generation unit and the dialysate delivery unit.
US08206573B2
Provided is an electrode for electrolysis with excellent corrosion resistance and durability which can be used sustainably in the production of a high-purity quaternary ammonium hydroxide by the electrolysis of a quaternary ammonium inorganic acid salt in an electrolytic cell partitioned by a cation exchange membrane on a commercial scale with reduced electric power consumption at low cost. The electrode for electrolysis is useful for the production of a quaternary ammonium hydroxide by the electrolysis of a quaternary ammonium inorganic acid salt in an electrolytic cell partitioned by a cation exchange membrane and comprises an electrode base material of an electrically conductive metal, an electrode active layer containing an electrode active material covering the electrode base material, and an intermediate layer of a mixed oxide of an oxide of at least one kind of metal selected from In, Ir, Ta, Ti, Ru, and Nb and an oxide of Sn disposed between the electrode base material and the electrode active layer.
US08206572B2
Systems, methods and apparatus for reducing impurities in electrolysis cells are disclosed. In one approach, a method includes feeding a particulate fines feed stream to a tank, mixing particulate fines (PF) with liquid, the liquid having a first liquid and a second liquid, and separating at least some of the first liquid from at least some of the second liquid. The particulate fines (PF) may include inlet carbon fines (CFI) and inlet recyclable fines (RFI). The first liquid may include a recovered recyclable fines portion (RF1), and the second liquid may include a waste carbon fines portion (CF1). The mass ratio of the recovered recyclable fines portion (RF1) to the inlet recyclable fines (RFI) may be at least about 0.5. The mass ratio of the waste carbon fines portion (CF1) to the inlet carbon fines (CFI) may be at least about 0.1.
US08206569B2
A method and apparatus for forming a reliable and cost efficient battery or electrochemical capacitor electrode structure that has an improved lifetime, lower production costs, and improved process performance are provided. In one embodiment a method for forming a three dimensional porous electrode for a battery or an electrochemical cell is provided. The method comprises depositing a columnar metal layer over a substrate at a first current density by a diffusion limited deposition process and depositing three dimensional metal porous dendritic structures over the columnar metal layer at a second current density greater than the first current density.
US08206568B2
The invention provides a method for molecular analysis. In the method, sidewalls are formed extending through a structure between two structure surfaces, to define an aperture. A layer of material is deposited on the aperture sidewalls and the two structure surfaces. The aperture with the deposited material layer is then configured in a liquid solution with a gradient in a chemical potential, between the two structure surfaces defining the aperture, that is sufficient to cause molecular translocation through the aperture.
US08206567B2
A reference electrode traps silver ions and chloro complex ions leaching to an internal filling solution so that the blocking of the liquid junction can be prevented. A silver/silver chloride electrode can be provided as an internal electrode in an internal filling solution; and a tube which houses, in order from top to bottom, the internal electrode, an inorganic cation exchanger for trapping silver ions and/or chloro complex ions from leaching from the internal electrode, and a ceramic member for preventing the diffusion of the silver ions and/or the chloro complex ions to the internal filling solution.
US08206565B2
The present invention provides a test strip for measuring a concentration of an analyte of interest in a biological fluid, wherein the test strip may be encoded with information that can be read by a test meter into which the test strip is inserted.
US08206563B2
A method of determining the percentage of glycated hemoglobin in a blood sample is disclosed wherein at least one of the assay steps is performed electrochemically. The method includes determining the total amount of hemoglobin in a sample by electrochemically measuring, in an oxygen electroreduction reaction at a cathode, the amount of oxygen in the sample. Because the amount of oxygen dissolved in the sample is known, the total hemoglobin is determined by subtracting the amount of free oxygen from the total oxygen measured, recognizing the fast equilibrium Hb+O2⇄HbO2. This can be followed by determining the amount of glycated hemoglobin in the sample. The cathode reaction is accomplished by contacting the sample with an enzyme, the enzyme being a copper-containing enzyme having four copper ions per active unit. The family of these enzymes includes, for example, laccases and bilirubin oxidases. A device associated with such a process or method is also provided.
US08206562B2
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the application of material to form a layer of an organic electroluminescent device. The material is sputter deposited typically from at least one target of material held in respect to a magnetron in a coating chamber. The magnetrons used can be unbalanced magnetrons and/or are provided with other magnetrons and/or magnet arrays in a closed field configuration. The material is found to be deposited in a manner which prevents or minimises damage to the device and hence reduces or removes the need for a barrier layer to be applied.
US08206559B2
The apparatus for electrophoretic repainting of metal objects, in particular lids for containers for food use, comprises a tank (30) containing an electrophoretic bath; an electrode, immersed in the electrophoretic bath, a conveyor line (10), provided with elements for supporting lids (20), the conveyor line (10) being arranged such as to transit internally of the tank (30) in order to immerse the lids (20) in the electrophoretic bath; and a unit (40) for establishing an electrical contact with the lids (20) transiting immersed in the bath, having an opposite polarity with respect to a polarity of the electrode immersed in the bath. The contact unit (40) includes a rotation element (4) which rotates about a longitudinal axis thereof, an external lateral surface (42) thereof affording a groove (5) having a helical progression destined to receive conductive electrical means such as to contact at least an end portion (21) of the lids (20). The arrangement of the rotation element (4) above the tank (30) and with respect to the conveyor line (10), is such that at least a point of the conductive electrical means maintains contact with the end portion (21) of the lids (20) during transit thereof immersed in the solution of the tank (30).
US08206554B2
A method and a system for controlling the manufacturing or finishing process of a fiber web at a transition stage of the process. In the method a corrected error profile (PD′k) is formed using an error profile (PD). Using the corrected error profile (PD′k) at least one control signal (CAk) is determined for the actuators (6) of the manufacturing or finishing process of a fiber web.
US08206550B2
A system for manufacturing a semiconductor device that has a gate electrode and a pair of diffusion layers formed in a semiconductor substrate on sides of the gate electrode, the system including structure for forming an insulating film and a gate electrode on a semiconductor substrate, obtaining a thickness of an affected layer formed in a surface of the semiconductor substrate, forming a pair of diffusion layers by injecting an impurity element into the semiconductor substrate in areas flanking the gate electrodes based on a predetermined injection parameter, performing activating heat treatment based on a predetermined heat treatment parameter, and deriving the injection parameter or heat treatment parameter in response to the obtained thickness of the affected layer such that the diffusion layers are set to a predetermined sheet resistance.
US08206547B2
In a method of manufacturing a display having a display panel, a transparent protective plate, which is placed in front of the display panel, and a layer formed of a transparent organic medium, which is placed between the display panel and the protective plate, a liquid organic medium is applied to, or a sheet-like organic medium is formed on, a surface of one of the display panel and the protective plate, the display panel and the protective plate are bonded together in a reduced pressure atmosphere, and thereafter the liquid organic medium is cured.
US08206542B2
A method for manufacturing bamboo mats which also relates to the use of such bamboo mats including bamboo mats and products manufactured from such bamboo mats. This method is found to produce bamboo mats with an improved form-retention and durability compared to known bamboo mats made of strips obtained directly from the ‘wet’ bamboo stem. The bamboo mats can be used in interior construction, for instance for furniture or the covering of floors, walls and ceiling.
US08206539B2
A roofing panel, a roof, an array of roofing panels, and a method of manufacturing a roofing panel by transporting a capstock layer of the roofing panel through a moving belt mold, and forming a polymeric material in situ against the outer layer while in a mold cavity of the moving belt mold. The capstock layer is vacuum formed to shape and form a plurality of roofing shingles and to impress the shingles with surface topography features simulating natural materials.
US08206535B2
A method of making an inkjet printhead comprising providing a substrate having first and second opposite surfaces, providing a support member, bonding the second surface of the substrate to the support member, and, after the substrate and support member are bonded together, forming a plurality of ink ejection elements on the first surface of the substrate, the method further including forming communicating ink supply slots passing respectively through the substrate and support member to provide fluid communication between an ink supply and the ink ejection elements.
US08206527B2
A cold film transfer method with dynamic film tensioning guides a film web intermittently through a transfer nip with dancers to use less film web. The intermittent drive and action of a transfer cylinder channel result in undesired fluctuations in film tension or web force, which directly affect dancer motors. A control system is used to avoid high loads on the motors and the web. A control circuit acts on the dancer movement, a first process variable is mapped in the control circuit and the first process variable is a function of a force acting on the dancers as a result of the transfer film or is a function of the actual current movement profile of the dancers. A measure for web tension is calculated as a function of the first process variable and/or the amplitude of the web tension is at least limited by the control system.
US08206526B2
A wrinkle control process for manufacturing a closed cross-sectional, composite laminate structure on a male tool cured under temperature and pressure. The process includes the step of creating a plurality of filled or unfilled depressions at strategic locations in the laminate prior to curing. The depressions are created by depression forming elements that have a predetermined size designed to create a depression in under plies, alone or combined with intensification techniques. The depressions may be left unfilled or be partially or completely filled. Depression forming elements are removed after cure or remain part of the structure. The number of elements being determined by the following equation: N=(OPL−OPC)÷(Li−Lj), where OPL is the outside perimeter of the composite structure after lay-up and prior to curing, OPC is the outside perimeter of the composite structure after lay-up and after curing, Li is the linear length of the composite segment formed by a depression forming element and Lj is the theoretical linear length of the corresponding composite segment without a depression.
US08206525B2
Provided is a wafer bonding apparatus which performs pressurization and heating and eliminates nonuniformity of wafer thickness by changing the shape of a pressurizing surface so that planarity of a wafer bonding surface is improved. The wafer bonding apparatus places a plurality of wafers to be bonded between an upper unit (101U) and a lower unit (101L), and bonds the wafers by applying pressure and heat by the upper unit and the lower unit. The wafer bonding apparatus is provided with a top plate (111), a pressure profile control module (131), and a heater section arranged between the top plate and the pressure profile control module for heating. Shape change generated on the surface of the pressure profile control module causes change of the surface of the top plate.
US08206517B1
New 7XXX alloys having improved ballistics performance are disclosed. The new alloys generally are resistant to armor piercing rounds at 2850 fps, resistant to fragment simulated particles at 2950 fps, and are resistant to spalling. To achieve the improved ballistics properties, the alloys are generally overaged so as to obtain a tensile yield strength that is (i) at least about 10 ksi lower than peak strength and/or (ii) no greater than 70 ksi.
US08206504B2
In one example of an embodiment of the invention, a method for producing an aggregate is disclosed comprising mixing sewage sludge from a waste water treatment facility with a non-coal combustion ash silicoaluminous waste material, agglomerating the mixture to form an agglomerate, and pyroprocessing the agglomerate to form an aggregate. The waste material may comprise municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash, incinerator fly ash, incinerator filter dusts, cement kiln dusts, waste glass, blast furnace slag, kiln dusts, and/or granite sawing residues, for example. The method may further comprise milling the waste material prior to mixing. Preferably, the milling is wet milling. Pyroprocessing of the agglomerate may take place in a rotary kiln. The resulting aggregate may be a lightweight or a normal weight, sintered or vitrified aggregate. Aggregates and methods for making aggregates of high and low calcium silicoaluminous materials are also disclosed.
US08206501B2
A binder formulation is provided that is capable of forming a heat and erosion resistant coating on the surface of a substrate, particularly a substrate comprising titanium or aluminum. The binder formulation comprises a metal alkoxide compound, such as a titanium alkoxide and an organosilane, such as 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GTMS). The binder material may be capable of strongly bonding the binder to the substrate. The binder coating may also include one or more additives that may help improve the heat resistance and impact absorbance of the coating. The binder may also include one or more pigments so that the resulting sol-gel coating has a desired appearance and properties. The sol-gel coating can be cured under ambient conditions and does not require additional heat curing.
US08206486B2
Embodiments of an aluminum dross cooling head are disclosed. The cooling cooperates with a material container encapsulate dross and reduce thermiting of the dross. In one embodiment, the cooling head also serves as a compression head when forced into the dross by a cooperating dross press assembly.
US08206472B2
There is provided a fixed abrasive wire having abrasives fixed thereon with a superior fixing strength. The abrasives are fixed on the wire by electroplating in which the wire is subjected to a degreasing step, an acid cleaning step, a rinsing step and an electroplating step sequentially. A plating liquid used in the electroplating step contains a nickel-containing organic acid or a nickel-containing inorganic acid, a leveling agent, and the abrasives. It is a feature that a plated coat being over the top of each of the abrasives has a smaller thickness than a theoretical value.
US08206454B2
The present invention relates to a self-cutting screw-in element, e.g., an artificial hip joint socket, having a lateral surface which is at least partially curved or buckled in the threaded area, and a thread interrupted by at least one flute having a thread tooth profile tilted in the feed direction, in which the cutting edge formed between flute and thread tooth is displaced on the side of the thread tooth opposite to the feed direction, and/or in which the inclination or twist direction of the flute runs opposite to the twist direction of the thread and the inclination or twist angle of the flute is larger than the pitch angle of the thread. A design of this type is advantageous for specific applications because the forces necessary for screwing-in may thus be significantly reduced without disadvantageous effect on the other properties.
US08206443B2
A tapered sleeve is provided for implant delivery. An implant (e.g., a pre-filled silicone breast implant) is introduced into a large proximal end of the sleeve and extruded into a surgical pocket of minimal access incision size through a small-sized distal end of the device. Sized appropriately to the implant, the sleeve remains intact during implant run-through of the sleeve.
US08206442B2
The invention concerns an intraocular lens device which is used in particular for treatment of diseases of the central retina (macula) with retinal areas which are still healthy.The main principle of the invention at hand is that a lens device is provided for the redirection of the focal point from an area with impaired retinal function to a functioning area which comprises at least one convex lens element and several wedge-shaped recesses.Surprisingly it was found that a considerable reduction of the thickness of the lens device is thus achievable when several wedge-shaped recesses are provided.
US08206439B2
Unique semi-circular papillary muscle and annulus bands are described that are useful for modifying the alignment of papillary muscles, a mitral valve annulus and/or a tricuspid valve annulus. Methods to effect the alignment are also described and an unique sizing device that can be used for such alignment is described.
US08206437B2
The implant implantation unit (2), at a determined position in the tubular element (51) with a wall comprising a cavity (50), is pushed there by a catheter (60) and the unit comprises deformable feelers (31) to, under the control of remote activation elements (42), change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity (50) and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.
US08206435B2
An expandable medical device has elongated struts joined together to form a substantially cylindrical device which is expandable from a cylinder having a first diameter to a cylinder having a second diameter. At least one of the struts includes at least one opening extending at least partially through a thickness of the strut. A beneficial agent is loaded into the opening within the strut in layers to achieve desired temporal release kinetics of the agent. Alternatively, the beneficial agent is loaded in a shape which is configured to achieve the desired agent delivery profile. A wide variety of delivery profiles can be achieved including zero order, pulsatile, increasing, decrease, sinusoidal, and other delivery profiles.
US08206427B1
A vascular graft comprises a perforate tubular compressible frame having a fabric liner disposed over at least a portion of the frames lumen. The graft may be used in combination with a base structure to form a bifurcated graft in situ. The base structure compresses a compressible frame having a fabric liner which defines a pair of divergent legs. The base structure is positioned within the aorta so that one leg enters each iliac. The tubular grafts can then be introduced into each leg to form the bifurcated structure. A graft delivery catheter includes a controllably flared sheath which facilitates recapture of a partially deployed graft.
US08206424B2
A bone anchoring nail is provided having a threadless shaft with a free end, a head opposite to the free end, the head having a substantially U-shaped recess for accommodation of a rod or a rod-shaped element, a longitudinal bore extending through the shaft and opening towards any one of the head and the free end and a plurality of openings extending through the wall of the shaft and being in communication with the bore. The bone anchoring nail allows quick insertion and reliable fixation enhanced by the in-growth of blood vessels.
US08206420B2
A spinous process device and method are disclosed. The device includes a first plate having a first part slidably coupled to a second part, a second plate having a third part slidably coupled to a fourth part, and first and second connector devices configured to be placed through openings created in spinous processes and rotatably couple respective first and second parts to third and fourth parts of the first and second plates together allowing angular displacement of the second plate with respect to the first plate and secure the spinous processes between the first and second plates.
US08206416B2
Disclosed herein is an implantable fistula closure device. The device may include an expandable longitudinally segmented body including a proximal end and a distal end. The segmented body may further include a plurality of porous bodies and a connecting member operably joining together the plurality of porous bodies. The plurality of porous bodies includes a first porous body with a proximal end and a distal end and a second porous body with a proximal end and a distal end, and the connecting member operably connects the proximal end of the first porous body with the distal end of the second porous body.
US08206414B2
A method of treating a body limb by applying pressure to the limb using a flexible sheet having a plurality of successively connected inflatable chambers.
US08206413B2
A vascular occlusion device deployment system for placing an occlusion device at a preselected site within the vasculature of a patient. The deployment system employing a pusher having a lumen with an opening at the distal end of the pusher. A vascular occlusion device is connected to the distal end of the pusher by a portion that is removeably disposed within the opening. The portion of the occlusion device is forced out of the opening by an expandable reaction chamber, thereby deploying the occlusion device.
US08206412B2
Various devices are described to provide filtering of flow from the aorta to the left carotid artery and the right carotid artery. The filters can be brought into a desired position through one or more peripheral arteries. A single filter device can provide the desired filtering or a plurality of devices can be used. In particular a single filter device can span between the brachiocephalic artery and the left carotid artery. These filter devices can be used effectively to capture emboli generated during procedures on the heart so that emboli do not travel to the patient's brain where the emboli can cause a stroke or other adverse event. In particular, these filters can be used during percutaneous procedures on the heart, such as endovascular heart valve replacement.
US08206410B2
A surgical operating apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer which generates ultrasonic vibration, a transducer cover including a storing section which stores the ultrasonic transducer, an electric contact portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of a distal end portion of the transducer cover, and an insulative projection portion which is provided at a distal end portion of the transducer cover and projects more radially outward than an outer peripheral surface of the electric contact portion.
US08206409B2
A biopsy device comprises a handpiece, a fluid collection system, and a power transmission source. The handpiece is configured for grasping by a single hand, and is independently manipulatable by hand for movement of the instrument toward and away from the patient. An elongated piercer extends from the distal end of the handpiece. The piercer has a sharpened distal end for entering the tissue and a port located proximal to the sharpened distal end for receiving a portion of tissue mass. An elongated cutter is disposed coaxially relative to a piercer lumen of the piercer. A distal blade of the cutter slides distally past the port of the piercer to sever the tissue portion drawn into the port by vacuum. The handpiece further comprises a holster for detachably connecting a cutter rotational transmission and a cutter axial transmission to the power transmission source.
US08206404B2
A catheter includes a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter also includes an electrode assembly attached to the distal end of the flexible tubing and having a first magnet therein. The electrode assembly further includes an electrically conductive tip electrode and an electrically nonconductive coupler which is connected between the tip electrode and the distal end of the flexible tubing. The coupler and the tip electrode are coupled by an interlocking connection. The catheter also includes a second magnet spaced from the electrode assembly along a longitudinal axis of the tubing. The first magnet and the second magnet are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient.
US08206392B2
A surgical saw includes a shaft, a first saw blade mounted on the shaft, a second saw blade mounted on the shaft parallel to the first saw blade, the first saw blade having a first tooth having two distal tips, and the second saw blade having a second tooth with a distal tip, the second tooth bent towards the first saw blade and the distal tip of the second tooth aligned with a centerline between the two distal tips of the first tooth.
US08206389B2
A method of bone fixation. A guide device may be disposed such that a first portion of the guide device is disposed longitudinally in a medullary canal of a bone and such that a second portion of the guide device is disposed outside the bone and defines a transverse path across the bone and intersecting the medullary canal. A transverse hole may be formed in the bone along the transverse path, and a fastener may be disposed in the transverse hole. A rod may be placed longitudinally in the medullary canal such that a threaded portion of the rod enters an aperture of the fastener and engages the fastener at the aperture to lock the rod to the fastener. The first portion of the guide device may be removed from the medullary canal after the step of forming a transverse hole and before the step of placing a rod.
US08206388B2
An insert for a clamping element having two jaws for clamping a rod-shaped element comprises at least one jacket element. The jacket element can be inserted into one jaw each of the clamping element, thereby allowing the varying, especially reducing, the free space available for a rod. The insert also comprises at least one retaining section which fastens at least one part of the insert in or on at least one of the jaws of the clamping element. A clamping element can be provided with two jacket elements, interlinked via an undulated web, or two or three juxtaposed longitudinal grooves for receiving rods having different diameters.
US08206387B2
An electrical bone growth promotion apparatus for the delivery of electrical current to an implant surgically implanted between adjacent bone masses to promote bone growth to areas adjacent to the implant is disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a self contained implant having a surgically implantable, renewable power supply and related control circuitry for delivering electrical current directly to the implant and thus directly to the area in which the promotion of bone growth is desired. The desired areas of bone growth promotion may be controlled by conducting negative charge only to the desired location of bone growth promotion.
US08206386B2
The invention relates to a method of treating obesity, insulin resistance and co-morbidities of these conditions by removing tissue from the abdomen. More specifically, it relates to a method of removing abdominal fat and omentum to which the fat is attached, in order to improve health. The invention includes a device for safely removing this tissue material.
US08206385B2
The invention is directed to a catheter suitable for medical procedures such as cardiac ablation. The catheter includes a front-loaded catheter tip with an electrically active element. The catheter can include an elongate catheter shaft assembly having an inner shaft member with a distal end and a proximal end, and an outer shaft member with a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen between the distal end and the proximal end. The inner shaft member can be inserted into the lumen of the outer shaft member along a longitudinal direction. The inner shaft member can include, at the distal end, a catheter tip member having a lateral dimension that is larger than a lateral dimension of the lumen of the outer shaft member. The catheter tip member includes at least one electrically active element, and the proximal end of the inner shaft member has at least one electrode disposed on the external surface of the shaft member, such that when inserted into a handle, the electrode electrically contacts an electrical connector element.
US08206383B2
A system that interfaces with a workstation endocardial mapping system allows for the rapid and successful ablation of cardiac tissue. The system allows a physician to see a representation of the physical location of a catheter in a representation of an anatomic model of the patient's heart. The workstation is the primary interface with the physician. A servo catheter having pull wires and pull rings for guidance and a servo catheter control system are interfaced with the workstation. Servo catheter control software may run on the workstation. The servo catheter is coupled to an RF generator. The physician locates a site for ablation therapy and confirms the location of the catheter. Once the catheter is located at the desired ablation site, the physician activates the RF generator to deliver the therapy.
US08206377B2
An apparatus comprising a torque wire connected to an imaging probe; and a torque limiter defining a bore, a first end of the torque limiter being in mechanical communication with a motor, a second end of the torque limiter being in mechanical communication with the torque wire, the torque wire being disposed through the bore of the torque limiter. The torque limiter comprises a member defining at least one cutout which causes the torque limiter to break when rotational force on the torque wire exceeds a predetermined amount, thereby decoupling the motor from the torque wire.
US08206376B2
A catheter connection system and a method of connecting the catheter connection system to a catheter. The catheter connection system includes a hub assembly and a collar. The hub assembly includes a cannula extending from a distal end thereof, and a collet defining an inner surface spaced apart from the cannula to permit passage of a catheter wall between the body and the cannula. The collet includes a proximal barb on an outer surface and the collar includes an attachment barb on an inner surface, engagement of the respective barbs acting to provide a permanent connection between the collar on the collet, while permitting free rotation of the collar about the collet.
US08206373B2
Alternative design, material, manufacturing method, and use for medical devices, such as catheters, catheter shafts and the like. An example includes a medical device, such as a catheter shaft, including an elongated tubular braid comprising a plurality of filaments and including an end portion coated with a first polymeric material having a first melting point temperature, wherein the first polymeric material attaches the braid filaments together. A second polymeric material having a second melting temperature lower than the first melting point temperature may be attached to the coated end portion of the braid. In some embodiments, the underlying a first polymeric material may reduce the tendency of the braid to flair into the second polymeric material. Other examples relate to methods of making such medical devices, such as a catheter shaft, of the like.
US08206372B2
A tubular transition member having an annular wall with at least one cut extending through the annular wall is disclosed for controlling a transition in stiffness of a catheter from a stiffer more pushable proximal section to a more flexible and trackable distal section and increasing kink resistance. The transition member may extend across the junction formed between the stiffer proximal section and the more flexible distal section. The transition member may be used in conjunction with any type of catheter including single-operator-exchange type catheters, over-the wire type catheters, and/or fixed-wire type catheters.
US08206367B2
In certain embodiments, a vial adaptor for removing liquid contents from a vial comprises a piercing member and a bag. The bag can be contained within the piercing member such that the bag is introduced to the vial when the vial adaptor is coupled with the vial. In some embodiments, the bag expands within the vial as liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, thereby regulating pressure within the vial. In other embodiments, a vial comprises a bag for regulating pressure within the vial as liquid is removed therefrom. In some embodiments, a vial adaptor is coupled with the vial in order to remove the liquid. In some embodiments, as the liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, the bag expands within the vial, and in other embodiments, the bag contracts within the vial.
US08206355B2
A medical needle shield apparatus having an anti-rotation component prevents the medical needle from rotating relative to a safety shield.
US08206346B2
A targeted drug delivery device is provided. The device comprises an elongated member with proximal and distal ends, a plurality of infusion ports associated with the distal end of the elongated member, and a selector mechanism for selectively placing an introducer port into fluid communication with at least one infusion port. A method for treating tissue is also provided. The method comprises introducing a medical device into the tissue, selecting a region of the tissue to treat, positioning the medical device in proximity to the region, and introducing a medicament through the device to treat only that region.
US08206343B2
A reinforced medical catheter (10) includes an elongated tubular outer wall reinforced by an internal helical coil spring (36). Successive loops of the coil spring adjoining the distal end are longitudinally separated, and a working lumen extends longitudinally through the catheter. A longitudinally extending reinforcing cable is captured in the tubular outer wall against the exterior of the coil spring. A steering cable operably interconnected with the distal end of the coil spring extends proximally from the distal end of the coil spring freely through the working lumen to the proximal end of the catheter. The reinforcing cable and the steering cable may constitute a continuous elongated filament. Withdrawing the steering cable proximally through the working lumen causes the distal tip of the catheter to be deflected laterally.
US08206339B2
A peritoneal dialysis system includes a cycler operable with a disposable cassette, the cassette connected to a patient line, the cassette capable of fluid communication with a catheter having access to a patient's peritoneal cavity, the cycler configured to: (i) convey dialysis fluid to the peritoneal cavity through the patient line and the catheter during a patient fill phase; (ii) allow the dialysis fluid to dwell within the peritoneal cavity during a patient dwell phase; (iii) convey dialysis fluid away from the peritoneal cavity through the patient line and the catheter during a patient drain phase; and (iv) sense, at first and second sensing locations of the disposable cassette via first and second pressure sensors, an intraperitoneal pressure through the catheter to optimize an amount of fluid conveyed during the patient fill phase, so that the peritoneal cavity is not overpressurized during the patient dwell phase.
US08206333B2
The present invention relates to an ocular implant, particularly a glaucoma stent.It is the object of the present invention to devise an ocular implant which allows the ocular eye pressure to be regulated, i.e., to be maintained at a desired level, while preventing the flow resistance from increasing over time, for example due to fibrosis.In order to achieve this object, the ocular implant according to the invention comprises a small tube (5), the wall surface (3) of which encloses a hollow duct that is open on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the hollow duct, wherein a first opening (1) allowing ocular humor to flow in and a second opening (2) allowing the ocular humor to be discharged is provided, and wherein the wall surface (3) is formed by a liquid-tight material, and wherein at least one pressure-controlled valve (4) is disposed in the area of the wall surface (3).
US08206331B2
An ultrafiltration device adapted to be worn on a portion of the body of a patient includes a blood inlet tube leading from a first blood vessel, a blood pump, an anticoagulant reservoir for infusing anticoagulants into the blood, a blood filter including a substrate through which the blood is circulated and filtered, a fluid bag for storing the excess fluid and a blood outlet tube leading to a second blood vessel.
US08206324B2
A living body monitoring activity system detects major activities, or feeble living body activities. In a method for monitoring existence of human movements or living body activities in living environments (e.g., sleeping activities involving a bed, a Futon-mat, a pad, or a Tatami-mat), an optical fiber type flat shaped body sensor including an optical fiber affixed or fitted to a flat shaped body is used, and light is emitted into the optical fiber from a light source, and changes of polarized wave conditions of light propagating in the optical fiber are brought about by changes in form of the optical fiber type flat shaped body sensor caused by human movements or living body activities and are detected by a measuring apparatus for polarized wave fluctuations so human activities or movements are discriminated based on the detected value of the polarized wave fluctuations.
US08206323B2
Low frequency harmonics detected by an accelerometer in a wrist-mounted device are used to infer ambulation. The fundamental rhythm or pitch is extracted from gathered accelerometer data and the determined pitch and associated properties are used to infer whether a subject is walking or not walking.
US08206322B2
A catheter assembly provided with a wire arranged therein to form a loop extending from near the effective end of the catheter for bypassing an occlusion in a vein/artery. This loop consists of two wire ends, one of which wire ends extends through the catheter to the control end thereof, while the other wire end is attached thereto, in close proximity to the effective end of the catheter. By varying the relative position of the loop wire end extending from the control end and the control end, the size of the loop and the pushability thereof at the effective end of the catheter can be determined. In this manner, the occlusion can be removed with precise control by the physician using two hands. In addition, the catheter is formed not only for the loop wire end extending through the catheter, but also for incorporating a guide wire and/or for contrast fluids.
US08206320B2
A method and apparatus for introducing a first elongate medical device and short wire guide that are coupled together into a work site and remotely disconnecting them within the work site such that a secondary device comprising a catheter member can be introduced over the wire guide to the work site, and/or a second wire guide can be introduced to the work site via a passageway of the primary access device. A system of indicia, such as radiopaque or viewable markers, permit the operator to monitor the relative alignment of the devices within the work site to determine when uncoupling has occurred. In one example of the method, a wire guide and primary access device (e.g., a sphincterotome) is coupled to the wire guide and introduced via a duodenoscope into the biliary system. After performing a first medical operation, the devices are uncoupled with the wire guide being left within the biliary system such that a secondary access device, such as a balloon, biopsy device, stent delivery catheter, dilator, etc., can be introduced to perform a second medical operation without a traditional over-the-wire exchange being required. In another example of the method, a prosthesis, such as a valve or stent, is placed within the work site coupled to a wire guide which is remotely disconnected within the work site and a secondary device, such as a dilation balloon or second prosthesis, is introduced into the work site after the first delivery system is removed.
US08206315B2
A system for detecting abnormal tissue in a patient including an introducer cannula having a proximal opening and a distal opening. The system further includes a surgical instrument configured for selective insertion through the cannula. The surgical instrument further includes a tissue cutting opening positioned relative to the distal end of the introducer cannula when fully inserted through the introducer cannula. The system also includes a sensor configured to detect at least one property of the tissue of the patient. The sensor is located at a fixed distance relative to the distal end of the introducer cannula when the surgical instrument is inserted into the introducer cannula.
US08206312B2
The present invention relates generally to an algorithm aimed at neurophysiology monitoring, and more particularly to an algorithm capable of quickly finding stimulation thresholds over multiple channels of a neurophysiology monitoring system.
US08206311B2
A high-sensitivity analyzer for nitric oxide in exhaled breath at levels of 200 ppb or less with a sensor containing cytochrome C is rendered capable of multiple uses without the need for installing a new sensor for each use. This capability is achieved by regenerating the analyzer after each use by purging the sensor and surrounding regions with NOx-free air in a controlled manner, preferably in pulses separated by equilibration periods.
US08206300B2
A system for imaging and treating tissue comprises a probe having a deflectable distal tip for carrying an imaging array and a delivery needle for advancement within a field of view of the imaging array. Optionally, the needle will carry a plurality of tines which may be selectively radially deployed from the needle. The imaging array will preferably be provided in a separate, removable component.
US08206292B2
A working channel for separating paraspinal muscles and minimizing muscle trauma during spinal surgery includes a flared upper section having a distal end, a proximal end and an interior lumen traversing through the flared upper section. The proximal end of the flared upper section having a larger cross-sectional area than the distal end of the flared upper section. A lower elongate body section extends fixedly from the distal end of the flared upper section. The lower elongate body section has a distal end for inserting into a patient, a proximal end connected to the flared upper section and an interior lumen traversing through the lower section. The flared upper section and the lower elongate body section each have an inner surface and an outer surface. A thickness between the inner and outer surfaces of the lower elongate body section is the same at each point along the longitudinal axis.
US08206285B2
A system, apparatus and method may indicate in-vivo device (10) location within a body utilizing for example illumination irregularities for calculation of location. There may be provided with an in-vivo imaging device (24) a set of dedicated illumination sources (43) and a set of detectors (30) located on an in-vivo device, such as a swallowable capsule (10).
US08206282B2
A Peyronie's treatment device is described that is configured to treat an erect penis having curvature characterized by a first penis side with an unaffected length and a second penis side with an affected length that is shorter than the unaffected length. The device includes a band connected between a proximal support that is attachable to a base of a penis and a distal support that is attachable adjacent a corona of the penis. The band has an elastic material and a second material that is attached to the elastic material. The second material is provided to stop elongation of the elastic material at a length approximately equal to the affected length of the erect penis.
US08206279B2
The present invention relates to a method at surgical operations applying negative pressure wound treatment as a post-surgical event, whereby the pressure around an organ or tissue is distributed by applying an open cell structure around the organ or tissue avoiding a move of the organ or tissue as such.
US08206270B2
According to one embodiment a removable assembly provides for mounting of a hangboard including a first unit and at least a first bracket for connecting the hangboard to the first unit. The first unit may include a first member configured to be placed over a door opening on a first side of a wall and a second member which can be positioned across the opening and against a second side of the wall. A third member is configured for attachment to the second member such that when the first member is placed over the opening and the second member is positioned against the second side of the wall, at least a portion of the third member is positioned above the second member. A related method provides a removable assembly for mounting of a hangboard. Numerous other embodiments are disclosed.
US08206264B2
A load control structure for a work vehicle comprises: set rotation speed detection device for detecting a set rotation of an engine of the work vehicle; actual rotation speed detection device that senses an actual rotational speed of the engine; continuously variable speed change device that receives power from an engine of the work vehicle; speed change position detecting device for detecting a speed change operation position of the continuously variable speed change device; operating device for speed-shifting the continuously variable speed change device; control device for controlling the operation of the operating device; wherein the control device calculates a drop amount of the actual engine rotation speed from the set rotation speed based on the detected information from the set rotation speed detection device and the actual rotation speed detection device, and sets a limit operation position for the continuously variable speed change device based on the calculated drop amount and a correlation data that correlates the actual engine rotation speeds with operating positions of the continuously variable speed change device, and controls the operating device such that the operating position of the continuously variable speed change device moves to the limit operating position based on the set limit operating position and detected information from the speed change position detecting device, and wherein the control device has command device for commanding a change of the correlation data.
US08206262B2
A differential gear for a wind power plant includes a gearbox with three inputs and outputs. One input is connected to the rotor of the wind power plant, the first output is connected to a generator and the second output is connected to the input shaft of a continuously variable gearbox, the output shaft of which is connected to the generator side output of the gearbox. The input shaft of the continuously variable gearbox is connected to the output shaft of the gearbox via a variable gearbox.
US08206261B2
The invention relates to a method of transmitting power between a shaft of a heat engine and a wheel axle shaft of a hybrid vehicle. The inventive method involves the use of: a power transmission device comprising an electric machine which is connected to (i) the heat engine by means of a clutch and (ii) a wheel axle shaft; and a starting system which is mechanically independent of the electric machine and which is connected to the heat engine. According to the invention, the heat engine is started by applying a torque to the shaft simultaneously using the starting system and the clutch.
US08206258B2
An arrangement for planetary gearsets comprises at least simple radially inner and radially outer planetary gearsets each comprising a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier that carries planetary gears. The two gearsets are coaxially aligned and one of the gearsets is radially nested inside the sun gear of the other gearset. The ring gear of the radially inner gearset and the sun gear of the radially outer planetary gearset are at least coupled to one another in a rotationally fixed and are connected to a common carrier by driving teeth. To achieve a simple and inexpensive production, the ring gear of the radially inner gearset and the sun gear of the radially outer gearset are first produced as separate components with different heat treatments and then the ring and the sun gear are connected together by one of a friction force locking, a form interlocking and/or positive bonding.
US08206256B1
A simultaneous multiple rotation interface where a series of discs rotate about an eccentric camshaft. Each disc is engaged with the other by a series bearings embedded within each disc. As the camshaft rotates, each disc alternatively engages an outer shell so as to rotate the shell in the same direction as the shaft, albeit at a reduced speed.
US08206243B2
A golf club head includes a wood type golf club head body having a ball striking face portion, a rear end portion opposite the ball striking face portion, a crown or top portion, a sole or bottom portion, a toe end portion, and a heel end portion. Further, the golf club head includes a moveable weight member, which may be contained internally within the golf club head body so that the moveable weight member is not exposed. Also, the club head may include a track system contained internally within the golf club head body so that the track system is not exposed. The track system includes a track which extends around the interior of one or more walls that comprise the golf club head body and the moveable weight member moves around the interior of the golf club head by sliding in the track.
US08206233B2
An apparatus for teaching and practicing the proper positioning of the hands and/or wrists relative to the arms in the performance of an athletic maneuver is disclosed. The apparatus includes a brace to be positioned on the forearm and extend across the wrist and at least partially along the hand. A securing mechanism can be included for selectively attaching the brace to the forearm. A rod extends from the brace and is configured to be gripped by the user while wearing the device. The rod can also receive athletic related devices. The device can be adapted to teach a user the proper positioning of the hands and wrists relative to the arms throughout an athletic maneuver.
US08206232B2
The amusement apparatus comprising a housing, a frame and an interior space, and a door allowing entry of a player having arms into interior space. An air circulation system fluidly connected to interior space of housing. An engagement system located within interior space. Engagement system, control system, signaling system and an air circulation system are cooperatively interconnected. A player area is located within the interior space and positioned proximate the engagement system wherein contact by player with engagement system initiates a sequence of instructions from the control system to initiate the delivery of air into interior space by air circulation system for circulation of prizes within interior space. A signal to player is sent via signaling system to discontinue player contact with engagement system so player may interact with the prizes circulating in the interior space for the purpose of removing the prizes from the housing via the interior space.
US08206228B2
A multi-part longitudinal drive shaft of a motor vehicle consists of two shaft sections that are each formed by a shaft tube connected with each other by a homokinetic displacement joint. The outer diameter of the shaft tube in the second shaft section is smaller than the inner diameter of the shaft tube of the first section. The outer joint ring of the homokinetic displacement joint is firmly connected with the shaft tube of the first shaft section and a ball hub of the joint is connected with the second shaft section. When a specific axial position is exceeded, the homokinetic displacement joint can be broken down. The individual parts of the two shaft sections can be displaced into one another, after break-down of the homokinetic displacement joint, so that the second shaft section is displaced in the direction of the first shaft section.
US08206226B2
In order to increase an automatic connecting speed at a torque limiting coupling, a torque limiting coupling (1) has a coupling hub (5). Driving elements (8) are adjustably held in the apertures and extend parallel to the longitudinal axis. A coupling sleeve has first recesses (23) corresponding to the apertures. A switching disc (14) is rotatably arranged between a connected position and a freewheeling position, relative to the coupling hub. The switching disc (14) can be transferred by a rolling movement of the driving elements (8) from the connected position into the freewheeling position. The switching disc (14) has second recesses (34) that engage the driving elements (8) in the freewheeling position. A first and second spring mechanism load the switching disc (14) in the circumferential and axial direction. Circumferential play (28) is formed between the driving elements (8) and the first recesses (23) in the connected position.
US08206224B2
A computer-implemented method of providing an environment for a crafting player to craft a role-playing content and/or quests in a computer game, the method including: obtaining tokens that represent in-game assets; placing the tokens to craft the role-playing content and/or quests; inviting other players to participate in the role-playing content and/or quests; running the role-playing content and/or quests; receiving at least one reward based on the rating entered by the other players; and saving a layout and composition of the crafted role-playing content and/or quests in a blueprint. Keywords include MMO, role-playing event, quests, and souvenirs.
US08206219B2
Apparel is disclosed that can be worn to assist an interactive game in tracking the movement of the wearer. More particularly, the apparel may include one or more tracking marks formed of designs, patterns, or reflective materials that can be easily tracked by an interactive game employing one or more cameras or other detectors for detecting a change in position of an object. The apparel may take the form of, for example, hats, shirts, jackets, pants, gloves, and shoes. The apparel may use reflective materials, and the interactive game can employ a camera and a light source configuration where the camera is located within the observation angle of a player employing retroreflective materials reflecting light from the light source.
US08206217B2
Systems, apparatus, and methods relating to a physical object that are associated with a virtual game world are described. Some embodiments of the physical object have an in-game value within the virtual game world. Software operating the virtual game world ascribes purchasing power or attributes having offensive, defensive, opportunity, or set values as their in-game values. Methods associated with the subject matter relate to relocating an asset of the game component from one asset storage area to another asset storage area. When relocated, an asset's authenticity is validated, retrieved from a first storage area, exchanged over a communications interface, or stored in a second asset storage area.
US08206214B2
A player roster interface is described. In one example, player roster interface logic includes display logic operable to display a playing region (which may include a graphical representation of a playing field associated with a sport) and player logic operable to display a plurality of players, wherein at least a portion of the players may be displayed within the playing region. The interface logic further includes selection logic operable to determine a player roster based on the position of the players relative to the playing region. Such an interface may allow a user to select and view a player roster (e.g., for a fantasy sports team) by positioning players within the playing region.
US08206213B2
In a gaming machine 10, after the coins to be credited reaches 100 pieces, a bookmaker button is pushed through a touch panel 69, from a bookmaker selection screen displayed in a lower image display panel 16, so that a desired bookmaker is selected among a plurality of bookmakers. Thereby, the odds information provided from the bookmakers is compared for each bookmaker. In addition, from the bookmaker selection screen displayed in the lower image display panel 16, a Best Odds button is pushed through the touch panel 69, so that the odds of a high payout advantageous to a player are collected from the odds provided from the bookmakers.
US08206208B2
A system and methodology for conducting a lottery wagering game include receiving a first wager fee from players for entry in a primary game. The players are offered the option to pay a second wager fee for a chance at a first multiplier fact that may increase the prize award for winners of the primary game. The players are also offered the option to pay a third wager fee for a chance at a second multiplier factor that combines with the first multiplier factor in a predetermined for subsequently randomly generated multiplier function to determine a final multiplier factor that is applied to the prize award for winners of the primary game.
US08206207B2
A method is provided of vending game tickets from a vending machine during a game play session. Each ticket is preprinted with a plurality of individually playable games, and each game has a game result. The games are associated with at least one deal of games that includes at least some games that have predetermined winning game results. One or more games on a ticket are electronically purchased in a current game play session in response to a request inputted into the vending machine from a patron. Less than all of the games on the ticket may be purchased during the current game play session. An indication of which games on the ticket have been purchased is electronically recorded in database records. The vending machine dispenses all tickets that are played, including tickets wherein less than all of the games on the ticket were purchased during the current game play session. The records of the database may be used to verify which of the games on each of the played tickets have been purchased in the game play session.
US08206206B2
A gaming machine which determines establishment/non-establishment of a shift condition for shifting a game mode from a normal game mode to a special game mode, shifts to the special game mode based on the determination result, and allows an instruction of A player to be inputted thereto, extracts predetermined number of card data to be used in the special game mode, selects a first and a second card data on the gaming machine side and a player side from among the extracted card data, and determines right/wrong of a designating instruction according to a result of comparison between the card data. Upon win, this gaming machine determines establishment/non-establishment of a winning combination based on the extracted card data, and when a winning combination is established, the machine performs payout corresponding to the established combination.
US08206205B2
A method of unplugging hay and forage equipment, including the steps of identifying a plug, substantially simultaneously activating unplugging devices, unplugging the equipment, and returning the unplugging devices to position of normal operation. The identifying step includes identifying a plug in the equipment caused by the material entering the equipment. The activating step includes activating substantially simultaneously a plurality of unplugging devices. The returning step includes returning the plurality of unplugging devices to their normal operating positions.
US08206195B2
A shooting toy used in a game for two or more players for enabling players to actually sense the thrill of close combat. The toy include an infrared ray signal generating section 25, an infrared ray signal receiving section 31,a damage value determining section 35, a radio signal transmitting section 37, a radio signal receiving section 39, a radio intensity determining section 41, a damage state determining section 49, and a damage state representing section 51. The damage value determining section 35 changes the parameter value depending on the determination result by the radio intensity determining section 41.
US08206194B2
A process of manufacturing the spark plug that includes a step in which a receiving die having an insertion hole and a taper portion is used, wherein a thread portion of the spark plug is inserted into the insertion hole and a seat portion of the spark plug is brought into contact with the taper portion, and a pressing force is applied to a rear end portion of a metallic shell of the spark plug so as to bend a rear end opening portion of the metallic shell, and to thereby form a crimped portion, whereby an insulator and the metallic shell are fixed together.
US08206192B2
A boat propulsion engine includes a buoyant member (20) disposed on a case body that houses a drive shaft (47) in order to lift the stern. The buoyant member has a lower surface (32) that slopes downward in the rearward direction.
US08206188B1
A connector terminal curved from a strip-shaped metal plate has a soldering plate of which a substantial middle of one end edge extends upward to form a bracket plate, an arched connecting portion bent upward from the other end of the soldering plate and apart facing the bracket plate, and a flexible arm extending from a free end of the connecting portion towards the bracket plate and parallel to the soldering plate. Two opposite side edges of a top end of the bracket plate oppositely protrude to form a pair of blocking ears. A free end of the flexible arm is arched upward to form an inverted-V shaped contacting portion adjacent to the bracket plate. Two ends of a distal edge of the contacting portion further extend beyond the two opposite side edges of the bracket plate to form a pair of resisting tails respectively restrained under the blocking ears.
US08206183B2
An advanced modular plug connector assembly incorporating an insert assembly disposed in the rear portion of the connector housing. In one embodiment, the connector has a plurality of ports in multi-row configuration, and the insert assembly includes a substrate adapted to receive one or more electronic components such as choke coils, transformers, or other signal conditioning elements or magnetics. The substrate also interfaces with the conductors of two modular ports of the connector, and is removable from the housing such that an insert assembly of a different electronics or terminal configuration can be substituted therefor. In this fashion, the connector can be configured to a plurality of different standards (e.g., Gigabit Ethernet and 10/100). In yet another embodiment, the connector assembly comprises a plurality of light sources (e.g., LEDs) received within the housing. Methods for manufacturing the aforementioned embodiments are also disclosed.
US08206176B2
A connector is to be attached to a coaxial cable. The connector includes a connector housing having a cylindrical shape to be coupled to the outer conductor. An insulator member has a central opening therein and is rotatably received within the connector housing to define a rotational joint therewith. A center contact has a shaft portion securely received within the central opening of the insulator member and an open end portion extending rearwardly from the shaft portion to securely receive the inner conductor therein.
US08206175B2
During implant of an implantable medical device, implanted cables or leads are inserted to a connector block. An insertion indicator provides the user with a visual indication the cables or leads have been correctly inserted into the connector block, which enables the implanted medical device to properly deliver treatment or receive signals via the implanted cables or leads. The insertion indicator may be provided by a mechanical indicator optically viewable once the lead has been correctly inserted, and/or may be provided by an electrically activated light indicator illuminated by a power source associated with the connector block or with a connector tool used to connect the lead or cable to the connector block upon correct insertion of the lead or cable. The insertion indicator may be permanently or removably disposed on the connector block, a connector tool, and/or a can associated with the connector block.
US08206172B2
A plug lock structure that locks a power feeding plug to an inlet, which is fixed to a power feeding subject. The inlet includes a catch. The power feeding plug includes a hook, hooked to the catch, and an operation portion, which separates the hook from the catch. The plug lock structure includes a lock member pivoted in a direction in which the lock member forces the hook against the catch and a direction in which the lock member moves away from the catch together with the hook. A lock block is moved between a first position, at which the lock block permits pivoting of the lock member when the hook moves from the hooked state, and a second position, at which the lock block restricts pivoting of the lock member by contacting the lock member when the hook moves from the hooked state.
US08206167B2
An adapter set for fluorescent lamps with electronic ballast for converting to a fluorescent tube having a smaller diameter. The electronic ballast and the end cap adapter each on one axial front thereof comprise contact pins having dimensions of fluorescent tubes of larger diameters, and on the opposite axial front have contact sockets for receiving two contact pins of the fluorescent tube having a smaller diameter. Preferably, the electronic components of the ballast are located on at least two spatially separated partial circuit boards which may be connected to each other by a flexible contact strip. A jacket tube has at least one cable channel that extends axially relative thereto to house the wiring connecting the contact pins of the end cap adapter and the electric ballast.
US08206166B2
A card connector includes an insulating housing, a shell covering on the insulating housing to define a card receiving space between the cover and the insulating housing for being inserted into a card along an insertion direction, a plurality of contacts received in the insulating housing and extended into the card receiving space, a first switch terminal and a second switch respectively positioned at a right side of the insulating housing. The first switch terminal includes a main section extended along the insertion direction, a first straight section and a second straight section successively and slantwise extended into the card receiving space form a free end of the first main section to respectively define a first slope and a second slope relative to the main section. The second switch terminal includes a contacting section extending beside the first straight section. The second slope is larger than the first slope.
US08206157B2
A secondary instrument (11) insertable into a channel (12) in a main instrument (1) in a medical simulator. The secondary instrument comprises an outer sleeve (15) and a handle (17) movable within the outer sleeve. The instrument has a first configuration representing a first real instrument in which the handle is movable with respect to the outer sleeve for a first length of travel and a second configuration representing a second instrument in which the handle is movable with respect to the outer sleeve for a second length of travel which is less than the first length of travel. The instrument is therefore able to physically represent more than one real instrument.
US08206156B2
System and method for improving tactile sensitivity and precision/accuracy of motor control of the hand of a subject. A joystick is configured to provide commands to a computing device. The joystick includes a base, shaft, and a textured surface with a specified level of bumpiness. A computer-implemented exercise is executed, including presenting stimuli, including at least one target, to the subject via a computer display. The subject is required to respond to the stimuli via the joystick within a specified duration, including using the joystick to move a cursor to the target, and, upon reaching the target, disengage from the joystick. The subject's response to the stimuli is recorded, and a determination made regarding whether the subject responded correctly. The duration is modified based on whether the subject responded correctly to the stimuli. The presenting, requiring, recording, determining, and modifying are repeated a plurality of times in an iterative manner.
US08206146B2
A mold-tool system comprising: a manifold assembly, including: a manifold body defining: an inlet assembly; outlets being set apart from the inlet assembly; and uninterrupted melt channels extending between the inlet assembly and the outlets.
US08206133B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed towards a turbocharger for an internal combustion engine and more particularly an apparatus and method for fluidly coupling a turbocharger with an internal combustion engine. In one embodiment a turbocharger housing is provided. Turbocharger housing includes a turbine housing defining a volute chamber. The turbocharger housing also includes a first housing support extending from the turbine housing. The first housing support is integrally formed with the turbine housing and the first housing support defines an inlet opening and an outlet opening each of which are in fluid communication with the volute chamber.
US08206131B2
A housing has a compression chamber and a first passage, through which the compression chamber communicates with an accumulation chamber. A discharge valve is provided in the first passage and configured to open to supply fuel from the compression chamber to the accumulation chamber in response to increase in pressure in the compression chamber. A second passage is configured to communicate the accumulation chamber with the compression chamber via the discharge valve. A valve element allows fuel flow from the accumulation chamber to the compression chamber. A biasing unit biases the valve element to seat the valve element on a valve seat of the second passage. The sidewall of the valve element and the inner wall defining the second passage therebetween define a throttle midway through the second passage for restricting fuel flow from the accumulation chamber to the compression chamber.
US08206129B2
A supercharged internal combustion engine including a pressurized fluid outlet, the engine comprising a two-ended piston, with one end received in a combustion chamber, and another end received in a hydraulic chamber. The piston further including a portion intermediate the two ends and received within an air chamber, and the air chamber has an air outlet communicating with a combustion air inlet to the combustion chamber.
US08206110B2
A balancing assembly for use in a wind turbine having at least one pair set of blades, the balancing assembly comprising a ballast and a ballast receiving structure on at least one blade of the pair set of blades. The ballast provides a threaded portion for engagement with the ballast receiving structure. The ballast further provides at least one end configured with a drive socket for driving said ballast into said ballast receiving structure. The ballast is capable of being trimmed to achieve a predetermined mass necessary to achieve a balance between the blades in the pair set of blades.
US08206103B2
A fan assembly includes a fan, two mounting members fixed to two opposite sides of the fan, and a fixing plate. Each of the mounting members includes an inner wall facing the fan and an outer wall away from the fan. The outer wall of each of the mounting members defines a recess and forms a block adjacent to a bottom of the mounting member. The blocks of the mounting members are adjacent to a first end of the fan. The fixing plate includes two engaging members respectively engaging in the recesses of the mounting members, a stop plate engaging with a second end opposite to the first end of the fan, and two resilient tabs respectively resisting against the blocks of the mounting members to sandwich the fan between the resilient tabs and the stop plate.
US08206096B2
A composite nozzle segment includes one or more airfoils extending radially between arcuate radially outer and inner band segments having band plies curved about a centerline axis, an outer chordal seal line on an outer aft flange of the outer band segment, and thickened areas in corners of the outer aft flange along pressure and suction side edges of the outer band segment. The thickened areas may be thickest at the pressure and suction side edges and thinnest near a middle of the outer band segment. The thickened areas taper off from an aft end of the thickened area towards a forward flange of the outer band segment. Insert plies may be disposed between some of the band plies within the thickened areas may be grouped together in a discrete group or be interspersed with some of the band plies. The insert plies may have triangular shapes.
US08206095B2
A gas turbine engine blade or vane having a first platform, an airfoil, and a compound fillet extending about a region where the airfoil joins the first platform is disclosed. The compound fillet has a first conic surface and a second conic surface, with the first conic surface tangent to the airfoil and to an offset platform surface and the second conic surface tangent to the first conic surface and the first platform. The two conic surfaces are of different sizes, with different radii, and the conic surfaces can vary in size about the periphery of the joint between the airfoil and the first platform.
US08206091B2
In a turbocharger equipped with a nozzle vane for changing the speed of exhaust gas running through a turbine in accordance with the speed of engine revolution, the member to constitute the nozzle vane and to constitute an exhaust guide for guiding exhaust gas to the turbine is characterized in that the exhaust guide member of a nozzle vane-type turbocharge is formed of an austenite stainless steel containing, in terms of % by mass, at most 0.08% of C, from 2.0 to 4.0% of Si, at most 2.0% of Mn, from 8.0 to 16.0% of Ni, from 18.0 to 20.0% of Cr and at most 0.04% of N and containing these ingredients in such a manner that they satisfy a DE value of the specified formula to be from 5.0 to 12.0, with a balance of Fe and inevitable impurities.
US08206090B2
A stator stage of a compressor of a turbomachine including an annular row of variable-pitch vanes is disclosed. Each vane includes an external cylindrical pivot defining the axis of rotation of the vane, and an internal cylindrical pivot mounted in a housing of an internal ring. The internal pivot of each vane extends along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the vane and at a distance from this axis, and is mounted in the housing of the ring by a swiveling or a tilting system.
US08206081B2
A vacuum pump (100) comprises a pumping mechanism having an annular pumping chamber (112, 114, 116) extending about a longitudinal axis (107) and through which fluid is pumped by the pumping mechanism. A plenum (126) located remote from the pumping mechanism has an inlet (128) for receiving fluid to be pumped by the pumping mechanism and a plurality of outlets (132) arranged about the longitudinal axis (107) for supplying fluid to the annular chamber.
US08206076B2
A cassette waiting block is connected to a transfer in/out block of a coating and developing treatment system, and in the cassette waiting block, a cassette transfer in/out unit, a cassette waiting unit, a cassette delivery unit, and a substrate processing unit are provided. In the cassette waiting block, a cassette transfer unit for transferring the cassette between the cassette transfer in/out unit, the cassette waiting unit, and the cassette deliver unit, and a transfer unit for transferring the substrate between the cassette in the cassette waiting unit and the substrate processing unit are provided. Each cassette waiting unit has an opening mechanism for opening a port of the cassette.
US08206071B1
An anchor bolt assembly for securing a cabinet and other structures to a sub-floor. A bolt with coaxial upper and lower threaded bores receives a threaded member from above and secures it to a threaded member from below. The upper threaded bore allows the cabinet to be secured to the upper floor. The lower threaded bore provides a securing means for the anchor bolt and its attachments through coupling the threaded bolt from the upper threaded bore to a threaded member protruding from the sub-floor. This threaded member engages the lower threaded bore. The threaded bores of the bolt provide two areas of stabilization against shear and torsional stresses along the axis of the anchor bolt assembly.
US08206064B2
A method of constructing a voided drilled shaft concrete structure is provided. Drilled shafts are large-diameter cast-in-place concrete structures that can generate extremely high temperatures during the concrete hydration/curing phase. The method includes creating an excavation, inserting a cage or an inner casing into the excavation, and filling with concrete the space between the outer surface of the cage or inner surface and the inner surface of the excavation.
US08206063B2
A piering system includes a heave plate attached to a foundation and supported by a pier. A downward facing socket is permanently attached to the heave plate. The socket receives the top end of a heavy stud of a coupling assembly, the bottom end of the stud is screwed into a captive nut of a shim-block. A nut is welded to the stud leaving about ½ inch of the stud protruding upwards for insertion into the socket. The nut may be turned to adjust the height of the stud. The shim-block and coupling assembly are supported by a head plate which is supported by the pier. The head plate includes a wide table for supporting a pair of jacks on opposite sides of a house jack facilitating installation of the system. The cooperation of the ball and socket helps to prevent “off-set loads” which otherwise may break the piering system.
US08206058B2
A manhole cover assembly includes a frame defining an access opening, first and second mounting posts extending from the frame, and a cover for covering the access opening. The cover includes first and second mounting recesses that pivotally receive the first and second mounting posts respectively, such that said cover is movable between an open position and a closed position by rotating the recesses about the posts. At least one of the recesses includes a locking groove that aligns with the post when the cover is moved to an open position to lock the cover in the open position.
US08206049B2
A packaging item for a cosmetic product includes a receptacle provided with an opening and a plate mounted on the receptacle and carrying at least one wiping member, the wiping member being displaceable in a slot or a port of the plate to occupy different positions in the opening of the receptacle, the positions allowing product to be removed with an applicator from different zones of the receptacle.
US08206038B2
A pinion-holder assembly is compact in size to fit easily within a transverse area of a raceway defined between raceway grooves on guideway members. The pinion-holder assembly is preferable to fit securely into a cage plate with ease, helping lessen required number of parts, simple and compact in construction, and less costly to fabricate. A holder has sides bulged widthwise into triangular shapes in transverse section to closely conform to the raceways on the guideway members and recesses lying in the lengthwise direction at apexes or ridges of the triangular shapes. A cage plate has a window of rectangular shape longer in sides in the lengthwise direction of the cage plate, and the longer sides have fringes somewhat raised inside the window so as to fit into the recesses on the holder, hereby fastening the holder to the cage plate.
US08206035B2
The invention provides a low-friction sliding mechanism, a low-friction agent composition, a friction reduction method, a manual transmission and a final reduction gear unit that can exert very excellent low friction characteristics to sliding surfaces present under various applications, and, in particular, that have more excellent low friction characteristics than that of a combination of an existing steel material and an organic Mo compound.The low-friction sliding mechanism has an oxygen-containing organic compound or an aliphatic amine compound interposed between sliding surfaces that a DLC coated sliding member and a sliding member form.The low-friction agent composition contains an oxygen-containing organic compound or an aliphatic amine compound.The friction reduction method includes supplying the low-friction agent composition between sliding surfaces that a DLC coated sliding member and a sliding member form.The manual transmission includes, as at least one of sliding members, a DLC coated sliding section.The final reduction gear unit includes, as at least one of sliding members, a DLC coated sliding section.
US08206032B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature sensor mounting unit for mounting a temperature sensor to a mounting-target member at a mounting hole formed on a mounting wall thereof, the temperature sensor mounting unit including: a clip main body including: a base plate that is to be positioned on a front surface side of the mounting wall, the base plate having an installation hole formed therein, the installation hole allowing the temperature sensor to penetrate into a rear surface side of the mounting wall; and a plurality of elastic engagement pieces that extend from the base plate to be engaged with a circumferential edge of the mounting hole at the rear surface side of the mounting wall; and an elastic seal member configured to be disposed between the clip main body and the mounting wall.
US08206031B2
To provide a PDM output temperature sensor, which is reduced in area and consumption power, provided is a PDM output temperature sensor which includes no reference voltage circuit, thereby having a smaller area and consuming less power correspondingly.
US08206030B1
A linear array fiber-optic temperature sensor based upon fluorescence-decay technology allows for optical cabling to employ multiple, individually optically addressed optical fibers with sensing tips located in a single sensing tube. The sensing tips are arranged with a pre-determined, fixed relative spacing to form a linear array of temperature measurement points. Multiple such linear array sensors may be further arranged.
US08206025B2
Disclosed herein is a mixer comprising a base plate; a top plate in intimate contact with a surface of the base plate; the intimate contact preventing a fluid loss from the bottom plate; the top plate comprising a plurality of first ports for the entry of a first fluid and a second fluid; a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the plurality of first ports; a first heating element; and an exit channel for removing an intimate mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid; and a reciprocatory device in physical contact with the mixing chamber; the reciprocatory device being operative to agitate the first fluid and the second fluid.
US08206022B2
A back cover for a backlight assembly capable of achieving a more compact a display apparatus includes a cover element, a line portion, and a plurality of point light sources. The cover element includes a metallic layer, and the cross-section of the cover element has an L-shape. The line portion is formed over the cover element. The point light sources are mounted on the surface of the cover element to receive a driving voltage from the line portion. A bottom cover portion of the cover element covers an opening portion. A side cover portion of the cover element faces the side wall. The point light sources mounted on the cover element emit light on a side surface of a light guide plate.
US08206021B2
A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight chassis arranged on one surface side of the liquid crystal display panel, and a control circuit board mounted on a surface of the backlight chassis on a side opposite to a surface facing the liquid crystal display panel includes a plurality of fluorescent tubes arranged on a surface side of the backlight chassis facing the liquid crystal display panel, a light source arranged on the control circuit board, and a light guide guiding the light from the light source to the surface side of the backlight chassis facing the liquid crystal display panel.
US08206020B2
Provided is a planar illuminating device having light source section (1) emitting linearly polarized laser light and having a light guide (12) with a rectangular parallelepiped shape having one main surface with a mirror array (12c) thereon. The mirror array (12c) has a plurality of reflecting surfaces totally reflecting laser light incident on an incident surface (12a), of the light guide, perpendicular to the one main surface and emits the laser light from an emitting surface (12b), of the light guide, perpendicular to the one main surface, wherein the reflecting surfaces are formed in a stepped manner. Further, the planar illuminating device includes a light-guiding plate (3) making the laser light, emitted from the light guide (12), incident on an incident surface (3a) of the light-guiding plate and emitting the laser light from an emitting surface (3b) of the light-guiding plate.
US08206014B2
A jacketed light emitting diode assembly is provided, which includes a light emitting diode including a set of positive and negative contacts, and a lens body containing a semiconductor chip and end portions of the contacts. An electrical wire set of first and second electrical wires are connected to the positive contact and the negative contact, respectively. A light transmissive cover receives the lens body, and has an opening through which at least one of the contact set and the electrical wire set passes. An integrally molded plastic jacket at the opening of the light transmissive cover provides a seal at the opening against moisture and airborne contaminants. A waterproof light string including one or more of the jacketed light emitting diode assemblies is also provided, as are related methods.
US08206007B2
A wand attached to an eccentrically weighted motor randomly vibrates the wand. An LED cluster including blue, red, and green LEDs is coupled to an end of the vibrating wand for providing a visual display of blue, violet, red, yellow, green and white light.
US08206004B2
A user-configurable lighting apparatus is provided. One example incudes a hub, a supply power cord, a light fixture, a linking power cord, and a cord cover. The hub includes a housing comprising a plurality of cover receiving extensions, and each cover receiving extension has an electrical socket. The hub also includes an electrical plug electrically coupled to each electrical socket. The supply power cord has a plug end and a receptacle end. The plug end is adapted to connect to a conventional electrical outlet, and the receptacle end is adapted to fit into the electrical plug. The light fixture may include the components of a conventional fluorescent light fixture, and may further include a housing including a first and a second cover receiving extension. The first cover receiving extension has an electrical plug, and the second cover receiving extension has an electrical socket electrically connected to the electrical plug.
US08205998B2
Lighting systems and devices offer dynamic control or tuning of a color characteristic of light. The lighting devices or systems utilize separately controlled sources to pump phosphors. The lighting systems and devices are configured to enable adjustment of intensities of electromagnetic energy emitted by the sources to independently adjust levels of excitations of the phosphors, in order to control a color characteristic of the visible light output of the lighting system or device.
US08205997B2
A touch control button apparatus including a touch control light emitting surface, a touch sensing conductor, a touch sensing device and a light emitting device, which is under the touch control light emitting surface and surrounded by the touch sensing conductor. The touch sensing device detects the capacitance value variation of the touch sensing conductor when the touch control light emitting surface is touched by the object, to determine how the light emitting device is lightened.
US08205991B2
A method is disclosed for use in eye registrations and examinations, some embodiments of the method including acquiring scan pattern scans; forming images from the scans; registering the images; generating a feature map from the scan pattern scans; identifying features on the feature map; and recording positional information of features.
US08205985B1
Eyewear mountable thereto an existing baseball style cap is herein disclosed, comprising a similar appearance and utilization as a standard pair of sunglasses and a separate baseball cap; however, a modified earpiece is routed upward and fastened to the lower edge of the baseball cap with a free-turning assembly on each side of the cap. In use, the eyewear pivots around and down to the underside of the bill for use and pivots back to the top of the bill for storage.
US08205982B2
The present invention provides a liquid application device, an inkjet recording apparatus and a recording apparatus, which are capable of performing an adequate application initial operation according to the length of waiting time and power-off time, as well as a method of controlling the liquid application device. In the present invention, information on an end time of the previous processing for collecting liquid is read from a nonvolatile memory, current time information indicating the current time is obtained, and information on a lapse of time from the end time of the previous collection to a start time of the current application. Thereafter, the number of preliminary rotations R of an application roller is decided based on the information on the lapse of time with reference to a look-up table. Sequentially, the application roller is rotated by the decided number of preliminary rotations R to perform preprocessing operation.
US08205977B2
A degassing method of an ink-jet ink comprising at least a pigment, and having a viscosity of not less than 10 mPa·second and not more than 50 mPa·second at 25° C., comprising the step of: carrying out degassing employing an external refluxing type hollow fiber degassing module under a condition of a pressure loss of the hollow fiber degassing module during degassing being less than 0.1 MPa.
US08205976B2
An imaging material supply cartridge uses a partition map to identify access modes and encryption attributes.
US08205965B2
In one embodiment, a print bar structure includes a single part having: a datum; an exterior printhead attach surface a predetermined distance from the datum for attaching multiple printheads to the print bar structure; an interior bay for holding a liquid distribution part; and multiple openings from the interior bay to the exterior printhead attach surface.
US08205960B2
An image forming apparatus for forming an image includes a recording head, a nozzle, an ink repellent layer, and an elastic wiper blade. The nozzle is provided in the recording head and includes an ink discharge surface including a substantially elongated discharge opening from which ink is ejected. The ink repellent layer is formed on the ink discharge surface of the nozzle. The elastic wiper blade moves over the ink discharge surface to wipe away ink adhering to the ink discharge surface while slidably contacting the ink discharge surface. The wiper blade moves in a long axis direction of the ink discharge opening as the wiper blade wipes away ink adhering to the ink discharge surface of the nozzle.
US08205959B2
A method of maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided in which a pad is moved between a first position in which the pad is sealingly engaged with the printhead, a second position in which the pad is disengaged from the printhead and a third position in which the pad is engaged with a pad cleaner. The pad is biased towards the second position relative to the third position.
US08205958B2
A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a movable head that performs recording on a medium using ink; a first sensor that can move together with said head and that detects regular reflection light from said medium; and a second sensor that is provided separately from said first sensor, that can move together with said head and that detects diffuse reflection light from said medium.
US08205949B2
An anti-lock hydraulic braking system has a wheel brake circuit with a main brake cylinder, wheel brake cylinder and switching valve, and an auxiliary pressure circuit, connected in parallel between the switching valve and wheel brake cylinder on the wheel brake circuit. With ABS control, the switching valve can be switched from a basic position, where it hydraulically connects the main brake cylinder and wheel brake cylinder, to a switched position where it prevents a build-up of braking pressure on the wheel brake cylinder via the main brake cylinder, while the braking pressure on the wheel brake cylinder can be modulated by the auxiliary pressure circuit.
US08205947B2
A method for fracturing a solid material is disclosed. The method comprises boring at least one bore hole in the solid material, the bore hole having a bottom and an open top. Reactive materials capable of an exothermic reaction to produce a liquid and a gas are introduced into the bore hole. The bore hole is then sealed at the open top. The exothermic reaction is then initiated to produce the liquid and the gas. The pressures generated by the liquid and gas in the bore hole result in fracturing of the solid material.
US08205945B2
A rotary mechanism includes an upper seat pan, a lower seat pan and an arc slideway mechanism. The upper and lower seat pans are connected at their sides and can rotate relative to each other. A middle inner slide rail of the arc slideway mechanism, which has a long through-hole in its center and is fixed to the lower seat pan, is positioned between an upper supporting plate and a lower supporting plate, both of which have a long aperture in their respective centers. Fixed parts run through the long through-hole and the long apertures, and fix an upper outer slide rail and a lower outer slide rail. A locking mechanism having portions fixed to the upper seat pan and the lower seat pan, respectively, is arranged to cooperate with the arc slideway mechanism to limit relative rotation of the upper and lower seat pans.
US08205940B2
A child safety seat including a seat bottom and seat back first and second resilient side elements carried on laterally-opposed sides of the seat back, and including walls defining an enclosed chamber. The walls have sufficient rigidity to maintain a nominal shape and are deformable in response to a predetermined minimum impact.
US08205937B2
The present invention provides a mobile folding table with attached seating having an improved lift-assist mechanism. In particular, the table includes a gas cylinder that provides a force tending to extend the cylinder to assist in folding the table into a storage position, the cylinder providing substantially no force to resist rapid extension thereof. Preferably, a mobile folding table according to the present invention also includes a stabilizing mechanism including center bench legs attached to a center leg structure that is maintained substantially upright whether the table is in an unfolded use configuration, in a mobile folded storage configuration, or in the process of being folded or unfolded. In this manner, the attached benches are prevented from freely tipping when the table is being folded or moved.
US08205930B1
Disclosed herein is a vehicle door with an irregular-circular frame for a recreational vehicle. A door window glass of the vehicle door includes a fixed glass (2) and a movable glass (1). The fixed glass (2) is fixedly installed in a portion of the door window surrounded by a lower door body (6), an outer frame (5) and a movable glass guide rail (9). The movable glass guild rail (9) has an arc rail. The movable glass (1) is installed on the lower door body (6) at the center of the arc of the movable glass guide rail (9) via a shaft sleeve and a shaft (4). A lock member (3) with a lock pin is installed on the upper part of the portion where the movable glass (1) engages with the movable glass guide rail (9). A stop block for adjusting the opening degree of the movable glass and stopping the lock pin of the lock member (3) is provided on the movable glass guide rail (9). Compared with the prior art, the vehicle door according to the present invention can solve the difficulty of opening and closing the widow glass of the vehicle door with the irregular-circular frame.
US08205920B2
A sash lock mechanism includes a handle, a housing adapted to be supported by a sash window assembly, the housing having an opening receiving the handle therethrough, and a rotor coupled to the handle. The rotor is moveable between at least a locked position and an unlocked position by movement of the handle. The sash lock mechanism also includes a locking mechanism that contains a pivotable member pivotably connected to the housing. The pivotable member is pivotable between a first position and a second position. When the rotor is in the locked position and the pivotable member is in the first position, the pivotable member confronts the rotor to prevent movement of the rotor to the unlocked position. When the pivotable member is in the second position, the pivotable member does not prevent movement of the rotor.
US08205916B2
A metal ring gasket provides a high-pressure temperature tolerant metal-to-metal seal between subcomponents of a threaded union. The metal ring gasket is received in an annular cavity formed between mating surfaces of the subcomponents of the threaded union. The metal ring gasket is capable of maintaining a fluid seal even at very high temperatures resulting from direct exposure to fire. At high fluid pressures the metal ring gasket is energized because hoop stress induced by the fluid pressure forces the metal ring gasket into tighter contact with the subcomponents of the threaded union.
US08205908B2
Inflatable airbag assemblies can be mounted on a driver's side of a vehicle within a steering wheel. A gap is formed between the airbag assembly cover and the steering wheel. Maintaining a consistent width of the gap can be accomplished with an airbag assembly that is bolted to the steering wheel by minimizing the number of components used to attach the airbag assembly to the steering wheel. A flexible airbag housing mounting bracket can be used to allow the housing and cover to be positioned and oriented within the steering wheel so that the gap between the airbag cover and the steering wheel is maintained.
US08205907B2
A juvenile stroller includes a mobile base and a juvenile seat mounted on the mobile base. The mobile base includes wheels and a foldable frame carrying the juvenile seat.
US08205905B2
Methods and apparatus may permit a ball and socket coupling arrangement. A rotary interference member (2) and a rotary socket member (8) may be displaced from a hitch ball interference position (6) and a hitch ball socket position (11), respectively, to a hitch ball clearance position (7) by a hitch ball (17) moving through a trailer coupling path (27). A hitch ball socket (15) may be formed in part by a socket engagement surface (9) of a rotary socket member (8). A hitch ball guidance cone (21) may guide the hitch ball (17) through the trailer coupling path (27). A control rod (34) may be used to displace the rotary interference member (2) and the rotary socket member (8) from a hitch ball interference position (6) and a hitch ball socket position (11), respectively, to a hitch ball clearance position (7).
US08205903B2
Each side of an adjustable handlebar assembly has a hand grip assembly receiving portion having one of an elongated hollow member and an elongated member, a hand grip assembly and at least one releasable fastener. The hand grip assembly has the other of the elongated hollow member and the elongated member, and a hand grip disposed on the other of the elongated hollow member and the elongated member. The at least one releasable fastener is disposed on one of the elongated hollow member and the elongated member. The elongated member is received coaxially in the elongated hollow member. The hand grip is axially movable and pivotable relative to the hand grip assembly receiving portion. The at least one releasable fastener is operative to selectively and releasably fix the elongated member relative to the elongated hollow member.
US08205889B2
A method for assembling a rotary machine is provided. The method includes providing at least one seal assembly that includes at least one annular seal housing defined by a top wall, a front wall, and a rear wall, that are connected together such that a cavity is defined within the housing, coupling a plurality of flexible plates within the cavity such that the plates are axially-spaced from the front wall and the rear wall within the cavity, coupling at least one side plate to the at least one annular seal housing such that the at least one side plate is moveable with respect the front wall and the rear wall, and coupling the at least one sealing assembly within a rotary machine to facilitate sealing between a rotary component and a stator component.
US08205887B2
In certain embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to a game table that has a plurality of cups that may be automatically moved from a storage position to a playing position. In certain other embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to a game table that has a plurality of cups that may be manually moved from a storage position to a playing position. In certain other embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to devices and methods that allow a user to provide a payment mechanism, and upon the acceptance of the payment mechanism, a game table will move a plurality of cups from a storage position to a playing position. In some embodiments, provision is made for the dispensing of a liquid drink or other reward when predetermined actions occur during play of the game. Although the presently disclosed embodiments will work with any game requiring cups for play, the disclosure makes reference to the game of Beer Pong for convenience of description. No limitation of the disclosure is thereby intended or to be inferred.
US08205883B2
A transport path switching unit is provided between transport rollers and pre-registration rollers, and control is performed to switch between a main transport path and an extended transport path of the transport path switching unit such that either the main transport path or the extended transport path is interposed as the part of the paper transport path between the transport rollers and the pre-registration rollers to vary a total length of the paper transport path.
US08205879B2
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a reference surface extending along a sheet conveyance direction and configured to regulate the position of a side edge of a sheet to be conveyed, a skew conveyance mechanism configured to convey the sheet obliquely so that the side edge of the sheet collides against the reference surface, and a sheet deforming unit configured to deform the side edge of the sheet when the sheet is conveyed toward the reference surface by the skew conveyance mechanism.
US08205868B2
Tab positions of tab sheets that are inserted between printed pages while a print job is performed are determined to be correct or incorrect using a control method for controlling an inspection apparatus which is connectable to a printing apparatus. The method includes reading tab sheets conveyed from the printing apparatus, detecting positions of tabs of the tab sheets conveyed from the printing apparatus according to the reading result, and determining whether each of the detected positions is correct or incorrect.
US08205861B2
A carrying rack of an engine includes a main hydraulic cylinder to move a swing arm upward and downward, and the swing arm including a seat disposed on a front end thereof, the seat including a support post axially mounted therein, wherein the support post includes a fixed peg axially inserted to a U-shaped receiving member to form a L shape, and the receiving member includes a pillar axially fixed on a bottom end thereof by using a retaining bolt, the support post also includes a rotating holder axially connected to the seat; an auxiliary hydraulic cylinder is axially disposed in an inner side of the swing arm by using its distal end so that a hydraulic lifter axially couples with the rotating holder via a connecting rod, and the swing arm includes a shaft mounted thereon to contact with the connecting rod.
US08205852B2
A flexure mount for economically producing pure translational motion with no arcuate or error motion in the vertical direction utilizing alignment pins and parts reducing structures including monolithic springs. A low profile embodiment utilizes a compound monolithic spring. The flexure mount may be used to translate a mirror or retroreflector in a purely linear direction of precisely controlled and known distance, useful in myriad interferometer applications including spectroscopy.
US08205849B2
This display screen turning apparatus includes a first support member of metal supporting a display screen portion and a second support member of metal supporting the first support member to be anteroposteriorly rotatable by a prescribed angle with respect to a vertical plane, and either the first support member or the second support member has a receiving hole, while either the second support member or the first support member integrally has a platelike support shaft of metal inserted into the receiving hole.
US08205844B1
The present invention relates to an improved connector assembly for attaching objects to supports. The connector assembly has both a male connector and a female connector capable of being removably attached to each other. The male connector includes an engagement portion that extends from a contact surface and a support structure for attaching to an accessory. The female connector includes a hooked portion that extends from a female contact surface and receives the engagement portion of the male connector. Once connected, the male contact surface and the female contact surface may contact each other. The female connector may be attached to a structure, such as a wall, a free standing structure, or other attachment structure. Further, the male connector may be connected at various locations along the female connector, providing flexibility to attach the male connector at more than one location.
US08205832B2
The present invention provides a floor structure for a fuselage comprising a plurality of cross beams to which respectively at least one first strut and at least one second strut are associated for connecting the respective cross beam to the fuselage. The at least one first strut is aligned in a corresponding first direction vector and the at least second strut is aligned corresponding to a second direction vector. The projections of the first direction vector and of the second direction vector onto the longitudinal direction of the fuselage are different for absorbing a force acting in the longitudinal direction of the fuselage on the floor structure, through the first and second struts.
US08205830B2
In the field of avionics, it is difficult to justify initiation of new aircraft programmes for replacement of small numbers of niche aircraft. Instead, in many cases, retrofitting existing aircraft is preferred for economic reasons. In this respect, upgrading existing braking systems to accommodate replacement of existing brake units employing sintered friction materials with brake units employing carbon-carbon composite friction materials is desirable. However, when upgrading the braking systems it is necessary to ensure that the integrity of the existing airframe is not compromised by the use of the new brake assemblies employing the carbon-carbon composite friction materials. Consequently, the present invention replaces existing pressure control valves of existing braking systems with an electronic control unit (126) coupled to a pressure control servovalve (128) thereby ensuring proper application of hydraulic pressure to brake assemblies (122). An advantage of this invention is that the pressure profile of the hydraulic fluid is controllable and hence the integrity of the airframe is maintained.
US08205826B2
A device for attaching an aircraft engine including a thrust force take-up device that includes a main fitting to be fixed to an engine mounting beam fixed to a box structure, an additional fitting fixed to the main fitting, and two load reacting link rods connected to the main fitting by a balance beam, each of the link rods being connected to the balance beam by a first longitudinal end by a first mechanical connection that has at least one axis of rotation, each of the link rods being connected to the additional fitting by a second longitudinal end by a second mechanical connection that has at least one axis of rotation, the second mechanical connection having play, the first and second mechanical connections having at least one axis of rotation in common.
US08205825B2
A load-bearing structure, such as a pylon or strut, having a monolithic tubular-shaped first central structure composed of composite material and a plurality of metal fittings for supporting an engine on an airframe structure of an aircraft, such as a wing. Most of the fittings are integrated into the load-bearing structure through bonding. The metal fittings carry the high bearing loads that are transmitted into the pylon at the engine-pylon and wing-pylon interfaces. The load-bearing structure may also include a second central structure of a tubular shape composed of composite material and integrated with one end portion of the first central structure by bonding and/or mechanical fasteners.
US08205821B2
A method for exhausting gas from an aircraft engine assembly is provided. The method includes coupling a first exhaust duct in fluid communication only to a first engine. The first exhaust duct includes a primary outlet and a secondary outlet. The method further includes coupling a second exhaust duct in fluid communication only to a second engine. The second exhaust duct includes a primary outlet and a secondary outlet. The method also includes aligning a portion of the first engine secondary outlet concentrically within a portion of the second engine secondary outlet.
US08205820B2
A transforming unmanned aerial-to-ground vehicle assembly comprising: an aerodynamic flying assembly comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle integrated with an unmanned ground vehicle, a power unit shared by the unmanned aerial vehicle and the unmanned ground vehicle, vehicle controls shared by the unmanned aerial vehicle and the unmanned ground vehicle, a disengagement mechanism to separate the unmanned ground vehicle from the unmanned aerial vehicle, one or more manipulator arms located on either the unmanned aerial vehicle or the unmanned ground vehicle, and landing gear.
US08205814B2
Various embodiments of the present invention generally provide processes for recovering and/or using one or more constituent components of carpeting. More specifically, various embodiments provide processes for reclaiming a filler material from carpet as well as processes for using the recovered filler material in subsequent carpet manufacturing processes. The present filler recovery processes can provide recycled filler material, which can be extracted at various stages of processing, and in different purities, depending on the subsequent need or use for the recovered filler material. In some instances, the filler recovery processes described herein can be implemented as sub-processes for recycling other carpet components.
US08205808B2
A pressurized tank sprayer includes a base tank including a neck and a mouth. A lid having a top portion and a depending skirt is positioned upon the tank. Threads are provided on the neck of the tank and engage threads on the depending skirt of the lid in order to secure the lid to the tank. The threads include locking features that prevent the lid from becoming forcibly detached from the tank during removal of the lid if excess pressure remains in the tank. An annular seal is seated in the lid and provides a seal between the tank and the lid. The annular seal includes an annular sealing surface and a concave interior surface. The annular sealing surface contacts the interior surface of the tank while the concave interior surface is exposed to the interior of the tank.
US08205807B2
An automatic spray gun includes a nozzle (4) for ejecting the product that is to be sprayed, controlled by a needle valve (9), and means (14, 10) for controlling the movement of the needle (9). A tabular elastic sealing means (13) surrounds the needle valve (9) and is mounted trapped between the front (1a) and rear (1b) parts of the body. The interior surface of the tabular means (13) is tailored to the diameters of the needle valve (9) and of a control slide (14) mounted on the needle valve in order to move the needle thereof.
US08205804B2
A flexible fluid delivery line with an end fitting retention bracket is disclosed for use during installation of an irrigation or sprinkler system. The retention bracket is malleable along its length and facilitates the positioning and orientation of a sprinkler head or other fluid delivery device with respect to the surrounding ground level. The retention bracket has two annular sleeves connected by a malleable elongate member. Through the pair of annular sleeves passes a semi-flexible riser. The annular sleeves are configured to substantially match the external circumference of the end fittings and retain the fitting therein. The retention bracket may be bent to suit various installation angles. The retention bracket prevents undesired turning or displacement of the end fittings during installation/use/removal of a sprinkler head.
US08205803B2
The present invention relates to a fastening device (100) for fastening a railwayrail (10) onto a support (4), comprising a primary element (101) and a secondary element (102). The secondary element (102) corresponds to nut and bolt fasteners comprising at least one nut and one screw (9) with a screw body (82) and a screw head. The primary element (101) comprises at least one part (1,2) with an upper surface and lower surface, said part being crossed in its thickness by at least one aperture (80) able to receive said screw (9). Said aperture (80) is formed by a first recess (8) located on the upper surface of said part and intended for receiving the screw body and a second recess (8) located on the lower surface of said part and intended for receiving the screw head. According to the invention, the upper surface of the lower part is inclined according to a first slope (12) and the lower surface of the upper part is inclined according to a second slope (14), the first slope and the second slope being complementary. According to the invention, the upper part comprises means (81) for tilting the screw, said means located on the edges of the first recess.
US08205800B2
A data transfer system includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader having a radio frequency transmitter and receiver and a laser. The data transfer system also includes a RFID tag on a container which has a first photosensitive device coupled to an electronic circuit in the tag which is in a first state when light from the laser is not striking the photosensitive device and in a second state when light from the laser is striking the photosensitive device such that the RFID tag transmits a signal only when a light beam from the laser is striking the photosensitive device. The tag may be passive, semi-passive (battery assisted passive-BAP), or active. If the tag is BAP then the laser light causes the tag to wake up so that it can respond to the RF signal from a RFID reader. The radio frequency transmitter provides power to the RFID tag sufficient to transmit a signal to the receiver which can be decoded by the RFID reader when the RFID reader is 40 feet or more away from the RFID tag.
US08205799B2
A physical object is provided that comprises a base medium, such as a paper sheet, and a memory tag embedded in it or attached to it. The memory tag stores at least one data item and location data relating each of one or more areas on the object's surface to a corresponding data item. Preferably, the data item or items stored by the tag comprise a print data item representing an item printed on the object, and/or a meta data item representing an instruction, or data to be output, in response to user selection of the corresponding area on the object's surface. Apparatus is provided for writing the data items and location data to the memory tag; apparatus is also provided for subsequently using the location data for interpreting user selections made by indicating positions on the object.
US08205796B2
A method and system for processing exposure to an item of interest in a transit system is disclosed. Detectors are sensitive to the item of interest such as chemicals, biologic compound, radiation, nuclear, and/or explosives to produce detector or other information. A threat assessment value is determined periodically. The fare media is read for card information, which can be used in addition to detector or other information. The assessment value along with the card information, detector information and/or other information is used in determining if an action is taken, for example, if a user can pass a portal to get access to the transit system.
US08205795B2
A communication device, a remote server, a terminal device, a financial card issue system, a financial card authentication system, and a computer-readable storage medium for authenticating card information. In one embodiment, a communication device incorporates an IC chip. The communication device may be connected to a financial institution server and a remote server through a network. The communication device may include a card issue request portion for requesting the financial institution server to issue a first card; a card information write request portion for receiving first card information corresponding to the first card from the financial institution server and requesting the remote server to write the first card information; and a storage portion including a first individual area, a second individual area, and a common area.
US08205792B2
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records, such as user cards, to cause machine user authorization and financial transfers. Account data read from a user card is associated in a data store with instructions for displaying a customer interface uniquely associated with the particular bank where the user holds the account. The customer interface includes user-selectable financial transaction options. The arrangement enables the customer interface of the user's home bank, with which the user is familiar, to also be automatically displayed when the user operates automated banking machines of other banks.
US08205786B1
Embodiments of a method are provided for joining an aluminum wire to a secondary wire, as are embodiments of an aluminum wire splice connector and embodiments of an electromagnetic coil assembly including an aluminum wire splice connector. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps providing a splice connector having a first blind bore and a second blind bore, inserting a segment of a coiled aluminum magnet wire into the first blind bore, and inserting a segment of the secondary wire into the second blind bore. The splice connector is soldered to the segments of the aluminum wire and the secondary wire inserted into the first and second blind bores, respectively, to electrically couple the coiled aluminum magnet wire and the secondary wire through the splice connector.
US08205784B1
A metal joining system having a first burner assembly configured to selectively heat a first zone and an assembly support at least partially vertically lower than at least a portion of the first heat zone and a first hood vertically above at least a portion of the assembly support.
US08205771B2
The presently disclosed subject matter comprises a pouch to house a pumpable product, a pouch fitment sealed within or outside the pouch, and a rigid dispenser for containing the pouch and fitment. In some embodiments, the system can further comprise a pump operatively connected to the rigid dispenser to dispense the pouch contents. The rigid dispenser is advantageously configured with a raised segment to support, center, and elevate the fitment sealed within said pouch.
US08205770B2
A system and method for directing a consumer through a vending machine transaction. The system and method include a UI guide comprising visual cues to direct a consumer to insert a minimum amount of money, make a production selection and confirm the product selection. The system and method provide for the consumer to cancel the transaction and request that return of inserted coins.
US08205769B1
A container for storing and dispensing consumable products. Modular construction is utilized wherein there is one base container and at least one subcontainer mounted above the base container. The base container has a floor, a peripheral wall, and a cover panel. Each subcontainer has a peripheral wall and a cover panel, and is coupled to a container below, such as the base container or another subcontainer, in stacked fashion. The cover panel of that container immediately below forms the floor of the container above, thereby obviating the necessity of forming a floor in each container. Each container may have a closure to enable contents to be withdrawn therefrom. The various containers are coupled together to form a stack by a removable band. When contents of the uppermost container are depleted, the empty container is removed from the stack to reveal the next container.
US08205763B2
A reusable container has four vertical side walls affixed to a rectangular base that can be moved between an extended position and a folded position. When the vertical side walls are in the extended position, the vertical side walls form a rectangular enclosure about a rectangular base. The rectangular enclosure can be divided into two sections by one or more movable members positioned within the rectangular enclosure for transporting different-sized documents, papers, or files. The vertical side walls may be moved into a folded position when the reusable container is empty to reduce the space required for transporting the empty containers. The reusable container interlocks with other reusable containers stacked on a dolly in either the extended position or the folded position such that stacks of reusable containers can be pushed on a dolly up inclines and over bumps without any restraints.
US08205757B2
Some embodiments disclose a corral configured to hold one or more shopping carts and display one or more advertisements. The corral can include: (a) an enclosure having an opening configured to receive the one or more shopping carts, the enclosure having a first side; and (b) at least one first panel located at the first side and configured to display at least a first advertisement of the one or more advertisements. The advertising panels can be configured to be coupled adjacent the opening of the corral to facilitate better visibility.
US08205756B2
A hydrocyclone (1) for separating a liquid mixture into a heavy fraction and a light fraction, comprising a housing (2) forming an elongated separation chamber (3) having a circumferential wall (4), a base end (5), an apex end (6), means (10) for supplying the liquid mixture to the separation chamber (3) via the at least one inlet member (7), so that during operation a liquid stream is generated as a helical vortex (11) about a centre axis (12), at least one path (13) in the circumferential wall (4) at least over a portion of the separation chamber (3), and at least one means for creating turbulence, which comprises at least one step (14) in the path (13) of the circumferential wall (4) showing an increase of the radius of the separation chamber (3), wherein the at least one step (14) having an angle (α) relative the centre axis (12).
US08205755B2
Aspects of the present disclosure provide composite carbon blocks with improved capacity for the removal of contaminants such as THMs (trihalomethanes) and trace VOCs (volatile organic compounds) found in water. In one aspect, a filtration matrix comprises a polymeric binder and an adsorptive media comprising activated carbon having a bulk density of 0.54 (0.57, or even 0.60) g/cc or greater. The carbon BET surface area can be 1100 (950, or even 550) m2/g or less. The polymeric binder can be ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. Also provided are methods of making filtration matrixes.
US08205754B2
A fluorine resin polymer separation membrane and a manufacturing method of the same, which are excellent in a virus-eliminating property, further excellent in water permeability, chemical strength (chemical resistance), physical strength, and an antifouling property, and particularly suitable for practicable use as a filtration membrane for the elimination of viruses, are provided. A fluorine resin polymer separation membrane includes a layer having a three-dimensional network structure and a layer having a spherical structure, in which the layer having a three-dimensional network structure does not substantially contain micro-voids having a void diameter of 5 μm or more, and the fluorine resin polymer separation membrane has filtration performance represented by the elimination rate of 80% or more of dextran having molecular weight of 75,000. The layer having a three-dimensional network structure is formed by the solidification with a polymer solution containing a fluorine resin polymer and cellulose ester.
US08205752B2
A package for storing and dispensing tablets includes a blister card having blister compartments and a hollow plastic sleeve providing a protective housing for the blister card when the blister card is in a storage position within the sleeve. The sleeve includes a pair of latches that extend toward the blister card, and the blister card includes a pair of latch-catchers for cooperatively engaging and catching the latches when the blister card is in a storage position to automatically lock the blister card in the storage position within the sleeve when the blister card is slid to the storage position. The sleeve also includes a deactivator positionable between a first position in which the blister card is permitted to automatically lock to the sleeve when the blister card is slid to the storage position and a second position for preventing the blister card from becoming locked to the sleeve.
US08205749B2
A stackable container assembly that is particularly suited for packaging heavy bulk products such as paint includes a container having a main body and a removable lid having an upstanding rim portion that has an upper surface. The container has a flexible bottom portion that has a lower surface that includes at least one support surface for supporting the container assembly on an underlying horizontal surface. The lower surface further includes at least one projection that is disposed radially inwardly from the support surface. The flexible bottom portion is advantageously configured so that the projection will flex radially downwardly and outwardly into a position that is adjacent to an upstanding rim portion of an underlying container assembly when the container assembly is stacked on top of another container assembly. This ensures accurate registration and positioning of the container assemblies during stacking.
US08205748B2
An environmentally friendly package containing refill folded sheets is provided. The package contains a plurality of refill cartridges stacked together. Each refill cartridge contains a stack of interfolded sheets. In one embodiment, for instance, the sheets may comprise facial tissues. Each refill cartridge is configured to refill a sheet dispenser such as a paperboard dispenser. In this manner, a consumer can continually refill a single dispenser instead of having to repurchase a dispenser each time the folded sheet product is purchased.
US08205744B1
A unique laptop computer or similar device carrying case, which can also shield an individual from electromagnetic radiation (EMF) including RF microwave radiation and also heat transfer from the laptop computers when opened or in the closed positions. A conductive fabric is positioned against non-conductive plastic sheeting and is rolled up on itself, on four sides, to provide a larger effective virtual shield in the two side insulating sections, each of which includes an inner luan material with optional magnetic shielding or a perforated metal shield and a solid metal shield in the base to protect against electromagnetic radiation. The shield can be incorporated in existing cell phone/PC cases or flip top cell phone cases. Further, a pocket shield can be used to store cell phones in apparel pockets.
US08205743B2
A carrier for transporting at least one container along a conveying path, has a base that can be placed on a conveyor surface of the conveying path, and at least one retaining plate for retaining the container at least during transport. The container has a lower region and a head region on the top, and the retaining plate is configured and disposed in the carrier for engaging at the head region of the suspended container. The container is inserted into the carrier such that it is supported at the head region of the carrier and is retained during transport in a suspended manner.
US08205732B2
A clutch detent mechanism for an outboard motor includes a ball movable with a clutch dog member, a ball retainer member provided in a propeller shaft for retaining the ball in a predetermined position, and a compression coil spring acting on the ball to resiliently force the ball against the ball retainer member. The ball retainer member has a recessed portion for receiving therein the ball to thereby retain the clutch dog member in a neutral position, a front tapered portion provided on one side of the recessed portion for retaining the ball in a position to keep the clutch dog member in a forward shift position, and a rear tapered portion provided on the other side of the recessed portion for retaining the ball in a position to keep the clutch dog member in a reverse shift position.
US08205725B2
An electric disk brake includes a single electric motor, a pair of rotary-to-linear conversion mechanisms to which rotation of the electric motor is transferred, a pressing member that presses a brake pad toward a disk rotor by each of the rotary-to-linear conversion mechanisms and a reduction mechanism interposed between the electric motor and the pair of rotary-to-linear conversion mechanisms. The reduction mechanism transfers rotation output, where input of the electric motor is expanded, to one side of the pair of rotary-to-linear conversion mechanisms and transfers reaction force of the rotation output to the other side of the pair of rotary-to-linear conversion mechanisms.
US08205722B2
In an elevator system including at least two elevator groups having at least one shared floor and destination call appliances on at least the shared floor for receiving destination calls from passengers, destination call appliances are connected to group controls of the elevator groups. Destination calls from passengers are divided between the elevator groups based on defined division criteria.
US08205719B2
As lubricating construction for a spline coupling portion for connecting a rotating shaft of a generator-motor and a rotating shaft of a hydraulic pump both actuated by an engine, a lubricating oil chamber communicating with the spline coupling portion is formed within a motor casing of the generator-motor, while in a pump casing of the hydraulic pump there is formed an oil passing hole providing communication between the lubricating oil chamber and an oil chamber in the hydraulic pump on an outer periphery side of the rotating shaft of the hydraulic pump, thereby forming an oil passage for allowing working oil present within the hydraulic pump to circulate through a route including the spline coupling portion.
US08205716B2
An exhaust muffler (1) for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, especially of a motor vehicle, includes two front-side end panels (2) facing away from each other, a circumferential jacket (3) closed in the circumferential direction, at least one exhaust muffler insert (4), with at least one inlet pipe (5) and with at least one outlet pipe (6). At least one of the pipes (5, 6) extends through the jacket (3) into the interior (8) of the exhaust muffler and is fastened to the jacket (3). Manufacture can be simplified if the pipe (5, 6) extending through the jacket (3) has a cone (10) at its inner end, if the exhaust muffler insert (4) has a countercone (11) and if the cone (10) meshes with the countercone (11).
US08205714B2
In a method for adjusting a Helmholtz resonator (10), in which a resonator volume (11) is connected to a space (13) to be provided with damping along an axis (29) via a constriction (12) having an acoustic impedance, the acoustic impedance of the constriction (12) is altered in order to adjust the Helmholtz resonator (10).
US08205711B2
A seismic source array 15 comprises a plurality of seismic source 26 arranged about a central point of the source array 15 in such a way that an imaginary circle drawn with said central point at its center, and containing all of said seismic sources 26, can be divided into at least three whole sectors each of which contains a substantially identical arrangement of seismic sources 26.
US08205710B2
A belt-type continuously variable transmission that prevents escape of noise generated by a resin block belt to the outside. The resin block belt is wound around a primary sheave and a secondary sheave. A transmission case defines a belt chamber accommodating the primary sheave, secondary sheave, and resin block belt. The transmission case includes an exhaust passage, intake passages, and a sound absorbing member. The sound absorbing member is attached to an inner wall of the exhaust passage in a position to collide with sound waves traveling through the exhaust passage. The sound absorbing member has a sound absorbing surface crossing an extending direction of the exhaust passage.
US08205698B2
A saddle-type vehicle has an engine having an intake port, a fuel tank in fluid communication with the engine, and a heat shield. A snorkel defines a flow passage and a passage opening. The flow passage is in fluid communication with the passage opening and the intake port. The flow passage has an upstream portion that has a centerline. The heat shield at least partially defines a chamber in fluid communication with the passage opening. During operation, the engine draws air through the chamber, the passage opening, and the flow passage. The heat shield includes a reflecting wall extending at an oblique angle to the centerline. The reflecting wall is configured to reflect pressure pulses emanating from the passage opening, back through the passage opening, and toward the intake port during operation of the engine.
US08205694B2
The method and apparatus consist of a robot body having at least two, but preferably six appendages. The appendages are organized into appendage groups of one to six appendages. The appendages are linked mechanically into groups of two or more and each group is actuated using a single drive actuator. A selective engagement mechanism is used to selectively engaged and disengage one or more appendages at a time in a way that allows for at least one appendage and at most all but one appendage per group to be engaged to a group's drive actuator. When the appendage is disengaged it is preferably locked in place to resist a reasonable force applied to them externally, such as the force equivalent to the weight of the robot.
US08205692B2
A drill bit for cutting a borehole comprises a bit body. In addition, the drill bit comprises a rolling cone cutter mounted on the bit body and adapted for rotation about a cone axis. Further, the drill bit comprises at least one insert having a base portion secured in the rolling cone cutter and a cutting portion extending therefrom. The cutting portion includes a pair of flanking surfaces that taper towards one another to form an elongate chisel crest including a first crest end, a second crest end, and an apex positioned therebetween. A transverse radius of curvature at the first crest end is less than a transverse radius of curvature at the apex, and a transverse radius of curvature at the second crest end is less than the transverse radius of curvature at the apex.
US08205691B2
A down hole vibration dampener is disclosed that uses a set of polyurethane rings and steel support rings to create a shock absorber within the drill string to reduce the amount of vibration in the drill string. A splined mandrel extends longitudinally within a hollow cylindrical housing. A seal structure present between the exterior of the mandrel and the interior of the housing forms a lubricant receiving chamber. The series of polyurethane and steel rings are located in the lubricant chamber and are compressible longitudinally to absorb vibration and shock loads.
US08205689B2
Drilling systems and methods for enlarging a borehole that include at least one expandable reamer and at least one expandable stabilizer axially spaced therefrom in a tubular string, such as a drill string, the at least one expandable reamer and the at least one expandable stabilizer being independently actuatable by different-sized actuation devices. A relatively lower tool is actuatable by a smaller actuation device, such as a drop ball, which passes through a relatively higher tool in the drill string without triggering the higher tool.
US08205682B2
A rotary switch for shifting a switch element is disclosed. The switch includes a twist handle, a torsion spring, a rotatable actuating element and a common axis. The twist handle, the torsion spring and the rotatable actuating element are supported so as to be rotatable about the common axis. The twist handle and the rotatable actuating element are coupled with each other by the torsion spring in such a manner that a twisting of the twist handle relative to the rotatable actuating element twists the torsion spring. An eccentric is provided on the rotatable actuating element in order to convert a rotary motion of the rotatable actuating element into a shifting motion of the switch element.
US08205681B1
A core processor comprises a frame that supports a housing. The housing carries a rotary pulverizer inside a semi-cylindrical drum and a rotary pick up brush in a pick up head below the drum. The drum is open at the rear to form a rear discharge opening. The pick up head includes a full width rear roller behind the brush to support the housing for rolling movement over the ground in a work mode of the processor. In the work mode, the brush picks up aeration cores from the ground, delivers them to the rotary pulverizer which comminutes or pulverizes the aeration cores, and the particle debris so created exits through the rear discharge opening beneath a hood or shroud. A powered roller is located at a junction between the orbits of the brush and the pulverizer to help keep the junction free of a build up of core material. In a transport mode of the core processor, a pair of transport wheels are lowered into engagement with the ground until the pick up head is lifted out of engagement with the ground.
US08205664B2
A combination heat sink form of a stack of radiation fins is disclosed. Each radiation fin has retaining flanges at two opposite lateral sides for securing another radiation fin. Each retaining flange has a bottom neck perpendicularly extending from the respective radiation fin, two pairs of vertically spaced retaining fingers respectively extending from two opposite lateral sides of the bottom neck in a parallel manner relative to the respective radiation fin for securing another radiation fin, a top retaining notch defined between the two pairs of vertically spaced retaining fingers above the bottom neck for accommodating the bottom neck of another radiation fin, and a retaining gap defined between each two vertically spaced retaining fingers for receiving another radiation fin.
US08205658B1
An operating device for rotating a winding roller of a window blind, includes an upright rotating shaft rotatable to cause rotation of the winding roller and having thread segments, a sleeve shell surrounding the rotating shaft, upper and lower coupling members anchored on the sleeve shell and each having grip ends and cammed surfaces confronting the thread segments and the sleeve shell, and an actuating member having a camming surfaces disposed to be moved upward or downward to make an upper or lower friction engagements between the upper coupling member and rotating shaft, and between the lower coupling member and the rotating shaft for rotating the rotating shaft.
US08205657B2
An architectural covering arrangement having two side rails for mounting in parallel either side of a window pane and at least one movable end rail for mounting perpendicular to the side rails and extending from one side rail to the other side rail, the side rails having on respective faces to be mounted on a window pane, a two-layer fastening structure with one of the layers adhered to the respective side rail and the other of the two layers to be adhered to the window pane, the two layers being freely attachable and detachable from one another.
US08205653B2
A substrate bonding apparatus and method are provided. The substrate bonding apparatus may include a first support member that receives a first substrate, a second support member that receives a second substrate opposite the first support member, and a support pin located at the outside of the first substrate fixed to the first support member. The support pin may be connected to the first support member, and a distance adjustment device may move the support pin upward or downward to adjust the distance between the first support member and the second support member.
US08205649B2
A cutter assembly for an electric pencil sharpener has a cutter bracket and a cutter. The cutter bracket has a pencil sharpening hole and an engaging structure. The pencil sharpening hole is defined in the cutter bracket for a pencil to be inserted into the pencil sharpening hole. The engaging structure is formed on the cutter bracket to engage a rotating frame in the electric pencil sharpener. The cutter is mounted rotatably on the cutter bracket. Accordingly, the cutter assembly is replaceable for the electric pencil sharpener when the cutter of the cutter assembly is damaged or worn.
US08205644B2
An industrial two-layer fabric constituted by at least one upper surface side warp to be woven with at least one upper surface side weft, at least one lower surface side warp to be woven with at least one lower surface side weft, and at least one warp binding yarn to be woven with the at least one upper surface side weft and the at least one lower surface side weft having at least one pair of upper and lower warps in which the upper and lower surface side warps are located to be upper and lower, respectively, and at least one pair of warp binding yarns in which at least one yarn constitutes a warp binding yarn.
US08205637B2
A flow-actuated actuator includes a plurality of rings positionable within a structure, each ring having a full bore therethrough, and a plurality of elongated members in operable communication with the plurality of rings providing orientation of each ring to at least one adjacent ring. The plurality of rings and the plurality of elongated members are configured to generate an urging force in response to fluid flow thereby.
US08205633B2
Collets for coupling rotary actuators to valves are disclosed. An example collet includes a plurality of flexible members configured to be coupled to an elongated member and each having an inner surface that forms at least a portion of a substantially rectangular bore configured to receive a rectangular shaft. The plurality of flexible members form an involute outer surface for engaging an involute inner surface of an opening of a lever. The opening of the lever is configured to cause the plurality of flexible members to be displaced toward an axis of the elongated member to cause the inner surface of each of the plurality of flexible members to engage one or more surfaces of the rectangular shaft.
US08205615B1
An exhaust port assembly adapted for delivering a breathing gas to a patient. The exhaust port assembly includes a body and a mechanism associated with the body. The mechanism, in response to a motive force, is structured to control the direction of a flow of exhaust gas discharged through at least some of a number of exhaust ports. A system and method are also provided.
US08205611B2
A processing method and apparatus are disclosed for processing an inhaler component of a dry powder inhaler so as to remove any electrostatic charge and improve inhaler performance in drug delivery to the respiratory tract. The method includes exposing the inhaler component, while it contains an amount of medicament, to a gas in a chamber at a first predetermined pressure; exposing the inhaler component, in the chamber, to gas at a second pressure greater than the first pressure; and repeating the exposure of the inhaler component to gas at a pressure no greater than the first predetermined pressure.
US08205596B2
The fuel injection device for an internal combustion engine comprises a feed pump which has an electric drive, by which feed pump fuel is fed from a fuel storage tank into a low-pressure region to the suction side of at least one high-pressure pump. The high-pressure pump pumps fuel into a high-pressure region in which at least one injector is provided to inject the fuel into the internal combustion engine. The fuel injection is controlled by an electric control device. Arranged in the low-pressure region is a pressure sensor which is connected to the control device. The electric drive of the feed pump is activated by the control device in order to set a feed quantity of the feed pump which is variable as a function of at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine and/or of the high-pressure pump. The drive of the feed pump is in particular activated by the control device in such a way that, at a high load of the internal combustion engine and/or at a high rotational speed and/or at a high fuel temperature, a greater fuel quantity is fed by the feed pump into the low-pressure region than at a low load and/or a low rotational speed and/or a low fuel temperature.
US08205595B2
The object of the present invention is to provide an internal combustion engine control apparatus which can control an internal combustion engine output with a high accuracy even when an internal combustion engine output lower than an unloaded idling equivalent output is demanded. The internal combustion engine of the present invention has an accessory such as a generator driven through an output axis of the engine, an ECU for totally controlling the engine and accessory, and an accessory driving control section for controlling the driving of the accessory. The ECU calculates a target engine output according to a demand from a driver or the like and, when the target engine output is lower than the unloaded idling equivalent output, sends a control signal to the accessory driving control section 16 so as to increase the load of the accessory and further make the idle-up amount zero. When the target engine output is not lower than the unloaded idling equivalent output, an idle-up amount corresponding to the load of the accessory is determined. Then, the idle-up amount of output is added to the target engine output, and the engine device is controlled according to thus calculated value.
US08205588B2
In an internal combustion engine, a variable valve-actuating mechanism includes a trigger pin operable to permit axial movement of a rocker arm concurrently with a axial movement of a rocker arm shaft. A retention member has an insertion aperture formed therein, in which the trigger pin is inserted, and which slidably supports the trigger pin in the inserting direction. The trigger pin includes upper and lower expanded portions disposed on both sides thereof in the inserting direction. The upper and lower expanded portions of the trigger pin are operable to disable sliding motion of the trigger pin, relative to the retention member, beyond a predetermined range. The upper and lower expanded portions allow the trigger pin to be integrally assembled in the insertion aperture of the retention member, so as to be selectively retained therein.
US08205572B2
A vacuum treatment installation has a vacuum receptacle with a first planar metallic electrode face, a second dielectric electrode face facing the first planar metallic electrode face which forms a surface of a dielectric areal configuration, a metallic coupling face facing a backside of the areal configuration, electric connections on the coupling and on the first electrode face, a gas line system through the coupling face and an areal distributed pattern of apertures through the areal configuration and wherein the areal dielectric configuration is formed by several ceramic tiles.
US08205571B1
A boat has a hull and a deck is disposed on the hull. A tower is connected to the deck. The tower has a top. The top has at least one storage compartment defined therein. A canopy is connected to the top, the canopy has at least one frame member and a canvas connected to the at least one frame member. The canopy has an extended position and a retracted position. The canvas and the at least one frame member are disposed at least in part in the storage compartment of the top when the canopy is in the retracted position. A boat having a tower with a top and a canopy attached thereto is also disclosed where the tower is movable between a first position and a second position.
US08205562B2
An aircraft table system includes a table member coupled to a sled member. When the table member is adjusted to a partially deployed position, movable bolts on the sled member are received by holes in a spine member such that the sled member and the coupled table member are supported by the spine member on the received bolts. Cables may be coupled between the bolts and the table member such that when the table member is adjusted from a deployed position to an undeployed position, the bolts are pulled from the corresponding holes in the spine member, freeing the sled member to move relative to the spine member.
US08205561B1
A frame includes a pair of parallel arms that are transversely spaced apart from one another. A first brace interconnects the parallel arms at their respective leading ends and a second brace interconnects the parallel arms at their respective mid-lengths. A table has a first end hingedly connected to the second brace. A first and second plurality of teeth is provided along an extent of the first and second arms, respectively. First and second support struts hingedly interconnect the table to preselected teeth when the table is in a first angular position relative to the frame. First and second book supports are slideably mounted on the table and lockable into any selected position. The parallel arms are releasably attached to the armrests of a conventional wheelchair. The support struts are disengaged from the teeth to enable folding the table into a horizontal storage position where it overlies the frame.
US08205545B2
The present invention relates to a melon cutting apparatus that cuts a melon portion or melon half. The apparatus cuts the melon pulp into sections, and removes the rind from the pulp. The apparatus includes a base having an opening; a cutting matrix that has a plurality of blades, wherein the cutting matrix communicates with the opening. The apparatus also includes a sweeping blade that is curved and positioned at or near the cutting matrix and is used to cut the rind from the melon pulp. The apparatus further includes an actuator that engages the sweeping blade. The apparatus embodies an arm attached to the apparatus, and a pressure cap that is mounted to the arm, opposite the cutting matrix. Additionally, the present invention pertains to systems and methods of using the apparatus.
US08205540B2
The invention pertains to a piston-cylinder unit for a hinged lid, especially a motor vehicle hinged lid, with a closed first end, a cylinder, a piston installed in the cylinder with freedom to slide back and forth, the piston dividing the cylinder into a working chamber remote from the first end and a second working near the first end; and a piston rod, which is attached to one side of the piston, projects through the first working chamber, and passes out of the cylinder concentrically to the central longitudinal axis of the cylinder through a guide and sealing device at the second end opposite the first end, where a first locking element is provided on the piston rod, and a second locking element is provided on the cylinder to establish a mechanical interlock, and where one of the locking elements comprises a sleeve, which cooperates with the other locking element to establish an interlock.
US08205531B2
A chuck device for a machine tool includes: a center unit disposed in an axial hole in a tubular housing, extending along a hole axis of, and having a tip extending outwardly of the housing and abutting against a workpiece; a chuck unit disposed movably in the axial hole, sleeved on the center unit and including a chuck member disposed adjacent to the tip of the center unit; and a sleeve unit disposed movably in the axial hole, concentric with the housing and sleeved on the chuck unit. The sleeve unit has a pushing end portion sleeved on and abutting against the chuck member, and is operable to move relative to the housing along the hole axis such that the chuck member is driven by the pushing end portion of the sleeve unit with movement of the sleeve unit to move away from the housing and to clamp the workpiece.
US08205514B2
A control moment gyroscope (CMG) is provided for deployment on a spacecraft. The CMG includes a stator housing, an inner gimbal assembly disposed in the stator housing, and a torque motor coupled to the stator housing and at least partially disposed around an intermediate portion of the inner gimbal assembly. The torque motor is configured to rotate the inner gimbal assembly about a gimbal axis.
US08205513B2
A closure device including a fill chamber housing, which forms an edge for a hollow cross-section of a fill chamber, and at least one shut-off valve having a through-passage, the valve being displaceable between an open position and a closed position by a guide gap transversely to a filler chamber longitudinal direction. In the open position, the shut-off valve with the through-passage thereof forms a passage of a fill chamber cross-section, and in the closed position the shut-off valve closes the fill chamber cross-section. A cleaning chamber is formed, the chamber height of which is greater than the gap height of the guide gap, and the position of the chamber is associated with the shut-off valve such that the edge of the through-passage is located in the cleaning chamber in the closed position.
US08205512B1
Embodiments include systems and methods for collection and identification of particulates in the air. In one embodiment, two different path ways are provided from a single adjustable inlet: one for collection and one for detection. A removable insert positionable within a collection tube enables a user to switch between the collection mode and the detection mode. This embodiment captures both the physical mechanisms of switching the air flow paths as well as sequencing of controls and valves and regulation or changing the air flow rate in the different modes of operation. This and other embodiments are disclosed herein.
US08205511B1
The present disclosure concerns embodiments of a sampling apparatus that utilizes one or more cyclone separators to collect airborne particles from the atmosphere. In one representative embodiment, the sampling apparatus includes a collection-vessel retaining member that is adapted to be removably coupled to a collection vessel. The retaining member has an air-inlet conduit for permitting air to flow through the open end of the collection vessel and an air-outlet conduit for permitting air to exit the open end of the collection vessel. The air-inlet conduit and the air-outlet conduit are configured to cause air flowing into the collection vessel to establishes a cyclonic flow path, which causes airborne particles to separate out from the air stream and collect in the collection vessel.
US08205507B2
The invention relates to an ultrasonic sensor for measuring flow rates in liquid melts at high temperatures. The aim of the invention is to provide an ultrasonic sensor for carrying out local, continuous, reliable rate measurements in hot melts. To achieve this, the ultrasonic sensor contains an ultrasonic waveguide that is connected to the piezoelectric transducer and consists of a material with low acoustic damping properties in a temperature range relevant for the area of application of above 200 DEG C, said material being chemically resistant to the melt. In addition, the end face of the ultrasonic waveguide facing the melt is closed and can be wetted by the melt.
US08205505B2
A pressure testing device includes: a vacuum pump having positive and negative pressure terminals; a first solenoid valve having a first intake terminal and a first exhaust terminal connected to the negative pressure terminal; a second solenoid valve having a second exhaust terminal and a second intake terminal connected to the positive pressure terminal; a pressure sensor having one end connected to the first intake terminal and the second exhaust terminal and the other end connected to a pressure testing terminal of an object; an operation module for displaying an operation interface to input pressure testing parameters; and a control unit for performing an air-extracting process through the vacuum pump and first solenoid valve or an air-exhausting process through the vacuum pump and second solenoid valve to the object according to the inputted parameters and displaying the state of the object sensed by the pressure sensor through the operation module.
US08205499B2
A body has a first portion whose exterior surface is similar to that of a corresponding, first portion of a portable media device. An acoustic aperture is formed at a location that is similar to that of a built-in earpiece, speaker, or microphone aperture in the media device. An acoustic port is formed in the exterior surface of the body, and is adapted to be coupled to a sound test tool. An internal cavity acoustically couples the acoustic port to the acoustic aperture. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08205489B2
An engine ECU executes a program including: detecting a magnitude of vibration of an engine; detecting a vibration waveform of the engine based on the magnitude; calculating a correlation coefficient, in the case where the engine speed is smaller than a threshold value, using the sum of values each determined by subtracting a positive reference value from a magnitude of a knock waveform model, as an area of the knock waveform model and, calculating the correlation coefficient, in the case where the engine speed is not smaller than the threshold value, using the area of the whole knock waveform model; and determining whether or not knocking has occurred using the correlation coefficient. The correlation coefficient is calculated by dividing by the area the sum of differences that are each the difference between the magnitude on the vibration waveform and the magnitude on the knock waveform model.
US08205487B2
A scanning probe microscope and method of operation for monitoring and assessing proper tracking between the tip and sample, as well as automating at least some aspects of AFM setup previously done manually. Preferably, local slopes corresponding to the acquired data are compared to determine a tracking metric that is self-normalizing.
US08205482B2
A hydrogen sensor (100) is provided with a substrate (2), a detection film (4) formed on the substrate (2), and a hydrogen permeable protective film (10) formed on the detection film (4). The detection film (4) is composed of a first ceramic (6) and rare-earth metal particles (8) dispersed in the first ceramic (6). The protective film (10) is composed of a second ceramic (12) and hydrogen permeable metal particles (14) dispersed in the second ceramic (12). Preferably, the thickness of the detection film (4) is 5 to 1,000 nm, and the thickness of the hydrogen permeable protective film (10) is 5 to 40 nm.
US08205479B2
A method for mounting a prover and its attached motive means either horizontally or vertically as a function of the footprint available on the surface on which the prover is to be mounted. The method includes attaching the prover and its motive means to a lower framework. Attaching a plurality of stanchions to the lower framework. Mounting an upper framework on the stanchions. Adding a plurality of I-beams to the upper framework and to the stanchions to render the mounting for the prover rigid, whether the prover is mounted horizontally or vertically.
US08205474B2
Apparatus and method of controlling strip geometry in casting strip having a rolling mill. A target thickness profile is calculated as a function of the measured entry thickness profile of the strip while satisfying profile and flatness parameters. A differential strain feedback from longitudinal strain in the strip is calculated by a control system by comparing the exit thickness profile with the target thickness profile, and a control signal is generated to control a device capable of affecting the geometry of the strip processed by the hot rolling mill. A feed-forward control reference and/or sensitivity vector may also be calculated as a function of the target thickness profile, and used in generating the control signal sent to the control device. The control device may be selected from one or more of the group consisting of a bending controller, gap controller and coolant controller.
US08205467B2
An air conditioning apparatus includes a heat source unit, a first utilization unit, a second utilization unit, a refrigerant communication pipe and a control section. The heat source unit includes a heat source side compressor, a heat source side heat exchanger and a heat source side expansion mechanism. The first utilization unit includes a first utilization side compressor, a first utilization side heat exchanger and a first utilization side expansion mechanism. The second utilization unit includes a second utilization side compressor, a second utilization side heat exchanger and a second utilization side expansion mechanism. The control section is configured to control the first utilization side compressor and the first utilization side expansion mechanism in accordance with operation load of the first utilization unit, and to control the second utilization side compressor and the second utilization side expansion mechanism in accordance with operation load of the second utilization unit.
US08205464B2
A refrigeration device includes a compression mechanism, a radiator, a first expansion mechanism, a liquid receiver, a second expansion mechanism, an evaporator, a pressure detector, a temperature detector, and a control unit. The pressure detector is provided between the refrigerant discharge side of the compression mechanism and the refrigerant inflow side of the first expansion mechanism. The temperature detector is provided between the exit side of the radiator and the refrigerant inflow side of the first expansion mechanism. The control unit controls the first expansion mechanism using the pressure detected by the pressure detector and the temperature detected by the temperature detector so that the refrigerant flowing out from the first expansion mechanism reaches a saturated state.
US08205462B1
A system and method for recycling non-reusable refrigerant transport containers. At least one intact refrigerant transport container is received into a sealed chamber. The refrigerant transport container is punctured to release residual refrigerant, which is removed and compressed. The container is shredded and/or compacted. A refrigerant transport container deposit program is provided, comprising: encoding a deposit container prior to use; receiving the encoded spent container and releasing the imposed deposit; automatically removing residual refrigerant from the spent container; and recycling materials from the refrigerant transport container. A database storing a record relating to the encoded refrigerant transport containers may be employed for tracking.
US08205456B1
A power plant for burning a fuel in a low pressure combustion chamber to produce electrical power. A first compressor supplies compressed air through a first heat exchanger to add heat to the compressed air. The heated compressed air is passed through a first turbine to drive a first electric generator. The first turbine outlet is passed through a second heat exchanger in series with the first heat exchanger to further heat the compressed air. The compressed air is then passed through a second turbine to drive a second electric generator and produce electric power. The outlet from the second turbine is passed through a first combustor to produce the hot gas flow through the second heat exchanger. The outlet from the second heat exchanger is passed through a second combustor before passing through the first heat exchanger. The outlet from the first heat exchanger is passed through a heat recovery steam generator to generate steam to drive another turbine and another generator. An additional compressor and intercooler can be used to supply the compressed air to the first heat exchanger. With this system, one or more fuels can be burned under low pressure and without passing the contaminants from combustion through the turbines.
US08205455B2
A power plant and method of operation is provided. The power plant comprises at least one main air compressor, an oxidizer unit configured to deliver a compressed oxygen-rich gas flow to at least one gas turbine assembly. Each assembly comprises a turbine combustor for mixing the compressed oxygen-rich gas flow with a recirculated gas flow and a fuel stream to burn a combustible mixture and form the recirculated gas flow. The assembly also comprises a recirculation loop for recirculating the recirculated gas flow from a turbine to a turbine compressor. The assembly further comprises a recirculated gas flow extraction path for extracting a portion of the recirculated gas flow from the assembly and delivering this to a gas separation system. The gas separation system separates the portion of the recirculated gas flow into a nitrogen portion and a carbon dioxide portion.
US08205451B2
A system and assemblies for pre-heating fuel in a combined cycle power plant are provided. A fuel supply system includes a water heater assembly configured to heat a flow of water using progressively higher grade heat from a multi-stage heat exchanger arrangement. The fuel supply system also includes a fuel heater that includes a first flow path coupled in flow communication with a fuel flow path wherein the fuel heater includes a second flow path coupled in flow communication with a flow path for the flow of water. The fuel heater is configured to transfer heat from the flow of water to the flow of fuel.
US08205449B2
An internal combustion engine having a turbocharger is provided. The engine includes a turbine of the turbocharger located in an exhaust system of the engine, an upstream side catalyst located upstream of the turbine, a catalyst bypass passage bypassing the upstream side catalyst, a catalyst bypass passage on/off valve for opening and closing the catalyst bypass passage, and a first exhaust gas recirculation passage for recirculating a part of exhaust gases from a portion between the upstream side catalyst and the turbine to an intake system of the engine. The engine, that further includes a second exhaust gas recirculation passage for recirculating a part of exhaust gases from an upstream side of the upstream side catalyst to the intake system, and a switching valve for switching between the first exhaust recirculation passage and the second exhaust recirculation passage, is provided.
US08205446B2
Disclosed is driving unit (1) for a brake (100) comprising: a driving device (2); a hydraulic pump (3) driven by said driving device (2); a hydraulic cylinder (5) in fluid communicating with the hydraulic pump (3) and driven by said hydraulic pump (3). The hydraulic pump (5) is operably connected with one piston rod (7) to drive the piston rod (5) to reciprocate, said piston rod (5) is drivingly connected with a braking portion (8) of the brake (100). The driving unit (1) is further provided with a holding device (10) for keeping the braking portion (8) under an operation state. The present invention further discloses a brake (100) having such driving unit (1).
US08205441B2
An exhaust system that processes exhaust generated by an engine is provided. The system includes: a particulate filter (PF) that is disposed downstream of the engine and that filters particulates from the exhaust; and a grid that includes electrically resistive material that is segmented by non-conductive material into a plurality of zones and wherein the grid is applied to an exterior upstream surface of the PF.
US08205439B2
A system includes a particulate matter (PM) filter that includes X zones. An electrical heater includes Y heater segments that are associated with respective ones of the X zones. The electrical heater is arranged upstream from and proximate with the PM filter. A valve assembly includes Z sections that are associated with respective ones of the X zones. A control module adjusts flow through each of the Z sections during regeneration of the PM filter via control of the valve assembly. X, Y and Z are integers.
US08205431B2
A bearing like surface on a stationary component reduces deflection of an adjacent rotating component. The stationary component is generally parallel to and offset from a rotational component. The rotational component rotates about a central axis. Protrusions located on the stationary component are in contact with the rotational component to prevent deflection of the rotational component while reducing the friction between the rotational and stationary component. The protrusions have a generally flat surface that may be used to affix the protrusions to the stationary component. An arced surface of the protrusions is in contact with the rotating component. The number, size and the shape of the protrusions are determined by the requirements of the application.
US08205428B2
A standard 4-pole electric motor stator with capacitive plates in-line with the magnetic poles, but electrically 90° out of phase, produces two Lorentz force geometries 90° out of phase with each other (i.e., vertical, horizontal). An alternating source electrically rotates this pair of Lorentz geometries producing a propagating electromagnetic wave at the source frequency within the vacant internal cavity. Any charged particle within the cavity and along its axis will be accelerated or decelerated from an initial velocity via the Lorentz force. The rotating geometry provides for the coupling of the Lorentz force through a current loop and diamagnetism, providing acceleration and deceleration of non-charged particles. The force coupling is dependent upon the material's electromagnetic properties, the frequencies generated by the capacitive stator, and the velocity of the particles within the capacitive stator's influence.
US08205420B2
A spur attachable to a boot is provided. The spur includes a body comprising a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, a fourth arm, and a neck with a head disposed on the distal end of each arm. The first arm, the second arm, the third arm, and the fourth arm are configured to be forward relative to a heel of the boot and the neck is configured to be rearward relative to the heel of the boot, and the third arm and fourth arm are configured to tighten a single strap attached to the head disposed on the distal end of each arm when the neck drops relative to the boot.
US08205416B2
A method ignites the combustion of fuel in a combustion chamber (5) of engine (2), by introducing microwave radiation into the combustion chamber (5). The microwave radiation is produced in a microwave source (7) on the outside of the combustion chamber (5). The introduced microwave radiation is absorbed by the fuel distributed in the combustion chamber (5). The supply of energy, in the fuel, arising from absorption, distributes combustion in a large-volume in the combustion chamber (5), preferably in the entire combustion chamber (5) and in a homogenous manner, and is essentially simultaneously ignited. An associated ignition device (1) and an associated engine (2) are also provided.
US08205414B2
An appliance system including a module removably mounted to an appliance, one or more removable gas canisters operably connected to the module, and a food retaining enclosed space operably connected to the module. The one or more gas canisters supply a modified atmosphere in the food retaining enclosed space to produce a modified atmosphere that enhances preservation of the food contained in the food retaining enclosed space. A method of modifying the atmosphere in a food storage space for food includes the steps of: providing a module capable of being removably engaged to an appliance and typically receiving power from the appliance and at least one removable gas canister; operatively connecting or otherwise engaging the module with the appliance; operatively connecting or otherwise engaging the module to a food storage area having an existing atmosphere; and removing at least a portion of the existing atmosphere from the food storage space and replacing it with a modified food storage atmosphere using at least one of the at least one removable gas canisters to supply the modified atmosphere to the food storage area.
US08205401B2
Disclosed is a cover for a tubular duct extending from a planar roof surface. The cover comprises a cap, a skirt and a closure. In use: the cap is disposed outwardly from said duct, to define a headspace outside said duct and an annular space surrounding the headspace; the skirt extends from the rim of the cap in surrounding, spaced relation to said duct; and the closure extends from the terminus of the skirt to said duct and is disposed in spaced relation to said surface. The skirt and closure have vanes formed therein. The vanes are oriented such that: precipitation driven by wind through the skirt into the interior of the cap is directed, as it passes through the skirt, towards the roof; and precipitation driven by wind through the closure into the interior of the cap is directed, as it passes through the closure, away from the duct.
US08205397B2
A raceway extends along an edge of roof of a structure and is adapted to house a cable, such as an industry standard ice and snow melt heating cable designed, listed and approved for the purpose. An open side of the raceway exposes the cable and allows for the insertion, replacement and inspection of the cable per industry practice. A side of the raceway may have a radiused edge providing added resiliency to springably retain and/or removably secure the cable in raceway. In the case of a heating cable, heat is transferred to the surrounding structure, and may be concentrated at the drip edge to maximize ice melt efficiency. Methods of installation of the raceway are applicable to new construction and retro-fitting existing structures, including drainage systems, bridge structures and other outdoor enclosures, and may be used with many types of roofing materials including asphalt, wood and metal.
US08205394B1
A bathtub ledger strap for use with the installation of a bathtub, such ledger strap being of generally planar construction for attachment to a ledger stud in a position corresponding to a wall stud, such ledger strap having a top portion, a mid portion and a lower portion disposed along its length with such portions having apertures/slots for adjusting the height and level of the ledger stud on a corresponding wall stud using screws and levering means and for permanently attaching the rim of the bathtub to the ledger strap and corresponding wall stud after the ledger stud is at the desired height and level state.
US08205391B2
An automobile weather strip has a trim part having a substantially U-shaped section and a sealing part. The automobile weather strip is characterized in that: the trim part has an insert member and a covering material for covering the insert member; the covering member is provided with holding lips for holding a flange part on an inner surface of the trim part; a sponge material of a rubber formed by using a blend material of an EPDM rubber and an olefin-based thermoplastic synthetic resin and a sponge material of a rubber having physical properties of a specific gravity of 0.6 to 0.8 and a 25%-stretching stress of 500 KPa or more are used as the covering material.
US08205384B2
A shutter for covering for architectural openings having non-conventional geometries. The shutter may be used for covering a wide variety of shapes of openings, including arched, curved, circular, oval, triangular, hexagonal, square and rectangular geometries, as well as any combination of these geometries. A plurality of frame blocks form a frame of the shutter, each frame block having front and rear faces; a top surface; an outer surface; a vertical inner surface, and a horizontal bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of a first block of the plurality of frame blocks rests on the top surface of a next lower second block of the plurality of frame blocks and extends inwardly beyond the vertical inner surface of the second block to define a cantilevered portion.
US08205377B1
A trash can has an open top, a recipient surface supporting a closed bottom, and a side wall. A ramp has a first end positioned on the recipient surface and a second end positioned on the top of the trash can. A pivotable member having upper and lower surfaces is pivotally supported at the second end of the ramp. The interior end of the pivotable member is located above the ramp and the exterior end is located above the trash can. The pivotable member is positionable in an attracting orientation with the interior end in contact with the ramp and the exterior end in a raised horizontal orientation. The pivotable member is positionable in a capturing orientation with the interior end raised above the ramp and the exterior end in a lowered angled orientation.
US08205375B1
A mounting assembly for attaching an accessory to a dovetail rail interface on a firearm includes a body having a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion is configured to engage the dovetail rail interface and the upper portion is configured to receive and retain an accessory such as a scope or aiming device. A spring dampening structure resides within the body of the assembly wherein dampening structure is configured to dampen shock waves and harmonic vibration transferred into the body from operation of the firearm. A clamping assembly is configured to releasably clamp the body to the dovetail rail interface.
US08205368B2
A novel spinner trophy that includes a supporting base and a decorative member connected to the supporting base for rotation with respect thereto.
US08205367B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of mounting devices for audio and visual components, and more specifically to an apparatus for displaying associative images and maximizing their cognitive effect on a user.
US08205359B2
A sidewalk grader provided for grading a sidewalk base disposed along a curb of an existing road structure. The sidewalk grader comprises a tracking assembly fixable to a vertically adjustable backfill blade of a compact excavator positioned to move forward over an existing road structure to advance the sidewalk grader. The tracking assembly comprises a vertically adjustable tracking means disposed for engagement with the top surface of the curb, to provide a reference point. A grading assembly is mounted to the tracking assembly. The grading assembly comprises a frame, and a grading blade rotatingly mounted to the frame to permit adjustment of slope of the blade. An adjustable link connects the grading blade to the frame to adjustable fix their relative position. The tracking means is vertically adjustable to enable the same to engage with the surface of a curb for reference to enable precise adjustment, control, and positioning of the grading assembly, and for maintaining the desired position of the sidewalk grader in relation to the curb as the sidewalk grader advances along the existing road structure.
US08205355B2
A sole structure for a sports shoe includes a wavy corrugated plate that is disposed at a heel region of the sole structure and that has corrugations around the heel circumferential portion. The amplitude or height of each corrugation becomes gradually greater toward the heel circumferential edge. The sole structure further includes pillar members formed of rubber and disposed around the heel circumferential portion on the bottom surface of the wavy corrugated plate. The top surfaces of the pillar members include inclined surfaces that slope downwardly as they progress outwardly from the heel central portion toward the heel circumferential edge.
US08205346B1
The present invention relates to a quasi-uniaxial solar trajectory tracking transit system including a canopy, a case, a first positioning ring, a second positioning ring and a pole. The canopy is a transparent hemisphere marked with a graduation line indicating elevation angles. The first positioning ring is a hollow body for receiving the second positioning ring. The two sides of the positioning ring have an axle respectively to connect with the case. The second positioning ring is a hollow fan-shape body for receiving the positioning pole. The second positioning ring has an axle perpendicular to the two sides of the axles of the first positioning ring for connecting to the first positioning ring thereby. The flange of the second positioning ring has a groove, and the central of the second positioning ring has an axle. A partial of positioning pole is hollow as a hollow pole and the other partial of the positioning pole is solid as a solid pole. A through hole is formed at the upper flange of the hollow pole and a sight is set at the lower flange thereof. The solid pole is axially connected to the axle of the second positioning ring.
US08205337B2
The present invention is a method for fabricating a thermal spreader. The method may include laminating a plurality of layer portions together to fabricate a mechanically flexible substrate. The method may further include providing an internal channel within the mechanically flexible substrate, the internal channel configured for containing an electrically-conductive liquid, the internal channel being further configured to allow for closed-loop flow of the electrically-conductive liquid within the internal channel. The method may further include integrating a pump with the mechanically flexible substrate. The method may further include fabricating a plurality of rigid metal inserts. The method may further include forming a plurality of extension portions on a surface of each rigid metal insert included in the plurality of rigid metal inserts. The method may further include connecting the plurality of rigid metal inserts to the mechanically flexible substrate.
US08205330B2
An exemplary method for manufacturing printed circuit boards is provided. In the method, a substrate having a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side of the substrate to the first surface is provided. A number of through holes in the substrate between the first surface and the second surface are formed. An electrically conductive paste is applied to the substrate to fill the through holes defined in the substrate to form a plurality of filling members and be printed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the substrate to form a number of electrical traces. The filling members located in the through hole in the substrate and the electrical traces printed on the substrate are cured.
US08205328B2
A tools holding member 63 which holds replacement tools 23a, 34a, 44a for a pick-up head 22, a mounting head 33 and a stamping head 44 which are provided so as to move freely in a Y-axis direction in which a components supply stage 3 and a substrate holding stage 4 are aligned is provided on an overlapping area R of a moving area R1 over which the pick-up head 22 can move, a moving area R2 over which the mounting head 33 can move and a moving area R3 over which the stamping head 43 can move which lies on a moving table 15 which is provided in an area R0 lying between the components supply stage 3 and the substrate holding stage 4 so as to move freely in an X-axis direction which is at right angles to a Y-axis.
US08205326B2
A method for enhancing the dielectric properties of an electrical cable segment having a central stranded conductor encased in a polymeric insulation jacket and an interstitial void volume in the region of the conductor, including filling the interstitial void volume with a dielectric property-enhancing fluid at a pressure below the elastic limit of the polymeric insulation jacket, and confining the fluid within the interstitial void volume at a residual pressure greater than about 50 psig, with the pressure being imposed along the entire length of the segment but below the elastic limit of the polymeric insulation jacket. Preferably, the residual pressure is sufficient to expand the interstitial void volume along the entire length of the cable segment by at least 5%.
US08205324B2
A damascene process is utilized to fabricate the segmented magnetic core elements of an integrated circuit inductor structure. The magnetic core is electroplated from a seed layer that is conformal with a permanent dielectric mold that results in sidewall plating defining an easy magnetic axis. The hard axis runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core and the inductor coils are orthogonal to the core's longitudinal axis. The magnetic field generated by the inductor coils is, therefore, parallel and self-aligned to the hard magnetic axis. The easy axis is enhanced by electroplating in an applied magnetic field parallel to the easy axis.
US08205323B2
In a manufacturing method for a head gimbal assembly, before mounting a slider on a suspension, coating films each made of solder are formed on respective terminals of a plurality of leads to be connected to a plurality of electrode pads of the slider. After mounting the slider on the suspension, the coating films are heated with laser light to thereby melt the solder, with the respective terminals of the plurality of leads in contact with the corresponding electrode pads via the respective coating films, whereby the terminals are electrically and physically connected to the electrode pads.
US08205319B1
An two-piece, corner framing element is described for connecting two longitudinal swimming pool extrusions having longitudinal pool-liner channels that utilizes the conventional upward projecting liner-anchoring land along a bottom front edge of the pool-liner channels for angularly orienting and securing the longitudinal extrusions together in the field for framing a corner structure for pool walls as a pool is being constructed.
US08205314B1
A method for providing a colored mask for a cable, wire or rope that can be quickly changed between two colors. A sheath covering is provided for a flexible element, such as a cable. The sheath covering has a length, a first side, an opposite second side, and two side edges. The first side of the sheath covering is pigmented in a first key color. Conversely, the second side of each sheath covering is pigmented in a second key color. The sheath covering is formed into a tubular structure around the flexible element. Depending upon which way the sheath covering is curved, either the first side or the second side can become the visible exterior of the tubular structure. Accordingly, to mask a flexible element in a first color, the sheathing covering is positioned around the flexible element. To change the color, the sheathing covering is merely inverted.
US08205313B2
There is provided a structure of a vibration insulating member for firmly fixing the member between a fuel tank mounted on a vehicle body by means of a tank band and the vehicle body. The vibration insulating member includes an engaging protrusion that is fixed to a fixing hole that is made through the vehicle body in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the tank band is fastened.
US08205306B2
The present invention discloses a single-part zipper pull comprised of two rotatable halves secured together on a pin. On one end of the zipper pull is a handle by which fingers can grasp the pull. On the other end of the zipper pull are clasps to latch to the zipper slider. The complete clasp is made up of the two J hooks, one on each half. The handle is made complete by rotating the two halves of the zipper pull together. In the open position, the J hooks have a gap by which to engage the zipper slider crown. In the closed position, the clasps come together making a complete loop thereby securing to the zipper slider crown. Once the zipper pull tab is closed, a latch and receiver engage to prevent the two halves from rotating to an open position.
US08205303B2
A hinge includes a fixing member, a shaft fixed to the fixing member, a rotating member, an interfering member, and a fastener. The shaft includes a shaft post, and the fastener is fixed to a distal end of the shaft post. The interfering member defines a fixing hole departing from a center of the interfering member, and includes two guiding surfaces. The rotating member defines an oblong adjusting hole, through which the shaft post rotatably passes. A first resisting stub and a second resisting stub extend from the rotating member, to resist against the corresponding guiding surfaces. The shaft post is fixedly received in the fixing hole. When the rotating member is rotated relative to the shaft post, the first and second resisting stubs always resist against and move along the corresponding guiding surfaces, to urge the shaft post to relatively move in the adjusting hole.
US08205301B2
A hinge assembly includes a first bracket, a second bracket, a damping member, and a torsion resilient member. The first bracket defines a damping protrusion. The second bracket is rotatable relative to the first bracket. The damping member defines a depression. The damping protrusion is configured to engage with the depression. The torsion resilient member urges the first bracket to rotate relative to the second bracket and the damping member. The engagement of damping protrusion and the depression prevents the first bracket from rotating when the first bracket rotates through a predetermined angle. When the first bracket rotates through the predetermined angle relative to the second bracket and the damping member, the first bracket together with the damping member are rotatable relative to the second bracket to any desired angle.
US08205300B2
A hinge structure includes a first bracket, a fastener, a second bracket and a resilient member. The fastener is secured on the first bracket. The second bracket is rotatably fixed on the first bracket about the fastener. The second bracket is set in a first position near the first bracket. The resilient member is mounted around the fastener to bias the first bracket towards the second bracket.
US08205299B2
A hinge and spring assembly is provided for supporting at least one synthetic enclosure access door's on an enclosure. The enclosure has at least a first wall and at least one second wail, the second wall being formed in part by the access door. The access door has a mounting rib integrated therein. The hinge and spring assembly comprises a primary support element having at least one first hinge member and a spring support member. A door mounting member is secured to the mounting rib of the synthetic enclosure access door and comprises a spring mounting member and a second hinge member. The second hinge member of the door mounting member is movably attached to the first hinge member of the primary support element to form an articulating hinge joint. At least one spring member has first and second ends, the first end being secured to the spring support member of the primary support element, and the second end bend secured to the spring mounting member of the door mounting member.
US08205295B2
A vacuum cleaner assembly is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner assembly includes a housing assembly having a motor connected to a vacuum source, a particulate collection pan interconnected to the housing and a base and an illumination source for illuminating the particulate collection pan.
US08205289B1
A hand tool (10) for shaping joint compound (64) applied to a wall including a substantially rigid blade (12) having a handle (14), and wherein the blade (12) has a preselected non-adjustable curvature (12).
US08205285B1
A foam wedge has a cutout formed therein. A plastic casing is dimensioned for securement over the foam wedge. A fabric cover is dimensioned for removable coupling over the plastic casing and the foam wedge. The fabric cover includes a pad for positioning within the cutout of the foam wedge.
US08205275B2
An external automatic flush helper comprises a housing and fixing means for fixing the housing onto a toilet tank. Within the housing there are provided with a DC power supply, a controller powered by the DC power supply, an infrared sensor and a motor connected with the controller, and an actuating mechanism connected with the motor. An end actuator of the actuating mechanism is arranged in alignment with the button of the toilet tank. The end actuator can be actuated and move out of an opening in the housing when a user status is detected by the infrared sensor, and thus press the button of the toilet tank. Therefore, automatic flushing can be achieved contactlessly.
US08205274B2
A toilet featuring a lift and clean toilet seat hinge includes a toilet bowl, toilet seat, and the hinge includes a hinge base, a post, and a flap for closing the hinge base. The mounting post is provided with an expandable head and the flap includes a ring for expanding the head in order to releasably lock the mounting post to the toilet seat hinge base.