US08377880B2
Compounds having activity for lowering parathyroid hormone levels are described. In one embodiment, the compounds are comprised of a contiguous sequence of subunits, X1—X2—X3—X4—X5—X6—X7, wherein the X1 subunit comprises a thiol-containing moiety and the distribution of charge on the X2—X7 subunits provides the desired activity. Methods of using the compounds for treating hyperparathyroidism, bone disease and/or hypercalcemic disorders are also described, and in particular, methods for lowering plasma PTH and serum calcium are provided. The compounds can be used to treat subjects having, for example: primary, secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism; hypercalcemia of malignancy; metastatic bone disease; or osteoporosis.
US08377879B2
This invention provides superactive analogs of FSH demonstrating enhanced bioactivity both in vitro and in vivo as compared to wild type FSH. In particular, the analogs of the invention demonstrate at least a ten fold increase in potency or at least a ten percent increase in maximal efficacy as compared to wild type protein. The analogs are particularly useful in treating subjects showing low FSH receptor expression or poor FSH receptor responsiveness, and for the treatment of any condition associated with glycoprotein hormone activity.
US08377870B2
The antimicrobial aqueous solution of the present invention comprises an original undiluted aqueous solution containing: 25 μg/ml to 50 μg/ml of an amphipathic preservative comprising a monoglycerol monolaurate; and 12.5 μg/ml to 30 μg/ml of an ε-polylysine. In preparing the antimicrobial aqueous solution, dissolution of the amphipathic antimicrobial can be promoted by addition of a sucrose monolaurate and by heating to 35° C. to 60° C. This antimicrobial aqueous solution can be used effectively, even within a range of concentrations lower than concentrations to be typically used for amphipathic antimicrobials. It is possible to adopt a diglycerol monolaurate, instead of the monoglycerol monolaurate.
US08377864B2
The present invention relates, in general, to fibrin sealants, which contain platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) for controlled release in situ for therapeutic applications, including musculoskeletal disorders, soft tissue disorders and vascular diseases.
US08377862B2
A spray-drying process to prepare a spray-dried powder having: (a) anionic detersive surfactant; (b) from 0 wt % to 10 wt % zeolite builder; (c) from 0 wt % to 10 wt % phosphate builder; (d) optionally from 0 wt % to 10 wt % silicate salt; (e) optionally carbonate salt; (f) optionally polymeric material; and (g) optionally from 0 wt % to 10 wt % water, wherein, the process has the steps of: (i) spraying an aqueous slurry comprising: from (a) anionic detersive surfactant; (b) from 0 wt % to 20 wt % zeolite builder; (c) from 0 wt % to 20 wt % phosphate builder; (d) optionally from 0 wt % to 20 wt % silicate salt; (e) optionally carbonate salt; (f) optionally polymeric material; and (g) water, into a spray-drying zone, wherein the spray-drying zone is under negative pressure and wherein the air inlet air temperature into the spray-drying zone is greater than 150° C.; and (ii) drying the aqueous slurry to form a spray-dried powder.
US08377860B2
The disclosed invention relates to polymers with heterocyclic-containing groups, and to concentrates and lubricating oil compositions containing the polymers.
US08377859B2
The addition of alkyl salicylic acids and esters represented by Formula I where R1═H or C12 to C22 linear alkyl group; R2═H or linear C12 to C22 carbonyl group; and R3=linear C12 to C22 alkyl group reduces the pour point of a hydrocarbon base oil. Thus, both a method for reducing the pour point of hydrocarbon oils and lubricating composition containing pour point reducing salicylates are provided. The hydrocarbon base oil in such method and composition preferably is a Group III base oil.
US08377851B2
The method of altering the alkaloid composition of a poppy plant comprising the step of applying an effective amount of acylcyclohexanedione compound or agriculturally acceptable salt thereof to said poppy plant or locus thereof. Further, the present invention also provides the method of altering the alkaloid composition of a poppy plant comprising the step of applying an effective amount of methyl jasmonate or agriculturally acceptable salt thereof to said poppy plant or locus thereof.
US08377849B2
The present invention relates to an improved nitrification inhibitor composition and its use in agricultural applications.
US08377847B2
An image destruct material comprises a release layer positioned between an image receiving layer and a base layer. The adhesion between the release layer and the base layer is greater than adhesion between the release layer and the image receiving layer. The release layer material can be used in secure documents that have an image receiving layer. After information is printed on the image receiving layer, an overlaminate is applied over it. Removal of the overlaminate destroys the printed image on the receiving layer because of the relative adhesive properties of the image receiving layer, overlaminate and release layer.
US08377844B2
Multicolor thermal imaging members are described that comprise color-forming layers that are separated by thermally-insulating layers and can be addressed with a thermal printing head in contact with a surface to form an image. The thermally-insulating layers are designed to be as thin as possible consistent with at least partially independent addressing of the color-forming layers, and are formulated so as not to lead to instabilities either before or after printing or to give rise to dimensional changes of a thermal imaging member when it is subjected to changes in temperature or humidity. Coating compositions for manufacturing such thermally-insulating layers are also provided.
US08377842B2
The present invention relates to an adsorbent for separating carbon monoxide from a gas mixture including hydrogen gas and a method of preparing the same. The adsorbent for selectively separating monoxide includes a solid material, which is a solid support impregnated and dispersed with a cuprous salt by bringing the solid support into contact with a cuprous salt solution stabilized by dissolving a cuprous salt or a cuprous salt mixture in a solvent. The adsorbent is advantageous in that the selectivity for carbon monoxide is improved, so that the amount of carbon monoxide included in the gas mixture is decreased to infinitesimal quantities, thereby producing high-purity hydrogen products.
US08377840B2
Methods of fabricating nano-catalysts are described. In some embodiments the nano-catalyst is formed from a powder-based substrate material and is some embodiments the nano-catalyst is formed from a solid-based substrate material. In some embodiments the substrate material may include metal, ceramic, or silicon or another metalloid. The nano-catalysts typically have metal nanoparticles disposed adjacent the surface of the substrate material. The methods typically include functionalizing the surface of the substrate material with a chelating agent, such as a chemical having dissociated carboxyl functional groups (—COO), that provides an enhanced affinity for metal ions. The functionalized substrate surface may then be exposed to a chemical solution that contains metal ions. The metal ions are then bound to the substrate material and may then be reduced, such as by a stream of gas that includes hydrogen, to form metal nanoparticles adjacent the surface of the substrate.
US08377838B2
A method is provided for producing a DDR type zeolite membrane, including a membrane formation step of immersing a porous substrate having a DDR type zeolite seed crystal adhered thereon, in a raw material solution containing 1-adamantaneamine, silica (SiO2) and water, and conducting a hydrothermal synthesis of DDR type zeolite to form a 1-adamantaneamine-containing DDR type zeolite membrane on the porous substrate to produce a precursor of DDR type zeolite membrane-containing body, and a burning step of heating the precursor at 400° C. or above and at 550° C. or below to burn and remove the 1-adamantaneamine contained in the DDR type zeolite membrane.
US08377810B2
Disclosed is a silicon-on-insulator-based Schottky barrier diode with a low forward voltage that can be manufactured according to standard SOI process flow. An active silicon island is formed using an SOI wafer. One area of the island is heavily-doped with an n-type or p-type dopant, one area is lightly-doped with the same dopant, and an isolation structure is formed on the top surface above a junction between the two areas. A metal silicide region contacts the lightly-doped side of the island forming a Schottky barrier. Another discrete metal silicide region contacts the heavily-doped area of the island forming an electrode to the Schottky barrier (i.e., a Schottky barrier contact). The two metal silicide regions are isolated from each other by the isolation structure. Contacts to each of the discrete metal silicide regions allow a forward and/or a reverse bias to be applied to the Schottky barrier.
US08377802B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to methods of fabricating semiconductor structures, and to semiconductor structures fabricated by such methods. In some embodiments, the methods may be used to fabricate semiconductor structures of III-V materials, such as InGaN. A semiconductor layer is fabricated by growing sublayers using differing sets of growth conditions to improve the homogeneity of the resulting layer, to improve a surface roughness of the resulting layer, and/or to enable the layer to be grown to an increased thickness without the onset of strain relaxation.
US08377798B2
A method for wafer to wafer bonding in semiconductor packaging provides for roughening the bonding surfaces in one embodiment. Also provided is a method for passivating the bonding surfaces with a lower melting point material that becomes forced away from the bonding interface during bonding. Also provided is a method for forming an eutectic at the bonding interface to reduce the impact of any native oxide formation at the bonding interface.
US08377794B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device of the present invention include a step of forming, in a substrate, a first trench, and a second trench which crosses the first trench; a step of forming a film over the entire surface of the substrate so as to fill the first trench and the second trench; and a step of removing a portion of the film which resides over the top surface of the substrate, so as to leave the film in the first trench and the second trench; wherein in the step of forming the first trench and the second trench, a projection is formed in a portion of intersection of the first trench and the second trench, so as to extend from one of corners of the portion of intersection towards the center thereof in a plan view.
US08377793B2
A method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device, including providing at least one control gate layer on a substrate. A passage may be created between the at least one control gate layer and the substrate. In the passage at least one filling layer may be provided. A floating gate structure including the filling layer may be formed, as well as a control gate structure including the at least one control gate layer, the control gate structure being in a stacked configuration with the floating gate structure.
US08377792B2
An interdigitated semiconductor capacitor with a large number of plates and a capacitance in the micro-farad range is formed on a wafer with only a single lithography step by depositing each odd layer of metal through a first shadow mask that lies spaced apart from the wafer, and each even layer of metal through a second shadow mask that lies spaced apart from the wafer.
US08377777B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; gates, spacers on both sides of the respective gates, and source and gain regions on both sides of the respective spacers, which are formed on the semiconductor substrate; lower contacts located on the respective source and gain regions and abutting outer-sidewalls of the spacers, with bottoms covering at least a portion of the respective source and gain regions; an inter-layer dielectric layer formed on the gates, the spacers, the source and gain regions, and the lower contacts, wherein the respective source and gain regions of each of the transistor structures are isolated from each other by the inter-layer dielectric layer; and upper contacts formed in the inter-layer dielectric layer and corresponding to the lower contacts. Methods for fabricating such a semiconductor device and for manufacturing contacts for semiconductor devices.
US08377776B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device utilizes a substrate including a high voltage circuit area, a medium voltage circuit area and a low voltage circuit area. A first well of a first conductivity type is formed. Two separate second wells of a second conductivity type are formed in the first well and two separate isolation structures are formed respectively in the second wells in each of the high voltage circuit area and the medium voltage circuit area. A first gate dielectric layer is formed in the high voltage circuit area. A second gate dielectric layer that is thinner than the first gate dielectric layer is formed in each of the medium voltage circuit area and the low voltage circuit area. A gate is formed. Two source and drain regions of the second conductivity type are respectively formed. The method is simple and low-cost and meets the market requirement.
US08377773B1
Generally, the present disclosure is directed to methods for adjusting transistor characteristics by forming a semiconductor alloy in the channel region of the transistor during early device processing. One disclosed method includes forming an isolation structure in a semiconductor layer of a semiconductor device and in a threshold voltage adjusting semiconductor alloy formed on the semiconductor layer, the isolation structure laterally separating a first active region and a second active region. The method also includes introducing a first and second well dopant species through the threshold voltage adjusting semiconductor alloy and into the first and second active regions, respectively, then removing the threshold voltage adjusting semiconductor alloy selectively from the second active region, and forming a first gate electrode structure of a first transistor on the threshold voltage adjusting semiconductor alloy of the first active region a second gate electrode structure of a second transistor on the second active region.
US08377772B2
Various embodiments provide methods for fabricating dual supply voltage CMOS devices with a desired I/O transistor threshold voltage. The dual supply voltage CMOS devices can be fabricated in a semiconductor substrate that includes isolated regions for a logic NMOS transistor, a logic PMOS transistor, an I/O NMOS transistor, and an I/O PMOS transistor. Specifically, the fabrication can first set and/or adjust the threshold voltage (VT) of each of the I/O NMOS transistor and the I/O PMOS transistor to a desired level. Logic NMOS and logic PMOS transistors can then be formed with I/O NMOS and I/O PMOS transistors masked without affecting the set/adjusted VT of the I/O transistors.
US08377769B2
A method for integrating a replacement gate in a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method may comprise: forming a well region on a semiconductor substrate, and defining a N-type device region and/or a P-type device region; forming a sacrificial gate stack or sacrificial gate stacks respectively on the N-type device region and/or the P-type device region, the sacrificial gate stack or each of the sacrificial gate stacks comprising a sacrificial gate dielectric layer and a sacrificial gate electrode layer, wherein the sacrificial gate dielectric layer is disposed on the semiconductor substrate, and the sacrificial gate electrode layer is disposed on the sacrificial gate dielectric layer; forming a spacer or spacers surrounding the sacrificial gate stack or the respective sacrificial gate stacks; forming source/drain regions on both sides of the sacrificial gate stack or the respective sacrificial gate stacks and embedded into the semiconductor substrate; forming a SiO2 layer on the semiconductor substrate; forming a SOG layer on the SiO2 layer; etching the SOG layer until the SiO2 layer is exposed; etching the SOG layer and the SiO2 layer at different rates in such a manner that the SiO2 layer is planarized; and forming a N-type replacement gate stack on the N-type device region and/or a P-type replacement gate stack on the P-type device region, respectively.
US08377766B2
A photo-mask includes a first opaque pattern, a second opaque pattern, a transparent single slit, and a translucent pattern. The transparent single slit is disposed between the first opaque pattern and the second opaque pattern, and the width of the transparent single slit is substantially between 1.5 micrometers and 2.5 micrometers. The translucent pattern is connected to the first opaque pattern and the second opaque pattern.
US08377765B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device having a large holding capacitance in the inside of a pixel. A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate arranged to face the first substrate in an opposed manner, and liquid crystal sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes a video signal line, a pixel electrode, a thin film transistor having a first electrode thereof connected to the video signal line and a second electrode thereof connected to the pixel electrode, a first silicon nitride film formed above the second electrode, an organic insulation film formed above the first silicon nitride film, a capacitance electrode formed above the organic insulation film, and a second silicon nitride film formed above the capacitance electrode and below the pixel electrode. The second silicon nitride film is a film which is formed at a temperature lower than a forming temperature of the first silicon nitride film. The first silicon nitride film and the second silicon nitride film form a contact hole therein by etching both of the first silicon nitride film and the second silicon nitride film collectively by dry etching. The second electrode and the pixel electrode are connected to each other via the contact hole. A potential different from a potential applied to the pixel electrode is applied to the capacitance electrode, and a holding capacitance is formed by the pixel electrode, the second silicon nitride film and the capacitance electrode.
US08377762B2
An object of the invention is to improve the reliability of a light-emitting device. Another object of the invention is to provide flexibility to a light-emitting device having a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor film. A light-emitting device has, over one flexible substrate, a driving circuit portion including a thin film transistor for a driving circuit and a pixel portion including a thin film transistor for a pixel. The thin film transistor for a driving circuit and the thin film transistor for a pixel are inverted staggered thin film transistors including an oxide semiconductor layer which is in contact with a part of an oxide insulating layer.
US08377761B2
A substrate diode for an SOI device is formed in accordance with an appropriately designed manufacturing flow, wherein transistor performance enhancing mechanisms may be implemented substantially without affecting the diode characteristics. In one aspect, respective openings for the substrate diode may be formed after the formation of a corresponding sidewall spacer structure used for defining the drain and source regions, thereby obtaining a significant lateral distribution of the dopants in the diode areas, which may therefore provide sufficient process margins during a subsequent silicidation sequence on the basis of a removal of the spacers in the transistor devices. In a further aspect, in addition to or alternatively, an offset spacer may be formed substantially without affecting the configuration of respective transistor devices.
US08377758B2
A thin film transistor for a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), an array substrate and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The thin film transistor comprises a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a channel region between the source electrode and drain electrode. A source extension region is connected with the source electrode, a drain extension region is connected with the drain electrode, and the source extension region is disposed opposite to the drain extension region to form a channel extension region therebetween.
US08377753B2
A semiconductor device including: a die pad, a die on the die pad, and resin encapsulating the die and forming an isolation thickness over the die pad, the resin including a mounting aperture and a major surface configured for mounting to an external device, the major surface having a non warpage compensation portion adjacent the die and a warpage compensation portion in a relatively thermally inactive zone with an approximate discontinuity and/or abrupt change in gradient between the non warpage compensation portion and the warpage compensation portion.
US08377749B1
A method is provided for fabricating a transmission line between electrical circuits. The method initially provides a first electrical circuit with a signal interface and a reference voltage interface, and a second electrical circuit with a signal interface and a reference voltage interface. The first circuit signal interface is connected to the second circuit signal interface with a metal wire. An insulator coating (e.g., poly-para-xylylene) is formed, encapsulating the wire. Then, an electrically conductive coating is formed, encapsulating the insulator coating. Typically, the conductive coating is connected to at least one of the first and second circuit reference voltage interfaces. In one aspect, the first circuit signal interface connection to the second circuit signal interface is a transmission line formed from the combination of the wire, insulator coating, and conductive coating. The transmission line has a frequency-dependent characteristic impedance responsive to the wire diameter, insulator thickness, and dielectric constant.
US08377745B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes filling a gap of a semiconductor chip stack while carrying out a first heating process which heats the semiconductor chip stack from upper and lower portions of the semiconductor chip stack.
US08377744B2
A semiconductor device for high power application in which a novel semiconductor material having high mass productivity is provided. An oxide semiconductor film is formed, and then, first heat treatment is performed on the exposed oxide semiconductor film in order to reduce impurities such as moisture or hydrogen in the oxide semiconductor film. Next, in order to further reduce impurities such as moisture or hydrogen in the oxide semiconductor film, oxygen is added to the oxide semiconductor film by an ion implantation method, an ion doping method, or the like, and after that, second heat treatment is performed on the exposed oxide semiconductor film.
US08377739B2
An improved, lower cost method of processing substrates, such as to create solar cells, is disclosed. The doped regions are created on the substrate, using a mask or without the use of lithography or masks. After the implantation is complete, visual recognition is used to determine the exact region that was implanted. This information can then be used by subsequent process steps to crate a suitable metallization layer and provide alignment information. These techniques can also be used in other ion implanter applications. In another aspect, a dot pattern selective emitter is created and imaging is used to determine the appropriate metallization layer.
US08377726B2
According to one embodiment, a light emitting device includes a stacked body, a p-side and n-side electrodes, an insulating film, a p-side extraction electrode, an n-side extraction electrode, a resin layer and a phosphor layer. The stacked body has a first and a second surface opposite to each other and includes a light emitting layer. A p-side and an n-side electrode are provided on the second surface. An insulating film has openings to which the p-side and n-side electrodes are exposed. A p-side extraction electrode includes a p-side seed metal and a p-side metal wiring layer. An n-side extraction electrode includes an n-side seed metal and an n-side metal wiring layer. A resin layer is filled around the p-side and n-side extraction electrodes, and a phosphor layer is provided on a side of the first surface. Emission light from the light emitting layer is emitted through the first surface.
US08377723B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a TFT substrate for preventing characteristics of a native oxide layer in a boundary between a microcrystal semiconductor layer and an amorphous semiconductor layer from being degraded. The method includes forming a gate electrode, forming a gate insulating film, modifying the formed first amorphous silicon thin film into a first crystalline silicon thin film, removing a silicon oxide layer on the surface of the first crystalline silicon thin film, forming the second amorphous silicon thin film, and dry etching the first crystalline silicon thin film and the second amorphous silicon thin film, and it is determined whether or not the in-process TFT substrate after the dry etching is returned to the processes after the dry etching by measuring the emission intensity of radicals in plasma during the dry etching and detecting the presence or absence of the silicon oxide layer in the boundary.
US08377713B2
A method of simultaneously detecting peroxide and nitrogen-based explosives includes the steps of applying a conversion reagent to a sample, the conversion reagent oxidizing in the presence of peroxide and inorganic nitrate explosives; applying a test reagent including a luminescent compound to the sample; exciting the luminescent compound with ultraviolet light; and simultaneously determining the presence of one or more explosives based on quenching, brightening or a shift in wavelength of the luminescence over time. Explosives may also be detected based on color changes of the sample. Optionally, phase transfer reagents, catalysts, colorimetric agents and zinc dust may be added to improve detection of explosives. Alternatively, an assay-type method may be utilized wherein a sample is added to the conversion and/or test reagents and the reagent is spotted on a substrate before exposure to ultraviolet light.
US08377711B2
The invention is directed to a system and method for detecting substances, such as explosives and/or drugs, using, in part, short bursts of energy light from a relatively low energy strobe. Embodiments include coupling the strobe with a detector for use in a portable hand-held unit, or a unit capable of being carried as a backpack. Embodiments further include placement of one or more stroboscopic desorption units and detectors in luggage conveyors systems, carry-on X-ray machines, and check-in counter locations. Embodiments further comprise the use of a strobe or another energy source to assist in maintaining the integrity of a SERS substrate surface operatively associated with the detector system, wherein the SERS substrate may be positioned in hand wand spaced apart from at least a portion of the detector. In another embodiment, the Raman excitation source may be located directly in the hand wand of a portable stroboscopic detection system.
US08377710B2
Embodiments of the invention provide lateral flow and flow-through bioassay devices based on patterned porous media, methods of making same, and methods of using same. Under one aspect, an assay device includes a porous, hydrophilic medium; a fluid impervious barrier comprising polymerized photoresist, the barrier substantially permeating the thickness of the porous, hydrophilic medium and defining a boundary of an assay region within the porous, hydrophilic medium; and an assay reagent in the assay region.
US08377709B2
A device for the chromatographic detection of a substance provides an improved reproducible measuring process. A monitoring indicator (6) is provided, which is designed to detect the relative position of a test strip (13) in relation to the direction of the force of gravity, wherein a processor unit (8) generates a shut-off signal or interruption signal for the process control system (7) if a limit value is exceeded.
US08377703B2
The present invention relates to a method, device and kit for analysing a sample for determining the presence or amount of an analyte, particularly carbohydrate, more particularly sugar, in the sample using a fabric.
US08377693B2
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.
US08377691B2
The present invention relates to the use of lipoparticles, virus-like particles, and viruses. The present invention also relates to testing ion channel function and modulators of ion channels.
US08377684B2
Disclosed are a test strip and a method for measuring medical data. The test strip comprises an upper cover having one or more application holes; a lower support having one or more detected parts at positions corresponding to detecting units of the measuring apparatus; an erythrocyte and LDL cholesterol-filtering layer designed to filter off both of erythrocytes and LDL cholesterol from an applied blood sample by agglutinating erythrocytes and precipitating LDL cholesterol; and a reaction layer in which the blood sample free of erythrocytes and LDL cholesterol is reacted with an reagent, the filtering layer and the reaction layer being stacked between the lower support and the upper cover. Structured to filter off erythrocytes and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from a blood sample in a single layer, the test strip of the present invention can be made to be slim and allows a low volume of blood to be analyzed.
US08377682B2
The present invention relates to a system for the heterologous expression of a viral protein or a fragment thereof, said system comprising a) a ciliate host cell, b) at least one cDNA encoding for a viral protein, or a fragment thereof, and c) a promoter operably linked to said cDNA.
US08377676B2
The present invention relates to a batroxobin-encoding nucleotide sequence and/or a mutated α-factor secretion signal sequence, and a vector and a transformant using the same. The batroxobin-encoding nucleotide sequence of this invention exhibits an excellent expression efficiency in yeast, particular Pichia pastoris and the recombinant batroxobin is obtained at 4-13 fold higher yield than natural-occurring batroxobin-encoding sequences. The protein expression system which uses the batroxobin-encoding nucleotide sequence as well as mutated α-factor secretion signal peptide sequence of this invention obtains the recombinant batroxobin at about 20-fold higher yield than natural-occurring batroxobin-encoding sequences. In addition, the recombinant batroxobin prepared using the sequence of this invention has a significantly plausible activity and stability compared with natural-occurring batroxobin.
US08377670B2
Provided herein are isolated laccase enzymes and nucleic acids encoding them. Also provided are mediators for laccase reactions. Also provided herein are methods for using laccases to oxidize lignins and other phenolic and aromatic compounds, such as for bio-bleaching and decolorization of wood pulp under high temperature and pH conditions to facilitate a substantial reduction in use of bleaching chemicals, as well as for treatment of fibers.
US08377669B2
The invention is directed to methods and devices for reducing interference from leukocytes in an analyte immunoassay, and in particular in non-competitive immunoassays. In one embodiment, the invention is to a method comprising the steps of (a) amending a biological sample such as a whole blood sample with sacrificial beads; and (b) performing a non-competitive immunoassay on the amended sample to determine the concentration of said analyte in said sample. Preferably, the sample is amended with IgG-coated sacrificial beads.
US08377667B2
The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms comprising a 1,4-butanediol (BDO), 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, 4-hydroxybutanal or putrescine pathway comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a BDO, 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, 4-hydroxybutanal or putrescine pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce BDO, 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, 4-hydroxybutanal or putrescine and further optimized for expression of BDO. The invention additionally provides methods of using such microbial organisms to produce BDO, 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, 4-hydroxybutanal or putrescine.
US08377666B2
The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms comprising a 1,4-butanediol (BDO), 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, 4-hydroxybutanal or putrescine pathway comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a BDO, 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, 4-hydroxybutanal or putrescine pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce BDO, 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, 4-hydroxybutanal or putrescine and further optimized for expression of BDO. The invention additionally provides methods of using such microbial organisms to produce BDO, 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, 4-hydroxybutanal or putrescine.
US08377665B2
The invention relates to methods for improving the efficiency of carbon capture in microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO and/or H2. In certain aspects the invention relates to improving the efficiency of carbon capture in the microbial fermentation of gaseous substrate comprising CO and/or H2 to produce alcohol(s) and/or acid(s). In particular the invention relates to methods for improving the efficiency of carbon capture in carboxydotrophic fermentation.
US08377663B2
The present invention relates to cosmetic compositions comprising an association of hydroxymethionine and 3-aminopropanesulfonic acid, and a cosmetic method for the skin. These compositions are intended to prevent and/or treat the signs of the cutaneous ageing such as the sagging of the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue, the loss of cutaneous elasticity and atony of the texture of the skin, the loss of firmness and tonicity, dermal atrophy and loss of density, wrinkle, little wrinkle, crack.
US08377654B2
The invention relates to a method for the production of a medicament containing a polypeptide comprising at least one recombinant carbohydrate-binding polypeptide, or a functional fragment or derivative of said carbohydrate-binding polypeptide in a form stable for storage. The polypeptide mentioned comprises polypeptides or functional derivatives thereof, which are fused with cytotoxically effective peptides to give fusion proteins, or which are linked to another polypeptide having a cytotoxic activity. Moreover, the invention describes further formulating of the disclosed medicaments to medicaments with different pharmaceutical forms.
US08377648B2
The present invention relates to a method for the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma comprising the determination of annexin A3 (ANXA3) and/or autoantibodies against ANXA3 with a specific reagent. The method allows differentiation between benign, premalignant and malignant conditions. Further, the method has a prognostic relevance.
US08377646B2
The present invention provides β2 microglobulin as a biomarker for qualifying or assessing peripheral artery disease in a subject.
US08377641B2
Disclosed is a group of azo quencher compositions useful as fluorescence quenchers having the general structure of formula 1, methods of making or using the compositions, and kits comprising the composition.
US08377636B2
The present invention provides diagnostic and prognostic methods for predicting the effectiveness of treatment of a cancer patient with inhibitors of EGFR kinase, PDGFR kinase, or FGFR kinase. Based on the surprising discovery that tumors cells after having undergone an EMT, while being mesenchymal-like, still express characteristics of both epithelial and mesenchymal cells, and that such cells have altered sensitivity to inhibition by receptor protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitors, in that they have become relatively insensitive to EGFR kinase inhibitors, but have frequently acquired sensitivity to inhibitors of other receptor protein-tyrosine kinases such as PDGFR or FGFR, methods have been devised for determining levels of specific epithelial and mesenchymal biomarkers that identify such “hybrid” tumor cells (e.g. determination of co-expression of vimentin and epithelial keratins), and thus predict the tumor's likely sensitivity to inhibitors of EGFR kinase, PDGFR kinase, or FGFR kinase. Improved methods for treating cancer patients with EGFR, PDGFR or FGFR kinase inhibitors that incorporate such methodology are also provided.
US08377629B2
A method of preparing a lithographic printing plate in which no pre-heat step is used comprising the steps of:—providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support and a photopolymerizable image-recording layer, the image-recording layer comprising a monomer and a binder;—image-wise exposing the precursor in an exposure unit;—off press developing the exposed precursor with an aqueous solution in a processing unit; characterized in that the ratio of the total amount of monomer to the total amount of binder is at least 1 and the time lapse between exposing an image-area of the precursor and contacting the image-area with the aqueous solution is at least 1 minute.
US08377620B2
An image forming method including charging an image bearing member by applying combination of DC voltage and AC voltage with frequency of 6.5 to 8.5 cycle/mm; irradiating the image bearing member with light to form an electrostatic image; developing the electrostatic image with a developer including toner to form a toner image; transferring the toner image onto a receiving material; fixing the toner image; cleaning the image bearing member with a blade; then applying a lubricant to the image bearing member; and then spreading the lubricant with a spreading member countering the image bearing member. The toner includes toner particles granulated in an aqueous medium; and at least three kinds of external additives including a first particulate hydrophobic silica, a particulate hydrophobic titanium oxide and a second particulate hydrophobic silica respectively having BET specific surface areas of 20 to 40 m2/g, 40 to 80 m2/g, and 130 to 300 m2/g.
US08377613B2
A reflective photomask comprises a photomask substrate, a photomask pattern, formed on an upper surface of the photomask substrate, at least one alignment mark, formed on the upper surface of the photomask substrate, for aligning the reflective photomask with an exposure apparatus, and at least one fiducial mark, formed on a lower surface of the photomask substrate, for determining locations of defects in the photomask pattern.
US08377600B2
A temperature adjustment member is arranged to control temperature of a reformer independently of temperature of a fuel cell module. The reformer is structured as a three-fluid heat exchanger into which a fluid is introducible whose temperature is higher or lower than exhaust-gas temperature of the fuel cell module. Then, the temperature of the reformer is controlled independently of operation temperature of the fuel cell by introducing the higher-temperature or lower-temperature fluid into the reformer. Also, a high-temperature or low-temperature gas is mixed with the module's exhaust gas, thereby adjusting temperature of the exhaust gas itself. This also controls the temperature of the reformer independently of the operation temperature of the fuel cell.
US08377597B2
A secondary battery capable of improving the cycle characteristics and the storage characteristics is provided. The battery includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution contains a solvent contains a sulfone compound having a structure in which —S(═O)2—S—C(═O)— bond is introduced to a benzene skeleton and an ester carbonate halide.
US08377592B2
An negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a nano-composite including a Si phase, a SiO2 phase, and a metal oxide phase of formulation MyO, where M is a metal with an oxidation number x, a free energy of oxygen-bond formation ranging from −900 kJ/mol to −2000 kJ/mol, x, and x·y=2. The negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery according to the present invention can improve initial capacity, initial efficiency, and cycle-life characteristics by suppressing its initial irreversible reaction.
US08377582B2
Disclosed is a cooling apparatus of a battery module, which can minimize temperature deviation between a plurality of secondary batteries constituting the battery module. The cooling apparatus of a battery module includes a housing including an accommodation part accommodating the battery module, and an air passage through which outside air passes, a first heat transfer member fixed to the housing and having a surface exposed to the air passage, and a second heat transfer member disposed between the battery module and the first heat transfer member. The second heat transfer member may contact a portion in the battery module having relatively high temperature.
US08377581B2
A battery system is provided for a vehicle. The battery system includes, but is not limited to, comprising: a heat transfer loop, a battery cell, a thermoelectric semiconductor device coupled to the battery cell and the heat transfer loop, a variable voltage source coupled to the thermoelectric semiconductor device, and a temperature sensor coupled to the battery cell. A controller is coupled to the variable voltage source and the temperature sensor and also configured to receive a signal indicative of a temperature of the battery cell from the temperature sensor and adjust a voltage of the variable voltage source applied to the thermoelectric semiconductor device based at least in part on an evaluation of the temperature.
US08377580B2
A magnetic recording medium 1 includes a substrate 11; and a metallic glassy layer 12 that is arranged on the substrate 11 and has a plurality of convex portions 12A and concave portions 12B. The metallic glassy layer 12 has a chemical composition represented by any one of the formulae (1) to (3): FemPtnSixByPz (wherein, 20
US08377579B2
There is described a cement composition, based on hydraulic binders, adapted to obtain coatings with a high photocatalytic activity and improved rheologic characteristics, including a hydraulic binder, a polycarboxylic or acrylic superfluidifying agent, a cellulosic ether with a viscosity in the range between 10000 and 120000 mPa·s, an adhesive agent, a calcareous, silicic or silicic-calcareous filler and a photocatalyst.
US08377570B2
The invention provides novel luminescent poly(arylenevinylene) and poly(heteroarylenevinylene) polymers. The polymers of the invention may be prepared as films and such films may be used as an emissive layer in polymeric light emitting devices. In one embodiment, a bulky aryl group is attached at position (2) of at least one phenylene ring of a poly(phenylenevinylene) backbone. In another embodiment, the bulky aryl is attached at position 3 of at least one 5-membered heteroarylene ring of a poly(heteroarylenevinylene) backbone.
US08377567B2
A porous metal member composed of an alloy at least containing nickel and tungsten is provided. The alloy may contain 50 to 80 wt % of nickel and 20 to 50 wt % of tungsten and may further contain 10 wt % or less of phosphorus and/or 10 wt % or less of boron. Such a porous metal member can be produced by, for example, making a porous base such as a urethane foam be electrically conductive, forming an alloy film containing nickel and tungsten, then removing the porous base from the alloy film, and subsequently reducing the alloy.
US08377560B2
A glaze composition which makes it possible that a base material for an inorganic calcined substance containing a lot of vitreous material is glazed without having corrosion. The glaze composition comprises a plastic material, a non-plastic material, and a solvent material, wherein the plastic material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of Gairome clay, Kibushi clay, kaolin and talc; the non-plastic material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of silica, calcined kaolin, pottery stone, pyrophyllite, pottery shards, chamotte and zircon; and the solvent material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of feldspar, lime stone, dolomite, zinc oxide and lithium carbonate.
US08377553B2
A constrained layer damper having a multilayer damping material is provided, as are related methods for making and using the damper. The constrained layer damper features a constraining layer, a carrier layer, a release liner, a viscoelastic layer interposed between the constraining layer and a first surface of the carrier layer, and a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive interposed between the release liner and a second surface of the carrier layer. The silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive has sufficient tackiness at room temperature to adhere the constrained layer damper, with the release liner removed, to a substrate, such as a metallic substrate. The constrained layer damper has a peak damping temperature value in a range of about 50° C. to about 100° C.
US08377547B2
A method of producing a carbon fiber-metal composite material includes: (a) mixing an elastomer, a reinforcement filler, and carbon nanofibers, and dispersing the carbon nanofibers by applying a shear force to obtain a carbon fiber composite material; and (b) replacing the elastomer in the carbon fiber composite material with a metal material, wherein the reinforcement filler improves rigidity of at least the metal material.
US08377544B2
A copper-clad laminate of a highly-elastic glass fabric base material/thermosetting resin formed of prepreg obtained by impregnating a glass fabric base material made of a glass woven fabric having a thickness of 25 to 150 μm, a weight of 15 to 165 g/m2 and a gas permeability of 1 to 20 cm3/cm2/sec. with a thermosetting resin composition and drying it.
US08377531B2
The present invention relates to methods for preventing and/or reducing the occurrence of corrosion in a variety of articles including, but not limited to, tanks (e.g., storage tanks, septic tanks, fuel tanks, etc.); containers (e.g., shipping containers, storage containers, etc.); semi-closed systems (e.g., fuel systems, septic systems, reservoirs, etc.); and/or closed systems (e.g., waste disposal systems, waste disposal drums or containers, etc.). In another embodiment, the methods of the present invention may be utilized to reduce and/or prevent corrosion in a variety of pipelines (e.g., gas/oil pipelines, water pipelines, sewage lines, etc.). More specifically, the present invention relates to methods for preventing and/or reducing the occurrence of corrosion in a variety of articles including, but not limited to, metallic tanks; metallic containers; pipelines; semi-closed systems; and/or closed systems which are constructed partially or totally from metal. (e.g., steel, iron, copper, brass, aluminum, etc.).
US08377523B2
An intermediate transfer media, such as a belt, that includes a first supporting substrate, such as a polyimide substrate layer, and a second layer of a silicone containing polyamideimide layer. Also, the intermediate transfer media can include a silicone containing polyamideimide single layer.
US08377521B2
An ink-jet recording paper with a paper substrate that has a coating on at least one side, wherein the coating contains binder and inorganic pigment, and wherein: (a) the substrate has a density in the range of 0.6 to 1.0 g/cm3 and a Cobb60 value in the range of 19-25 g/m2; (b) the coating consists solely of a single layer formed as a recording layer, which is applied directly to the substrate; (c) the pigment present in the recording layer consists of colloidal synthetic boehmite with a mean crystal size in the range of 10-50 nm; and (d) the binder present in the recording material consists of silanized polyvinyl alcohol to the extent of 80-100 wt. %.
US08377517B2
A method of forming transflective LCD panel includes forming a compensation material having reactive liquid crystal monomers, thermal initiators and a solvent on a first substrate. Then, a first heating process is performed on the compensation material to remove parts of the solvent and then a photo-polymerizing process is performed, and parts of the compensation material disposed in a reflective region are turned into birefringent zones. Moreover, a second heating process is performed, in which the first substrate is kept in a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, and thereafter nitrogen gas flows in to the chamber to form a non-oxygen condition. Accordingly, parts of the compensation material disposed in a transmission region are turned into isotropic zones. The predetermined temperature of the second heating process is higher than the clearing point of the reactive liquid crystal monomers.
US08377509B2
Lithium-based compound small particle compositions, as well as methods and structures associated with the same, are provided. The particle compositions, in some cases, are characterized by having an nano-size particles. The particle compositions may be produced in a milling process. In some embodiments, the particles may be coated with a coating that may enhance certain properties of the particle composition (e.g., electrical conductivity).
US08377508B2
A solventless laminating adhesive comprising a polyisocyanate component and a polyol component, both of which are free from polyol components exhibiting crystalline properties at ordinary temperatures. The adhesive exhibits an initial viscosity of 500 to 1000 mPa s three minutes after mixing of the polyisocyanate component with the polyol component and a viscosity increase of 100 to 350% based on the initial viscosity 20 minutes after the mixing. In a coater which is provided with a pair of opposed rolls and in which the rolls rotates in the directions contrary to each other at the opposition site, the adhesive is applied to a film passing between the rolls.
US08377507B2
A method and apparatus for applying a sealant includes a first chamber that retains a first substance. A second chamber retains a second substance, wherein the second chamber is in selective fluid communication with the first chamber. A third chamber retains a third substance. A first actuator is configured to cause fluid communication of the first and second chambers to allow the first and second substances to comingle and form a first mixture. A second actuator is configured to urge the first mixture and the third substance out of the sealant application apparatus.
US08377504B2
A method for producing an electroconductive polymer electrode that is excellent in electroconductivity and catalyst capability, is easily patterned, is high in use efficiency of a coating solution, and can produce conveniently with good reproducibility and productivity, and a dye-sensitized solar cell with an excellent conversion efficiency obtained by using the same are provided. Specifically, such a method is employed that a solution containing a monomer of an electroconductive polymer, a pyrrolidone compound represented by the following general formula (1) as a polymerization controlling agent and an oxidizing agent is coated on an electrode substrate, and then the monomer is polymerized by oxidation polymerization to form an electroconductive polymer electrode. wherein in the formula (1), R1 represents an alkyl group or an aryl group.
US08377503B2
A method for real-timely monitoring thickness change of a coating film is disclosed. In the method, a coating module having a chamber and a film thickness-monitoring module containing an SPR optical fiber sensor, a light source, a light-receiving detector, and optical fibers are first provided. The optical fibers are used to connect the SPR optical fiber sensor with the light source and the light-receiving detector. The SPR optical fiber sensor has a sensing area and is arranged in the chamber. The light source provides the SPR optical fiber sensor with light. Then, a substrate is put into the chamber. While coating process is performed on the substrate, a film is also formed on the sensing area of the SPR optical fiber sensor. The light-receiving detector receives signals output from the sensing area of the SPR optical fiber sensor and then outputs signals of light-intensity change.
US08377495B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a water-in-oil type fat or oil composition which exhibits satisfactory demulsification in the mouth regardless of a low salt content, and which makes a consumer feel moderate saltiness, and a method for producing the same. Disclosed is a water-in-oil type fat or oil composition containing 0.4% by weight or more and less than 1.0% by weight of a salt, wherein the time required to reach 50% of an equilibrium value is within 50 seconds in an increase in conductivity at 35° C.
US08377484B1
Methods and compositions for the prevention and/or treatment of metastatic cancer by tumor encapsulation achieved by introducing a physical obstacle to prevent cancerous cells from escaping the original site and invading other tissues. Physical obstacle is introduced as a pre-formed matter or its assembly by the treated organism is induced. In the preferred embodiment the composition of matter is disclosed, which enables formation of the obstacle in a form of basement membrane (BM). Said composition enables tissue cells to assemble BM on their surfaces, and supplies ECM components for said assembly, whereby BM is assembled de novo or the existing BM is strengthens. The composition comprises soy phytoestrogens, including genistein, daidzein, glycitein, biochantin A, and derivative thereof, actin cytoskeleton reorganization inhibitors, such as Cytochalasin D, and PTK inhibitors, in combination with ECM proteins, such as laminins and type IV collagens, or their derivatives.
US08377483B2
The object of the present invention is to stabilize bioactivation of iron salt. Said object is attained by adding a magnesium salt to said iron salt. Said iron salt stabilized by said magnesium salt is useful as medicine to treat incurable diseases such as diabetes and growth promoting agent of animals and plants.
US08377480B2
There is disclosed a novel sustained release granular resin-pharmaceutical composition comprising an ion exchange resin complexed with a pharmaceutical material wherein said complex is embedded into and on the surface of a diffusion barrier material. There is also disclosed a novel process for preparing the granulated complex wherein an aqueous granulating vehicle is employed to form the complex and the granulated product, thereby avoiding the use of coatings and large amounts of organic solvents in the process.
US08377478B2
A salt of ethylenediamine disuccinic acid comprising at least 0.7 mole equivalents of magnesium per mole of ethylenediamine disuccinic acid which salt is in the form of a water-soluble, non-hygroscopic solid is disclosed. Also described is a method of preparing such salts and uses thereof.
US08377476B2
Disclosed is a water-based adhesive skin patch which has excellent storage stability, can achieve excellent accumulation of butenafine hydrochloride contained therein on a patched area such as the skin and a nail, and has a high therapeutic effect. Specifically disclosed is a water-based adhesive skin patch containing butenafine hydrochloride, which is characterized by containing butenafine hydrochloride, glycol salicylate and propylene glycol in a water-containing gel ointment. Specifically, butenafine hydrochloride is dissolved in a mixed solution of glycol salicylate and propylene glycol, and the resulting solution is dispersed in a water-containing gel. Particularly, the mixing ratio of glycol salicylate to propylene glycol is 1:2 to 1:30.
US08377471B2
A container and more specifically a container such as a capsule used to deliver dosages of pharmaceuticals, medicines, vitamins, etc. to an individual is discussed. In one embodiment, the invention includes a container comprising: a cap; a body slidably engagable inside the cap; and a fluid gap positioned between the cap and the body adjacent an end of the cap, wherein a first channel of the cap and a first channel of the body form a snap fit joint and a second channel of the cap and a second channel of the body form a fluid stop joint whereby a sealing fluid is substantially restricted to the fluid gap by the fluid stop joint.
US08377467B2
The present invention is directed to a hemostatic textile, comprising: a material comprising a combination of glass fibers and one or more secondary fibers selected from the group consisting of silk fibers; ceramic fibers; raw or regenerated bamboo fibers; cotton fibers; rayon fibers; linen fibers; ramie fibers; jute fibers; sisal fibers; flax fibers; soybean fibers; corn fibers; hemp fibers; lyocel fibers; wool; lactide and/or glycolide polymers; lactide/glycolide copolymers; silicate fibers; polyamide fibers; feldspar fibers; zeolite fibers, zeolite-containing fibers, acetate fibers; and combinations thereof; the hemostatic textile capable of activating hemostatic systems in the body when applied to a wound. Additional cofactors such as thrombin and hemostatic agents such as RL platelets, RL blood cells; fibrin, fibrinogen, and combinations thereof may also be incorporated into the textile. The invention is also directed to methods of producing the textile, and methods of using the textile to stop bleeding.
US08377460B2
The invention provides a method for preparing a biological material for implanting. The invention also provides a biological material for surgical implantation. The invention further provides a biological composition for surgical implantation.
US08377458B2
Disclosed is a cooling sensation agent composition or sensory stimulation agent composition which contains at least one of diester compounds of dicarboxylic acid represented by the formula (1) wherein A represents CH2 or CH═CH, n represents an integer of 0 to 4 when A is CH2, or 1 when A is CH═CH, B is an alcohol residue having 10 to 18 carbon atoms and containing a para-menthane skeleton, which may have a substituent, and C is an alcohol residue having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent as well as a flavor or fragrance composition, a beverage, a food product, a perfume or cosmetic product, a toiletry product, daily utensil products or groceries, a fiber, a fiber product, clothes, clothing or a medicine, wherein the cooling sensation agent composition or the sensory stimulation agent composition is compounded.
US08377455B2
New Bacillus licheniformis strain named V9T14 that produces a new biosurfactant composition that is effective against colonization and/or bio film formation from bacteria. The new biosurfactant composition can be used in combination with biocides for preventing formation and/or for eradicating bacteria grown planktonically and/or as a biofilm, preferably on biotic and/or abiotic surfaces.
US08377445B2
The disclosure features methods of making compositions that include a human lipid. The methods can include: obtaining whole human milk; separating the milk into a cream portion and a skim portion; processing the cream portion; and pasteurizing the processed cream portion.
US08377444B2
A method for treatment of disease classified as any of grade 1 to 3 according to the ICRS classification of osteoarthritis, any of grade 1 to 3 according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification of osteoarthritis, or any of grade 1 to 3 according to the Outerbridge classification of osteoarthritis, the method includes a step of administrating an agent containing an anti-Fas IgM antibody as an active ingredient.
US08377443B2
The present disclosure provides compositions and methods of use involving binding proteins, e.g., antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof, that bind to the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) protein (MMP9 is also known as gelatinase-B), wherein the binding proteins comprise an immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain (or functional fragment thereof) and an Ig light chain (or functional fragment thereof).
US08377434B2
The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition containing enzymes, and more particularly to a cosmetic composition, which contains, as active ingredients, 1) papain, and 2) at least one selected from the group consisting of theanine and N-acetyl glucosamine, and thus functions to control the skin turnover cycle and promote the exfoliation of skin keratin.
US08377433B2
The present invention relates to a splice variant of SIVA, SIVA3, and to its use.
US08377429B2
Disclosed are methods for improvement of beta cell function in a subject using an anti-IL-1β antibody or fragment thereof.
US08377425B2
Cosmetic compositions comprising high molecular weight polyurethane polymers are disclosed. The polyurethane polymers typically will have a molecular weight greater than about 50,000. The cosmetic compositions provide cosmetic films on the lips which are comfortable, long-wearing, transfer-resistant, and have a shiny finish.
US08377424B2
This invention relates to a method of therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of periodontal disease comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a polymeric compound of formula An. Also disclosed and claimed is an article of manufacture comprising the above compounds packaged within a container with instructions for use, and methods of making thereof.
US08377420B2
The present invention teaches a micro-porous injectable, soft elastic, fully resorbable fibrin-based composition for use as a soft tissue lumen and void filler. The composition of the present application exhibits physical characteristics, such as mechanical properties, typically seen in elastomers and mechanical stability, which is superior to fibrin alone. A variety of properties of the composition of the present invention can be effectively fine-tuned and altered by adjusting type and content of the particles as well as of the plasticizer contained in the void filler composition.
US08377417B2
A method and apparatus for sequestering carbon dioxide from a waste gas and reusing it as a recycled gas without emissions concerns, including: given a gas source divided into a process gas and a waste gas: mixing the process gas with a hydrocarbon and feeding a resulting feed gas into a reformer for reforming the feed gas and forming a reducing gas; and feeding at least a portion of the waste gas into a carbon dioxide scrubber for removing at least some carbon dioxide from the waste gas and forming a carbon dioxide lean gas that is mixed with the reducing gas. Optionally, the method also includes feeding at least a portion of the waste gas into the carbon dioxide scrubber for removing at least some carbon dioxide from the waste gas and forming a fuel gas after the addition of a hydrocarbon that is fed into the reformer. Optionally, the gas source and the reducing gas are associated with a direct reduction process for converting iron oxide to metallic iron in a reduction furnace that utilizes the reducing gas, optionally after some modification, and produces the gas source.
US08377406B1
The present invention provides methods for producing bis(fluorosulfonyl) compounds of the formula: F—S(O)2—Z—S(O)2—F I by contacting a nonfluorohalide compound of the formula: X—S(O)2—Z—S(O)2—X with bismuth trifluoride under conditions sufficient to produce the bis(fluorosulfonyl) compound of Formula I, where Z and X are those defined herein.
US08377400B2
An after-treatment system architecture and method for oxidizing the nitric oxide component of a gas stream are disclosed. One embodiment may include treatment of a gas stream that includes NOx with a perovskite catalyst of the general formula ABO3 or a modified formula of ABO3 wherein a small amount of a promoter material is substituted for a portion of at least one of element A or element B in a catalytic oxidation reaction to oxidize nitric oxide in the gas stream.
US08377391B2
A fabrication method of a microfluidic circuit is provided, dispensable of mask registration, absent of deviation in mask positioning, and inexpensive in fabrication cost. The fabrication method of a microfluidic circuit has a light transmissive substrate stacked on a light absorptive substrate, and the light transmissive substrate welded with the light absorptive substrate for bonding by directing light through the light transmissive substrate. The microfluidic circuit includes a microchannel at the bottom face of the light transmissive substrate and/or at the top face of the light absorptive substrate. The method includes the step of forming, at the light transmissive substrate, a light attenuation region attenuating transmittance of light towards the microchannel when light is directed through the light transmissive substrate.
US08377390B1
In accordance with the invention, there are surfaces exhibiting anisotropic wetting, microfluidic devices and microreactors including the surfaces and methods of controlling anisotropic wetting behavior of the surfaces. The exemplary surface can include a substrate and a plurality of rectangular shaped structures arranged to form a macroscopic pattern over the substrate, wherein the plurality of rectangular shaped structures delineate a top surface of the rectangular structures from a surface of the substrate, the rectangular shaped structures including substantially vertical walls having a height of about 100 nm to about 10 μm and wherein the shape of the macroscopic pattern, the height of the substantially vertical walls, and a surface chemistry of the top surface controls anisotropic wetting at the top surface of the rectangular structures.
US08377382B2
A recycling furnace is provided for processing potentially explosive precious metal-containing materials having organic fractions that combust with great energy. The furnace includes a switching facility for alternating operation of two burning-off chambers of the furnace between: (A) pyrolysis or carbonization under protective furnace gas in an atmosphere comprising maximally 6 wt-% oxygen, and (B) oxidative combustion of the organic fractions including carbon. The furnace has indirect heating and a control that determines the end of the pyrolysis or carbonization by a sensor and controls the switching facility to supply air or oxygen to the interior of the furnace. A continuous conveyor for dosing of liquids or liquefied substances during the pyrolysis is controlled by at least one parameter of post-combustion, preferably a temperature sensor. A single waste gas treatment facility is used for thermal post-combustion for the two furnace chambers.
US08377380B2
To provide a sensing device using a piezoelectric sensor having an oscillation area for detection and an oscillation area for reference and capable of achieving a high measurement sensitivity by improving shapes of excitation electrodes. On a quartz-crystal piece 20a, there are provided strip-shaped left side area and right side area which are formed symmetrically to be separated from each other into left and right with respect to a center of a circle 53 being a contour of a planar shape of a reaction channel 52 and extend in a longitudinal direction in a parallel manner. Each of the areas is set to have a size in which both corner portions 100 on the left side of the left side area and both corner portions 100 on the right side of the right side area protrude to the outside of the circle 53, the corner portions 100 that protrude to the outside are cut to make the left side area and the right side area position inside of the circle 53, and an excitation electrode 21a for measurement and an excitation electrode 21b for reference are respectively formed on the right side area and the left side area.
US08377377B2
An automated microscope slide staining system and staining apparatus and method that features a plurality of individually operable miniaturized pressurizable reaction compartments or a pressurizable common chamber for individually and independently processing a plurality of microscope slides. The apparatus preferably features independently movable slide support elements each having an individually operable heating element.
US08377376B2
An implant is set forth having at least one first element and a second element, wherein the first element is provided in a pre-determined relative location to the second element, in particular at least partly in a recess of the second element. The first element has a pre-positioning location having play with respect to the second element and allowing a fully area gas sterilization of both elements and can be displaced from this pre-positioning location into an end positioning location corresponding to a fixed connection of both elements.
US08377375B2
The present invention relates to a method for determining an effective dose of monochromatic or polychromatic light from one or more light sources to inactivate microorganisms present in a biological fluid, preferably a non-transparent fluid. Moreover, there is provided a method for the inactivation of microorganism in a biological fluid in a flow-through-reactor. Moreover, the invention advantageously provides a flow-through-reactor with one or more thermostated light sources. The invention further provides a method of controlling the light sum dose of monochromatic or polychromatic light emitted from one or more light sources to effectively inactivate microorganisms present in a biological fluid in a batch reactor.
US08377367B2
A method for producing a container associable with airless pumps, in the interior of which container a deformable bag is formed by blow molding a preform of plastic material. A vacuum is created in the container interior during or slightly before blowing.
US08377364B2
The invention discloses a method of manufacturing a microneedle including the steps of forming an island etching mask having thickness distribution on a substrate, and processing the substrate into a needle by taking advantage of a difference in etching rates between the etching mask and the substrate. The invention enables to readily control a point angle and height of the manufactured needle.
US08377362B2
A die (100) is provided with: a cavity which can contain a molten resin; a micro-structure (102) provided on a molding transfer surface (101) forming the cavity such that the fine structure protrudes to the cavity side from the molding transfer surface (101); and a anti-shrinkage convex section (103) protruding higher than the micro-structure (102) to the cavity side from one surface. A molten resin is applied to the die (100) and the surface of the die is relatively removed in the order of the micro-structure (102) and the anti-shrinkage convex section (103) from a resin substrate (001) formed by solidifying the resin.
US08377351B2
A chemical-mechanical planarization polishing pad is provided comprising a network of elements dispersed within a polymer, a plurality of voids formed in the pad and at least a portion of said network of elements is connected to at least a portion of the voids. A method of forming the pad is also disclosed, which comprises providing a composition, the composition comprising a network of elements and at least one of a polymer or a reactive prepolymer, introducing a gas to the composition and using the gas to produce a plurality of voids in the composition. A method of forming voids is also disclosed, which relies upon the application of a force to the network of elements within the polymer or reactive polymer, followed by removal of the force and void formation.
US08377347B2
The invention relates to a method for producing an out of tool molded skin (1) with an embedded flat electroluminescent element, wherein an outer function or carrier layer of the electroluminescent element (5, 6, 7, 8) is made of plastic material that is substantially identical to the powdered plastic material of the molded skin and is applied to the not yet fully cured and cooled molded skin.
US08377346B2
A process for the manufacture of a powder coating comprising the steps of: Preparing a powder coating premix comprising a resin and optionally a crosslinker therefor; Feeding the premix through a melt extruder; Cooling the extruded material; and Comminuting it to fine particles, wherein said process is characterized in that between 1 and 25 wt. % (based on the weight of said premix) of a process liquid is added to the melt extruder, wherein said process liquid is immiscible with at least said resin of the powder coating premix and wherein said process liquid evaporates when the premix leaves the extruder.
US08377339B2
An apparatus and a method to form a thick coat by an in-liquid pulsed electric discharge treatment, the electrode contains 40 volume % or more metallic material that is not carbonized or is hard to be carbonized.
US08377332B2
Metal complexes comprising at least one polycyclic aromatic ligand which is bonded to the central metal via two nitrogen atoms, an organic light-emitting diode comprising at least one inventive metal complex, a light-emitting layer comprising at least one inventive metal complex, an organic light-emitting diode comprising at least one inventive light-emitting layer, the use of the at least one inventive metal complex in organic light-emitting diodes, and a device selected from the group consisting of stationary visual display units such as visual display units of computers, televisions, visual display units in printers, kitchen appliances and advertising panels, illuminations, information panels and mobile visual display units such as visual display units in cellphones, laptops, digital cameras, vehicles, and destination displays on buses and trains, comprising at least one inventive organic light-emitting diode.
US08377331B2
A blue phase liquid crystal composition and a LC display using the composition. The liquid crystal composition includes a first class including a highly polar compound and a second class including a highly conjugated liquid crystal compound. The blue phase liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates each with polarizer on the exterior surface and the blue phase liquid crystal composition sandwiched therebetween with and patterned electrodes on one of the substrates or both substrates. The patterned electrodes can be T-shaped, chevron or v-shaped, thin comb like shape and can also be flat or trapezoidal. The device outputs different light transmissions from the electrically controllable induced birefringence of the blue phase LC material for a low driving voltage, high transmittance blue phase liquid crystal display device.
US08377329B2
Methods for bioremediation of contaminants in water using soapstock, an acid oil of soapstock, a neutralized acid oil of soapstock or combinations thereof are described. Systems for bioremediation are also disclosed.
US08377326B2
The invention relates to the use of polyamino and/or polyammonium-polysiloxane-copolymer compounds or aqueous emulsions thereof for of the first finishing of fibrous materials, aqueous emulsions of the polyamino and/or polyammonium-polysiloxane-copolymer compounds, as well as a method for the first finishing of fibrous materials.
US08377324B2
Methods for removing coatings from metal components, such as metal components used in aircraft and other aerospace vehicles and the oil industry. The method may include removing an outer layer of a coating with a first stripping operation, removing an inner layer of the coating with a second stripping operation, and specifying an aqueous bath for either the first stripping process based upon an element in the outer layer or the second stripping process based upon an element in the inner layer.
US08377322B2
To provide a pattern forming method including: providing an active species supply source to at least one of a mold structure having a plurality of concave portions in its surface, and an object to be patterned; pressing the side of the mold structure, where the concave portions are provided, against the object so as to encapsulate the active species supply source in the concave portions; and oxidatively decomposing parts of the object which are in positions corresponding to the concave portions, by irradiating the active species supply source with excitation light through one of the mold structure and the object.
US08377318B2
A method for manufacturing a magnetic device that obtains sufficient processing accuracy without increasing mask removal steps. A first mask layer is formed above a magnetic layer using one selected from the group consisting of Ti, Ta, W, and an oxide or a nitride thereof. A second mask layer is formed on the first mask layer using Ru or Cr. A resist pattern is formed on the second mask layer. A second mask pattern is formed by performing reactive ion etching with reactive gas containing oxygen on the second mask layer using the resist pattern. A first mask pattern is formed by performing reactive ion etching with reactive gas containing halogen gas on the first mask layer using the second mask pattern. A magnetic pattern is formed by performing reactive ion etching with reactive gas containing oxygen on the magnetic layer using the first mask pattern.
US08377317B2
A method for manufacturing printed circuit board includes steps below. A first electrically conductive layer including a first surface and a second surface at an opposite side thereof to the first surface is provided. A number of first traces directly formed on the second surface. A first insulating layer is formed on the second surface of the first electrically conductive layer and the surface of the first traces. The electrically conductive layer is etched to form a number of second traces, the second traces superpose the first traces, the first traces and the second traces constitute a circuit pattern.
US08377314B2
A method of providing end-to-end water quality control from a water system operator to a point of delivery proximate a consumer, which may be at the point of entry, and/or between the point of entry and point of use, and/or at the point of use. The method includes treating the water and delivering the water to the consumer at the point of delivery, filtering/ purifying the water at the point of delivery, monitoring water quality at the point of delivery, and reporting water quality at the point of delivery to the water system operator over a network.
US08377308B2
A dialysate regeneration unit adapted for regenerating a dialysate containing carrier substances comprises a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path comprises a first supply unit adapted for adding an acidic fluid to the dialysate flowing in the first flow path, and a detoxification unit located downstream of the first supply unit. The detoxification unit is adapted for removing toxins from the acidified dialysate flowing in the first flow path. The second flow path extends in parallel to the first flow path. The second flow path comprises a second supply unit adapted for adding an alkaline fluid to the dialysate flowing in the second flow path, and a further detoxification unit located downstream of the second supply unit. The further detoxification unit is adapted for removing toxins from the alkalized dialysate flowing in the second flow path.
US08377307B2
A method of separating a mixture of discrete structures dispersed in a fluid material includes identifying a target structure and a non-target structure; providing a custom-shaped particle having at least a portion of a surface that is substantially shape-complementary to a portion of a surface of the target structure; introducing the custom-shaped particle into the fluid material; exciting reconfigurations of the custom-shaped particle with respect to the target structure and the non-target structure; binding the custom-shaped particle to the target structure through an attractive interaction to form an aggregate; and isolating the aggregate containing the target structure and the custom-shaped particle from the non-target structure. The custom-shaped particle preferentially binds with the target structure without binding with the non-target structure.
US08377305B2
A method of controlling fouling in a membrane filtration system (5) of the type where gas is used to clean or scour the membranes (6) wherein the method includes supplying the gas to the system with a continuously variable flow rate. A continuously variable valve arrangement (17) is also disclosed.
US08377289B2
A complex metal oxide catalyst comprising a Group VIII metal MI and at least two Group VIB metals MII and MIII, wherein the molar ratio of Group VIII metal MI to Group VIB metals MII+MIII is 1:9-9:1 and the molar ratio of the Group VIB metals MII and MIII is 1:5 to 5:1. When applied to the hydrodesulfurization of diesel, the catalyst exhibits a super high HDS activity. The sulfur level in the diesel can be reduced from 1200 ppm to 27 ppm under a gentle operating condition.
US08377287B2
The present invention is directed to the upgrading of heavy petroleum oils of high viscosity and low API gravity that are typically not suitable for pipelining without the use of diluents. The method comprises introducing a particulate heat carrier into an up-flow reactor, introducing the feedstock at a location above the entry of the particulate heat carrier, allowing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock to interact with the heat carrier for a short time, separating the vapors of the product stream from the particulate heat carrier and liquid and byproduct solid matter, collecting a gaseous and liquid product mixture comprising a mixture of a light fraction and a heavy fraction from the product stream, and using a vacuum tower to separate the light fraction as a substantially bottomless product and the heavy fraction from the product mixture.
US08377283B2
An apparatus (12) for applying a zinc or zinc-alloy electroplate to a workpiece comprises an electroplating bath (16) having a pH more than about 14. The electroplating bath includes zinc ions and an additive. A cathode workpiece (18) is in the bath. An anode assembly (20) contacts the bath. The anode assembly includes an anolyte and an insoluble metal anode in the anolyte. The additive is capable of electrolytically breaking down upon contact with the anode. The anode assembly inhibits the electrolytic breakdown of the additive.
US08377274B2
A gas sensor including a gas sensor element having a first measurement chamber (16); a first pumping cell (11); a second measurement chamber (18) into which a gas to be measured having a controlled oxygen partial pressure is introduced; and a second pumping cell (13) having a second inner pump electrode (13b) and a second counterpart electrode (13c) pump electrode configured to detect a specific gas component. The second inner pump electrode is made of a material that contains, as a principal ingredient, two kinds of Pt particles having different particle sizes and whose particle size ratio measured by a sedimentation particle-size distribution ranges from 1.75 to 14.2. A mixing ratio between large Pt particles and small Pt particles has a mass ratio of 10/90 to 50/50. A 10 kHz-1 Hz resistance value across the second pumping cell at 600° C. is 150Ω or less.
US08377272B2
Disclosed is an electrochemical biosensor measuring device which can be used together with an electrochemical biosensor. The biosensor measuring device comprises an electrical connection portion which is electrically connected with the electrodes of the biosensor upon the insertion of the biosensor there into, and a connector having a structure in which at least one light absorption or reflection path sequentially comprising a light emitter-production lot information identification portion-detector unit is provided to identify the production lot information recorded in the biosensor. The electrochemical biosensor measuring device can automatically identify the production lot information of the biosensor, encoded in the form of a hue or hole marks, upon the insertion of the electrochemical biosensor into the measuring device, thereby obviating the need to manually input the production lot information of the biosensor. Thus, inconvenience and the frequency of errors, which occur when a user personally inputs the production lot information, can be reduced, with the result that the measured values can be conveniently and accurately acquired.
US08377269B2
There is provided an inexpensive sputtering apparatus in which self-sputtering can be stably performed by accelerating the ionization of the atoms scattered from a target. The sputtering apparatus has: a target which is disposed inside a vacuum chamber so as to lie opposite to the substrate W to be processed; a magnet assembly which forms a magnetic field in front of the sputtering surface of the target; and a DC power supply which charges the target with a negative DC potential. A first coil is disposed in a central portion of a rear surface of the sputtering surface of the target. The first coil is electrically connected between the first power supply and the output to the target. When a negative potential is charged to the target by the sputtering power supply, the electric power is charged to the first coil, whereby a magnetic field is generated in front of the sputtering surface.
US08377267B2
Arrangements for plating a single surface of a thin foil are described. In one aspect, a metal foil is wrapped tightly at least partially around a plating solution drum. The drum is partially immersed in a plating solution such that the waterline of the metal plating solution is below a break point where the metallic foil strip begins to unwind from the plating solution drum. With this arrangement, one side of the metallic foil strip is exposed to the metal plating solution, while the opposing back side of the metallic foil strip does not come in substantial contact with the metal plating solution. In this manner, the exposed side of the foil is plated while the back surface of the foil is not plated. The drum may be rotated to convey the foil through the plating solution.
US08377266B2
In a electric corrosion preventing structure of a marine vessel propelling machine, a cylinder is integrally formed in a cylinder block, an electric connection portion is provided in a portion in which a rod guide is fixed to the cylinder, an electric connection portion is provided in a portion in which a piston is fixed to a rod in an inner portion of the cylinder, and the piston fixed to the rod strikes against the rod guide in an electrically connected state, at a maximum extension when the rod protrudes out of the cylinder.
US08377264B2
Disclosed is an organic material disposal method comprising a step for thermally decomposing a raw organic material and a gas treatment step for treating a gas generated in the preceding step, wherein the thermal decomposition step comprises a substep of decomposing the raw organic material into a carbide and a gaseous component, and the gas treatment step comprises the following substeps (1) to (5): (1) catalytically oxidizing the gaseous component produced in the thermal decomposition step; (2) neutralizing/washing the oxidized gas; (3) subjecting a waste water produced in the neutralization/washing step to the solid-liquid separation; (4) further thermally decomposing a solid component separated in the solid-liquid separation step together with the raw organic material in the thermal decomposition step; and (5) re-using a liquid component separated in the solid-liquid separation step in the solid-liquid separation step and/or the neutralization/washing step.
US08377259B2
The present invention provides a process for preparing a coated printing paper, comprising the steps of making a base paper from a stuff containing a hardwood-derived mechanical pulp (LMP) and applying a coating solution containing a pigment and an adhesive by an on-machine coater to provide a coating layer, wherein said steps are continuously performed on machine. According to the present invention, coated printing papers having high quality can be efficiently prepared with high runnability.
US08377250B2
Provided are a method of bonding a resin material (X) containing an oxymethylene-based polymer (A) and a resin material (Y), including: preparing an oxymethylene-based polymer composition (B) as resin material (Y), and resin material (X); or preparing resin material (X) and a resin material identical to resin material (X) or another resin material as resin material (Y), and providing polymer composition (B) between resin material (Y) and resin material (X); and heating: wherein polymer composition (B) has a melting point lower than that of polymer (A), and a difference in melting point between the composition and the polymer is smaller than 5° C.; and 50% or more of a peak area determined from a peak showing the molten state of polymer composition (B) measured by DSC is present in a temperature region lower than the peak temperature of polymer (A) by 5° C. or more; and a structure obtained thereby.
US08377249B2
Methods and apparatuses discussed herein provide for localized speed changes of an advancing substrate. Embodiments of a localized speed varying apparatus may include first and second substrate guides positioned upstream and downstream of a processing station, respectively. The substrate guides may utilize orbital motion of guide members to change the length of the substrate within the substrate guides upstream and downstream of the processing station. The changes in substrate length within the substrate guides result in localized speed changes of the substrate between the substrate guides. Coordination between the substrate guides allows for localized speed changes of the substrate passing through the processing station without affecting the speed of the substrate upstream of the first substrate guide and downstream of the second substrate guide.
US08377248B2
A system and method for forming a hollow, complex, monolithic composite part. Composite material may be placed around the mandrel, then an internal impermeable membrane may be placed into and/or through tunnels formed in the mandrel. Next, an external impermeable membrane may be placed around the composite material and sealed against itself and the internal impermeable membrane such that the mandrel and the composite material are both contained in an airtight manner between the internal and external impermeable membranes. Air may then be removed from within the sealed impermeable membranes, compressing the impermeable membranes against the mandrel and/or the composite material. The consolidated composite material may be hardened to form the composite part. Finally, the impermeable membrane may be removed from around the hollow composite part and from within the mandrel, followed by removal of the mandrel from within the composite part by breaking it up into smaller pieces.
US08377246B2
A product and process for producing heat-transfers having a contrasting-color 3D appearance comprising a printed layer of woven fabric substrate adhered to a colorfast textile substrate. The woven fabric substrate includes a top substrate printed with a design logo. The underlying substrate is a solid color. The design logo/is engraved away in patterned designs using a galvanometric laser to reveal the contrasting substrate in desired areas, giving a layered embroidery 3D visual effect. These heat activated appliqués of the present invention are particularly suitable for use in forming decorations for apparel, bags and home furnishings. Their soft tactile hand feel does not cause discomfort to the wearer. The resulting product has superior care and durability characteristics, is more wash fast and can be ironed, and has superior appearance characteristics to other types of heat transfer appliqués. The heat transfer capability of the appliquéallows for fast customization of finished garments.
US08377240B2
A method is disclosed for producing metal-ceramic substrates that are metallized on both sides by using the direct bonding process. According to the method, at least one DCB stack made from first and a second metal layer and a ceramic layer located between said metal layers is formed on a separating layer of a support by heating to a direct bonding temperature. At least one of the metal layers rests against the separating layer during the bonding process, said separating layer being composed of a porous layer or coating made of a separating layer material from the group comprising mullite, Al2O3, TiO3, ZrO2, MgO, CaO CaCO2 or a mixture of at least two of said materials.
US08377237B2
The method for surface inclusions detection in wrought and finished Nitinol products by immersing them in aqueous solution of 1% to 12%, and preferably 6%, sodium hypochlorite at room temperature of around 25° C. for specific period of time, preferably 15 minutes while checking for black flocculent precipitate developing on the surface indicating the presence of an inclusion. The presence of black flocculent precipitate indicates surface inclusions and lack of homogeneousness of material.
US08377232B2
A method for removing hot gas deposits from a system via pressure pulses is provided. The method includes regulating a flow of a mixture of detonation fluid and oxidizer into an expansion chamber; and generating a detonation within the expansion chamber by igniting the mixture of detonation fluid and oxidizer in the expansion chamber producing a high-pressure wave, the high-pressure wave propagating along a fluid path of the system in a supersonic rate removing hot gas deposits in the fluid path while the system is in fired operation, the expansion chamber directing the high-pressure wave towards the fluid path of the system.
US08377229B2
A system and method for ensuring compliance with a hygiene requirement are provided. The system includes a automated cleaning station operatively associated with a locking mechanism. The automated cleaning station provides means for a user to wash one or more appendage and means for verifying that a full washing cycling was completed. The locking mechanism may be unlocked in response to complete verified washing cycle. The locking mechanism may provide access to, for example, a work area, a work station and/or a work item.
US08377228B2
A fluid filtration assembly for a dishwasher system includes at least one spray arm assembly configured to distribute fluid within a wash chamber, and a filter assembly including a filter body defining a fluid inlet and a soil outlet thereon. A soil collection chamber is coupled in flow communication with the soil outlet and is configured to receive soil filtered by the filter assembly. A pump is configured to direct fluid to one of the spray arm assembly and the soil collection chamber. A valve assembly is movable between a first position and a second position. The valve assembly is coupled in flow communication with the spray arm assembly and the soil collection chamber. In the first position, the pump is configured to direct fluid to the at least one spray arm assembly. In the second position, the pump is configured to direct fluid into the soil collection chamber.
US08377223B2
A method for operating a dishwasher machine (1), in particular a domestic dishwasher machine, in which in order to eliminate odors, the air located in a washing container (2) is passed by a photocatalytic layer (5) exposed to a light source (6) in order to oxidise the odour-forming molecules contained in the air. According to the invention, this is carried out during a standstill phase of the dishwasher machine (1).
US08377222B2
A method for cleaning an interior surface of a processing equipment using a treatment liquid, the processing equipment including a pipe section defining pipe section first and second ends, the pipe section defining a pipe section volume delimited by the pipe section first and second ends, the pipe section being initially at an initial internal pressure. The method includes introducing a predetermined volume of the treatment liquid, the predetermined volume being substantially smaller than the pipe section volume circulating the predetermined volume of the treatment liquid through the pipe section by simultaneously reducing an internal pressure within the pipe section at a location substantially adjacent the pipe section second end and increasing an internal pressure within the pipe section at a location substantially adjacent the pipe section first end.
US08377219B2
A method for cleaning a semiconductor wafer composed of silicon directly after a process of chemical mechanical polishing of the semiconductor wafer includes transferring the semiconductor wafer from a polishing plate to a first cleaning module and spraying both side surfaces of the semiconductor wafer with water at a pressure no greater than 1000 Pa at least once while transferring the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer is then cleaned between rotating rollers with water. The side surfaces of the semiconductor wafer are sprayed with an aqueous solution containing hydrogen fluoride and a surfactant at a pressure no greater than 70,000 Pa. Subsequently, the side surfaces are sprayed with water at a pressure no greater than 20,000 Pa. The wafer is then dipped into an aqueous alkaline cleaning solution, and then cleaned between rotating rollers with a supply of water. The semiconductor wafer is then sprayed with water and dried.
US08377211B2
Disclosed is a device for vacuum processing that performs vapor-deposition on a substrate being heated in a vacuum chamber; the device, wherein the chamber has a light transmissible window formed in a section of the chamber; the light transmissible window and a holding part holding the substrate are connected by a linear space isolated from other parts in the chamber; a laser emitter is installed outside the light transmissible window; and the laser emitter emits a laser beam to the substrate through the linear space, thereby heating the substrate. This device enables laser heating, eliminating conventional drawbacks such as a decrease in laser output.
US08377206B2
An apparatus to form semiconductor devices includes an inner tube and an outer tube disposed to surround the inner tube. A plate is disposed at first open end of the inner tube to reduce variation between pressures at a first portion and a second portion inside the inner tube. The sum of areas of through-holes disposed on the plate is 10 to 60 percent of the entire area of the plate. The through-holes may include a first through-hole that is disposed at a central portion of the plate, and second through-holes disposed at an edge portion of the plate. The second through-holes are annularly arranged to surround the first through-hole.
US08377205B2
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for producing silicon nanocrystals, which can minimize plasma diffusion by finely adjusting a plasma region created by an ICP coil. The apparatus includes a reactor having an ICP coil wound around an outer wall thereof and a tube inserted into the reactor, wherein a primary gas for forming silicon nanocrystals and a secondary gas for surface reaction of the silicon nanocrystals are separately supplied to the reactor through an inner side and an outer side of the tube, respectively.
US08377204B2
Affords methods of growing III nitride single crystals of favorable crystallinity with excellent reproducibility, and the III nitride crystals obtained by the growth methods. One method grows a III nitride single crystal (3) inside a crystal-growth vessel (11), the method being characterized in that a porous body formed from a metal carbide, whose porosity is between 0.1% and 70% is employed in at least a portion of the crystal-growth vessel (11). Employing the crystal-growth vessel (11) makes it possible to discharge from 1% to 50% of a source gas (4) inside the crystal-growth vessel (11) via the pores in the porous body to the outside of the crystal-growth vessel (11).
US08377203B2
An oxide single crystal having a composition represented by RExSi6O1.5x+12 (RE: La, Ce, Pr, Nd, or Sm, x: 8 to 10) is grown by using the Czochralski method such that the crystal growth orientation coincides with the c-axis direction. The solidification rate (the weight of the grown crystal÷the weight of the charged raw material) in the crystal growth is less than 45%.
US08377200B2
This document provides household and garden products, and methods for making such products. For example, household and garden products comprised of selected waste products from industrial processes combined with a binder are provided. In addition, products formed by mixing calcium sulfate dihydrate with a binder to form a mixture are provided.
US08377194B2
A silica-containing composition is disclosed. The composition comprises a compound having the following formula: (SiO2)x(OH)yMzSaF.B. M comprises at least one metal or metalloid cation S is a sulfur-based species. F optionally exists and F is at least one of the following: a functionalized organosilane, a sulfur-containing organosilane, an amine-containing organosilane, and an alkyl-containing organosilane at a surface area coverage of about 0.01 to about 100%. The molar ratio of y/x is equal to about 0.01 to about 0.5, the molar ratio of x/z is equal to about 0.5 to about 300 or from about 0.5 to about 100, and the molar ratio of a/z is about 0.5 to about 5. B is a hygroscopic solid at a water to solid molar ratio of 0.1-6 and preferably comprises at least one alkaline earth oxide or lanthanide oxide.
US08377192B2
The present invention relates to the use of sterically hindered amines comprising one or more groups of the general formula (I) to stabilize inanimate organic material, more particularly plastics or coating materials, where R1 and R2 each independently, alike or different, are H, C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C15 cycloalkyl, aryl, hetaryl or a heterocycle, R4, R5, R6, and R7 each independently, alike or different, are C1-C20 alkyl, or R4 and R6 or R5 and R7 together are a tetramethylene or pentamethylene group, and R3 is aryl or hetaryl. The invention further relates to methods of stabilizing inanimate organic material, especially plastics or coating materials. Additionally provided by the invention are selected sterically hindered amines comprising one or more groups of the general formula (I). Additionally provided by the invention are materials that comprise selected sterically hindered amines.
US08377187B2
Disclosed is a graft copolymer in which a polyalkylene glycol or an alkyl ether thereof is graft-copolymerized with a polyfluoro-1-alkene represented by the general formula: CnF2n+(CH2CF2)a(CF2CF2)bCH═CH2 (wherein n is an integer of 1 to 6, a is an integer of 1 to 4, and b is an integer of 1 to 3). The graft copolymer is an oligomer compound having a perfluoroalkyl group containing 6 or less carbon atoms, which is said to have low bioaccumulation potential, and having, when used as an active ingredient of a mold-releasing agent, mold release performance equivalent to that of a compound having a perfluoroalkyl group containing 8 or more carbon atoms.
US08377186B1
A temporary aqueous aerosol paint composition comprising an aqueous paint component, including an aqueous solvent, and an aqueous propellant component. At least one embodiment of the composition includes an amount of water as the aqueous solvent. The composition is formulated to minimize and/or eliminate the hazards presented by various volatile and non-volatile organic compounds present in known aerosol paint compositions, by eliminating or minimizing inclusion of such organic compounds. Further, the composition is developed to facilitate enhanced degradation in a short period of time, while also including elements to increase the performance when in use. A variety of pigment compounds may be used in the composition, permitting a variety of applications. The present invention is also directed to a method for preparing the temporary aqueous aerosol paint composition. This method includes adding the compounds to a reaction vessel and mixing thoroughly via a plurality of addition steps and mixing cycles.
US08377172B2
The present invention relates to new fibers, new processes of using said fibers, and new sheath dope compositions for multi-layer spinning processes. The fibers comprise a porous core and a sheath surrounding said porous core. The fibers may be useful in, for example, processes for removing low level contaminants like sulfur compounds from a gas stream like natural gas.
US08377165B2
The invention generally relates to the extraction of rare earth elements and heavy metals from geothermal fluids used in geothermal electrical production. The invention provides systems and methods for extracting these elements from hydrothermal products by the application of one or more forces that affect different components of a condensate differently.
US08377163B2
A filter assembly for a motor-vehicle air cleaner includes a main filter, an auxiliary filter set apart from the main filter, and a filter mount fixed to and configured to support the main filter and the auxiliary filter. In one embodiment, the filter mount is fittable in and removable from a housing of the air cleaner, and comprises a sealing element passing between the main filter and the auxiliary filter.
US08377158B2
Provided is an abrasive article comprising (a) a metallic foil having a first and second surfaces and voids therebetween, (b) a plurality of abrasive particles substantially in the voids, and (c) an alloy at least partially between the abrasive particles and the foil in the voids, wherein the alloy comprises a second component and a portion of the metallic foil near the voids. Also provided are methods of making and using such abrasive articles.
US08377154B2
A gasification system and method. The system can include a gasifier and a purification unit fluidly coupled to the gasifier, with the purification unit receiving raw syngas from the gasifier and producing waste gas and a syngas product. The system can also include a first reformer fluidly coupled to the purification unit, with the first reformer receiving a first portion of the waste gas and producing reformed hydrocarbon. The system can further include a second reformer having a first inlet fluidly coupled to the purification unit, a second inlet fluidly coupled to the first reformer, and an outlet fluidly coupled to the purification unit. The second inlet can receive the reformed hydrocarbon from the first reformer, and the first inlet can receive a second portion of the waste gas from the purification unit. The second reformer can produce a recovered raw syngas that is directed to the purification unit.
US08377153B2
A method of generating heat in a boiler such as by combusting a fuel material which includes a plurality of densified fuel pellets is provided. The densified fuel pellets may be formed by a process which includes compacting a mixture which includes about 5 to 15 wt. % molten thermoplastic polymeric material and at least about 75 wt. % cellulosic material. Many embodiments of the method are suitable for use in a coal-fired furnace and/or in other industrial boiler applications.
US08377149B2
A process for making a catalytic electrode, a process for making an electrochemical cell with a catalytic electrode, and an electrochemical cell made according to the process. The catalytic electrode has an active layer comprising a catalytic material, an electrically conductive material and a binder, and a gas diffusion layer including a material that is permeable to gas entering or escaping from the cell but essentially impermeable to electrolyte. The gas diffusion layer is adhered to the active layer by a patterned pressure bonding process to provide the catalytic electrode in which the entire gas diffusion area is adhered to the active layer, with areas of relatively high and relatively low adhesion. The electrode has a high overall bond strength, and the permeability of the gas diffusion layer remains high it has been adhered to the active layer to provide excellent high power capability.
US08377148B2
There is provided a method for producing a capacitor which is capable of producing a capacitor having a high withstand voltage and low leakage current, the method for producing a capacitor which is a method for producing a capacitor having a substrate serving as one electrode, a dielectric layer formed on top of the substrate, and the other electrode formed on top of the dielectric layer, the method including a step for forming an amorphous titanium oxide layer which is to become the dielectric layer on top of the substrate by anodizing the substrate, which is composed of titanium or titanium alloy, in an electrolyte solution containing hydrogen peroxide and having a temperature of 3° C. or less; and a step for forming the other electrode on top of the dielectric layer.
US08377146B2
A low profile prosthetic foot comprises a foot member extending at an incline from an anterior portion to a posterior portion thereof and configured to flex during motion, and an adapter mounted solely at a posterior section thereof to the posterior portion of the foot member so that the adapter's anterior section can move relative to the foot member and “roll-up” onto the foot member during motion.
US08377129B2
Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The articular surface repairs are customizable or highly selectable by patient and geared toward providing optimal fit and function. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty.
US08377118B2
An implantable prosthetic valve (100) has an in situ formable support structure. The valve comprises a prosthetic valve (104), having a base and at least one flow occluder. A first flexible component is incapable of retaining the valve at a functional site in the arterial vasculature. The first component (126) extends proximally of the base of the valve. A second flexible component (128) is incapable of retaining the valve at a functional site in the arterial vasculature. The second component extends distally of the base of the valve. At least one rigidity component (300) combines with at least one of the first and second flexible components to impart sufficient rigidity to the first or second components to retain the valve at the site.
US08377110B2
The present invention is related to a low profile endolumenal prosthesis. The prosthesis comprises a radially expandable tubular wire support and an expanded PTFE membrane. The density, wall thickness and intranodal distance of the ePTFE are selected to inhibit the formation and nourishment of a viable neointima on the inner surface of the prosthesis, through the ePTFE membrane.
US08377104B2
Provided is a dual action surgical instrument for use in orthopedic surgical procedures that is capable of reducing a rod into position in a rod receiving notch in the head of a bone screw with a first action and subsequently locking the rod into the receiving notch by a second action of the same instrument. A method of using the device is also provided.
US08377101B2
A spinal fixation device includes a coupling, a pedicle screw, and a collet. The coupling has an opening extending therethrough. The pedicle screw has a head mounted to a shank that is positionable within a first vertebral body. The collet is receivable in the opening of the coupling and engagable with the head of the pedicle screw. The collet is selectively positionable between a first position and a second position where the collet engages a spinal rod and prevents one or both of axial and rotational movement of the spinal rod. The collet is adapted to facilitate the connection of the spinal rod to a second vertebral body. The collet defines a saddle having one or more locking features for engaging the spinal rod.
US08377095B2
Medical devices for attaching suture to tissue and that provides reliable and complete closure of perforations and increases the versatility of the device for various other procedures. Embodiments of the medicals devices include a tissue anchor having a crossbar with opposing ends and structure for slidably receiving a suture.
US08377086B2
A surgical instrument having a first cutting blade and a second cutting blade that rotates within the first cutting blade during a cutting operation to cause cutting windows of the cutting blades to remove tissue from a patient also includes a suction passage forming member disposed over a suction aperture of the first cutting blade. The suction passage forming member includes an inlet, an outlet and a passage between the inlet and the outlet, the outlet communicating with the suction aperture, and the inlet facing distally. The surgical instrument can be used as a suction tool by applying a vacuum through an internal bore of the second cutting blade while the second cutting blade is stopped from rotating with the cutting windows of the first and second cutting blades misaligned with each other so that the vacuum is applied through the suction aperture and the suction passage forming member.
US08377083B2
Percutaneous methods and apparatus for forming a venous valve from autologous tissue by creating at least one subintimal longitudinal dissection that forms at least one flap of intimal tissue are disclosed. In one method, a balloon catheter having a dissecting blade mounted thereon is delivered to a target site where a new venous valve is to be created. The balloon is inflated to deploy the blade against the vein wall, and the catheter is longitudinally translated such that the blade dissects a subintimal layer of the vein wall. The balloon is subsequently deflated such that the blade pulls a flap of the dissected tissue towards the vein lumen, thereby creating a leaflet and corresponding pocket/sinus in the vein that collectively act as a monocuspid venous valve. Methods of forming new bicuspid and tricuspid venous valves utilizing two or three dissecting blades mounted on the balloon are also disclosed.
US08377081B2
In one embodiment, a surgically implantable adjustable ring comprises a ring body, which includes a closure system having first and second end parts. The ring body is designed to be closed around a tubular organ by the closure system, constricting the tubular organ by forming a loop. The first end part is shaped like a sleeve having a first and second end portions, and is designed to receive the second end part of the ring. The sleeve is substantially perpendicular to the main direction of the first end part of the ring, and the second end part of the ring includes a locking protrusion adapted to hold the sleeve in position, securing the ring in a closed position by engaging the locking protrusion in an opening disposed on the sleeve.
US08377075B2
The present invention is a system and methods to clear obstructions including foreign objects and food boluses during an EGD procedure. The medical device according to the present invention includes a flexible tubular housing, power transfer device, clamp, tool element, power source, and optional hood. The present invention drills through the obstruction to rupture it into pieces. Displaced obstructions, and/or pieces thereof, can be collected within the housing. The remainder of the obstruction can then be passed into the stomach where it can be digested, safely excreted, or actively removed by an endoscopist.
US08377071B2
A device to space vertebral members that may include a deploying device with a first member with an elongated first shaft and a first body at an end of the first shaft, a second member with an elongated second shaft that extends around the first shaft and a second body at an end of the second shaft, and a third member with an elongated third shaft that extends around the second shaft and a third body at an end of the second shaft. The device may include a first plate positioned on a first side of the deploying device, and a second plate positioned on a second side of the deploying device. First, second, and third jointed linkages may be spaced apart along the deploying device and each having a pair of links and each having a first end attached to the first plate, a second end attached to the second plate, and an intermediate joint connecting the pair of links together and being attached to the deploying device.
US08377053B2
A circuit for controlling the discharging of stored energy in an electrosurgical generator includes a pulse modulator which controls an output of a power supply. At least one comparator is configured to provide an error signal to the pulse modulator based on a comparison between an output signal generated by the power supply and a feedback signal generated in response to the application of energy to tissue. A discharge circuit is configured to control the discharge of the output of the power supply to an inductive load disposed in parallel with the output of the power supply based on the comparison between the output signal and the feedback signal.
US08377047B2
Systems and methods for fine-tuning refractive shapes for vision treatment are provided. Techniques encompass determining a variable index of refraction for a cornea of the eye, and determining the refractive treatment shape for the eye based on the variable index of refraction. Techniques also encompass determining a variable radius of curvature of an anterior surface of a cornea of the eye, and determining the refractive treatment shape for the eye based on the variable radius of curvature.
US08377040B2
A vascular access device may form part of an extravascular system and function as an adapter including a gas permeable vent. A method of venting a medical device may include providing a vascular access device as part of an extravascular system, providing a gas permeable vent within the vascular access device, venting gas from the system through the vent, and closing the vent.
US08377035B2
A medical device shaft including an unbalanced braid reinforcement layer. The reinforcement layer may be an unbalanced braid by having a first set of strands and a second set of strands, the sets wound in opposing directions on a mandrel or on the device shaft. The first set and second set may have different numbers of strands, sizes of strands, or pitch, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the unbalanced braid increases contact area between the inner layer and the outer layer of the shaft without compromising the function of the braid. In other embodiments, the variations in strand size and number between the first set and the second set allows improved kink and torque performance in a reduced thickness braid layer. The improved shaft of the present invention may be incorporated into a wide variety of medical devices such as guide catheters, diagnostic catheters, balloon catheters, etc.
US08377027B2
Absorbent articles having form fitting properties are disclosed. In particular, the absorbent articles include at least one waist elastic member that extends a substantial distance in the longitudinal direction. The waist elastic member, for instance, may be positioned in a front region of the article, in a back region of the article or in both the front and back regions. The waist elastic member includes a breathable elastic film. In order for the film to be breathable, the film includes apertures. The apertures appear on the film according to a particular pattern and having a particular diameter so that the film retains desired stretch properties.
US08377020B1
The present invention is an ostomy-bag cover that provides a waterproof covering for an ostomy bag. This permits a patient wearing an ostomy bag to shower or bathe without getting his or her ostomy bag wet. In some embodiments, the ostomy-bag cover is constructed such that the patient can engage in water related activities, including swimming, while wearing the ostomy-bag cover over the ostomy bag and prevent the ostomy bag from getting wet. In some embodiments, the ostomy-bag cover includes a resealable opening configured to allow the patient to empty the ostomy bag without the need to remove the ostomy-bag cover. In other embodiments, the ostomy-bag cover includes a waterproof exhaust vent to allow air to be removed from the ostomy-bag cover.
US08377018B2
A liquid-collection canister includes a liquid collection chamber defined by at least one wall and a first and second gas-communication pathway formed within the at least one wall. A first aperture is positioned between the first gas-communication pathway and the liquid collection chamber to allow gaseous communication between the liquid collection chamber and the first gas-communication pathway. A second aperture is positioned between the second gas-communication pathway and the liquid collection chamber to allow gaseous communication between the liquid collection chamber and the second gas-communication pathway. A first and a second liquid-air separator are positioned over the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively, to substantially prevent liquid passing through the first and second apertures.
US08377010B2
A medical access device provides needleless access to patient fluid lines such as intravascular catheters. A retaining ring at the top end of the housing of the medical access device is molded around a septum that provides access for a tubular portion of a medical device such as a male luer taper of a syringe. Alternatively, the retaining ring may also be molded around the body or around both the body and the base of the housing. The molded retaining ring and septum are attached by mechanical attachment and/or chemical adhesion to minimize axial and rotational movement between the septum and the housing.
US08377009B2
Intranasal delivery devices include dosage forms containing medical compositions for use in the intranasal devices, and methods of delivering medical compositions to the nasal mucosa of users. The devices dispense a predetermined quantity of fluid into the nasal passage of a user, in which the predetermined quantity of fluid is contained in, or produced in a dosage form or blister that is crushed by a plunger with sufficient force to drive the dosage form against a piercing mechanism, piercing the dosage form and forcing the liquid contents from the dosage form and through a delivery channel into a spray to be directed into the nasal passage of a user. The plunger is connected to a trigger device by a linkage that confers a mechanical advantage to the trigger mechanism.
US08377008B2
According to the invention, first and second locking means (16, 12) are conformed to engage with each other and to permit the locking of an activation means (4) in at least one intermediate position between first and second positions of the activation means (4). The first and second locking means (12, 16) are conformed to be disengaged from each other when the protection member (3) is in a first position, in which a movement of a vessel contained in the device (1) is possible from an initial position to a position for inserting a needle contained in the vessel, and to be engaged with each other when the protection member (3) leaves said first position.
US08376998B2
An automatic injection device including a housing element, at least one resilient element arranged to be located within the housing element, a syringe including at least one syringe piston, a needle guard adapted for selectable positioning with respect to the housing element and a selectable driving element adapted, when actuated, to be driven by the at least one resilient element for initially displacing the syringe relative to the housing element from a non-penetration position to a penetration position and thereafter displacing the at least one syringe piston in the syringe to effect drug delivery and displacing the needle guard into a needle guarding position.
US08376995B2
A vasoocclusive coil is reinforced with a stretch resistant member to improve safety during retraction of the coil. The stretch resistant member is fixedly attached at one end to the vasoocclusive coil, and the other end of the stretch resistant member is detachably mounted to an elongated pusher member to allow for placement and release of the vasoocclusive coil within the patient's vasculature.
US08376989B2
A syringe includes a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit. The first fluid conduit includes two chambers for accommodating two substances of a plurality of substances. The second fluid conduit is disposed adjacent the first fluid conduit and has a chamber for accommodating one substance of the plurality of substances. The syringe may include a third fluid conduit. Each substance is intermixable to form a discharge material upon advancement of a plunger operably associated with each fluid conduit. The discharge material is defined by the intermixed composition of predetermined volumes of the substances the fluid conduits. The discharge material may be a hydrogel. A connecting tip may be operably associated with each fluid conduit. A syringe may include an end cap disposed on the end of each of the fluid conduits. The end cap may have a venting feature for enabling gas venting while preventing discharge until desired.
US08376986B2
Breast pump for expressing milk from a breast, comprising at least one breast cup (2) for receiving a breast, a pumping system (10) in fluid connection (11) with the at least one breast cup (2) for applying a negative pressure on said breast and a detection unit (3) comprising at least one sensor for measuring a parameter during use of the breast pump (1), wherein the breast pump (1) is adapted for optimising breast pump settings by actively controlling at least one breast pump pumping property, based on measurements of the at least one sensor (4, 5), during a period of use of the breast pump (1), in order to personalize operation of said breast pump (1) for a particular user.
US08376979B2
A method of placing a left ventricle outflow tract of a patient's heart into fluid communication with an ascending aorta through an artificial fluid flow path includes arranging a guidewire within a patient's body with a distal guidewire end in a left ventricle of the heart, a proximal guidewire end in the ascending aorta, and a guidewire body, extending longitudinally between the distal and proximal guidewire ends, located at least partially in a right atrium of the heart. A conduit is provided, the conduit having longitudinally spaced first and second conduit ends in mutual fluid communication through a tubular conduit body. The conduit is advanced along the guidewire from a chosen one of the proximal and distal guidewire ends toward the other one of the proximal and distal guidewire ends. The first conduit end is anchored in the left ventricle. The second conduit end is anchored in the ascending aorta to provide the artificial fluid flow path.
US08376976B2
An orthopedic support device of the type worn on a wrist and a palm of a wearer. The device has a sleeve with an open upper end for receiving the fingers of the wearer, a thumb opening, and an open lower end for receiving the wrist of the wearer. A portion of the sleeve covering the palm of the wearer has a curved configuration. The device also includes, a first strap, designed to be wrapped and secured about a portion of the sleeve covering a palm of the wearer, a second strap designed to be removably wrapped and secured about a portion of the sleeve covering a distal forearm of the wearer, and a third strap, designed to be removably wrapped and secured about a portion of the sleeve covering the wrist of the wearer.
US08376975B1
A vibration dampening device includes a strap or band wrapped around a human body part. The strap includes one or more wing sections, which may be formed from the distal ends of step members engaged to the strap, that extend beyond the nominal width of the strap and have freedom of movement with respect to the strap. Step member and/or wing section movement counteracts longitudinal and/or radial vibrations traveling through soft tissue and musculature to dampen such vibrations.
US08376973B2
A patient interface kit for a system for providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation or circulatory support to a patient, the system including a control unit, the kit including an inflatable abdominal cuff adapted to extend over a patient's abdomen and including an elongated flexible strap, an inflatable bladder and a fastener system to secure the abdominal cuff in position for use on a patient; an inflatable chest cuff adapted to extend over a patient's chest and including an elongated flexible strap, an inflatable bladder and a fastener system to secure the chest cuff in position for use on a patient; a patient platform or backboard configured for disposition against the patient's back during use; and a cuff prepositioning system configured to secure the chest and abdomen compression cuffs to the patient platform in a ready position and to facilitate rapid deployment of the cuffs for use on the patient.
US08376968B2
A method for quantifying an intention of movement of a user, the method comprising: extracting a mechanomyogram (MMG) signal in response to surface vibration of a muscle of the user; and averaging the MMG signal by calculating the MMG root mean squared (RMS) amplitude or frequency variance in a predetermined time window; where an increasing RMS amplitude of the MMG signal corresponds to increasing muscle voluntary contraction or a decreasing frequency variance of the MMG signal corresponds to increasing muscle voluntary contraction.
US08376954B2
A method is provided for predicting an onset of a clinical episode, the method including sensing breathing of a subject, determining at least one breathing pattern of the subject responsively to the sensed breathing, comparing the breathing pattern with a baseline breathing pattern, and predicting the onset of the episode at least in part responsively to the comparison. Other embodiments are also described.
US08376952B2
An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes a blood oxygen sensing apparatus and method in which an infra-red light is absorbed blood in portions that are related to levels of oxygen in the blood along a path.
US08376943B2
Patient input indicating the occurrence of an event and information relating to the event may be collected by a computing device. In some examples, the patient input is received via an event indication input mechanism of a medical device programmer. A clinician may review the event information to evaluate the efficacy of a therapy system (e.g., a particular therapy program or program group) or a patient's condition. In one example, a patient may activate an event indication input mechanism to indicate the occurrence of a seizure symptom, and input information relating to the seizure, such as the duration, severity, type of seizure or efficacy of a therapy system implemented to manage seizures.
US08376942B2
An articulation mechanism for a vaginal speculum enables selective relative movement between an upper blade member and a lower blade member to affect vertical and angular spacing. The mechanism selectively enables quiet or clicking articulation according to at least one version.
US08376938B2
Methods and devices are provided for accessing a body cavity. A surgical access device can be configured to be positioned in tissue to provide access through a working channel of the device to a body cavity underlying the tissue. The device can include a flexible member and a plurality of discrete housing portions disposed in at least a proximal portion of an outer housing. Each of the discrete housing portions can be surrounded by the flexible member within the outer housing and be configured to move therein relative to one another and to the outer housing. The flexible member can be configured to act as a barrier between the discrete housing portions such that when one of the discrete housing portions moves, the flexible member can flex to allow the other discrete housing portions to remain in a substantially fixed position relative to the outer housing.
US08376937B2
An apparatus for monitoring the characteristics of tissue adjacent a surgical site and communicating that information to a health care provider includes a retractor, a sensor, and a processing system. The sensor is disposed on the retractor and is configured to measure a parameter indicative of at least one characteristic of the tissue adjacent the first or the second blade. The processing system is in communication with the sensor and configured and arranged to receive information from the sensor indicative of the measured parameter. It includes a threshold stored therein indicative of excessive trauma to the tissue and it is configured in a manner such that it compares the received information to the stored threshold and communicates information to the health care provider regarding the comparison.
US08376936B2
A videoscope preheater for preheating an endoscope includes: a support tube; an electrical heating layer uniformly coated on an outer surface of the support tube, one side of the electrical heating layer being connected with a power cable for connecting with an external power supply; and a capsule layer coated on an outer surface of the electrical heating layer for fixing and protecting the electrical heating layer and the power cable. The capsule layer is a thermally contractible capsule film, which is fitted around the electrical heating layer and then heated to contract for insulating the electrical heating layer and the support tube from ambient environment. In use, the endoscope is fitted into the support tube and the electrical heating layer is powered on to generate heat and uniformly heat the endoscope. The heating efficiency of the videoscope preheater is controllable by means of adjusting the current and voltage input.
US08376934B2
A multijoint manipulator apparatus includes a tubular-member, linear-motion-transmission-members, a drive-unit, a position-detector, a tension-detector, an operation-unit, and a movement-degree-calculation-unit. The linear-members are inserted in the tubular-member, one end and the other end of each of the linear-members being fixed to the vicinity of a joint of the tubular-member and the drive-unit, respectively. The drive-unit moves the linear-members. The position-detector and the tension-detector detect positions and tension of the linear-members, respectively. A desired position/posture of a point of interest is input to the operation-unit. The calculation-unit calculates a current position/posture of the point, a weighting factor serving to give priority to and move the linear-members the tension of which is relatively low among the linear-members, and movement degrees of the linear-members to move the point to the desired position/posture, and causes the drive-unit to pull the linear-members.
US08376922B2
A conductive roller such as a developing roller, a charging roller or the like provided with a resin coating layer on a surface of an elastic layer, and more particularly to a conductive roller having the resin coating layer using an ultraviolet-curing type resin or an electron beam curing type resin and being obtained by contriving a structure of the resin coating layer, rendering the resin coating layer to contain microparticles, controlling the particle size of the microparticles, or forming the resin coating layer after the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer is subjected to surface treatment.
US08376915B2
An exercise bicycle is provided with a planar four bar linkage with cranks. The bicycle frame (5) is used as the machine frame of the planar four bar linkage, the seat (2) of the bicycle is fixed on a connecting rod (8) of the planar four bar linkage, and the connecting rod (8) is not directly connected with the bicycle frame (5). A middle axle (10) is used as the crank shaft, and one end of the connecting rod (8) is rotationally connected with a crank pin journal of the crank shaft (10), the other end thereof is connected with the member of the bicycle frame (5). The seat of the bicycle can do periodic movement with translation and rotation while a person rides the bicycle.
US08376908B2
A vehicle control apparatus that controls a vehicle having a torque converter provided on a power transmission path between an internal combustion engine and a transmission is provided. The torque converter includes a pump impeller, to which rotational power from the internal combustion engine is input to rotate, a turbine runner that receives oil from the rotating pump impeller and transmits the rotational power toward the transmission, and an impeller clutch that is configured to connect and disconnect the rotational power transmission from the internal combustion engine to the pump impeller. The vehicle control apparatus controls the internal combustion engine and the impeller clutch, such that, when a throttle opening degree is equal to or larger than a first threshold value during control of the impeller clutch from a non-engaged state to a completely engaged state, lowers an output torque of the internal combustion engine.
US08376904B2
A motor vehicle with a hybrid drive system (1) comprising an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, one of an automatic or automated transmission (2) connected between the hybrid drive (1) and a drive output (3) and a driver-operated element (4). The driver-operated element (4) has several conditions that can be selected by a driver with which one of a number of driving ranges or one of several groups of gears are associated for operation of the transmission. The driver-operated element (4) has at least one condition that can be selected by the driver with which, alternatively or in addition to a driving range or group of gears, a hybrid function mode is associated.
US08376903B2
Mechanisms and methods for clamping force generation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a clamping force generator includes a spring coupled to a traction ring and to a load cam roller cage. The traction ring can be provided with a recess to receive the spring. In some embodiments, a relatively short spring is provided. In other embodiments, a spring couples to a wire and the spring-wire combination couples to the traction ring and the load cam roller cage. In some embodiments, the load cam roller cage is provided with tabs adapted to engage the wire and/or the spring. In yet other embodiments, the traction ring is configured to receive a dowel pin for coupling to the spring. One or more of the tabs can include a tab notch that cooperates with a stop pin coupled to the traction ring to provide adjustment of the travel of the load cam roller cage.
US08376878B2
The present invention is directed to an iron-type golf club head with one or more passages travelling through a portion of the body. The passages may be accessible in the toe, heel, rear, or sole, or any combination thereof. The passages may be substantially vertical, substantially horizontal or a combination thereof. Weight inserts may be placed in one or more of the passages. In addition, one or more weight inserts may be coupled to the rear of the club head. The weight inserts may have varying densities. The present invention may also include a removable face insert. A plurality of weight inserts may be attached to the rear surface of the face insert.
US08376871B1
A golf putting game apparatus comprises a ramp, a plurality of selectable rings, and a ball return mechanism. The ramp comprises a durable body having a horizontal surface portion at an upper end. The ramp is disposed with a suitable golf putting surface. The plurality selectable rings further comprise a large round target hole, a support assembly, and a plurality of concentric targets. The support assembly comprises a plurality of small horizontal supports which extends inward from a bottom edge of the target hole. The plurality of concentric targets comprise a plurality of flat concentric rings which fit inside each other, with the largest fitting correspondingly inside the inner perimeter of the target hole. The ball return mechanism comprises a return chute which returns a golf ball to the side of the ramp upon successfully placing the ball in the target. By selectively placing a desired number of concentric targets, a user may shrink the diameter of the target in order to increase the difficulty.
US08376866B2
An unbalance correction device of a propeller shaft includes a propeller shaft configured by a plurality of annular dampers being elastic members mounted along an axial direction between a metallic outer shaft and a metallic inner shaft and a balance weight in which a primary weight plate part and an auxiliary weight plate part that are formed in an arc along a width direction and include a substantially quadrilateral planar shape are formed continuously and integrally along a longitudinal direction, and a protruding piece is protrusively formed on a concave arced surface on a rear surface side of the primary weight plate part and from each corner part at four locations. The primary weight plate part is disposed in a non-mounted area of the dampers at an axial direction end of the outer shaft coinciding with an axial direction of the outer shaft.
US08376864B2
A damper mechanism has a first rotating body, a second rotating body, at least one first elastic member, and at least one second elastic member. The second rotating body is disposed rotatably with respect to the first rotating body. The first elastic member is disposed so as to link elastically the first rotating body and the second rotating body in the rotation direction, and to operate only on the positive side of the torsional characteristics. The second elastic member is disposed so as to link elastically the first rotating body and the second rotating body in the rotation direction, and operate only on the negative side of the torsional characteristics.
US08376861B2
There are provided systems and methods for inter-connectable multi-track media-based cards. There is provided a card for media playback, the card comprising a media output, a memory storing at least one of a plurality of media tracks of a media, a communications interface inter-connectable with one or more additional cards storing other media tracks of the plurality of media tracks of the media, and a media processor. The media processor is configured to detect, via the communications interface, any of the one or more additional cards connected to the communications interface to determine connected cards, and cause a playback of at least one of the plurality of media tracks in the memory in combination with at least one of the other media tracks of the plurality of media tracks on the connected cards. This enables concurrent playback of multi-track media-based trading cards, providing entertainment and collectible value for users.
US08376859B2
The present invention discloses an online game provision system using a storage medium and a method thereof. The online game provision system includes a database server, a storage medium, and a Personal Computer (PC). The database server stores patch files corresponding to a video and image file, a sound file and a game program executable file which are necessary to play the game, and information about the version of each of the patch files. The storage medium stores the video and image file, the sound file, the game program executable file, the latest patch executable file, and an account authority processing executable file which are necessary to play the game. The PC is connected to the database server, receives the input of the storage medium, and includes an Operating System (OS) for detecting the input of the storage medium and automatically executing the latest patch executable file.
US08376857B1
A method of operation for a multi-player online computer game that is played by users involves portable wireless game-playing devices. Each of the portable wireless game-playing devices is located at a respective corresponding physical geographic position. Information that indicates the respective corresponding physical geographic position of each of the portable wireless game playing devices is obtained. This information is used to bring a user of one of the portable wireless game playing devices into physical proximity with other users of portable wireless game playing devices so that a plurality of users of portable wireless game playing devices are participating in the multi-player online game in physical proximity to each other.
US08376854B2
An electronic device includes an around device interaction module configured to interact with a user of the electronic device. The around device interaction module includes a magnetic sensor operable to measure a magnetic field strength of a magnetic element and a control unit configured to control the electronic device based on a movement of the magnetic element while the magnetic sensor measures the magnetic field strength of the magnetic element.
US08376849B2
An apparatus and method is provided for managing objects on a stereoscopic display. The location of the object on the stereoscopic display is determined and the visual distance of the object from the stereoscopic display is determined. The apparatus and method determines if the visual distance of the object exceeds a threshold value and the appearance of the object is transitioned from (e.g., gradually faded out from) the display if the visual distance exceeds the threshold value. In this manner, the object is properly transitioned on the display so that it does not distract the viewer or appear unnatural.
US08376846B1
An embedded additional user interface configured as a kiosk for use in a gaming machine includes a multimedia display screen, wherein the display screen presents kiosk functionality data to a user via the display screen. A network connection connects the embedded additional user interface to a gaming network. An embedded processor employs an internal operating system and communicates with one or more kiosk data servers through the gaming network. The embedded processor reads incoming kiosk data, and maps the data to the multimedia display screen. The embedded processor further sends input kiosk data received from a user to the one or more kiosk data servers through the gaming network. In one embodiment, the gaming network connects to a wide area network for connection to the one or more kiosk data servers.
US08376844B2
A method, apparatus, computer program, and computer readable storage medium storing the computer program, is disclosed for generating a real-world description to operate a set of devices (12, 14, 16) to augment a user's experience of a game world. The game world is defined by a game world model, and parameters of the game world model are accessed by a first module being run within a protected computing environment. These parameters are sent to a second module running outside of the protected computing environment, and the second module uses these parameters to generate the real world description for controlling the set of devices.
US08376838B2
A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting, via one or more sensory devices of a wagering game table, one or more game events associated with a wagering table game being played by a plurality of players on the wagering game table. The operations can also include determining that the one or more game events trigger a secondary game for the plurality of players playing the wagering table game, and presenting the secondary game on a plurality of display devices of the wagering game table. The operations can further include detecting, via one or more input devices of the wagering game table, player input associated with the secondary game, determining results associated with the secondary game based, at least in part, on the player input, and presenting the results associated with the secondary game on the plurality of display devices.
US08376837B2
The patent application describes techniques for distributing information in a wagering game system. One method includes identifying one or more components to notify about events occurring in a wagering game system, where the one or more components facilitate secondary wagering games. The method can also include detecting the events, where some of the events arise from presenting primary wagering games. The method can also include reporting the events to the one or more components. The method can also include determining results for one or more of the secondary wagering games; and transmitting the results for presentation.
US08376832B2
A gaming system comprises a wager input device and a display for displaying a wallpaper, a plurality of symbols, and a plurality of symbol backgrounds. The symbols overly the symbol backgrounds, and the symbol backgrounds overly the wallpaper. The plurality of symbols represent a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game. The system further comprises a controller operative to increase a translucence of at least one of the symbol backgrounds to increase visibility of the wallpaper in response to a triggering event.
US08376828B2
A gaming system utilizes a game designation generating component, a gaming establishment component, and a set of predefined bingo card representations. Each bingo card representation is stored in electronic format as a data structure or data record defining a predefined pattern of game designations chosen from a pool of available designations. The game designation generating component generates sets of game designations from a pool of available designations. The method employed in the gaming system includes pre-matching the bingo card representations to a given set of game designations to produce a matched card set. This pre-matching occurs prior to the sale, distribution, or assignment of card representations to players in the game. The matched card set includes a number of game play records, each corresponding to a different one of the bingo card representations and each being associated with a result indicator which indicates whether the respective bingo card representation is a winning card or losing card for that set of game designations. Data representing these matched card sets are stored and then the individual game play records are assigned to players in response to game play requests initiated by the players.
US08376826B2
Methods and systems for electronic interaction comprising a display for presenting a grid of identifying objects, an input for receiving a player selection of an identifying object, a random generator for randomly selecting a winning identifying object, and a point tally system for awarding points to the player according to the rules comprising a first point value if the player selected identifying object exactly matches the winning identifying object, a second point value if the player selected identifying object is in a geometric relationship with the winning identifying object, and a third, negative, point value if the player is not awarded the first point value or the second point value.
US08376802B2
An electroluminescent display device includes a display panel having scan lines, data lines, and pixel circuits. The pixel circuit includes an electroluminescent element having a first electrode layer, a first insulation film, and an emitting layer for displaying images. A driving circuit is coupled to the electroluminescent element. The first electrode layer is superimposed on a power source line, a scan line, or both, with a second insulation film therebetween.
US08376801B2
The present invention relates to a luminescent component (30) and a manufacturing method thereof. The luminescent component (30) comprises a first transparent carrier (18), a second transparent carrier (24), a substrate (10) sandwiched between said transparent carriers (18; 24), the substrate (10) comprising a conduit from the first transparent layer (18) to the second transparent carrier (24), the conduit being filled with a luminescent solution (20). This facilitates the use of colloidal solutions of quantum dots in such a luminescent component (30). Preferably, the substrate (10) is direct bonded to the transparent carriers (18, 24) using direct wafer bonding techniques.
US08376798B2
Method of uprighting and locating a water sports board in the water and a directional float therefor
This invention relates to a novel method and a novel inflatable flotation device for the method which are used in association with water sports boards such as kite boards, surfboards and the like, for the purpose of uprighting the water sports boards when inverted and encouraging the water sports boards to be moved by the wind in the direction of a water sports board rider when the rider becomes separated from the water sports board.
US08376784B2
The present invention related to a connector which is used in a biosensing meter and receives an insertion, comprising a body and a plurality of terminal components. The plurality of terminals arranged all around and face to face, thereby reducing the volume of the connector. Furthermore, the plurality of terminal respectively contact the insertion equally thereby increasing the transmissible accuracy and the determination accuracy. The connector can further comprise a sliding base connected with the body for ejecting the insertion, whereby the invented connector can achieve multi-functional goal.
US08376782B2
A power strip comprising a housing, a plurality of female outlets on at least one surface of the housing, and a recessed connector, such as an IEC connector, on a surface of the housing, is disclosed. The recessed connector is wired within the housing to provide power to the plurality of female outlets. Preferably, the recessed connector is a male plug for connection to a power cord or wire harness.
US08376779B2
A shielding is (210) attachable at a rear side of a connector (10), with which a cable (220) having a cable shielding (218) is connectable from the rear side, and has a connector shielding (214) and at least one extension (216) connectable with the cable shielding (218) and mountable to at least two different entry portions (234) of the connector shielding (214) and/or displaceable to at least two different entry portions (234) of the connector shielding (214) along the same.
US08376773B2
A security device for a HDMI connector having a HDMI connector head provided on an electronic device having a HDMI socket. The security device includes a locking device including a locking head and a plurality of locker arms extended from two sides of the locking head respectively to define a locker channel for detachably receiving the HDMI connector head. Each of the locker arms has a plurality of engaging teeth formed therealong, wherein the locking device is arranged to operate between a locking mode and a releasing mode, wherein in the locking mode, the locker arms are inwardly pressed to bias against the HDMI connector head when the HDMI connector is plugged into the HDMI socket, wherein in the releasing mode, the locker arms are relieved from the pressing force so as to allow the HDMI connector head to be freely detached from the HDMI socket.
US08376772B2
An electrical plug connector comprises a first housing part and a second housing part. The second housing part has a first journal. The first housing part has a first locking hook. A first end of the first locking hook is rotatably connected to the first housing part. A second end of the first locking hook has a rotatably arranged first locking element. In this case, the first locking element can be passed on a path partially around the first journal by pivoting the first locking hook. The first locking element has a contour having at least two concave outer edges arranged at an angle to one another.
US08376768B2
A locking device for a power feeding plug that prevents unauthorized removal of the power feeding plug from an inlet. The locking device includes a lock mechanism that locks the power feeding plug to the inlet. The lock mechanism includes an actuator and a lock member pivotable by the actuator between a lock position, at which the lock member locks the power feeding plug to the inlet, and an unlock position.
US08376765B2
A wet-mateable connector for making a connection underwater comprises a male component 10 having a male pin 14 and a female component 20 having a female socket 24 for receiving the male pin. A fluid chamber 34 containing dielectric fluid and a water ingress treatment module 36 for removing water from the dielectric fluid are provided. The male and female components 10, 20 are arranged to be mechanically coupled together such that the female socket 24 receives the male pin 14, thereby making the connection.
US08376752B2
Devices and methods useful for enhancing respiration quality in humans are described herein. In particular, the present invention relates to devices and methods useful for the treatment, prevention, and/or management of respiratory disorders and associated complications. Herein, a training device is described that increases the difficulty of nasal breathing.
US08376742B2
A dental tray and system is disclosed. The dental tray may include a frame, an arch bridging two halves of the frame, and a bite block projecting upward from the arch to contact a palate. The system may further include a suction system connected to the frame for suctioning liquid away from an area being worked on. The dental tray may be integral or split in two halves.
US08376741B2
A handle for releasably retaining tubular sleeve-like crimpable stops is disclosed. The handle includes an elongated body with opposed ends and at least one receptacle positioned at one end of the body. The receptacle has an inside surface and defines an entry opening. The receptacle may be configured to mechanically retain the stop, or the stop may be releasably bonded to the receptacle by sticky substances like wax, any suitable adhesive or techniques such as heat bonding. The handle is molded from plastic in a color contrasting with the oral environment, such as orange. The handle aids in handling and positioning crimpable stops during installation of archwire assemblies in the oral environment. A stop retained in the disclosed handle is highly visible and can be handled without tools.
US08376739B2
The present disclosure is directed, at least in part, to a self ligating orthodontic bracket having a rotatable member for securing an archwire within a slot of the bracket. Embodiments of the orthodontic bracket disclosed herein include a bracket body containing the archwire slot as well as tie wings for attaching various orthodontic devices (e.g., elastomeric bands) to the bracket. The rotatable member is rotatable in a first direction (e.g., counter clockwise) relative to a body of the bracket for securing or locking the archwire within the slot, and for rotating in an opposite direction (e.g., a clockwise direction) relative to the bracket body for unsecuring or unlocking the archwire so that it is substantially unrestrained from exiting the slot.
US08376734B2
The invention relates to a roller hearth furnace (1) for heating and/or temperature equilibration of continuous cast products (2), comprising a first series of rollers (13) running in the longitudinal direction (12) and a second parallel series of rollers (15) on the outlet side (14), wherein a buffer zone (16) with lifting elements (17) for the perpendicular transport of the continuous cast product (2) is arranged between the series of rollers (13, 15). Furthermore, alternative arrangements for a further process route (28) are provided.
US08376733B2
A vented, gas-fired air heater especially designed for temporary heating applications includes an improved burner design providing effective air and gas mixing and efficient burning in the combustion chamber. Highly efficient heat exchanger including corrugated heat exchanger panels provides enhanced heat transfer characteristics.
US08376730B2
A material clamping unit and a method for clamping material, wherein a product having no creases can be manufactured, even if the material has a complex shape, and the method can improve a yield of the product, and can reduce the cost of the dies. The method of clamping materials is for a forming machine that will form thermoplastic sheet material by an upper and a lower die, which sheet material is heated in advance to a predetermined temperature in heating furnace, and thus softened, comprising the steps of: holding both edges of the sides in the running direction of the thermoplastic sheet material, and then transferring the material between the upper die and the lower die of the forming machine: holding the rear and front edges of the sides of the thermoplastic sheet material, which sides are perpendicular to the running direction of the thermoplastic sheet material; and lowering the edges of the sides in the running direction of the thermoplastic sheet material and the rear and front edges of the sides of the thermoplastic sheet material, which sides are perpendicular to the running direction of the thermoplastic sheet material, so that the sheet material will fit in the upper die.
US08376720B2
A gerotor pump includes an inner ring and an outer ring. The inner ring is rotateable about an axis, where the inner ring has an outer diameter contact surface. The outer ring has an inner diameter contact surface that defines a central opening. The central opening receives the inner ring, and a portion of the inner diameter contact surface engages a portion of the outer diameter contact surface of the inner ring. A motor including a rotor and a stator that surrounds the rotor is included. The rotor surrounds the outer ring and exerts a driving force on the outer ring such that the outer ring rotates about the inner ring. The inner diameter contact surface of the outer ring and the outer diameter contact surface of the inner ring create a plurality of chambers. Rotation between the inner ring and the outer ring expand and contract the chambers to expel fluid from the gerotor pump.
US08376712B2
A sheath for a fan airfoil having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a tip, a root, a suction side and a pressure side includes a solid portion to wrap around the airfoil lead edge and over the airfoil tip and means for securing the solid portion to the airfoil.
US08376700B2
An air starter for turbomachine, including a forward casing, an aft casing, an annular exhaust flow path opening up between an aft end of the forward casing and a forward end of the aft casing, and a cylindrical outlet mesh of the exhaust flow path is disclosed. The forward and aft ends of the outlet mesh include devices for axially retaining the forward casing and the aft casing respectively to the mesh. At least one of the devices for axially retaining one of the casings to the mesh enables a relative rotation of the mesh and this casing.
US08376699B1
The Vortex Hydro Turbine takes water through an inlet from the current in which it is submerged. The water inlet reduces the cross-sectional area for the water that flows into the vortex chamber and thus increases the velocity of the water into a specially designed cylindrical chamber. The top of the chamber is specifically left open allowing the water now traveling at an increased velocity to disperse toward outlet as it rotates around the chamber, and then reintegrate into the existing environmental regime. This expansion creates a low pressure area in the center of the vortex chamber that is applied to the back side of a turbine blade system either directly or through a connecting tube depending on configuration.
US08376695B2
A vane ring assembly includes a lower vane ring (20), an upper vane ring (30), one or more guide vanes (80) positioned at least partially between the vane rings, and a spacer (50) positioned between the lower and upper vane rings (20, 30) for maintaining a distance between the lower and upper vane rings (20, 30). The spacer has a first end (52) with a first diameter, a second end (54) with a second diameter, and a middle section (56) with a third diameter. The third diameter is larger than the first and second diameters. The first and second ends (52, 54) of the spacer (50) are inserted at least partially into a first counter bore (22) and a second counter bore (32) formed in the lower and upper vane rings (20, 30). A nut (40) and a fastener (42) running through a central through hole (58) of the spacer (50) are used to connect the vane ring assembly to a turbocharger housing. A clearance (c) of greater than e.g. 5% of the fastener diameter is formed between an inside wall (51) of the spacer (50) an outside wall (43) of the metal fastener (42) to offset any thermal expansion or deformation.
US08376694B1
Systems and methods for maneuvering an underwater vehicle by generating vehicle maneuvering forces from a propulsor of the vehicle are provided. A ducted, pre-swirl propulsor is configured such that the pitch angles of the stator blades of the upstream stator row can be varied. By varying the pitch angles of the stator blades about the circumference, a mean stator side force is generated. Subsequently, the axial velocity and swirl that is ingested into the inflow is varied. The rotor of the propulsor then generates a side force in response to the inflow.
US08376693B2
A variable vane assembly, for example of stator vanes in a gas turbine engine, comprises vanes which can be turned together about their longitudinal axes by means of a unison ring which is turned by an actuator about the engine axis. The unison ring is coupled to the vanes by levers. The unison ring has varying stiffness along its circumference, increasing in the direction away from the drive point at which the actuator acts. The varying stiffness may be achieved by varying the radial thickness of the unison ring. The unison ring is thus able to resist ovalization so that the vanes move together.
US08376687B2
A steam turbine includes a rotor having a plurality of early stages and a stator portion surrounding a portion of the rotor and arranged such that a leakage region exists between the stator portion and the rotor and having a cooling steam channel that passes cooling steam from one portion of the stator portion to the leakage region. The turbine also includes at least one cooling steam transmission channel axially displaced about the rotor that receives the cooling steam from the leakage region and provides it to at least a portion of the early stages.
US08376676B2
A load securing device for stacked cargo comprises a body member having contact surfaces adapted to engage a side portion of each of a pair of stacked cargo items. One end of a flexible member such as a strap is attached to the body member. The flexible member extends through a space created between the stacked items, with its other end being secured to a carrier supporting the stacked items. Optimally, and when expecting forces to be applied to both sides of the stacked items, a load securing device is placed on either side of the stacked items so that forces arising during the transport of the stacked items are resisted in both directions.
US08376668B2
A drilling or tapping machine includes a housing having a front end through which a drill mounting stub projects; a drill shaft having an inner drill tube carrying a splined bush at a rear thereof and carrying the drill mounting stub at a front thereof, a support tube coaxial with the drill tube, having front and rear bearing nuts mounting the support tube on the drill tube for relative rotation; a spline shaft extending from rear to front through the drill tube, and slidably engaged within the splined bush whereby rotation thereof rotates the drill tube; a moving plate fixed to the rear bearing nut and moveable axially relative to the spline shaft, the moving plate engaging the drill tube to axially move the drill tube relative to the housing; a first drive rotating the spline shaft; and a second drive causing the moving plate to move axially.
US08376663B2
A package sorting system. The package sorting conveyor system includes a conveying track, at least one unloading station and an air-film lubricated entrance chute upstream of the unloading station to receive the package. In one embodiment, the entrance chute includes a plenum including a plurality of spaced apart apertures and an opening for communicating with an air supply; and a segmented conveying surface in communication with the apertures, wherein the segmented conveying surface includes at least one air-film lubricated bottom surface and at least one air-film lubricated side wall substantially perpendicular to the at least one bottom surface. In one embodiment, the apparatus further includes a positioner assembly for selectively positioning the outlet of the entrance chute.
US08376653B2
In an automotive road construction machine (1), with a working drum (6) for working a ground surface or traffic surface (3) mounted at a machine frame (4), a combustion engine (10) for driving the working drum (6), and a drive train (8) between the combustion engine (10) and the working drum (6), it is provided that at least one vibration damper (5) and/or vibration absorber is arranged at the working drum (6) or in the drive train (8) downstream of the combustion engine (10), with the said vibration damper (5) and/or vibration absorber eliminating or reducing rotary vibrations generated by the combustion engine (10).
US08376646B2
An adjustable pole comprising an upper pole telescopically engaged with a lower pole. The adjustable pole further comprises a locking unit secured to an upper end of the lower pole. The locking unit comprises a housing having a lower bore engaged with the upper end of the lower pole. The housing further comprises an upper bore disposed above the lower bore for freely receiving the upper pole into and out of the lower pole. The housing further comprises a channel disposed adjacent the upper bore. The locking unit further comprises a lever rotatably supported within the channel between a locked position where the upper pole cannot move relative to the lower pole and an unlocked position where the upper pole may be moved. The lever comprises a tooth catch engaged with the upper pole and substantially shielded by the channel between the locked and unlocked positions.
US08376635B2
A focal plane shutter includes: a board including an opening; blades capable of opening and closing the opening; a drive member movable between a start position and a terminal position, biased toward the terminal position, and driving the blades; a brake member supported to abut and move away from the drive member positioned at the terminal position, and biased to abut the drive member positioned at the terminal position; and a set member rotatable in only one direction, and moving the drive member from the terminal position to the start position; wherein the set member includes a drive portion abutting the brake member to move the brake member away from the drive member and then abutting the drive member to move the drive member toward the start position.
US08376632B2
A strain-relief member having a body formed from a block copolymer and designed for use in a fiber optic drop cable assembly. The body has a central channel and a cylindrical connector-end portion sized to surround an end-portion of a connector. The body also has a tapered cable-end portion sized to surround an end portion of a fiber optic cable that connects to the connector and that has a preferential bend axis. The strain-relief member is configured to limit an amount of strain in the strength components to less than 0.041 when subjected to flex and proof testing. A fiber optic drop cable assembly that has a fiber optic cable with a preferential bend axis and that employs the strain-relief member is also disclosed.
US08376625B2
A wheel supporting roller bearing in which a pitch circle diameter of an outboard row is larger than a pitch circle diameter of an inboard row. Thermally-hardened layers are formed, at two locations along an axial direction, in portions of an inner circumferential surface of an outer ring including outer ring raceways. The thermally-hardened layers are separated from each other by an unhardened portion in an axially middle portion of the outer ring. A non-cylindrical curved portion having an arcuate generatrix is provided on the axially middle portion of the inner circumferential surface of the outer ring between the outer ring raceways. A thickness of the thermally-hardened layer in the portion including the outer ring raceway on an axially outer side is larger than a thickness of the thermally-hardened layer in the portion including the outer ring raceway on the axially inner side.
US08376620B2
A sliding bearing is constructed by an upper split bearing half and a lower split bearing half. The upper split bearing half has a sliding surface, in which an oil groove which allows a lubricating oil to flow therein is formed over the entire circumferential extent of the sliding surfaced. The oil groove extends through a crush relief to be open to a junction area, and the oil groove has a bottom which is formed so that a portion disposed toward the junction area as considered in the circumferential direction of the crush relief is located closer to the center of the upper split bearing half in comparison to a central portion. An ingress in large quantities of foreign particles within the oil groove onto the sliding surface of the sliding bearing and into a connecting rod bearing after passing through a lubricating oil feed passage is suppressed, and an oil leakage through the crush relief is reduced, allowing a lubricating oil pressure to be secured and augmented.
US08376617B2
An improved sliding bearing apparatus and method utilize a snap-in polymer bearing insert having one or more identically shaped locking lugs, each of which are configured for locking engagement with a corresponding depression in a bearing housing, to thereby lock the bearing insert in place against relative movement either radially or axially with respect to the bearing housing. In a free-standing state, the insert may have a variety of shapes including cylindrical, non-cylindrical, or be flat and planar. An insert for a closed bearing is configured such that it may be trimmed to form an insert for an open bearing.
US08376611B2
A temperature detection circuit includes a sensor, an integrated circuit (IC) chip, and a resistor. The sensor is operable for sensing a temperature. The IC chip can compare a sense voltage indicative of the temperature with a threshold voltage indicative of a temperature threshold to determine a temperature condition. The IC chip has a substantially constant parameter. The resistor is externally coupled to the IC chip. The IC chip maintains a current ratio, including a ratio of a first current flowing through the sensor to a second current flowing through the resistor, equal to the substantially constant parameter.
US08376610B2
A method and apparatus for automated field calibration of temperature sensors uses a series of readings including a reading of a known source, such as an LED, for use in calculating a factor that is compared to a reference for adjusting the sensor output signal. Calibration readings are taken more frequently after start up to compensate for sensor drift during storage, as opposed to less frequent readings during operation to compensate for slower sensor drift while operational.
US08376599B2
The present invention relates to a light module (10) for an illumination device, in particular for a headlight (1), of a motor vehicle. The light module (10) comprises at least one light source (18) for emitting light beams, at least one primary optical unit (20) for concentrating the emitted light beams, a diaphragm arrangement (22) in the beam path of the concentrated light beams, and at least one secondary optical unit (30) for imaging the light beams that have traveled past the diaphragm arrangement (22) onto a roadway in front of the motor vehicle in order to generate a desired light distribution. There is formed in the diaphragm arrangement (22) at least one opening (26) and/or cutout to which is assigned an optically active element (28), which deflects or attenuates at least a portion of the light beams passing through the opening (26) and/or cutout.
US08376595B2
An automatic headlamp control system for a vehicle which has an image sensor having a forward field of view that captures image data of a scene forward of the vehicle. The image processor processes the image data and detects objects of interest. A controller is responsive to the image processing to control a beam illumination state of the headlamps of the equipped vehicle. The controller is operable to detect at least a partial blocking condition at the image sensor and is operable to limit switching to a different beam illumination state in response to a signal indicative of an outside temperature at the equipped vehicle being below a threshold temperature level.
US08376573B2
A flashlamp cartridge (10) comprises an cartridge portion for a flashlamp (1), cooling device components for a cooling device (11, 12) for the flashlamp, one or more thermal cartridge terminals (13) for the cooling device for thermally connecting the flashlamp cartridge to a socket, and one or more electrical cartridge terminals (14) for the flashlamp for electrically connecting the flashlamp cartridge to a socket. A flashlamp assembly comprises such flashlamp cartridge (10) and a flashlamp (1) accommodated in the flashlamp cartridge. A socket for a flashlamp assembly comprises corresponding electric socket terminals (24) and thermal socket terminals (23). An electrical device comprises such socket.
US08376566B2
In an object verifier having a housing and an object holder, an object may be placed in the object holder for observation by an operator. The object is illuminated using a collimated beam of white light that is generated by a light generator. The collimated beam of white light is passed through a beam splitter with the two portions of the collimated beam of white light presented to the object at a 90 degree angle one from the other. The interior of the housing includes a reflective surface for maximal illumination of the object. The observer may view the illuminated object through a viewing window and/or through a magnification window. The magnification window provides for the viewing of the object in greater detail.
US08376561B2
The present invention discloses a non-pyrotechnic, light emitting projectile for marking and illuminating a target. The projectile generally contains a main body having frangible side walls, at least one frangible ampoule containing chemiluminescent reactant components, a substantially incompressible filler material positioned between the frangible side walls and ampoule, and a first and second end cap. The first end cap is designed to be traversable between a first position and a second position upon impact with an object, thus provides a force sufficient to rupture the frangible side walls and ampoules. Rupture of the ampoules causes intermixing of the chemiluminescent reactant components and formation of a chemiluminescent slurry. The second end cap provides sufficient energy transfer to the chemiluminescent slurry upon impact with a target to disperse the chemiluminescent slurry radially and outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main body.
US08376560B2
A parabola light reflector includes multiple light reflecting surfaces on an umbrella skin. A first or outer skin is used to provide support for and to define the shape of the inner skin. A second or inner skin has a larger surface area than the outer skin and the inner skin is made up of panels of light reflecting material. The panels of the inner skin are stitched together in a variety of different configurations to achieve differing results. The inner skin is configured into a collection of three dimensional folds, creases, bends and angles that significantly increases the surface area of the inner skin that is available to reflect light and to create novel light dispersion patterns from a light source associated with the light reflector.
US08376557B2
A housing includes a wall, a connector, a coupler, and a foot pad. The housing includes a bottom surface, a recess defined in the bottom surface, and a discontinuous ring-shaped engagement member surrounding the recess. The engagement member has a first gap and a second gap aligned with the first gap. The connector is connected to the engagement member and is rotatably engaged in the first gap. The coupler includes a main body and an engagement portion extending from a circumference surface thereof. A first engagement hole defined in a central portion of the main body. The main body is rotatably connected to the connector and engagable in the recess. The engagement portion engages in the second gap. The foot pad is connected to the coupler to seal the first engagement hole and received in the recess.
US08376556B2
Provided is a focus unit fastening device for a projector, in which a plurality of fastening portions for coupling a focus unit to the projector by pushing and inserting the focus unit into the projector are formed integrally with a main body housing and the focus unit. The focus unit fastening device includes a projector main body housing, a focus unit engaged to the main body housing, a first fastening portion provided on the main body housing and the focus unit to fasten the focus unit to the main body housing by pushing the focus unit in a first direction and to prevent the focus unit from moving in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a second fastening portion provided on the main body housing and the focus unit to fasten the focus unit to the main body housing by pushing the focus unit in the first direction and to prevent the focus unit from moving in the first direction.
US08376554B2
A projector includes: a projection optical device; an exterior housing; a shutter; and a support member, the shutter and support member are provided with an engagement structure including an engagement protrusion which being provided on either one of them, protrudes along a vertical axis, and an engagement groove which being provided on the other, and extending in a direction in which the shutter moves, guides a movement of the engagement protrusion by the engagement protrusion being inserted therein, and the engagement groove is provided in such a way that a start end at which the engagement protrusion is positioned in the closed position is positioned to the projection optical device projection side of a finish end at which the engagement protrusion is positioned in the open position.
US08376535B2
A liquid container detachably mountable to a mounting portion of an apparatus, the mounting portion including a first locking portion and a second locking portion, the liquid container including a casing for containing liquid and a supply port for supplying the liquid to an ink jet head, the liquid container includes a first engaging portion provided at a first side of the casing and engageable with the first locking portion; a second engaging portion provided opposed to a second side of the casing which is opposite the first side, the second engaging portion being engageable with the second locking portion; a supporting member for displaceably supporting the second engaging portion; a contact contactable to a member provided in the mounting portion to permit information display means to display information relating to the liquid container, wherein the supply port is disposed in a third side of the casing which is between the first side and the second side, and the contact is disposed at a corner region between the second side and the third side.
US08376528B2
A method of mounting a substrate having an array of actuators to another substrate in a way that reduces mechanical linkage between the actuators has been developed. The method includes cutting a first plurality of channels and a second plurality of channels in a substrate on which a plurality of actuators have been formed, each actuator having two sides that are parallel to one another and longer than two other shorter parallel sides of each actuator. The first plurality of channels is cut between the longer sides of adjacent actuators and the second plurality of channels is cut between the shorter sides of adjacent actuators. The channels in the second plurality of channels have a width that is less than a width of the channels in the first plurality of channels.
US08376524B2
A thermal inkjet printhead chip structure includes a substrate, an oxide layer formed on the substrate, at least one driver circuitry each including a source, a drain and a gate and formed on the substrate and further surrounded by the oxide layer, a dielectric layer, a buffer layer, a resistive layer and a conductive layer. The dielectric layer is formed on the driver circuitry and has openings formed therethrough to expose the source and drain. The buffer layer is formed on the dielectric layer, covering the source and drain and connected to the source and drain. The resistive layer is formed on the buffer layer and has at least one heating area. The resistive layer extends above the source and drain and is connected to the source and drain. The conductive layer is formed on the resistive layer and exposes the heating area. A manufacturing method also is provided.
US08376508B2
Provided is a fluid ejecting apparatus including: a fluid ejecting head which has nozzle rows formed by a plurality of nozzles and ejects a fluid to a medium; an absorbing member absorbs the fluid that is ejected from the nozzles during a flushing process, and is a linear member which extends along a nozzle row; a first movement mechanism which relatively moves the absorbing member in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the nozzle rows between a retreat position where the absorbing member retreats from the ejection direction of the fluid ejected from the nozzles and a flushing position where the absorbing member overlaps with the ejection direction; and an accommodating portion which is formed on the fluid ejecting head and accommodates the absorbing member at the retreat position.
US08376506B2
In one embodiment, a drop detection method includes: moving a light source along a first side of the drop zone to illuminate drops passing through a drop zone; and, without blocking any part of the drop zone, detecting light scattered off the drops as the drops pass through the drop zone. In another embodiment, a drop detector includes: a light source on a first side of the drop zone for illuminating drops passing through a drop zone; a light detector on the first side of the drop zone near the light source and a movable carriage carrying the light source and the light detector. The light detector is exposed to the drop zone for detecting light scattered off drops as the drops pass through the drop zone. The carriage is movable along the first side of the drop zone in a direction transverse to the drop direction.
US08376505B2
A media processing device, control method therefor, and associated program prevent a drop in the throughput of a media production process due to cleaning the print head. A publisher has a media drive, a transportation unit that conveys a recording medium according to a transportation command received from a host, and a printer that discharges ink from the nozzles of a print head to print on the label side of the recording medium. The printer also applies a cleaning process to the print head according to an internal signal that is generated when the transportation command or a data write command is received from a host. The cleaning process is executed while the media is conveyed.
US08376501B2
The present disclosure provides for an imaging system comprising an image receiving surface which is moved in a downstream direction; a first marking station which applies a first image to the image receiving surface; and, a second marking station, downstream of the first marking station, which applies a second image to the image receiving surface. The imaging system further comprises a first measuring device at a first location at a beginning of a platen which outputs velocity measurement information related to the moving image receiving surface; a second measuring device at a second location at an end of the platen which outputs tension measurement information related to a tension increase in the media receiving surface between the first and second locations; and, a control system in communication with the first and second marking stations, the control system being configured for determining a modified actuation time of at least one of the first and second marking stations based on the information provided by the first and second measuring devices.
US08376500B2
An image recording apparatus records a plurality of measuring patterns on a recording medium. Each measuring pattern is constituted by dots spaced from one another on the recording medium, or by dots contacting one another, forming lines spaced from one another on the recording medium. Further, the measuring patterns have gravity centers are almost identical in position on the recording medium. Hence, the relative record shifts of the measuring patterns recorded by recording element arrays, respectively, can be decreased.
US08376495B2
Provided is a printing apparatus that performs printing by moving a print head in main scan directions and sub scan directions relative to a printing medium, including: an input unit that inputs image data constituting an image; a halftone processing unit that converts the input image data to dot data indicating whether or not dots are formed; and a printing unit that performs printing by controlling ejection of ink from the print head based on the result of the halftone process, wherein, in a printing area where an ink duty is in a predetermined range, the printing unit forms dots by forward movement in which the print head relatively moves in one direction of the main scan directions and backward movement in which the print head relatively moves in the direction opposite to the one direction so that a forward-moving dot occurrence ratio that is a ratio of forming the dots by the forward movement and a backward-moving dot occurrence ratio that is a ratio of forming the dots by the backward movement are gradually increased with a biased magnitude relation as the ink duty is increased.
US08376487B2
An inkjet printer comprising an ink chamber supplying ink. An air extraction chamber is included that comprises an air chamber, a one-way relief valve for venting of the air chamber to ambient. A compressible member is used for forcing air to be vented from the air chamber through the one-way relief valve and for applying a reduced air pressure to an air permeable membrane while the one-way relief valve is closed. A carriage propels the array of nozzles, the ink chamber, the membrane and the air extraction chamber along a carriage scan path.
US08376484B2
A refrigerator that includes at least one vertical support that has a vertical guiding groove with a recess and a plurality of vertically staggered steps provided therein, and a horizontal support provided with a peg engaged into the recess of the guiding groove. In the interlocked position of the horizontal support, the peg rests on one of the steps and presses against a first wall of the vertical support from which the steps protrude. A contact surface of the horizontal support presses against a second wall of the vertical support, the second wall being arranged opposite to the first wall. The contact surface and the steps are staggered in the direction of the width of the walls, the steps being located in a lower position in the recess than the contact surface.
US08376468B2
An apparatus is provided for removing at least one surface layer from a floor. The apparatus includes a body frame mountable by a machine operator. A blade tool assembly having a scraping blade is secured to the front of the main body frame by a blade holder. The blade tool may be replaced by a detachable transport wheel for moving the machine when not in use for removing floor covering. The blade holder is manipulated by attaching a hydraulic cylinder ram to the bottom side of the blade holder. The hydraulic cylinder is attached to a rear bracket attached below the body of the machine, whereby the hydraulics system for controlling the blade holder is protected. The angles and pivotal connections of the hydraulic cylinder to the blade holder permit sufficient power to operate the blade holder using an auxiliary hydraulic pump.
US08376463B2
Angle adjustable backrest made of a lightweight, durable, adjustable, backrest for ultralight manual wheelchairs. Light-weight material can include composites for a rigid backrest for promotion of healthier and functional interface. Angle adjustment can be any desired range such as a range from −5 degree to 55 degrees (i.e. 85 degrees to 145 degree with respect to horizontal with the seat). No tools are necessary for any of the angle adjustments. The backrest has a horizontal adjustment (fore-aft) that can be any desired range such as 1 inch. The height selection depends on the length of the wheelchair frame tubes. The present invention improves the ease and simplicity of adjusting the backrest by or for the user, as well as enhances the aesthetic appearance and adds features necessary for achieving commercial readiness. The present invention can be retro fit onto a wide range for ultralight wheelchairs.
US08376462B2
An aircraft seat includes a seat bottom frame, a seat translation and rotation mechanism attached to the seat bottom frame allowing translation and rotational movement of the seat bottom frame. An armrest is removably attached to the side of the seat bottom frame, and can be set to different positions relative to the seat bottom. The armrest has a seat control mounted to an outside of the armrest, and an input transfer mechanism disposed inside the armrest. The input transfer mechanism has an end engaged to the seat control, and a receiver end. The input transfer mechanism is cable-less. A couple shaft is engaged with the receiver end and engaged with the seat translation and rotation mechanism. When the seat control is actuated, the input transfer mechanism causes the seat translation and rotation mechanism to allow the seat bottom frame to at least one of translate and rotate.
US08376453B2
A double-walled hollow panel (A) has a first wall (21) and a second wall (22) which are made of thermoplastic resin and arranged separated from each other. Longitudinal inner ribs (11) and lateral inner ribs (12) arranged so as to cross the longitudinal inner ribs (11) are formed in a space (V) between the first and second walls (21, 22) so as to extend through the first wall (21) and be fusion bonded to the second wall (22). The longitudinal inner ribs (11) and the lateral inner ribs (12) are integrated together via crossing sections (13). Each crossing section (13) has a hole (H) not fusion bonded to the second wall (22), and the holes (H) interconnects adjacent small spaces.
US08376447B2
An actuating device for opening and closing a cover of a folding top compartment of a convertible vehicle. The actuating device includes a drive unit and an interconnected seven-bar linkage system. The linkage system is pivotably connected to a main bearing of the vehicle body and is pivotably connected to the cover. The drive unit actuates the linkage system to move the linkage system between a retracted position corresponding to the cover being in a lowered closed position covering the folding top compartment and an extended position corresponding to the cover being in a raised opened position allowing access to the folding top compartment.
US08376436B2
A storage box assembly for a vehicle includes a case in which an opening is formed on an upper surface thereof, and a lid for opening/closing the opening. When the lid is closed, a surface of the lid and an upper surface of the case substantially form a flush surface. When the lid is opened, the lid is moved to be retracted in the case by a guide mechanism.
US08376434B2
A shackle bow comprises a generally U-shaped body having a first end, a second end and aligned openings defined in the first and second ends. The body has a load bearing portion positioned between the first and second ends. The load bearing portion has a cross section comprising a bearing surface that curves through more than 180 degrees and an intersecting channel-shaped supporting surface. The channel-shaped supporting surface comprises opposing channel side portions extending from opposite sides of a channel base surface and a series of spaced apart ribs connecting the opposing channel side portions to each other.
US08376426B2
Disclosed is a plastic composite bumper beam for a vehicle, which can achieve a reduction in weight and cost and has improved mechanical properties, structural strength, and crash performance, load introduction, load distribution to the fixation points, thus reducing the thickness of the bumper, compared to conventional plastic composite bumper beams. Therefore, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in design and the marketability due to the reduction in thickness of the bumper. More specifically, the plastic composite bumper beam for a vehicle includes a bumper beam body having the shape of a bumper beam and formed of a fiber-reinforced plastic composite material; and an insert reinforcing member inserted into the bumper beam body, the insert reinforcing member having a loop shape and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the bumper beam body.
US08376420B2
A closing and opening device for a furniture element is mounted movably on an item of furniture. The device includes a lockable ejection device for moving the movable furniture element out of a closed end position into an open position, and further includes a magnetic retaining device for the movably mounted furniture element. The magnetic retaining device includes at least two parts of which a first part is or can be arranged on the furniture body and the second part is or can be arranged on the movable furniture element and which exert a magnetic attraction force on each other at least in the closed position of the movable furniture element. The first part of the retaining device, that is arranged on the furniture body, is mounted movably in the direction of the movable furniture element and is acted upon by a force storage means acting in the closing direction of the movable furniture element.
US08376416B2
A system is provided for latching a door of an automobile. The system includes, but is not limited to, a first power source, second power source, a latch for the door coupled to the first power source and the second power source, and an electronic control unit configured to control an operation of the latch. The electronic control unit is further configured to determine a status of the first power source, evaluate the status of the first power source, and control the operation of the latch with the second power source if the evaluation of the status indicates the first power source is unavailable.
US08376412B2
Provided is a means for efficiently completing a high pressure seal and a connector assembly comprising two sealing members, each comprising an annular groove, and two elastomeric gasket members, each disposed into and fittingly received by the annular grooves of one of said sealing members, each gasket additionally comprising a sealing face not received into the annular grooves, wherein the sealing faces are in mutual aligned pressurized contact.
US08376411B2
A conduit fitting that comprises a first shell, a second shell, and a cover, wherein the first shell comprises top and bottom edges and the second shell comprises top and bottom edges, with the edges mating along a common plane to form a conduit fitting body, the body defining a cavity; the first and second shells further comprising attachment members to facilitate mating along a common plane; the first and second shells together defining at least one proximate opening and at least one distal opening to the cavity; the conduit fitting defining a cover opening for access to the cavity; and a cover that removably seals the cover opening.
US08376410B2
A portable data carrier (1) includes a carrier (2) which has a first graphical representation (3) and a second graphical representation (4). The second graphical representation (4) is better protected against tampering than the first graphical representation (3). In addition, the second graphical representation (4) is configured as a reference for detecting tampering with the first graphical representation (3). Only a partial area (5) of the first graphical representation (3) laterally overlaps with the second graphical representation (4) and there is no lateral overlap between the first graphical representation (3) and the second graphical representation (4) outside the partial area (5).
US08376403B2
A steering column device includes a mount bracket including a suspended portion hanging from a fixation portion. The suspended portion includes: a first wall extending along and adjacent to the jacket guide, a second wall located on an outside of the first wall in a vehicle width direction; and a front side wall and a rear side wall connecting front ends and rear ends of the first wall and the second wall to each other. Operation of an operating lever protruding from the suspended portion tightens a clamp bolt to connect and fix the jacket to the mount bracket.
US08376399B2
A control unit and a method for triggering an occupant protection arrangement for a vehicle are described, at least two semiconductor modules being provided for actuating the triggering of the occupant protection arrangement. The at least two semiconductor modules are provided for actuating the control of the personal protective arrangement. The at least two semiconductor modules provide the power supply voltage for the control unit. The at least two semiconductor modules also monitor these power supply voltages and monitor each other in at least one direction relative to these power supply voltages. The at least two semiconductor modules jointly execute a reset for the control unit, depending on the monitoring of the power supply voltages.
US08376398B2
An airbag and horn switch module, for use in a vehicle, is provided and includes an inflatable airbag cushion configured to provide restraint to the occupant, an inflator configured to inflate the airbag cushion, and a housing having a base and a plurality of walls extending from the base thereby forming a cavity configured to house the airbag cushion. At least one wall of the housing has at least one tab protruding therefrom. The module also includes a switch assembly including an electronic switch and an actuator, and a cover having a wall with at least one opening configured to receive the tab of the housing to thereby slideably couple the cover to the housing. The cover is configured to slideably couple to the housing prior to installation of the electronic switch by aligning the tab of the housing with the opening in the cover. The cover is configured to slide relative to the housing when the cover is depressed by the occupant, whereby the cover displaces the actuator into engagement with the electronic switch thereby activating the horn assembly of the vehicle.
US08376397B2
In a head protection air bag system of the invention, an air bag includes an edge side shield portion which is accommodated in a pillar portion. The edge side shield portion is mounted on a body side by a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion which is positioned further downwards than the first mounting portion. An auxiliary mounting portion which is fastened together with the second mounting portion is provided in a position where a longitudinal position of the edge side shield portion coincides with the second mounting portion and a vertical position thereof coincides with the first mounting portion. An extension which extends in a straight line from the first mounting portion is provided on the auxiliary mounting portion. In the edge side shield portion, a portion between the second mounting portion and the first mounting portion is connected to the extension by a connecting portion.
US08376392B2
The invention relates to an airbag arrangement, comprising a carrier of an airbag covering, an airbag module which is arranged on a rear side of the carrier and which is fastened on the carrier at at least one location, by way of a screw connection, as well as a reinforcement part which is formed from a sheet-metal piece in a single-piece manner, is involved in the screw connection and comprises at least one rim-hole provided with an inner thread, for screwing a screw of the screw connection and with which a holding force provided by the screw may be introduced into the carrier, wherein the reinforcement part is supported on a front side of the carrier and wherein the airbag module is screwed to the reinforcement part through a hole in the carrier which is aligned with the at least one rim-hole.
US08376387B2
The Multi-Function Anti-Rotational/Anti-Theft Hitch Ball Assembly of the present invention provides a trailer hitch assembly that includes an anti-rotational hitch ball mechanism that can also serve as an anti-theft hitch ball mechanism and can further simultaneously function as an attachment method for securing additional hitch accessories to the ball mount. The invention provides an engagement method for interlocking the hitch ball with the ball mount preventing rotation of the hitch ball relative to the ball mount. The interlocking engagement assembly may also be locked in place preventing the hitch ball from being removed from the ball mount if the hitch ball fastener is removed. In addition, a component of the assembly can serve as an attachment method for securing additional accessories to the ball mount.
US08376381B2
A collapsible cart-trailer includes a folding mechanism that folds the cart-trailer into a small form factor, at least two wheels, modular, and removable and compartmentalized storage. The collapsible cart-trailer is operable in a cart mode and a trailer mode. In the trailer mode, the cart-trailer may be coupled to a movable object by a collapsible, length adjustable tow bar. In the cart mode, the cart-trailer includes a collapsible handle.
US08376375B2
A pushchair seat (10) comprising a seat back (18) mounted for pivotable movement relative to a seat base (20). A bumper bar (14) is pivotably coupled to and carried by the seat (10) and is moveable between a stowed position generally adjacent to the seat base (20) and a deployed position spaced from the seat back (18) and the seat base (20). Drive mechanisms (16) are provided at each end of the bumper bar (14) and comprise a selectively engageable coupling mechanism in the form of a clutch mechanism (30, 32) and a control mechanism (34, 56, 58). The coupling mechanism couples movement of the seat back (18) between its stowed position and its operating position into a corresponding movement of the bumper bar (14) between its stowed position and its deployed position.
US08376374B2
A rear wheel steering hand cart with an integrated brake system includes a main body (10), a push handle (20), a wheel unit (30) and a wheel seat (50) which includes an upper wheel seat (53), a lower wheel seat (51) and a rotary shaft (52); a wheel stop device (40) is disposed between a real wheel (32) and the wheel seat (50); a clutch device (60) is arranged between the upper wheel seat (53) and the lower wheel seat (51), a control rod (71) of the clutch device (60) is connected to the wheel stop device (40), and the clutch device (60) includes the first clutch element (61) and the second clutch element (63).
US08376372B2
A multiple wheel vehicle according to the present invention enables to incline freely the two wheels together with the vehicle body while keeping the ground contacting pressures of the two wheels equal. The multiple wheel vehicle comprises a pair of swinging arms 4 each comprising one-side end portion supported pivotably with right and left support shaft portions 3A and an interlocking device 6 for interlocking them alternately up-and-down. The interlocking device 6 comprises a pair of tilted members 17, a divertible member 19, and a cord-like body 20 connecting them. Each of the tilted members 17 comprises a first circular surface part 21 that has a center of a circular arc as a shaft center 3i of the support shaft portion 3A, and tiltably supported integrally with the swinging arm 4. The above-mentioned divertible member 19 is provided on the right and left and on one-side and another-side with one-side and another-side second circular surface parts 26 which has a center of the circular arc as a second shaft center 18i which is in the direction perpendicular to each of the above-mentioned first shaft centers 3i, respectively. The above-mentioned cord-like body 20 comprises one-side cord-like part 20L connecting the first and second circular surface parts 21 on the one-side and other-side cord-like part 20R connecting the first and second circular surface parts 21 on the other-side.
US08376366B2
The invention provides a sealing gland capable of use in high-pressure environments and methods for the use thereof. One aspect of the invention provides a sealing gland including: a first sealing surface having a first groove and a second groove, a first O-ring received in the first groove, a second O-ring received in the second groove, and a pressure port located on the first sealing surface between the first groove and the second groove. The pressure port is configured to apply a fluid pressure intermediate to a first pressure applied to the first O-ring and a second pressure applied to the second O-ring.
US08376362B2
The disclosure relates generally to different devices, methods, systems, and computer program products for a self-contained dice shaker assembly. The self-contained dice shaker assembly may include a container device defining an opening into an interior configured for receipt of one or more dice and a sensor assembly in communication with the container interior. The sensor assembly may be configured to monitor, in accordance with one or more predetermined parameters, the shake quality of the dice in the container during a shaking event. The self-contained dice shaker assembly may include an identification assembly operable to identify the outcome of a respective outcome face of each die associated with the outcome of a shaking event.
US08376361B2
A method and apparatus for printed media stack management in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include determining if a media stacker device has been removed from a finishing module during a print job, wherein if it is determined that the media stacker device has been removed from the finishing module during a print job, moving one or more media path selection devices to enable the printed media to be stacked onto a media stacking tray, determining if the media stacker device has been returned to the finishing module, wherein if it is determined that the media stacker device has been returned to the finishing module, moving the one or more media path selection devices to enable the printed media to be stacked onto the media stacker device.
US08376360B2
A sheet stacking apparatus including first and second stacking trays configured to stack sheets, a detection unit configured to detect a sheet stacking amount on the first stacking tray, a setting unit configured to set an upper limit on stacking amount for controlling the sheet stacking amount that is less than a maximum sheet stacking amount on the first stacking tray, and a control unit configured to stop stacking of sheets on the first stacking tray and stack sheets on the second stacking tray in a case where the sheet stacking amount which is detected by the detection unit reaches the upper limit on stacking amount that is set by the setting unit.
US08376358B2
An apparatus including a sheet registration nip assembly for changing characteristics of the sheet with respect to the transport path. The characteristics of the sheet including a skew position, process direction position or a lateral position of the sheet. The registration nip assembly changing a first sheet characteristic to a first target characteristic by the time the sheet reaches a preliminary registration datum. A delivery registration datum disposed downstream of the registration nip assembly. The registration nip assembly changing a second sheet characteristic to a second target characteristic when at least a portion of the sheet is disposed along the transport path between the preliminary registration datum and the delivery registration datum. The apparatus including an auxiliary nip assembly disposed between the delivery registration datum and the registration nip assembly, wherein the preliminary registration datum is disposed between the delivery registration datum and the auxiliary nip assembly.
US08376341B2
A support device for use with at least one of a stepladder, an extension ladder, and scaffolding, includes a base member manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined size. A height adjustable rod member is operably connected at a first end thereof to such base member. A brace member has a first end and a second end, such first end of such brace member being perpendicularly engaged with such elongated rod member. A securing mechanism is operably disposed on such second end of such brace member for securing such brace member to such at least one of such stepladder, such extension ladder, and such scaffolding,. At least one support member is releasably engageable with such second end of such rod member for supporting a predetermined object thereon.
US08376340B2
The clamping fixture (1) consists of a workpiece pallet (2) and an actuator (27). The workpiece pallet (2) comprises at least two clamping jaws (4,5) for clamping in place a workpiece, while the actuator (27) is provided for opening and closing the clamping jaws (4,5). By means of the actuator (27) the clamping jaws (4,5) are material-elastically excursionable to the extent that a workpiece, after release of the actuator (27), can be locked in place by the material-elastic restoring force of the clamping jaws (4,5). Preferably the workpiece pallet (2) comprises a main body (3) provided with a slot (6) defined on both sides by the clamping jaws (4,5). The clamping jaws (4,5) are material-elastic excursionable by means of the actuator (27) transversely to the slot (6). The clamping jaws (4,5) are provided with fitted jaws (13, 14) which in relation to each clamping jaw (4,5) can be shifted transversely to the slot (6).
US08376338B2
A method and apparatus for aligning a plurality of objects may be present. A locating pin may be positioned relative to secondary holes in a plurality of objects. The locating pin may comprise a segment with a cross section having a number of portions alternating between curved sections and angled sections and a surface. The locating pin may be inserted into the secondary holes. The number of portions of the surface corresponding to the angled sections may be configured to align the secondary holes in a desired direction to align the plurality of objects.
US08376336B2
A pin clamp assembly is provided that includes a housing, a locating pin, and a finger. The locating pin is movable with respect to the housing. The locating pin can also selectively entirely retract inside the housing. A finger is supported by the locating pin and retractable and extendable into and out of the locating pin. The finger is also extendable out of the locating pin when at least a portion of the locating pin supporting the finger is exterior of the housing.
US08376333B2
A jig for drilling intersecting holes in a work piece. The jig comprises a base for supporting the work piece and a first template operatively coupled to the base and having a bolt-hole guide located along a first axis of the template, the bolt-hole guide having a diameter sized to receive a first drill bit. The jig also includes a second template operatively coupled to the base and having a barrel-nut hole guide located along a second axis of the template, perpendicular and intersecting the first axis. The barrel-nut hole guide has a diameter larger than the diameter of the bolt-hole guide and is sized to receive a second drill bit.
US08376330B2
Apparatus for elastically supporting an engine transmission unit to a motor vehicle body, the apparatus comprising a rigid support member attachable to the engine transmission unit, a rigid flange attachable to the motor vehicle body and defining a horizontal, longitudinal direction particularly to be aligned with the driving direction of the vehicle, and an elastomeric body via which the support member is elastically supported by the flange and which has a vertical spring member for receiving a weight force of the engine transmission unit acting essentially vertically as well as perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction and a horizontal transverse direction, wherein the support member is extending away from the flange in transverse direction and has a mounting area offset with respect to the flange in transverse direction as well as a coupling section projecting in such a way essentially vertically through an opening formed through the flange that the coupling section forms an abutment for restricting a relative movement between the support member and the flange in both vertical directions.
US08376329B2
The invention relates to a strut for a motor vehicle with an axially adjustable spring plate comprising a vibration damper with a cylinder and a piston rod, a support spring which is dynamically connected to the spring plate, a ring electric motor with a rotor and a stator, a ball screw with a threaded spindle which is pivoted on the piston rod, and a threaded nut for translational motion of the spring plate, and a bearing arrangement for fixing the strut on the vehicle body, the bearing arrangement having spherical bearing surfaces which allow at least a pivoting motion of the strut to the vehicle body. The invention is characterized in that in the region of the bearing arrangement the vehicle body is dynamically connected to the strut by way of a radially-stiff and rotationally-stiff component which is axially and cardanically soft.
US08376313B2
A fluid delivery apparatus comprises a spout, a fluid supply conduit supported by the spout, a valve assembly to supply fluid through the fluid supply conduit, and a capacitive touch sensor. The capacitive touch sensor is coupled to a controller. The controller is also coupled to the valve assembly. The controller is configured to detect a user touching the sensor and to control flow of fluid through the fluid supply conduit.
US08376307B2
A foldable stand for supporting an object, the stand being capable of being folded between an unfolded position and a thin flat folded position, comprising a top frame having a generally rectangular planar configuration with front and rear support members interconnected with left and right spaced apart side support members, each of the side support members having a hinge generally midway along the length thereof, permitting the top frame to be folded when the stand is in the folded position, a pair of foldable leg structures, one of which is attached to each side of the top frame for supporting the top frame, a retaining structure for engaging the object and a locking mechanism for engaging the object, wherein manipulation of the top frame to rotate the hinge between the folded and unfolded positions causes each of the leg structures to be correspondingly moved between folded and unfolded positions.
US08376304B2
A beverage coaster comprises a top surface structured to support a beverage container, the top surface including a plurality of drain holes; an inner chamber including a moisture absorbing layer and a plastic sheet below the moisture absorbing layer to seal the bottom of the inner chamber; and a bottom surface. The beverage coaster includes a device allowing a user to compress the moisture absorbing layer to force removal of accumulated liquid through the drain holes. In various embodiments, the top surface is graded and includes a plurality of substantially parallel grooves formed therein, each of the grooves including a plurality of the drain holes. In various embodiments, the plastic sheet comprises a substantially flat first surface and a second surface having a button thereon; and the bottom surface is structured to include an opening to accommodate the button.
US08376299B2
An apparatus for mounting an object to a wall includes a backbone, a ledge, and a spacer. The backbone has a means for mounting the backbone parallel to the wall. The ledge is attached to a bottom of the backbone and extends away from the wall. The spacer is located between the backbone and the ledge. A bottom of the object rests on the ledge and leans over the spacer such that a top of the object rests on the wall above the backbone.
US08376298B2
A clamp has a body, a wedged channel nut, and a bolt. The body has a first component extending from the body and configured to engage a module and a second component having a tapered body surface. A flange of the first component engages a first slot of the rail. The nut has a nut extension extending from the nut and away from the module. The nut extension includes a flange configured to engage a second slot of the rail. The nut also includes a tapered nut surface having an angle substantially identical to the angle of the tapered body surface of the second component. The tapered nut surface engages the tapered body surface. A bolt extends through the nut and the body. When the bolt is tightened, the nut and the body secure the module and rail together.
US08376294B2
A swivel assembly for a tire comprises a clamp assembly adapted to be secured to a header tube, a swivel first member suspended from the clamp to pivot either parallel to or perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the header tube, a swivel second member which is suspended from the swivel first member to pivot 90° relative to the pivotal motion of the swivel first member, and a swivel third member which can rotate about the swivel second member. The swivel first member is pivotally mounted to the clamp via an upper pivot pin and the second swivel member is pivotally mounted to the swivel first member by a second lower pivot pin. Lastly, the swivel assembly can include a tether which extends over the header tube to which the clamp assembly is secured which has opposite ends secured to opposite sides of the lower pivot pin.
US08376292B2
The present invention provides a portable electronic device holder. A lower adapter support piece supports two lower adapter arms. An upper adapter arm is supported by a adjustable rod. An adjustment fitting is connected to the lower adapter support piece and the adjustable rod is slidingly connected to the adjustment fitting and can be slid up and down by utilization of finger force. A portable electronic device is mounted and held secure as it is squeezed between the upper adapter arm and the two lower adapter arms. In a preferred embodiment the portable electronic device holder is mounted by either inserting the adjustable rod into a hollow pedestal attached to a base or by attaching the lower adapter arm support piece to a dual T mount of a separate mounting device.
US08376287B2
A clamp assembly is disclosed for detachably retaining a curved laying pipe along the correspondingly curved edge of an auger support plate in a rolling mill laying head. The clamp assembly comprises a boss fixed to and projecting from the curved edge of the support plate. The boss has a first opening extending therethrough and an exterior support surface. A generally U-shaped clamp has a bridging web joining mutually spaced cheeks with second openings extending therethrough. The cheeks are configured and arranged to straddle the boss with their second openings in alignment with the first opening in the boss, and with the bridging web coacting with the exterior support surface of the boss to confine a segment of the laying pipe therebetween. A pin extends in an inserted position through the aligned first and second openings in the boss and the cheeks.
US08376283B2
A device for controlling vehicles having a manual control unit configured to influence the direction of movement of a vehicle. The manual control unit provides, in a neutral position of the manual control unit, a trim point to determine a preferred direction of movement. The device further includes a force generating device, generating at least one force acting in the direction of the neutral position of the manual control unit; a trim coupling operable to reduce the at least one force acting on the manual control unit; and a trim control unit configured to store and retain the trim point existing prior to an operation of the trim coupling.
US08376281B2
An apparatus and method for improving the fuel range of an aircraft are provided. The aircraft includes a fuselage with a front windshield, and an external skin providing a top cover for a cockpit of the aircraft. The apparatus includes an aerodynamic fairing secured adjacent the windshield and enclosing the external skin covering the cockpit for a reduction in an abrupt change in area encountered by air flowing along the length of the fuselage. An enclosure is formed between the aerodynamic fairing and the external skin in which a fuel bladder, configured with a reticulated polyurethane foam insert, may be disposed for added fuel capacity of the aircraft. The method includes steps of providing an aerodynamic fairing configured to balance the flow of fluid over the aircraft during flight, and securing the aerodynamic fairing atop the aircraft and adjacent the front windshield.
US08376264B1
A rotor for use on an aircraft has a plurality (N) of rotor blades mounted on a plurality (N) of concentric masts. Each of the rotor blades has a rounded leading edge and a tapered trailing edge. The plurality (N) of concentric masts each operably mount one of the plurality of rotor blades at N different elevations. A locking element selectively locks or unlocks the concentric masts together in a plane of rotation, enabling the angle between any two rotor blades to be variable from 0-360 degrees during flight. A feathering hinge is operably attached to each blade for changing the pitch of each blade with respect to the plane of rotation as controlled by a pitch control mechanism.
US08376258B2
A webbing take-up device enabling a reduction in size of an overload release mechanism and easy adjustment of an operation torque of the overload release mechanism is provided. In the overload release mechanism of this webbing take-up device, rotary force of a large diameter gear is transmitted to a small diameter gear via plural annular friction springs. The friction springs are disposed between an inner periphery face of a main body portion of the large diameter gear and a tubular portion of the small diameter gear, side by side along an axial direction of the two gears. Consequently, a radial direction enlargement of the large diameter gear and small diameter gear due to space for disposing the friction springs may be restrained. Moreover, the operation torque of the overload release mechanism may be adjusted stepwise by changing the number of the friction springs to be used, in accordance with requirements.
US08376256B1
A pill crushing apparatus for crushing tablets into powders is provided. The pill crushing apparatus including a mounting bracket having a rear wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom wall mounted between the first side wall and the second side wall with the rear wall mountable to a vertical surface. A crushing arm is pivotally mounted between the first side wall and the second side wall of the mounting bracket. A plate mounting arm having a first end and a second end is provided with the first end connected to the crushing arm and the plate mounting arm extending in a generally downward direction from the crushing arm. A top crushing plate is mounted to the second end of the plate mounting arm. A bottom crushing plate is mounted between the first side wall and the second side wall of the mounting bracket. A tablet is positionable upon the bottom crushing plate. The top crushing plate is maneuverable against the bottom crushing plate such that the tablet is crushed between the top crushing plate and the bottom crushing plate.
US08376254B2
Systems, apparatus and methods are described that can be used for cleaning wells using unfiltered fluids and fluids that contain solid matter. A spray head assembly mounted in a pumping station comprises a hydrodynamic mixing chamber configured to create turbulence in a fluid received from a pump. The pump draws a fluid from a well of the pumping station and provides a pressurized stream of the fluid to a pipe. A nozzle associated with an outlet of the mixing chamber, receives the mixed fluid from the hydrodynamic mixing chamber and the nozzle disperses the mixed fluid to the surface of a body of the fluid in the well.
US08376232B2
The invention relates to a medical product having a carrier layer, wherein one of the two sides of the carrier layer forming the surface forms an outer side of the medical product, wherein a code is permanently applied to the side forming the outer side wherein the code is a two-dimensional matrix code indicating a uniform source indicator of an internet site comprising application-specific and/or technical data about the medical product. The invention further relates to a set comprising at least one medical product, particularly present in a package, and a decoding device for decoding the identification code and for producing the connection to the internet site, and to the use of the code.
US08376231B2
A payment item having a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR)-line on its front is handled by generating, using visible light, a front image of the front of the payment item, generating, using infrared light, an infrared image of the front of the payment item or of a portion of the front of the payment item containing its MICR-line, and performing optical character recognition on the infrared image to identify data encoded in the MICR-line.
US08376228B2
A system may be configured to identify pedigree information associated with a drug. The system may include a structure with an RFID reader and a bar code reader. The system may also include a master control unit configured to receive product identification data from the RFID reader and the bar code reader. The system may also include a database system configured to store pedigree information associated with medicament containers. The system may also include a display unit disposed proximate to the support structure, and the display unit may be configured to receive and display the pedigree information to a user. In response to the movement of a medicament container proximate the RFID reader or the bar code reader, the master controller may submit a query to the database system, receive the pedigree information, and cause the display unit to display a portion of the pedigree information to the user.
US08376224B2
Entertainment credits from a game of chance can be identified. The entertainment credits can be associated with an entity with which a user has previously interacted. The previous interactions can earning the entertainment credits, which are non-negotiable credits. Responsive to a user request, a conversion agency can convert a quantity of the entertainment credits to a quantity of negotiable funds, wherein the conversion agency is not directly associated with the entity. The user can be permitted to access the quantity of negotiable funds within a vendor kiosk physically proximate and distinctly independent of the entity, wherein the quantity of negotiable funds are able to be applied to user specified purchases within the kiosk, wherein the vendor does not honor the non-negotiable credits.
US08376219B1
An automated banking machine operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine includes a display and a printer to produce records of financial transactions carried out with the machine. The automated banking machine may also include a portal device that is operative to cause the display, card reader and other devices in the machine to operate in response to communications through the portal device.
US08376214B2
A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton has panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The panels comprise a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The carton comprises an insert attached to at least one of the panels for restraining the articles in the carton.
US08376208B1
A purge plug for welding applications is provided that can be interchangeably used to seal tubing, pipes, or the like of various diameter or cross-sectional area. The purge plug has a central body with a male connector and a diffuser disposed on the end portions. The purge plug also includes one or more flexible seals annularly disposed around the central body. In some implementations, the diameter of the flexible seals is slightly larger than the diameter of the tubing or pipe. When the purge plug is inserted into the tubing or pipe, the resiliency of the seal allow the seal to expand mechanically and flex against the inner walls of the tubing, thus sealingly engage with the inner walls.
US08376203B2
An apparatus for installing a hidden fastener in the course of attaching a plank to a joist includes a power tool with a retainer for holding the hidden fastener. The hidden fastener is placed on the retainer so that an attachment opening formed through the hidden fastener is in registration with a bore formed in the retainer for receiving a securing member. The power tool is used to position the hidden fastener in engagement with the plank, and to drive a securing member from the bore of the retainer through the attachment opening of the hidden fastener.
US08376201B2
A shoulder strap for a harness for breathing apparatus includes a first elongate strap portion generally extending along a first longitudinal axis; a second elongate strap portion attached to the first strap portion and generally extending along a second longitudinal axis that is oblique to the first axis; and a first attachment portion for attaching a first end of the shoulder strap to the harness in use and a second attachment portion for attaching a second end of the shoulder strap to the harness in use.
US08376194B2
A powder or liquid dispenser including at least one reservoir that is suitable for containing powder or liquid to be dispensed; a dispenser member, such as a pump or a valve; an actuator member that is suitable for actuating the dispenser member; and a dispenser orifice through which powder or liquid is dispensed. The at least one portion of the dispenser that is in contact with the powder or liquid being made of a non-stick material includes at least one inherently electrostatically dissipative polymer (IDP) that can inherently dissipate electrostatic charge.
US08376172B2
An apparatus and a process for forming a protective barrier seal along a “ring of concern” of a transfer container used with double door systems is provided. A protective substrate is supplied between a “ring of concern” and a safety cover in which an adhesive layer of the substrate engages the “ring of concern”. A compressive foam strip along an opposite side of the substrate engages a safety cover such that a compressive force is maintained between the “ring of concern” and the adhesive layer of the substrate.
US08376170B1
The recycle bin cover system includes a top that has legs extending downwardly from beneath the cover and of which each leg has a cap, which screws onto to enclose the hollowed cavity of each leg that is used to fill with a weighty material for use in securing the cover atop a bin. The cover features a lip that secures the cover atop said bin. The bin may include leg receivers that are designed to further secure the legs and cover to the bin. The cover is designed to increase the overall volume of the bin and to prevent both the cover and the contents of the bin from blowing away during windy weather.
US08376161B2
Systems, methods, and means for providing a novelty item are provided. In some embodiments, a stopper comprises a body, having an inner chamber and a top portion, a novelty item disposed within the inner chamber, and a disk placed on an outer surface of the body removably holding the novelty item within the inner chamber.
US08376158B2
There is provided a heavy construction installation method which does not need a secondarily transport in a construction field even if an installation position of a heavy construction is apart from a berthing position of a transport ship. A movable area where a ground plane is reinforced so that a heavy hoisting machine for installing a heavy construction in a building is movable is constructed so as to include a circle drawn around an installation position in the building with a maximum operating radius of the heavy hoisting machine relative to a weight of the heavy construction being as a radius, and a circle drawn around a loaded position of the heavy construction at a transport ship coming alongside a landing place with the maximum operating radius being as a radius.
US08376152B2
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a free-standing handgun stack for storing multiple handguns in a single column vertical stacking arrangement. In another embodiment the invention provides a handgun stack for storing multiple handguns in a single column vertical stacking arrangement wherein the handgun stack is retrofitable or inserted for permanent or removable attachment to the inside of a gun safe. In one aspect of this embodiment, the gun stack is configured to a height and width that takes up about the same amount of space as a long gun if such long gun were disposed or secured in a vertical position in the same space within the gun safe.
US08376150B2
Described herein is technology for, among other things, a theft deterrent apparatus for cooperation with an elongate member attached to and extending outwardly from a forward-facing side of an article display panel. The apparatus includes a housing defining an internal chamber. The housing includes a first aperture passing through the housing into the internal chamber for receiving the elongate member, a second aperture for receiving a magnetic key, and a locking member that has a magnetic portion and is movably disposed within the internal chamber. The locking member is adapted to selectively: maintain the apparatus in locked and unlocked configurations in which the locking member respectively prevents or permits the elongate member from being at least partially withdrawn from the first aperture. Whether the locking member maintains the apparatus in the locked or unlocked configuration depends on whether or not the magnetic key is inserted into the second aperture.
US08376146B2
The device according to the invention serves for classifying or concentrating liquids laden with fibers or solids by means of screening or filtration. For this purpose, a cylindrical fine screen is arranged in a vertical position in a housing comprising an axially cylindrical vibrator being somewhat smaller than the fine screen so as to produce an annular gap between the screen and the vibrator. In the vibrator, there is a vibration motor with imbalances, which generates circular horizontal oscillations. The liquid to be treated is introduced into the annular gap, primarily from above, and the concentrated liquid is removed at the bottom. The cleaned liquid is discharged between the screen and the wall of the housing. The feature of the invention is that the vibrator is mounted on at least three rubber elements which primarily allow the vibrator to perform a circular horizontal movement. However, by allowing the vibrator to move away vertically, these rubber elements also compensate for occurring vertical forces caused by unsymmetrical loads on the screen.
US08376144B2
To provide a media separator including a lumped-media conveyer mechanism which receives lumped media to convey the lumped media in a predetermined direction, and a picker roller which separates the lumped media conveyed by the lumped-media conveyer mechanism, the lumped-media conveyer mechanism including an auxiliary conveyer body for conveying the lumped media to the picker roller. That makes it possible to reliably separate and send out the lumped media, when having shorter media mixed, and to achieve downsizing of the media separator.
US08376143B2
A screen panel center retainer system for a vibrating separatory machine utilizes a center retainer that is provided with a retainer base which is adapted to be secured to screen stringer rails of a vibrating separatory machine. A pair of retainer channel legs form an upper portion of the center retainer and have screen panel edge receiving slots. A locking strip, having a wedging tongue, is used in conjunction with the center retainer. The wedging tongue is insertable into the channel on the center retainer which is defined by the two retainer channel legs. Flow control dams and cross dam retainers are used in conjunction with, and in addition to the center retainers and locking strips. The cross dam retainers are provided with locking strip end receiving pockets, to compensate for changes in the length of the locking strips. The screen panel center retainer system is configured to provide a functional, universal installation of screen panels on vibrating separating machines.
US08376134B1
The present invention discloses a bottle for holding a liquid with at least one self dosage compartment for adding a desired solid such as powdered drink mix and the like to liquid such as water in the bottle consisting of a bottom compartment with a top lid and a bottom closure inside the interior space of the bottle to deliver the solid to the liquid and kept in the compartment till user is ready to mix with liquid.
US08376127B2
An alignment system for a conveyor having a conveyor belt trained over rollers on a conveyor frame, is provided and includes pivoting members each mounted on a corresponding support bracket, the pivoting members configured for supporting tracking rollers at corresponding tracking roller shaft ends, each shaft end pivotally and non-rotatably attached to corresponding pivoting members by a rotating bushing mounted in a corresponding pivoting member; and a guide control bar having two ends being pivotally connected at each end to a corresponding torque arm connected to the corresponding pivoting member. The bar includes guide rollers positioned at both edges of the conveyor belt for lateral control of the belt.
US08376118B2
A matrix conveying system for intended use in sorting articles and related methods of conveying and sorting articles are disclosed. In one embodiment, the matrix system comprises a plurality of first endless belt or chain conveyors extending in a first direction and a plurality of second conveyors extending in a second direction, each intersecting the plurality of first conveyors. The system may be used to sort articles delivered from one or more storage locations for distribution, or may instead be used to sort articles for delivery to one or more storage locations. In another embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of conveyors arranged in three different layers.
US08376116B2
Apparatus for storing/dispensing notes such as bills of monetary value, wherein the notes are stored between opposed webs wound onto drums, and notes having different characteristics may be stored on the same drum.
US08376115B2
Disclosed is a bidirectional self-locking device including a housing (10) and a gear shaft (20). A first locking device and a second locking device are disposed in the housing (10). When a first locking cam (30) is driven to rotate in a first direction, protuberances on both sides of the first locking cam (30) are respectively in contact with a first locking element (31) and a second locking element (32), such that the first locking element (31) and the second locking element (32) tend to move radially outward and thus tightly press against an inner wall of the housing (10) so as to form a locking engagement. The second locking device has a similar structure to that of the first locking device. When a second locking cam (40) is rotated in a direction opposite to the first direction, a third locking element (41) and a fourth locking element (42) press against the inner wall of the housing (10) so as to form a locking engagement. The first locking cam (30), the second locking cam (40) and the gear shaft (20) are connected through a central shaft (80). A first spring (50) and a second spring (60) cause the first locking device and the second locking device to rotate synchronically.
US08376112B2
A drive force transmitting apparatus comprises a dry clutch, a hydraulic cylinder, a piston arm, an elastic partitioning member, a first seal member and a leakage lubricating fluid recovery path. The elastic partitioning member prevents lubricating fluid that has leaked from a sliding portion of a piston of the hydraulic cylinder from flowing into the dry clutch. The first seal member is disposed between opposing surfaces of a cylinder housing and a clutch cover at a position downstream from the elastic partitioning member in a leakage flow direction of lubricating fluid that has leaked. The leakage lubricating fluid recovery path is at least partially formed by a gap between the cylinder housing and the clutch cover, such that lubricating fluid leaking past the piston is conveyed to an inside of the transmission while maintaining a sealed state established by the elastic partitioning member and the first seal member.
US08376110B2
A hub shell of a hub assembly is rotatable about a fixed hub shaft. A power transmitting member is disposed within the hub shell. A pawl supporting member has at least one pawl member movable between an active position where the pawl member allows transmission of rotary power from the hub shell to the power transmitting member and an inactive position decoupling the pawl from one of the power transmitting member and the hub shell. A one way roller clutch assembly is coupled between the power transmitting member and the hub shell and is movable between an active position where the roller clutch assembly couples the power transmitting member to the hub shell to transmit rotary power from the power transmitting member to the hub shell and an inactive position decoupling the power transmitting member from the hub shell.
US08376097B2
A brake pad backing (1) for a drum brake has a backing surface (2) that receives at least one friction pad (3). At least one opening (4, 4″) arranged inside the backing surface (2) is produced by shaping a material section (5, 5′) of the brake pad backing (1) so that when the friction pad (3) is pressed onto the backing surface (2), the material section (5, 5′), together with the opening (4, 4′), forms an impression cavity (6). The material section (5, 5′) projects from the brake pad backing (1) at one or more prescribed angles α in the pressing direction (7). In addition, a lateral guide (20) to guide the brake pad backing plate (1) in the housing of the brake assembly such as, for example, the brake drum, may be formed by bending or folding the edge (8) of the brake pad backing plate (1). The bent edge (8) is provided on several edge sections (11, 12, 13) of the appertaining lengthwise side (10) of the brake pad backing plate (1) that lie to the side of the backing surface (2) for the friction pad (3).
US08376085B2
The present invention pertains to a ladder top for a stepladder. The top comprises a plane having a front and a rear. The plane has a bin with a curved front side adjacent the front of the plane for holding small electrical parts. The plane has at least one screwdriver hole for holding the screwdriver. The plane has a hammer/drill holster slot. The plane has a pliers slot. The plane has a wire strippers slot and a channel locks slots. A method for using a ladder top for a stepladder.
US08376082B2
An inflatable evacuation slide, substantially triangular in cross-section, includes a base and lateral sides. The sides are formed from interlocking components, so that the slide is straight, when deployed. The inflatable evacuation slide may be used, for example, as a marine evacuation slide.
US08376081B2
A descent control device is disclosed manufactured with a bar having holes for guiding a rope used in descent, and a lever designed to pivot or move relative to the bar and compress the opening of one of the holes. Compressing the opening increases friction and slows or stops descent. Control can be from manually moving the lever or by connecting the lever to the descending weight, thereby automatically moving the lever. Hole and pivot geometry may be altered to provide multiple braking options, accommodate varying ropes, and alter normal operating friction.
US08376080B2
A pump apparatus includes: a first housing member which includes a first drive shaft insertion hole; a second housing member which includes a second drive shaft insertion hole; a pump drive shaft; a first abutment portion and a second abutment portion formed in the second housing member; the first and second drive shaft insertion holes being previously co-processed in a state in which the first and second housing member are relatively positioned by abutments between the first and second positioning protruding portions and the first and second abutment portions, and a joining member joining the first and second housing members in a state in which the first and second housing members are relatively positioned by the abutments of the first and second positioning protruding portions and the first and second abutment portions so as to re-create a relative position between the first and second housing members at the co-processing.
US08376072B2
A molded motor includes a ring-shaped stator and a rotor disposed inside the stator. The stator has teeth, insulators surrounding the teeth, coils wound around the insulators, and a molded part molding the teeth, insulators and coils. The insulators are partially exposed from the molded part.
US08376068B2
A rechargeable automobile electric power system and method for modifying a front-wheel drive automobile through installation of the system is disclosed. The system includes basic plug-in rechargeable electric drive power units, one that can run simultaneously with the gas motor to improve gas mileage. The second puts a one or two speed gear box between the electric motor and the wheel. This will allow the vehicle to run on rechargeable electric power in town and on the highway.
US08376062B2
A soil cultivation device drivable in a displacement direction relative to the soil and designed to break up sub-soil. The device has a chassis or frame, a row of support arms and a drive unit, respective cutting tool pivot units pivotally hinged on the support arms to pivot relative to the arms about a second pivoting axis, permitting a cutting tool fixed on the cutting tool pivot units to pierce the soil and the cutting tool pivot units to be pivoted in relation to the support arms. In addition, the device has at least one gear mechanism, which transmits the relative displacement of the cutting tool pivot unit and the support arm, which at least occurs when the cutting tool has pierced the soil and the soil cultivation device is traveling onwards in the displacement direction, to at least one unit not displaced up and down with the support arm.
US08376061B2
A fire protection sprinkler is provided with a sprinkler body having a fluid passage defining an inlet end and an outlet end. A plug member is disposed in the fluid passage and a heat responsive unit releasable secures the plug member and the passage. A deflector is mounted to frame arms extending from the sprinkler body and the deflector includes a peripheral edge including a plurality of slots extending radially inward from the peripheral edge. At least two of the plurality of slots have a first outer portion having a first diameter and a second intermediate portion adjacent the first outer portion and having a second diameter less than the first diameter. A third inner portion extends radially inward from the second intermediate portion and has a third diameter greater than the second diameter. The deflector design is utilized for providing a desired water distribution pattern.
US08376059B2
A fire suppression system is disclosed. The system includes a source of pressurized gas and a source of pressurized liquid. At least one emitter is in fluid communication with the liquid and gas sources. The emitter is used to establish a gas stream, atomize and entrain the liquid into the gas stream and discharge the resulting liquid-gas stream onto the fire. The emitter discharges the liquid-gas stream against a deflector surface having a closed end cavity therein.
US08376057B2
A wellhead assembly including a wellhead housing. The wellhead housing comprises a throughbore having a recessed sealing area and a tubing hanger positioned in the throughbore. A seal is positioned between the wellhead housing and the tubing hanger, the seal being positioned so as to form a gap between the seal and the wellhead housing. The wellhead assembly can further include a seal energizer capable of moving relative to the seal in a manner that forces the seal against the wellhead housing to bridge the gap. A method of installing a tubing hanger into a throughbore of a wellhead housing is also disclosed.
US08376054B2
Assemblies that can be disposed in a subterranean bore are described. Certain assemblies can be used to orient a second pipe with respect to a first pipe in a bore. A second pipe can be rotationally oriented without breaking one or more control lines that may be associated or included with the second pipe by using a tool that orients the second pipe as the second pipe is moved toward a surface of the bore. In some embodiments, assemblies can be used to orient multiple portions of the second pipe with respect to multiple windows of the first pipe. The first pipe may be a casing string and the second pipe may be a tubing string.
US08376049B2
A running tool for use in handling control modules on a subsea production tree. The running tool is deployable on wire line and includes a column like body and a connector adapted for connection to the production tree. The running tool also includes a hoist system that is selectively positioned by a swiveling jib crane for handling the control modules. A replacement control module can be included with the running tool when the tool is deployed from above the sea surface. After the running tool connects to the production tree, the jib crane can position the hoist for attachment to and removal of an existing control module on the production tree. The hoist can then to attach to and install the replacement control module and can be further manipulated to retrieve the existing control module and stow it onto the body.
US08376043B2
An improved and enhanced spring loaded downhole tool for cleaning well casing bores comprising a mandrel, at least a first insert having a passageway therethrough, and at least a second insert, wherein both the first insert and the second insert are selected from at least one of a spring loaded scraper insert and at least one wire brush insert, and further wherein the first insert and the second insert are slidingly received within a slot on a first mounting portion on the mandrel and a slot on a second mounting portion on the mandrel, from the outermost respective ends, and wherein the first insert is secured by a first retaining sleeve and the second insert is secured by a second retaining sleeve. Also disclosed is a unique method for cleaning a section of casing with a downhole tool, as herein disclosed.
US08376042B2
A method and vessel for installing an expandable tubular in a subsea wellbore, wherein said expandable tubular is assembled from expandable tubular segments, said expandable tubular being adapted to be expanded diametrically when positioned in said wellbore by means of expansion tooling, wherein a multitude of expandable tubular segments are provided, and wherein use is made of a surface vessel, said vessel comprising: at least one assembly station adapted for the assembly of at least one intermediate tubular assembly by interconnection of multiple expandable tubular segments, an intermediate tubular assembly suspension storage device adapted for storage of one or more intermediate tubular assemblies, said intermediate tubular assemblies being suspended from the vessel into the water by said storage device, a guide and handling system for intermediate tubular assemblies, said guide and handling system having an entry and an exit, said entry being spaced from said exit, the entry being arranged and adapted to receive a suspended intermediate tubular assembly from the storage device, the system being adapted for the upward feeding of said intermediate tubular assembly from the entry towards a top of the system, and then downwards to the exit, said system further being adapted for launching the intermediate tubular assembly downward from said exit into the water towards and into the wellbore, a connecting station adapted for connecting an intermediate tubular assembly to another intermediate tubular assembly.
US08376033B2
Tube heat exchanger comprising finned tubes, wherein the tubes extend in a certain axial direction and are provided with heat exchange fins. Each fin has a heat exchange surface surrounding a tube that extends in a certain radial direction in relation to the tube and which is relief structured to form grooves spaced apart from one another in said radial direction. The grooves of a fin have different dimensions that decrease on moving away from the tube in said radial direction so as to form a guide for a fluid around the tube.
US08376029B2
A fluid flow diverter is provided in a standard rectangular header of a keel cooler for optimizing the coolant flow towards both the interior tubes and also towards the exterior tubes of the keel cooler. The improvement enhances the internal coolant flow and subsequent heat transfer efficiency similar to what has been realized with a non-rectangular header, for example, a header with a beveled wall.
US08376027B2
It is a technical common knowledge that a chaplet used in casting of a hollow casting is fusion-bonded with the melt and is incorporated into the casting. However, the adhesion between the chaplet and the casting body is not necessarily satisfactory, thereby incurring the strength reduction of a thin-wall hollow casting. A core for a thin-wall hollow casting according to the present invention is provided with a chaplet mounted thereon. The chaplet has arcuate portion 2 with a gap 5 and a plurality of projections 4 from an outer peripheral of the arcuate portion and is in contact with an inner wall 7 of a mold. The entire arcuate portion of the chaplet is included in a groove 6 formed around an outer peripheral portion of the core body. Only the projections 4 of the chaplet protrude from the core body, when the chaplet is inserted in the groove.
US08376019B2
A window assembly having a window frame and at least one primary sash mounted in the window frame. The primary sash has a plurality of sash members forming a primary sash perimeter and a first glazing panel mounted in the primary sash perimeter. At least one secondary sash is pivotally attached directly to the primary sash perimeter along an interior surface thereof so that the secondary sash is rotatably movable between a closed position and an open position relative to the primary sash. The secondary sash has a plurality of secondary sash members forming a secondary sash structure and a second glazing panel mounted in the secondary sash perimeter. An air chamber is located between the primary sash and the secondary sash that is substantially closed to the interior of the building structure. At least one accessory channel is locating along at least one side of the secondary sash members.
US08376017B2
A flexible substrate bonding and debonding apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes i) a chamber, ii) a lower chuck disposed in a lower portion of the chamber and having a lower heating unit and a cooling conduit built therein, iii) an upper chuck disposed above the lower chuck and having an upper heating unit built therein, iv) a pressurizing unit disposed above the upper chuck and v) a separating unit corresponding to either side of bonding surfaces of a support substrate and a flexible substrate which are disposed between the lower chuck and the upper chuck. The flexible substrate bonding and debonding apparatus can pressurize the flexible substrate and the support substrate simultaneously using a heat-treatment process. Therefore, the flexible substrate can be more reliably bonded and debonded even at low temperature.
US08376014B2
A corrugator includes a chassis, which is composed of two opposite and spaced primary wall panels; a rotary main shaft, which is rotatably mounted between the two primary wall panels of the chassis and has opposite ends respectively coupled to roller support seats; two corrugation roller sets, which are detachably mounted to the two roller support seats and each including two detachable secondary wall panels; and a hold-down roller, which is mounted to the chassis at a location close to one of the corrugation roller sets. With the multiple sets of corrugation rollers mounted in the corrugator, the corrugator allows a user to select and manufacture corrugator boards of different specifications.
US08376011B2
A pneumatic radial aircraft tire is described having a B/A ranging between 60-70%, wherein B is the width of the tire between the wheel flange, and A is the inflated tire width under rated pressure. The tire may further optionally include a tire bead portion having a Ra/Fr1 relationship which ranges from about 1 to about 2.1, wherein: Ra is the tire heel radius at uninflated and in an new and unused condition, and Fr1 is the wheel flange elliptical radius at the heel section of the tire. The tire may further optionally include a SW/TS ratio which ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.5, wherein SW is the chafer gauge at area A, TS is the total sidewall rubber gauge at area A, wherein A is defined as the region in the sidewall that has a lower radial endpoint defined by the point of contact between the flange and the tire at inflated, unloaded condition, and an upper radial endpoint Ah defined by the tire wheel flange point of contact when the tire is at inflated, and at 100% rated load.
US08376010B2
A tire for a heavy vehicle with a radial carcass reinforcement of a width in excess of 25 inches comprising at least a working crown reinforcement made up of at least one layer of reinforcing elements oriented substantially circumferentially, radially surmounted by at least two so-called working layers axially wider than the layer of substantially circumferentially oriented reinforcing elements. Each of the working layers is made up of at least two axially separated parts, the distance between the axially inner end of each of the axially outer parts of at least the radially innermost working layer and the end of the radially outermost layer of substantially circumferentially oriented reinforcing elements being less than 45 mm and the gap, in the axial direction, between two parts of each of the working crown layers being greater than 5 mm.
US08376000B2
A gasoline vapor treating system includes a single hydrocarbon filter apparatus interconnected to a fuel tank having a range of vapor pressures therein, said filter apparatus receiving hydrocarbon vapors from said tank for one vapor pressure in said fuel tank and said filter apparatus delivering air and hydrocarbon vapor to said tank from said filter responsive to another vapor pressure in said tank lower than said one vapor pressure, said filter operated serially between hydrocarbon loading and hydrocarbon unloading cycles without reference to any other hydrocarbon removal apparatus. A balance nozzle includes a mechanism to mechanically operate a vapor valve therein before the fuel valve is opened.
US08375999B2
A method of filling a hydrogen gas storage tank with hydrogen gas includes filling an onboard hydrogen gas storage tank with hydrogen gas at substantially constant temperature and pressure while transferring a liquid from the hydrogen gas storage tank to a reservoir tank, compressing a gas in the reservoir tank by the flow of liquid into the reservoir tank, and managing the heat produced by the compression of gas in the reservoir tank off board the vehicle. A hydrogen gas delivery system includes an onboard hydrogen gas storage tank, a hydrogen gas supply line, a reservoir tank, and a liquid that transfers the heat of filling the hydrogen gas storage tank to the reservoir by effecting a compression of gas in the reservoir.
US08375998B2
A curtain nozzle is located above an opening portion (10) in a FIMS. A gas curtain formed of inert gas for closing the opening portion is formed. A cover is so provided as to cover a part of the curtain nozzle so as to prevent peripheral gas around an opening of the curtain nozzle from being involved in the gas curtain of the inert gas emitted from the curtain nozzle.
US08375989B2
A method of operating a control valve assembly for a hydraulic system includes detecting the current operation of a first position sensor and a second position sensor to determine if at least one of the first position sensor and the second position sensor is inoperable. A pressure of the fluid at a first work port and a second work port is measured, and one of a first valve and a second valve is actuated when one of the first position sensor and the second position sensor is determined to be inoperable. The first valve is actuated based upon the fluid pressure measured at the second work port to adjust the flow of the fluid through the first work port. The second valve is actuated based upon the fluid pressure measured at the first work port to adjust the flow of the fluid through the second work port.
US08375985B2
A solenoid valve for a brake system capable of being easily manufactured with reduced manufacturing costs is disclosed. A valve seat member has an inner passage formed through the valve seat member in a longitudinal direction thereof, an outer passage formed on an outer surface of the valve seat member in the longitudinal direction, and a seat portion formed with a first orifice above the inner passage. The seat portion is formed unitarily with the valve seat member. A sleeve is coupled on the outer surface of the valve seat member. The sleeve has a flange portion to be fixed to a modulator block. A valve core is coupled to a portion of the sleeve, opposite to the flange portion. An armature is slidably mounted in the sleeve. The armature has an opening/closing portion to open or close the first orifice. A restoring spring presses the armature toward the first orifice.
US08375981B2
A pressure control valve is provided, which can variably control the set pressure of a relief valve in accordance with pilot signal pressure that is controlled in an operator's seat and so on when the set pressure of the relief valve required in a replaced working device is changed.
US08375978B2
Provided herein are drainage valves for removing water accumulated in the lower part of fuel tanks of an aircraft. The valves can be affixed in correspondence with a lower skin forming part of the tanks. The lower skin includes recesses for the complementary housing of the heads of the valves that, in combination with some axial fastening nuts, immobilize the valves to that skin. The recesses can comprise a conical structure obtained by deformation of the lower skin, and with the deformation an inner elevated seat is further obtained, on which seat the axial fastening nuts press, maintaining the thickness of the skin in the area where the valves are located, thus preventing the area from weakening as it happens conventionally.
US08375973B2
A one-piece metal orifice tube (130) for use in a solenoid valve (100) is provided according to the invention. The one-piece, metal orifice tube includes a metal tube portion (131) including a proximal end (140) and a distal end (142), with the distal end being adapted to extend into an electromagnet bore (103) of an electromagnet (102) of the solenoid valve. The one-piece metal orifice tube further includes an orifice end (132) formed in the proximal end (140). The orifice end includes an orifice (133) that is smaller in diameter than a tube inside diameter D of the metal tube portion and the metal tube portion is adapted to slidably receive at least a portion of an armature (105) of a solenoid valve. In operation, the armature substantially blocks and unblocks the orifice.
US08375971B2
The present invention relates to the use of a zwitterionic surfactant in combination with an ether sulphate or ether carboxylate surfactant in a water-based system as a drag-reducing agent. The combination has besides a high drag-reducing effect also a low sensitivity to hard water.
US08375969B2
The present teachings provide a canopy that can be used in the area around a campfire for shelter during adverse weather conditions. The canopy includes a frame, a cover having a centrally located opening support by the frame, and a set of legs supporting the frame with the cover in an elevated position. The frame is constructed with a set of trusses which interconnect a lower support frame and an upper support frame. The trusses and support members are assembled such that the central opening remains unobstructed.
US08375968B2
A manually retractable sportsman's blind releasably attached to a support provides a flexible camouflaged body having a mesh fabric window and supported on a frame comprised of plural elongate flexibly resilient stays pivotally attached to one another at proximate end portions to support the flexible camouflaged body and mesh fabric window in a hemispherical shape.
US08375966B2
An umbrella apparatus having a canopy portion hingedly coupled to a pole portion. The umbrellas apparatus includes a rechargeable electrical power system that provides electrical power to an electromechanical opening and closing system and a light assembly. A solar energy system is conductively coupled to the rechargeable electrical power system and is utilized to collect and convert solar energy to electrical energy for recharging the electrical power system.
US08375958B2
The invention provides a cigarette filter including at least one filter segment having one or more composite fiber structures imbedded therein, the composite fiber structure including a carrier fiber and an adsorbent fiber, the adsorbent fiber including an adsorbent material. The filter can include one or more segments of fibrous tow material, with the one or more composite fiber structures imbedded within the fibrous tow, the composite fiber structure including a carrier fiber and a carbonaceous fiber.
US08375955B2
A surgical procedure is carried out on any suitable hollow organ, such as a gall bladder located beneath an abdominal wall. In a first step of the procedure the hollow organ is inflated by air or water through an inflation line so that the organ swells up. A scalpel is then used to create an incision in the abdominal wall. Sutures are then inserted through the opening and these are used to pull up the inflated organ to the opening. The inflated organ is now presented to the opening and a laparascopic procedure is carried out on the organ. A number of medical devices may be employed to perform the procedure for example a scalpel, an introducer device, an instrument access device, an insufflator, a camera device, and various surgical instruments.
US08375948B2
Several methods and a system of air extraction process from an emergency support system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of safety of a structure includes expediting an air extraction process from an emergency support system by including a RIC (rapid interventions company/crew)/UAC (universal air connection) fitting to a fill panel to fill a breathable air apparatus. The method may include ensuring that a prescribed pressure of the emergency support system maintains within a threshold range of the prescribed pressure by including a valve of the emergency support system to prevent leakage of breathable air from the emergency support system.
US08375947B2
An aerosol introducer is provided for introducing an aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation into a ventilator circuit. The ventilator circuit comprises an endotracheal tube, an inhalation line extending from a ventilator, and an exhalation line extending from the ventilator. The aerosol introducer comprises a first end connectable to the inhalation line and the exhalation line; a second end connectable to the endotracheal tube; a first channel extending from the first end to the second end; a second channel extending from the first end to the second end; an inlet in the first channel, the inlet being adapted to receive an aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation; and a valving mechanism comprising one or more valves that reduce the loss of aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation to the exhalation line.
US08375945B2
A pressure support system that comprises a patient circuit, a docking assembly, and a tank. The patient circuit delivers a pressurized flow of breathable gas to a patient. The docking assembly has an inlet and an outlet that is adapted to receive the pressurized flow of breathable gas, and is also adapted to be connected with the patient circuit. The tank is constructed and arranged to be removably connected with the docking assembly, and enables the pressurized flow of breathable gas to pass therethrough. The tank is also adapted to contain a liquid such that a humidity level of the pressurized flow of breathable gas is elevated as the pressurized flow of breathable gas passes therethrough.
US08375943B2
The present invention includes a transient method of delivering a biological agent in a breathable liquid to a lung of a patient. The present invention includes a steady state method of delivering a biological agent in a breathable liquid to a lung of a patient. The steps of both the transient delivery method and the steady state delivery method can be controlled by a servo-control unit. A supplementary biological agent delivery step can be performed in both the transient method of delivering a biological agent and the steady state method of delivering a biological agent.
US08375942B2
A respiration moistener (1) has an inlet (3), into which incoming gas (2) to be moistened can be fed. Vapor (21) is mixed with the incoming gas (2) in a mixing chamber (4). Moistened outgoing gas (5) flows out of an outlet (6). In cases in which the temperature of the incoming gas (2) becomes so high that the temperature of the outgoing gas (5) is above a desired value, the internal desired value is adjusted. The outgoing gas (5) can then cool to the desired value on its way through the inspiration tube (7).
US08375940B2
In order to improve the administration of powdered pharmaceuticals, the invention proposes a storage system for powdered pharmaceuticals, in particular for use or integration in a powder inhaler, for receiving a multiplicity of doses of at least one medically active substance, with at least two storage spaces (4) which are separate from each other and are each intended to hold a multiplicity of doses of a medically active substance, and the invention also proposes an inhaler for powdered pharmaceuticals, the inhaler comprising such a pharmaceutical powder cartridge system (1) as an integral part or as an exchangeable part.
US08375939B2
The invention relates to a dual wall cylindrical container with a gas distribution source in the lower portion thereof. The cylindrical container is positioned at the lower portion of a frame with two suction sources for potentially pollutant gases. The first source has the highest gas charge and extends from the space defined by the dual wall of the cylinder and is connected to an active-carbon dynamic extraction system. The second source extends from the gap between the upper edge of the open cylinder and the frame, and is connected to a global network for discharging and processing the charged air. A third suction source extends from the two horizontal work planes provided with sieves for suction from the top to the bottom. The gas distribution source is provided with a safety device that cuts off the supply of gases when detecting an abnormality in the suction circuits.
US08375937B2
The present invention discloses an intestinal tract pushing apparatus for ultrasonic therapy. The intestinal tract pushing apparatus includes a pushing member and an acoustically transparent member. One end of said acoustically transparent member is connected to a buckling strip, and the other end of the acoustically transparent member is connected to an adhesive strip. The acoustically transparent member is bound to the human abdomen by virtue of the adhesive fastening of the buckling strip and the adhesive strip. The pushing member employs a hydraulic system.
US08375936B2
A solar energy system. The system includes a thermal solar system comprising a plurality of thermal modules spatially configured as an N by M array. In a specific embodiment, the plurality of thermal modules are configured to form an aperture region and a backside region. The system has an air moving device comprising a drive device coupled to a blower device. In a specific embodiment, the drive device is spatially disposed within a fluid drive region. The system has a controller operably coupled to the air moving device. The controller is configured to operate the blower device in a first direction to cause fluid flow from at least the fluid flow intake region to the fluid flow exit region and to maintain a temperature of no greater than about 200 Degrees Fahrenheit within the fluid drive region by at least changing the first direction of operation of the blower device to a second direction to cause fluid from a third region to flow into the fluid drive region to initiate removal of thermal energy from the fluid drive region, which prevents the drive device from overheating.
US08375935B2
A solar power water heating apparatus includes a supporting device for supporting movably a mounting seat provided with a condensing unit on a mounting side thereof for concentrating sunlight onto a heat-conductive tube body in the mounting seat. The tube body absorbs thermal energy from the sunlight concentrated thereonto and transmits the thermal energy to water therein, thereby heating the water. The supporting device includes a disk member mounted rotatably on a hollow base body and driven by a drive unit in the base body to rotate relative to the base body in a central axis of the disk member, and a telescopic rod member and two upright supporting rods interconnecting the mounting seat and the disk member. A control module controls the drive unit and the telescopic rod member based on a solar radiating direction to move the mounting side of the mounting seat to face sunlight.
US08375927B2
An internal combustion engine has a crankcase for a plurality of cylinders, which has hollow vertical reinforcements in the area of the side walls of the crankcase in the area of the main bearing planes, at least a part of the vertical reinforcements being implemented as oil recirculation passages between cylinder head and crankcase. At least one vertical reinforcement which conducts blow-by gas has a connection for a blow-by gas line leading to an oil separator.
US08375926B2
A two stage cooled EGR system for a turbocharged internal combustion engine with an intake air charge air cooler. The first EGR cooler is a liquid-to-air cooler and the second, low temperature EGR cooler, is an air-to-air cooler combining with the gas flow downstream of the intake air cooler. The system bypasses EGR flow through the low temperature EGR cooler during certain engine conditions such as low engine coolant temperature and a check valve allows a limited portion of un-cooled, pressurized intake air to be passed through the low temperature EGR cooler for scavenging of any residual moisture and ultimate consumption by the engine.
US08375925B2
In vaporized fuel processing device and method, an adsorption material provides a canister and configured to once hold the vaporized fuel generated in a fuel tank into the adsorption material within the canister, the canister into which an intake air pressure of an engine used for purge air being introduced when the engine is operated and purge air purging fuel corresponding to vaporized fuel from the adsorption material to be supplied to the engine; an electric heater configured to variably control an electric power supplied to the heater in accordance with a purge air quantity to be introduced within the canister.
US08375924B2
A stem is installed to an injector body and is resiliently deformable upon receiving a pressure of high pressure fuel conducted through a high pressure passage of the injector body. A strain gauge is installed to the stem to sense a strain generated in the stem. A molded IC device executes an amplifying operation, which amplifies a signal received from the strain gauge. A housing is installed to the stem and holds the molded IC device. The stem, the strain gauge the molded IC device and the housing are integrally assembled together to form a fuel pressure sensing unit, which is installed to the injector body by threadably fastening a threaded portion, which is formed at the housing, to the injector body.
US08375915B1
An gas directing/exhaust system and method are provided that has different embodiments. In some embodiments, the gas directing mechanism has a first pathway and a second pathway. In other embodiments, the gas directing mechanism has a second pathway and one or more first pathways located inside of the second pathway. In other embodiments, the gas directing mechanism has the first and second pathways and a third pathway inside of the second pathway.
US08375907B2
A camshaft adjusting system of an internal combustion engine, which has a rotor, a stator, and first and second concentrically arranged camshafts one of which is driven by the stator and the other one of which is driven by the rotor. The camshafts can be rotated relative to one another to change phase angles of at least one cam on the first of the camshafts relative to at least one cam on the second of the camshafts. Hydraulic vane cells between the stator and the rotor control the rotation of the rotor relative to the stator. The total difference in the shapes and positions of the camshafts is smaller than bearing gaps of at least one bearing point between the rotor and the stator, and sealing elements which can be adjusted to the bearing gaps are provided in the bearing gaps between the rotor and the stator.
US08375904B2
An early intake valve closing (EIVC) and variable valve timing (VVT) assembly and method are provided for an internal combustion engine. The method includes operating an intake valve to open and close an intake port and allow intake gas to enter a cylinder of the internal combustion engine containing a piston, where the timing of the closing of the intake valve occurs at or before bottom dead center (BDC) of the compression stroke of the piston. The method further includes selectively extending duration of the opening of the intake port by an amount that delays closing timing of the intake valve until after BDC of the piston compression stroke. An assembly for EIVC and VVT includes a cylinder head including an intake valve and intake port and a rotatably mounted camshaft including an intake lobe operatively connected to the intake valve to periodically move the valve into the first and second positions. The intake lobe is shaped such that the timing of the closing position occurs at or before BDC of a compression stroke of the piston. The assembly further includes a selectively activatable VVT assembly having an actuator that operatively engages the intake valve before the intake valve reaches the closed position to extend duration of the intake valve opening until after BDC of the piston compression stroke.
US08375903B2
An internal combustion engine has at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve. A first spring biases the at least one intake valve to a closed position. A second spring biases the at least one exhaust valve to a closed position. At least one of the first and second springs is an air spring. An air compressor is disposed inside the cylinder head and fluidly communicates with the air spring to supply air to the air spring. The air compressor being disposed between a crankshaft and a cylinder head cover in a direction parallel to a cylinder axis is also disclosed.
US08375896B2
A method of producing the scent of deer antlers on a surface by forming an aqueous solution of dicalcium phosphate, and applying the aqueous solution to a surface so that the surface gives off a scent of deer antlers. The solution can be applied to the surface of an object and then a dog can be trained to locate the object, whereby the dog, after this training, will be able to locate shed antlers hidden in the environment; or the solution can be applied to a person or object whereby the application will mask the scent of the person and/or object with regard deer; or can be applied to any surface to attract deer to a desired location.
US08375880B1
A retractable step for use with a boat in water comprising at least one moveable arm pivotally coupled with the boat, a step coupled with the arm such that the step is moveable between a stored position above the water surface and a deployed position below the water surface, and a lock configured to hold the moveable arm in a stationary position when the step is in its deployed position, but is releasable to accommodate movement of the step to its stored position.
US08375879B2
A stowage unit for a payload such as a weapon, countermeasure or unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), and a method for using the unit to deploy the payload are described. The unit comprises an inner tube for holding the payload, wherein the inner tube is mounted in an outer vessel and so defines a volume between the outer vessel and inner tube. The volume has a first sealing element, which can be used to open or seal the volume at one end, and a valve enabling fluid communication between the volume and inner tube. After deployment of the payload, a weight of fluid equivalent to the deployed payload can be allowed to enter the volume from the inner tube, thus enabling the weight of the unit to remain substantially unaltered from before deployment to after deployment.
US08375878B1
A method for use in deep water, for dynamically connecting a fixed for floating vessel to a floating transport vessel using at least one telescoping mooring arm, and for flowing a fluid that forms a hydrocarbon vapor to the moveable floating transport vessel with offload flexible conduits that adjust to accommodate vessel motion, wave motion, current motion, and other weather motion without disengaging is disclosed herein. The method can include using telescoping mooring arms to maintain a nominal distance between the fixed or floating vessel and the transport vessel while forming an enclosed gangway. The method can include monitoring offloading and return of hydrocarbon vapor, providing quick connect/disconnect engagements to the transport vessel, and using an adjustable vapor return flexible conduit. The method can include releasing the transport vessel from the fixed for floating vessel to transport the fluid to another location.
US08375872B2
The present invention is directed to processes and apparatuses for reducing the content of pollutants in a boiler system flue gas resulting from combustion of fuel. The present invention discloses improved slurry injection techniques, re-circulation of flue gas to provide momentum to the injected slurry, a measurement system for obtaining system profile information and a system to optimize the reduction of pollutants in a flue gas by adjusting the injection of slurry suspension based on system profile information.
US08375869B2
A crash-resistant front apron for a rail vehicle is provided. The front apron includes an apron cover, a first support part supporting the apron cover, a second support part attached to a frame of the rail vehicle and a friction coupling release mechanism which connects the first support part to the second support part by a friction connection. In the event of a crash of the rail vehicle, in which a collision force acts on the front apron cover causing a torsion of the first support part relative to the second support part, the friction coupling release mechanism releases the friction connection.
US08375868B2
A railcar hatch cover latching system including a sliding mechanism attached to a movable portion of the hatch cover and a latching apparatus associated with the hatch cover. The latching apparatus has a biased assembly, a bar and at least one profiled stop. The bar extends through the biased assembly. The biased assembly is configured to allow the bar to pass through the biased assembly with a first force requirement. The at least one profiled stop is positioned on the bar to encounter the biased assembly and having a second force requirement to move the bar past the at least one profiled stop, the second force being greater than the first force.
US08375865B2
A personal transportation and freight delivery system that can be operated as a fully automated driverless land transportation system consisting of vehicles that move on their own propulsion on a pair of overhead parallel steel rails that form a single track and allows people to go anywhere the tracks can take them and delivery of freight anywhere along the tracks. Passengers and freight are transported inside a module that hangs from a propulsion dolly with in-line wheels to roll along such tracks. Electric motors are used for propulsion with power supplied at the tracks assembly; however, the system is also suited for internal combustion engines. There's no need for track switches to route vehicles to its destination as each vehicle has a steering mechanism. Rubber bumpers at each end of the propulsion dollies allow the vehicles to fit bumper-to-bumper along the tracks.
US08375862B2
A base assembly for a gas generating system is provided. The base assembly includes a base and a retainer affixed to the base. In an alternative embodiment, the assembly includes an initiator molded to both the base and the retainer.
US08375856B2
In a method for compensating an oscillation which has a frequency spectrum with a number of discrete frequency components in a printing press, at least one counter torque is introduced into the printing press in order to compensate for at least one discrete frequency component of the oscillation. A first group of one or more frequency components are compensated for by introducing one or more previously determined counter torques, and a second group of one or more frequency components is compensated for by introducing specific counter torques as a function of a measurement, carried out during the operation of the printing press, of at least one signal which contains at least the one or the plurality of frequency components.
US08375854B2
A sheet processing apparatus includes a first cylinder, second cylinder, third cylinder, first driving device, second driving device, third driving device, thickness input device, and controller. The first cylinder receives a sheet from an upstream transport cylinder and holds the sheet. The second cylinder is disposed to oppose the first cylinder and prints/coats the sheet held by the first cylinder. The third cylinder is disposed to oppose the first cylinder and supplies ink/varnish to a circumferential surface of the first cylinder. The first driving device adjusts a gap amount between the first cylinder and the upstream transport cylinder. The second driving device adjusts the position of the second cylinder with respect to the first cylinder. The third driving device adjusts the position of the third cylinder with respect to the first cylinder. The thickness input device inputs the thickness of the sheet. The controller controls the first driving device, the second driving device, and the third driving device in accordance with the sheet thickness from the thickness input device.
US08375842B2
In an electro-pneumatic system for controlling a double-acting pneumatic actuator having first and second working chambers, first and second preliminary pneumatic control components generate first and second preliminary pneumatic control signals transferred to respective first and second main pneumatic control components having outputs connected to the respective first and second working chambers. An electronic splitter circuit precedes the first and second preliminary pneumatic control components for splitting and inverting an electrical control signal input to the splitter circuit around an electrical mean control value to create first and second mirror-inverted electrical control signals respectively connected to the respective first and second preliminary pneumatic control components. The electrical mean control value is adjustable such that the first and second preliminary control components respectively generate the respective first and second preliminary pneumatic control signals mutually inverted around a pneumatic mean value.
US08375837B2
The present invention provides a catch and snare system for an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising: (a) a detection system, (b) a deployment system in communication with the detection system, (c) a capture system placed at an interference position by the deployment system, wherein the capture system comprises a net, a plurality of foam deploying canisters attached to the net for deploying foam, and at least one canister for deploying a decelerating parachute attached to the net, wherein the foam prevents the release of chemical or biological agents from the captured unmanned aerial vehicle, and (d) a descent system to bring the capture system and a captured unmanned aerial vehicle back to earth.
US08375835B2
A guide bar track extension method and apparatus. A machining table has a table surface terminating at a side thereof, the surface defining a table perimeter, and a slot for a guide bar. A guide bar extension mechanism is cooperatively adapted with the table for detachably mounting to the side of the table. The guide bar extension mechanism includes an adjustment mechanism providing for lateral adjustment of the guide bar extension mechanism relative to the axis. The adjustment mechanism includes two opposed guiding members adapted to contact the guide bar outside the table perimeter.
US08375819B2
In a toothed piece for a geared motor, series of geared motors and connection, the toothed piece, for a connection with a motor shaft of the electric motor, having at least a first toothing in a first axial region, and having at least a second toothing in a second axial region, the second toothing meshing with a running toothing of a further toothed piece of the gear unit.
US08375814B2
A drive device includes a first fastening device (5), for connection to a stationary base part, especially a vehicle body, or to a movable part, especially a vehicle (hinged) lid or door; a second fastening device (24), for connection to the movable part or to the stationary base part; a spindle drive (17), which includes a threaded spindle (16) and a spindle nut (19) mounted on the threaded spindle (16) and capable of moving the first and the second fastening devices (5, 24) axially relative to each other; and a rotary drive (9), which rotates the spindle drive (17) by way of an overload safety device, wherein the nonrotatable connection between the two components can be released when a certain torque is exceeded, and wherein the overload safety device is formed by a clutch device (15), which comprises an inner part (32) connected to the rotary drive (9), which inner part rotates an intermediate part (34) by way of a damping element (33) and, by way of the intermediate part (34), rotates an outer part (36) connected to the spindle drive (17).
US08375808B2
An apparatus, system, and method for improving force and torpg,que sensing and feedback to the surgeon performing a telerobotic surgery are provided. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument, a robotic surgical system, a cannula, a cannula seal, and a method for improved sensing of z-axis forces on a robotic surgical instrument are disclosed.
US08375805B2
A work holder capable of measuring the amount of distortion occurring in a part as the part is machined, processed, treated, or otherwise operated upon and methods of using the same for quality control and process monitoring purposes. Indirect measurement of the distortion occurring in the part eliminates the need to individually strain gauge each part.
US08375801B2
A differential pressure sensor has a magnetized piston free to move in a cylinder. Magnetic endcaps seal the ends of the cylinder, forming chambers on either side of the piston. The moveable magnetic piston is constrained by the opposing magnetic fields of the endcaps. The piston is covered with magnetic ferrofluid, providing a low friction gas-tight seal around the piston. The cylinder has two pressure input lines, one being connected to the chamber on either side of the piston. The relative pressures of the input lines cause the piston to move to a position of equilibrium within the cylinder, with the magnetic fields of the endcaps holding the piston in place against the pressure. A magnetic field angle sensor detects flux lines on the outside of the cylinder, and the reading is correlated with the pressure differential between the two input lines.
US08375792B2
A vibrating gyroscope according to this invention includes a ring-shaped vibrating body 11 having a uniform plane, a leg portion 15 flexibly supporting the ring-shaped vibrating body and having a fixed end, a fixed potential electrode 16, and a plurality of electrodes 13a, 13b, . . . , 13f formed on the plane with a piezoelectric film sandwiched between an upper-layer metallic film and a lower-layer metallic film in a thickness direction thereof. In this case, in a representative example shown in FIG. 1, when one of driving electrodes 13a for exciting a primary vibration of the ring-shaped vibrating body 11 in a vibration mode of cos Nθ is set as a reference driving electrode, the plurality of remaining electrodes 13b, . . . , 13f are disposed at specific positions. Such disposition allows this vibrating gyroscope to excite a primary vibration in an out-of-plane vibration mode of cos 2θ as well as detect a uniaxial or biaxial angular velocity by adopting a secondary vibration detector in an in-plane vibration mode of cos 3θ.
US08375791B2
A capacitive MEMS gyroscope and a method of making the same are disclosed. The capacitive MEMS gyroscope comprises a semiconductor substrate and a suspended composite wheel. The semiconductor substrate comprises: a read-out circuitry; at least one bottom electrode disposed on top of the semiconductor substrate, centered to a rotation axis and electrically connected to the read-out circuitry; at least one contact pad disposed on the top of the semiconductor substrate, electrically to the read-out circuitry; the composite wheel, partially made of dielectric film and configured in suspension above and in parallel to the semiconductor substrate and centered to the rotation axis, comprises: at least one top electrode disposed on the composite wheel, aligned vertically with one of the bottom electrode, electrically to the read-out circuitry; at least one circumferential spring centered to the rotation axis, bridging the composite wheel and the semiconductor substrate and consisting of at least one top electrode which electrically connects the top electrode to the contact pad on the semiconductor substrate. The gyroscope of the present invention formed by depositing and photolithographically patterning has miniaturized size, low tolerance scope and high sensing accuracy, as well as low fabrication costs owing to special bulk MEMS fabrication device unnecessary.
US08375790B2
An angular velocity detection apparatus (i.e., physical quantity detection apparatus) includes a gyro sensor element (i.e., physical quantity detection element) that allows an angular velocity detection signal that corresponds to the magnitude of an angular velocity (i.e., physical quantity) and a leakage signal of vibrations based on a drive signal (square-wave voltage signal) to flow through a detection electrode, a driver circuit that generates the drive signal, a synchronous detection circuit that performs a synchronous detection process on a detection target signal that includes the angular velocity detection signal and the leakage signal based on a detection signal that is synchronized with the drive signal, and a phase change circuit that changes a relative timing of at least one of a rising edge and a falling edge of the detection signal with respect to the detection target signal based on a control signal so that at least part of the leakage signal is output by the synchronous detection process.
US08375779B2
A method for determining an absolute rotational position of a vehicle steering column is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method determines a relative position of a steering assist motor utilizing a relative position sensor. Thereafter, the method determines the absolute rotational position of the vehicle steering column based upon the relative position of the steering assist motor.
US08375773B2
Methods of determining the wettability of a surface under predetermined conditions, wherein the surface simulates or is a downhole surface for use in an oil or gas operation. The methods include the steps of: (A) contacting the surface with at least a first fluid; and then (B) observing the surface for the presence or absence of a marker to determine the wettability of the surface. According to a first aspect of the inventions, the first fluid comprises a first marker, and the step of contacting is under first predetermined conditions. This aspect also includes the additional step of contacting the surface with a second fluid comprising a second marker. According to a second aspect of the inventions, the step of contacting the surface with the first fluid is under predetermined conditions, and the surface is contacted with a second fluid comprising a second marker. According to a third aspect of the inventions, the first fluid comprises a first marker, the surface is contacted with a second fluid comprising a second marker, and both steps of contacting are performed under predetermined conditions.
US08375771B1
Viscometer (80) with a closed bottom rotor assembly (51) rotatable by a coupling magnet (34) and a driving magnet (38) to shear a tested fluid thus imparting torque to a bob (30) mounted on a bob shaft (24) supported via bearings (22 and 18) inside rotor assembly (51). An upper chamber (96) located in the upper portion of rotor assembly (51) is at least partially filled with sample and communicates pressure with lower portion of rotor assembly (51) and rotor top via small gap (106) and small gap (110). A spiral spring (70) restricts the rotation of bob shaft (24). Magnetometer (10) measures the angular position of a top magnet (72) connected to the top of bob shaft (24). This angular position information is further converted to the viscosity of the tested fluid.
US08375769B2
An apparatus and method for measuring a Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) by controlling a residual gain in a high speed packet access system are provided. The apparatus includes a gain controller for measuring an intensity of a signal outputted from a residual gain controller, for outputting a gain control signal for controlling a gain of an interval of a preset gain resolution of a radio frequency integrated circuit according to the intensity of measured signal, and for outputting a residual gain value for controlling a residual gain less than the preset gain resolution, wherein the radio frequency integrated circuit gain-controls a signal inputted according to the gain control signal, and the residual gain controller multiplies the gain-controlled signal by the residual gain value to compensate the residual gain.
US08375766B2
An apparatus (7) for monitoring particles flowing in a stack (6), comprises: an electrical-interaction monitor (1) operable to provide a signal (300) resulting from electrical interaction of the particles with the monitor (1). a scattered-light monitor (10) operable to provide a signal (310) resulting from detection of light scattered from the particles, and a controller (320) arranged to alter the calibration of the electrical-interaction monitor 1 in response to changes in the relative magnitude of the electrical-interaction (signal 300) and the scattered-light signal (310).
US08375764B2
A pipe bender includes first and second handles pivotably secured together wherein the second handle includes first and second rotatable pipe receiving grooves at both ends of a forward U; a support member threadedly fastened between a forward bifurcation of the first handle, the support member comprising a spring depressible detent on the bottom, and a plurality of markings on the top; and a slide member comprising a plurality of parallel arcuate pipe receiving channels of different arcuate perimeters on a lower surface, a central U-shaped trough on the top for receiving a lower portion of the support member, retaining holes on the bottom of the U-shaped trough, each retaining hole being aligned with one pipe receiving channel and one retaining hole adapted to lockingly receive the detent for positioning. The slide member is slidably retained by the support member.
US08375750B2
A laundry system comprises a first laundry appliance, a second laundry appliance, and a vertical laundry module. The vertical laundry module can have a housing with a width less than the width of each of the first and second laundry appliances. The vertical laundry module can have a drawer that slidably opens from a face of the housing and a hanging rod positioned in drawer. The vertical laundry module can further have a functional element that performing drying, refreshing, and/or sanitizing, and a control panel for controlling the operation of the functional element.
US08375748B2
A glass manufacturing container includes a container body and an electron donor. The container body is made of a precious metal or an alloy containing a precious metal and has an inner surface to be brought into contact with molten glass and an outer surface kept from contact with molten glass. The electron donor is electrically connected to the outer surface of the container body. The electron donor is made of an electron donating material capable of donating electrons to the container body at operating temperatures.
US08375737B2
An ice maker for a domestic appliance comprises an ice tray, a water feed line which can be used to fill the ice tray with water, a water filter which is arranged in the water feed line such that it can be replaced, and a monitoring unit for calculating a value which is representative of the degree of wear of the filter. The monitoring unit has means for changing the representative value by a first fixed step width each time the ice tray is filled.
US08375735B2
A refrigerant system is provided that includes a compressor, a motor for driving the compressor, a refrigerant system component, and a controller. The refrigerant system component can operate in a pulse width modulated mode having a loaded phase and an unloaded phase. The compressor motor is loaded in the loaded phase but unloaded in the unloaded phase. The controller applies a first voltage to the compressor motor in the loaded phase and a second voltage to the compressor motor in the unloaded phase. Here, the second voltage is less than the first voltage.
US08375734B2
A refrigeration system is provided with an ice maker chamber within a fresh food compartment. The refrigeration system includes a refrigeration path and an ice maker path. The ice maker path includes an electronic expansion valve for controlling the refrigerant entering an ice maker evaporator and an evaporator pressure regulator. Controlling the refrigeration system includes the steps of sensing a first refrigerant temperature at an exit of the ice maker evaporator and controlling a first control of the electronic expansion valve until the temperature reaches a temperature target. The method of controlling can further include comparing a slope of the temperature to at least one of a minimum, a target, or a maximum setting to adjust the control. Subsequently, a second control for the electronic expansion valve can be repeatedly adjusted by evaluating the first refrigerant temperature and the slope.
US08375732B2
A method for controlling an air conditioning system in a vehicle to reduce the humidity entering into the interior of the vehicle is disclosed. One aspect of the disclosure is that a measure for the amount of water collected at the fresh air intake port is determined as a function of a sensor signal. Thereafter, the determined measure for the amount of water collected at the fresh air intake port may be used to control the air conditioning system in such a manner that the amount of air that is drawn in through the fresh air intake port is reduced.
US08375715B2
An energy converter, includes a base, a first and a second converging lenses, an electric coil and a movable module. The base includes a substrate, a transparent chamber and two supporters formed on the substrate. The transparent chamber includes a first and a second vents formed therein. The first and second converging lenses are supported by the respective supporters. The electric coil is fixed on the substrate, and the electric coil defines a receiving space therein. The movable module includes a piston, a connector connected to the piston, a magnet connected to the connector, and a shading plate disposed on the connector and having an opening defined therein. The piston is moved in the transparent chamber due to thermal expansion of air in the transparent chamber, thereby moving the magnet in or out of the receiving space of the electric coil, and thus the electric power is generated.
US08375713B2
A method for dislodging exhaust gas deposits from an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler (26) associated with an engine includes the steps of providing at least one on-board gas source (S) for providing a gas (G) at a superatmospheric pressure, and placing the EGR cooler in fluid communication with the gas source through a supply conduit (44, 144). The supply conduit (44, 144) includes at least one valve (V) that is selectively operable to a closed condition closing the supply conduit and to an open position opening the supply conduit. The method also includes the step of operating the at least one valve (V) from the closed condition to the open condition to allow the superatmospheric gas (G) to flow through the supply conduit (44, 144) to the EGR cooler (26).
US08375702B2
An exhaust emission control system, which comprises control means 8 operable, in response to satisfaction of a given stop condition, to automatically stop an engine, and subsequently, in response to satisfaction of a given restart condition, to automatically restart the automatically stopped engine, a flow passage 6 adapted for an aqueous urea solution for reducing nitrogen oxides contained in exhaust gas of the engine, and supply/recovery means 7 adapted to drive a pump 10 to supply an aqueous urea solution to the flow passage and recover an aqueous urea solution from the flow passage. The control means is operable, when the engine is forcibly stopped by turning off an ignition switch, to instruct the supply/recovery means 7 to recover an aqueous urea solution from the flow passage 6, and, when automatically stopping the engine in response to satisfaction of the given stop condition, to prohibit the supply/recovery means 7 from recovering an aqueous urea solution from the flow passage 6.
US08375697B2
The electrolytic ignitor comprises an injector constituting a first electrode and including a fuel injector device, an oxidizer injector device, and an electrolyte injector device. A second electrode electrically insulated from the injector extends downstream beyond the injector. An electrolyte distribution channel for delivering electrolyte in the form of free jets through the electrolyte injector device comprises at least one injection hole in the vicinity of the fuel injector device and the oxidizer injector device. An electrical power supply circuit is adapted to raise the second electrode to a potential in the range 50 V to 1000 V relative to the potential of the first electrode. The electrolyte injected through the injection hole is capable of causing ignition of a gaseous mixture in a combustion chamber of an ignitor torch suitable for incorporating in a main injector of a rocket engine.
US08375678B1
A pre-fabrication of a modular reinforcement cage for high-rise concrete construction is provided. The primary vertical bars, often referred to as the longitudinal bars, are held in formation by a set of templates that are manufactured to the design of the construction. These templates ensure accurate placement of the vertical bars and provides great rigidity for the module when being placed in the field. The main vertical bars can have thread-like deformations along the length of the bar, and are locked in place by use of compatible hardware against the templates. Multiple modules can then be stacked and coupled by use of mechanical couplings as construction continues.
US08375665B2
A partition module and system of partition modules provides an aesthetically pleasing partition for an interior space of a building. The front and rear exteriors of the module each include three-dimensional surface patterns configured to coextensively align with patterns on adjacent substantially identical modules to form a collective, dual-sided partition having a seamless visual appearance. The partition module may include a recess sized and shaped to receive a beam for supporting the partition structure and a plurality of alignment projections for self-alignment of the partition modules during construction.
US08375653B2
The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which a photovoltaic element is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising: an encapsulated photovoltaic element having a top surface and a bottom surface, a top layer material at its top surface and a bottom layer material at its bottom surface; a roofing substrate having a top surface; and a tie layer system disposed between the encapsulated photovoltaic element and the roofing substrate and joining the bottom surface of the encapsulated photovoltaic element to the top surface of the roofing substrate.
US08375639B2
A refrigerator door is provided. The refrigerator door includes a front decoration defining a front external appearance of the refrigerator door, a door liner provided at a rear of the front decoration to define a rear external appearance of the refrigerator door, a pair of cap decorations provided on upper and lower portions of the front decoration to define top and bottom external appearances of the refrigerator door, a pair of door decorations coupled to both sides of the front decoration to define both side external appearances of the refrigerator door, a display portion interposed between the front decoration and the door liner, and an insulating layer interposed between the front decoration and the door liner.
US08375638B2
A roller door system includes a roller assembly configured to mount directly to a panel and move along a complementary upper guide. In particular, the roller assembly can be coupled to a coupling member embedded in the panel. The roller assembly, when coupled with the panel, can provide a smooth gliding motion for the panel.
US08375631B2
A system for modular gardening including a water module having a reservoir coupled to an aperture such that water in the reservoir flows out the water module via the aperture. The system also including a plant module having a housing having an aperture arranged to transfer water with another module and further having an open region on a top surface of the housing, a first conduit within the housing coupling the aperture and a regulator, a second conduit coupled to the regulator, the second conduit providing water to one or more water absorbent layers arranged atop the second conduit, and plant life at least partially embedded in at least one of the one or more water absorbent layers and receiving light through the open region.
US08375627B2
A modular all-terrain algal production system that includes a plurality of segments. Each segment is made from one or more trays that are adapted to grow algae on their surface. The trays each have a flange end configured to be coupled to non-flanged end of an adjacent tray to form floways. Each floway has a rotatable surge bucket at one end that is able to hold water and spill the water in a wave down the floway into a catchment. The system is supported on uneven terrain by an adjustable structure arranged to provide each floway with a horizontal inclination.
US08375622B1
A strap on fishing rod rack comprising of fixed horizontal panels, tubular housing, straps and a fastening device. The rack straps around an ice cooler or other object and hold a plurality of fishing rods in an upright position. The device is removable and can be affixed without the need for screws or drilling making it useful for mounting to coolers and other fixtures that are unsuitable for other mounting applications. The rack includes horizontal panels on which vertical fishing rod support tubes are affixed. Individual horizontal panels may consist of two members, each with a channel and groove extending the length of the member. The members may be joined creating a channel along the inside of each horizontal panel. The rack includes straps. A strap slides inside the horizontal panel, in one end, and exits out the other. A stainless steel ratchet buckle is affixed on one end of each strap providing a simple but secure method to firmly attach the apparatus to the fixture.
US08375615B2
A planar sheet mounting device comprising: a frame unit; at least one retaining unit connected to the frame unit, wherein the at least one retaining device comprises: a first plurality of formed segment pairs, wherein a formed segment pair comprises a first formed segment disposed on a second formed segment, wherein the second formed segment is substantially identical to the first formed segment, wherein the first formed segment is oriented in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the second formed segment, whereby a planar sheet is retained when interposed between the first formed segment the second formed segment; a holder, wherein the first plurality of formed segment pairs are coupled to holder at least one point on each formed segment pair of the first plurality of formed segment pairs, and wherein the first plurality of formed segment pairs are oriented adjacent to each other; an affixant coupled to the holder for removably affixing the first plurality of formed segment pairs and the frame unit to a substrate.
US08375614B2
Apparatus and methods for wet floor warnings feature a movable barrier member proximate a doorway at a height elevated above floor level for selective movement between a deployed position in which the barrier member spans at least partially across the doorway and a storage position in which the barrier member is less obstructive to the doorway than in the deployed position for selective display of wet floor warning indicia on the barrier member on a path of sight through the doorway to indicate that the floor surface situated beyond said doorway is wet and may present a slip and fall hazard. The visibility of the warning is improved over floor seated signs, and cleaning personnel going room to room in a large establishment like a hotel, hospital, nursing home, care home, etc. need not transport portable warning signs as they travel the premises.
US08375609B2
A portable, handheld iron (10) is provided having a pair of opposing soleplates (25, 35) with a lip (26, 36) for reaching hard to reach areas on a garment. The soleplates (25, 35) are disposed on respective upper and lower portions (20, 30) pivotally connected by a hinge (40). The upper and lower portions (20, 30) are moveable between open and closed positions. The longitudinal axes B of the upper and lower portions (20, 30) are offset from the plane of the soleplates (25, 35) by an offset angle α when in the closed position. The offset angle α provides the iron (10) with an ergonomic advantage in reaching hard to reach areas. In an embodiment, at least one of the soleplates (25, 35) is provided with a plurality of vents (27) for delivering wrinkle releasing steam.
US08375605B2
A system for uncovering and sealing a narrow trench. The system comprises several subsystems, including a work machine, a frame for providing a seal with the surface to be trenched, a saw blade, a vacuum system, a system for placing product, and a resealer. The blade includes rotatable tooth bits, which may be rotated and secured to create a blade for narrower or a wider trench. A removable cover and the blade are easily changeable. A ground engaging surface on the frame is manipulated to maintain a seal with changing ground surfaces. Additionally, the vertical location of the blade within the frame is adjustable to create a deeper or shallower trench.
US08375589B2
A folding knife in exemplary embodimentsTong comprises a handle portion, a blade, a locking cross-bolt, and a motion limiting member coupled to the handle. When the blade is in the closed position, the motion limiting member is in a first position that prevents the cross-bolt from moving to its locked position. When pivoting the blade to the open position, the motion limiting member moves to a second position that does not prevent the cross-bolt from moving to its locked position. A biased safety mechanism can also be used to block the cross-bolt from moving to an unlocked position.
US08375588B2
A preferred embodiment of a safety carton cutter comprises a first frame member pivotably connected to a second frame member to form a housing. Inside the housing mounted on the first frame member is a blade receptacle having a latch, a blade carrier, a biasing member and a follower. The follower is adapted to communicate with a cam profile located on a cam in the first frame member. The configuration of the follower and cam profile provides an extending and retracting mechanism that keeps the blade in a constant exposed position before and during the cutting process, and then allows the blade to retract immediately after the cutting process is complete.
US08375585B1
Disclosed is a combination of a bracelet and a device for assisting in attaching a bracelet of the type having a clasp at one end and a receiver at the other end and being flexible between such ends. The device comprises a dangling member attached to the bracelet, which dangling member is of sufficient length so that at least one finger of the wearer's involved hand can engage the dangling member against the involved hand and thereby position said receiver at or near the wrist while the wearer's other hand manipulates the clasp at the other end of the bracelet so as to bring such clasp into proximity with the receiver and then so as to attach the bracelet. In another embodiment of the invention, a detachably attachable dangling member is disclosed that can be retrofitted to a typical bracelet. In another embodiment of the invention, the dangling member is permanently attached near one end of the bracelet and is detachably attachable elsewhere on the bracelet. A method is disclosed in which a wearer of a bracelet can attach the ends of a bracelet without assistance by any other person by squeezing a dangling member attached to said bracelet against the involved hand with at least one finger of the involved hand, thereby positioning the receiver at one end of the bracelet at or near the wearer's involved wrist and allowing the wearer's other hand to complete the attachment of the bracelet.
US08375581B2
A method and apparatus for fixturing an airfoil stub during linear friction welding are described. Critical clamping support structures are manufactured by a direct digital manufacturing process such as direct metal laser sintering to minimize time and expense of the process.
US08375578B2
This invention provides with an electric wire press fitting method, in which an aluminum core wire of each of two aluminum wires are stranded to each other and inserted into a sleeve, and the aluminum core wire of each of the two aluminum wires are compressed and swaged along with the sleeve, wherein the sleeve includes a main body made of copper or a copper alloy; and the compression is performed on the aluminum core wire of each of the two aluminum wires at a compression ratio of 50 to 85% by the main body.
US08375576B2
A method for manufacturing a wafer scale heat slug system includes: dicing an integrated circuit from a semiconductor wafer; forming a heat slug blank equivalent in size to the semiconductor wafer; dicing the heat slug blank to produce a heat slug equivalent in size to the integrated circuit; attaching the integrated circuit to a substrate; attaching the heat slug to the integrated circuit; and encapsulating the integrated circuit.
US08375571B2
A component assembly (10) used for picking and placing the component assembly includes a component (14-30) having a geometry incapable of being picked and placed or having a geometry that is unstable when placed through a reflow oven. The assembly includes a support member such as a detachable clip (11) having a pick and placeable surface such as a top flat surface (12). The clip attaches to the component to modify a center of gravity to form a stable component assembly once attached to the support member. The component assembly can further include conductive elements (such as a center conductor (17) of a coaxial cable (16) and at least one ground conductor (15)) used for registration with apertures or other surface locations on a substrate (19).
US08375570B2
An object of the invention is to provide an electronic component mounting system and an electronic component mounting method which can execute component mounting work on a plurality of boards simultaneously, concurrently and efficiently so that high productivity and responsiveness to production of many items can be achieved consistently. Provided is an electronic component mounting line (1) which is formed so that a screen printing portion having a plurality of individual printing mechanisms capable of executing setup change works individually is connected to an upstream side of a component mounting portion having a plurality of board conveyance mechanisms, and which is configured so that either of a first work mode in which component mounting work is continuously executed on a fixed board type in all individual mounting lanes (L1 and L2) and a second work mode in which component mounting work is intermittently executed in one individual mounting lane while setup change work is repeated in corresponding one of the individual printing mechanisms whenever board types are changed from one to another in the individual mounting lane is selectively designated in multi-board mounting work in which the individual mounting lanes are operated to execute component mounting work on a plurality of boards simultaneously and concurrently.
US08375565B2
A method fabricates a transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS). The method includes providing at least one near-field transducer (NFT) film and providing an electronic lapping guide (ELG) film substantially coplanar with a portion of the at least one NFT film. The method also includes defining a disk portion of an NFT from the portion of the at least one NFT film and at least one ELG from the ELG film. The disk portion corresponds to a critical dimension of the NFT from an ABS location. The method also includes lapping the at least one transducer. The lapping is terminated based on a signal from the ELG.
US08375563B2
A method for making an assembly of chips equipped with radiofrequency transmission-reception means, including successively: making a plurality of chips, on a substrate, each chip having at least one reception area, connecting the reception areas of the chips of the assembly in series with an electrically insulating flat ribbon having a plurality of metallic patterns electrically insulated from one another, each pattern forming at least a part of a flat antenna electrically connected at the level of at least one connection area of the antenna to a corresponding reception area, and separating the chips at the level of the substrate, the chips being mechanically connected to one another by the ribbon.
US08375554B2
A method for joining components using tensioning bolts, wherein the pressure is linearly increased over time when the tension bolt is hydraulically tensioned by means of a tensioning device. When a target value (Pmax) is reached, the volume is blocked so that no more hydraulic oil is supplied. The pressure decreases when the components show a setting behaviour during a holding time (tH). Pumping is resumed when a lower threshold value (PI) is reached, resulting in a pressure increase up to the target value (Pmax).
US08375553B2
In one illustrative example, a device for sealing an opening in a vessel wall and/or tissue tract may include an anchor, a filament, a plug, and a knot. The anchor may be configured to be disposed adjacent to an interior surface of the vessel wall adjacent the opening in the vessel wall. The filament may have a distal end coupled to the anchor and may be configured to extend proximally through the vessel opening and/or tissue tract. The plug may be disposed about at least a portion of the filament member. The knot may be disposed about the filament proximal of the plug and may be configured to move over the filament and secure the plug relative to the anchor. The knot may be independent of the filament member.
US08375550B2
A quick to connect and quick to disconnect fluid coupling includes a clip, a male stem having an annular clip groove adapted to receive the clip, a female port having a step groove adapted to receive the clip upon insertion of the stem into the port, and a sleeve slideably disposed about the stem adapted to abut the clip and minimize shuttling of the stem within the port. The sleeve may be biased toward the clip by a dust seal abutting a shoulder of the sleeve distal from a lead-in end of the sleeve abutting the clip. Also, the sleeve may radially retain the clip, compressed in an annular groove of the stem, and/or the sleeve abutting the clip may stabilize the clip and axially align the clip with the stem, for insertion of the stem into the port.
US08375549B2
A method is described for establishing a nail connection between two components as well as a nail therefor. The nail is driven through the non-prepunched components in the joining area at a high speed such that the nail tip fully penetrates both components and forms a toric-shaped material bulge in the nail-head-side component, which protrudes into a circular groove of the nail head, and a crater-shaped material bulge is formed in the component facing away from the nail head, which protrudes in the opposite direction.
US08375546B2
A fastener with a breakaway and methods of using the same. In one embodiment the fastener is a screw having a head and elongated stem, adapted to be easily manipulated by a user when using the screw as a fastener in a hinge or joint. A way of holding a screw by providing a breakaway tab or non-threaded portion of the elongated stem which can be used to align and insert the screw into a screw hole in the process of engaging threads in the screw hole with threads of the screw. After engaging the threads in the screw hole, such as after the screw has been essentially completely inserted into the screw hole, the breakaway tab or non-threaded portion of the elongated stem of the screw may be broken off at a breakaway and discarded.
US08375544B1
A railroad pin removal system for efficiently removing a pin from a base plate of a railroad system so as to free the rail from the base plate. The railroad pin removal system generally includes a frame, an actuator secured to the frame and a clamping mechanism at least partially secured to the actuator, wherein the clamping mechanism is operable via the actuator. The clamping mechanism includes a movable jaw and a fixed jaw to slidably move a railroad pin away from a rail so as to be released from a base plate.
US08375521B1
A sanitary door handle cover which includes a strip having five layers including a first layer formed of absorbent, breathable material, an absorbent second layer, a sanitizing third layer with pockets containing sanitizing solution which is absorbed by the first, second, and fourth layers upon the application of pressure to the strip, an absorbent fourth layer, and an adhesive fifth layer which removably adheres to a door handle or door knob. A rectangular strip is applied to a midsection of a door handle, while a bilaterally symmetrical trapezoid-shaped strip is applied to a grip surface of a door knob.
US08375516B2
A movable carriage assembly for a door track or window track is adapted to support a door or window. The carriage assembly includes a lower carriage removably joined to an upper carriage, forming an elongate gap there between which is constructed and adapted to provide a sliding surface element for a track dust cover. When the carriage assembly moves along the track, the dust cover moves through the gap of the carriage assembly and over the sliding surface element whereby the dust cover is caused to disengage from the track and re-engage with track after the carriage assembly has passed. There is also disclosed a method of installing the carriage assembly in a window or door opening for a door or window.
US08375505B2
The present invention wipes a writing board through areas. A teacher can wipe an area of a blackboard while writing on another area. Thus, a writing board can be flexibly used with convenience obtained and time saved.
US08375501B1
A brush system for attaching to a shoe having a base with a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side edge, a plurality of bristles extending upwardly from the top surface, a clip divided into an arced portion and a flat portion, the arced portion extends outwardly from the side edge of the base and curves around underneath the bottom surface of the base and the flat portion is positioned below and parallel to the bottom surface of the base, a gap exists between the clip and the bottom surface, the arced portion of the clip has a middle bar and a first and a second side bar, a gap exists both between the first side bar, the middle bar, and the second side bar, and a slit in the first side bar and the second side bar of the arced portion.
US08375497B1
A multiple planar surface baffle provides enhanced water flow and leaf capture benefits for pool/spa vacuum heads. A first planar surface is a support plate for attachment to a vacuum head at open segment locations between adjacent support wheels along both front and back edges of the vacuum head. The second and third planar surfaces are displaced at angles relative to one-another, and relative to the support plate. The second and third planar surfaces cooperate when attached to the vacuum head to provide a larger capture opening, to minimize displacement flow of water over the vacuum head, and to provide a water profile that induces enhanced downward water currents to better entrain leaves and other low density debris.
US08375494B2
Cleaning compositions containing a corrosion inhibitor are provided for removing soil from carpets, upholstery and the like without subjecting common metal alloys used in aircraft and other constructions to corrosive attack. Cleaning compositions include at least one dispersing agent, at least one anti-redeposition agent, at least one corrosion inhibitor, at least one pH modifier, at least one chelating agent and at least one stabilizing agent. The compositions also optionally include at least one fragrance and/or at least one preservative agent. Methods for making and using the cleaning compositions are also described.
US08375492B2
The mattress structure comprises: a mattress body; a fixing plate, being firmly disposed in the mattress body and having a plurality of fixing holes; a moving plate, being disposed in the mattress body and above the fixing plate, the moving plate having a plurality of penetrating holes; a plurality of flexible members, being disposed on the surface of the top end of the moving plate; a plurality of fixing members, each of the fixing members having a fastening end and a connecting end; and a plurality of lifting devices, being disposed at the bottom of the moving plate, by means of the lifting devices driving the moving plate and the fixing members holding the flexible members, the flexible members being then compressed in order to adjust the flexible supporting forces of the mattress body.
US08375488B2
An adjustable bed frame assembly includes a center frame comprising two substantially parallel side frame members connected by two substantially parallel connector frame members. The adjustable bed frame assembly also includes a base frame that includes a plurality of legs for mounting on a floor is rigidly affixed to the center frame. The adjustable bed frame assembly further includes a head frame that comprises two substantially parallel side frame members connected by at least one connector frame member. The adjustable bed frame assembly also includes an actuator for raising and lowering the head frame.
US08375485B2
An application for a system, method and apparatus that directs light and heat towards an area of pain of a person while the person rests on a section of furniture (e.g., sleeps on a mattress). The light and heat are provided by an array of LEDS that are removably situated within a cavity that is, for example, formed or cut into the furniture/mattress.
US08375484B2
A physical assistive robotic device may include a frame including an upright support member, a lateral member slidably engaged with the upright support member, a handle slidably engaged with the lateral member, an elevation actuator coupled to the upright support member and the lateral member, and a lateral actuator coupled to the lateral member and the handle. The elevation actuator translates the lateral member and the lateral actuator translates the handle to transition a user between a standing position and a non-standing position.
US08375482B1
A foldable mattress and removable pillow top with a means for releasable attachment is not damaged during excessive folding such as when used in a sofa bed. Fastening pairs comprising zippers affixed to the mattress and pillow top in opposing complementary fashion with a wide fold space defined therebetween allow the mattress and attached pillow top to be repeatedly folded and unfolded and avoid crimping and damage to the zipper halves, mattress and attached pillow top.
US08375481B1
A shower water recycling system for toilet flushing that includes a storage tank having a water pipe inlet operationally controlled by means of a float valve, the float valve maintaining a reserve volume of water within an interior cavity of the storage tank, and a pump to pump water from an outlet of the storage tank to an extant toilet cistern, the storage tank having a rotatable plug disposed in a centrally draining top surface, said plug moveable between a first drain position and a second drain position whereby a drainage collar alternately sealingly engages and disengages with a drainage pipe disposed bypassing the interior cavity, and a flush arm slidingly activates and deactivates a flush valve to drain the storage tank, as desired, whereby shower water is conserved and recycled for use in an extant toilet, as desired.
US08375466B2
An article of clothing that can be worn by suicidal inmates and medical patients is provided. In one embodiment, the article of clothing is comprised of a high-strength fabric consisting of an outer layer of tear-proof material, an inner layer of soft material, and a third layer of insulating material between the outer and inner layers that provides warmth and bulk to the fabric. The three layers are joined together with a nylon thread. The article of clothing is further comprised of at least one sleeve section that is removably attached to at least in part to a torso section, wherein the at least one sleeve section detaches from the torso section to prevent a user from injuring or killing himself. In another embodiment, the article of clothing is comprised of a non-woven cellular material with very low tensile strength that cannot effectively be fashioned into a rope or noose.
US08375462B2
A visor assembly for an aviation helmet includes a lens, lens/strap anti-tear interface assemblies, retainer plates, and attachment strap assemblies. A friction strip mounted on the brim of the helmet operates to increase the friction between the visor lens and the helmet. The combined function of the friction strip and the configuration of the strap assemblies operate to maintain the visor in a deployed (as-worn) positioned in front of the wearer's face, even during high speed wind blasts of up to 600 KEAS (Knots Equivalent Air Speed).
US08381307B2
A method for protecting a CAP file including one or more applets to be installed in an IC Card, includes the applets encoding into the CAP file by a CAP file provider. The method also includes the CAP file downloading into the IC Card by a CAP file issuer, and storing an installation program inside the IC Card. The installation program extracts the applets from the CAP file and installs them in the IC Card, after the downloading. The CAP file provider encrypts the CAP file into a protected CAP file to avoid the applets being extracted before the downloading. The IC Card includes a decryption circuit for decrypting the protected CAP file downloaded into the IC Card. The installation of the applet is enabled by the decryption circuit.
