US08460842B2
A defect repair apparatus for an EUV mask has an ion beam column that scans and irradiates the EUV mask with a focused hydrogen ion beam such that no region of the EUV mask receives an amount of beam irradiation exceeding 4×1016 ions/cm2. The ion beam column comprises a gas field ion source having an emitter with a pointed tip end that emits hydrogen ions that form the hydrogen ion beam, and an ion optical system that focuses and scans the hydrogen ion beam onto the EUV mask. A detector detects secondary charged particles generated from the EUV mask when irradiated with the hydrogen ion beam, and an image forming section forms and displays an observation image of the EUV mask on the basis of an output signal from the detector so that a defect in the EUV mask and the progress of the defect repair can be observed.
US08460829B1
A porous polymer separator layer that exhibits a non-uniform cross-sectional thickness and a method of making the same are disclosed. The porous polymer separator layer may be made by a process that involves forming a film having a non-uniform cross-sectional thickness similar to that sought to be imparted to the resultant separator layer and deriving the porous polymer separator layer from the film. An electrochemical battery cell for a secondary liquid-electrolyte battery may incorporate the disclosed porous polymer separator layer between a negative electrode and a positive electrode in a way that helps maintain a more evenly distributed current density within the cell.
US08460828B2
Disclosed herein is an electrode assembly for secondary batteries, wherein the electrode assembly is constructed in a structure in which a cathode, having an active material layer coated on one major surface of a current collector, and an anode, having an active material layer coated on one major surface of another current collector, are bent in a zigzag fashion in vertical section, and the cathode and the anode are fitted to each other, such that the electrode active material layers face each other, while a separator is disposed between the cathode and the anode. The electrode assembly according to the present invention has the effect of simplifying a process for manufacturing a battery, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs and the manufacturing time, and therefore, improving the productivity.
US08460823B1
A processed polysiloxane resin binder for use in electrochemical components and the method for fabricating components with the binder. The binder comprises processed polysiloxane resin that is partially oxidized and retains some of its methyl groups following partial oxidation. The binder is suitable for use in electrodes of various types, separators in electrochemical devices, primary lithium batteries, electrolytic capacitors, electrochemical capacitors, fuel cells and sensors.
US08460821B2
A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is described, capable of inhibiting the raise of the internal resistance at a low temperature after use in a high-temperature circumstance, and having a good power performance at a low temperature. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a non-aqueous electrolyte, and is characterized in containing a sulfate ester with a specific structure in an amount of 4.0 wt % or less relative to the total weight of the non-aqueous electrolyte.
US08460819B2
The present invention relates to a battery stack arrangement (50) comprising at least one bipolar battery. Each bipolar battery comprises a plurality of battery cell arranged between endplates (22,23). Each battery cell is provided with a seal (24) arranged around the entire periphery of each cell, and a sealing pressure Fseal is applied over the seal to prevent electrolyte leakage between adjacent cells. The battery stack arrangement further comprises a mounting frame (57) including: at least two mounting units (58,59) and at least one tie unit (60, 60′, 60″) holding said mounting units together. The bipolar battery is arranged between the mounting units (58,59), and the battery stack arrangement further comprises at least one spacing element (61) arranged between the mounting units (58,59) and each spacing element (61) abuts against at least one endplate (22,23) and is held in place by said mounting frame (57) to create a stack pressure Fstack, independent of the sealing pressure Fseal. The stack pressure is controlled by the tie unit.
US08460815B2
A module for a battery pack includes a cooling frame and a spacer frame. At least one of the first and second surfaces of the cooling frame is adapted to transfer heat to a coolant flow. A first battery cell having first and second electrically conductive tabs abuts a cooling frame member first surface. A second end of the cooling frame member includes a connection terminal for electrically connecting to the first electrically conductive tab. A spacer frame member first surface abuts the first battery cell, and a second surface abuts a second battery cell. A first end of the spacer frame member includes a connection terminal for electrically connecting to the second electrically conductive tab of the first battery cell and the first electrically conductive tab of the second battery cell.
US08460810B2
A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode wound together and a case housing the electrode assembly, wherein the electrode assembly has an inner surface and an outer surface having a concave portion.
US08460806B2
A magnetic tape cartridge including a reel and a pack of magnetic tape wound onto the reel, the magnetic tape includes an aromatic polyamide support and has a thickness of from 3.5 to 5.5 μm and a length of 1000 m or more, and a difference in tape thickness produced between an outer and an inner winding of the tape pack after 2-week storage of the cartridge in a dry environment at 60° C. is 60 nm or smaller.
US08460805B1
An apparatus includes a first magnetic layer including a plurality of grains. The first magnetic layer has a first anisotropy value. The apparatus also includes a second magnetic layer including a plurality of grains. The second magnetic layer has a second anisotropy value that is different than the first anisotropy value. The apparatus also includes an exchange tuning layer including a plurality of grains and located between the first and second magnetic layers. The exchange tuning layer has stronger inter-granular exchange coupling than the first and second magnetic layers. The exchange tuning layer has an anisotropy value less than the first and second anisotropy values.
US08460802B2
There is provided a charge transport compound having the formula T-LG-T, where T is a charge transport moiety having the formula —Ar1-An-Ar2 and LG is a linking group. In the compound, An is a divalent anthracene moiety; Ar1 is a single bond or an aromatic group which can be naphthyl, binaphthyl, naphthylphenylene, naphthylbiphenylene, or naphthylbinaphthylene; Ar2 is an aromatic group which can be naphthyl, binaphthyl, naphthylphenylene, naphthylbiphenylene, or naphthylbinaphthylene; and LG can be biphenylene, binaphthylene, or Formula I In Formula I, Q1 and Q2 are the same or different can be alkyl and aryl, or Q1 and Q2 taken together can be alkylene; and Ar3 and Ar4 are the same or different and can be phenylene or naphthylene.
US08460793B2
A component with a self-healing surface layer, a self-healing enamel and a coating powder are disclosed. A self-healing is guaranteed by a reactive substance, which is encased in sheathed particles. Only damage to the enamel coating leads to a destruction of the coating, preferably under the influence of a catalytic material, so that the encased fluid enamel can emerge. Under the effects of UV light the fluid enamel cures and seals the crack thus occurring.
US08460792B2
A microcapsule which is able to stably retain a benefit agent such as a volatile substance for an extended period, and which is also suitable for encapsulating fragrances and the like. Such capsule encapsulates a mixture comprising a volatile substance, and an additive that has a higher melting point than the volatile substance and is able to undergo mutual dissolution with the volatile substance, wherein the mixture exhibits a melting point range, and a portion of, or all of, that melting point range falls within a range from −20 to 60° C. The present invention also relates to consumer products including cleaning and/or treatment compositions comprising such microcapsules, and processes of making and using same.
US08460791B2
The present invention concerns microcapsules comprising a capsule core and a capsule wall composed of thermoset polymer and also, disposed on the outer surface of the capsule wall, a polyelectrolyte having an average molecular weight in the range from 500 g/mol to 10 million g/mol, and also a process for their production and their use in bindered building materials, textiles, heat transfer fluids and dumped beds.
US08460790B2
The present invention provides an aggregate of nanofibers having less spread of single fiber fineness values that can be used in wide applications without limitation to the shape and the kind of the polymer, and a method for manufacturing the same. The present invention is an aggregate of nanofibers made of a thermoplastic polymer having single fiber fineness by number average in a range from 1×10−7 to 2×10−4 dtex and single fibers of 60% or more in fineness ratio have single fiber fineness in a range from 1×10−7 to 2×10−4 dtex.
US08460787B2
Sealing film for solar cell which prevents conducting wires and electrodes of the solar cell from rusting and thereby enable the solar cell to retain its high photovoltaic performance for a long period. A light receiving surface sealing film for solar cell comprising ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a cross-linking agent and an acid acceptor. A rear surface sealing film for solar cell comprising ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a cross-linking agent and an acid acceptor, wherein the acid acceptor is contained in the range of not less than 0.5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.
US08460782B2
An array of aligned and dispersed carbon nanotubes includes an elongate drawn body including a plurality of channels extending therethrough from a first end to a second end of the body, where the channels have a number density of at least about 100,000 channels/mm2 over a transverse cross-section of the body. A plurality of carbon nanotubes are disposed in each channel, and the carbon nanotubes are sufficiently dispersed and aligned along a length of the channels for the array to comprise an average resistivity per channel of about 9700 Ωm or less.
US08460779B2
A fluid dynamic structure includes a surface and a microstructure mounted on the surface. The microstructure is defined by a plurality of peaks and valleys (i.e., riblets) and includes a transition region in which each peak and valley changes from a first profile to a second profile along a chord length of the structure. The peaks and/or valleys may have a variable dimension along the length of the microstructure. The peaks and valleys can be non-linear along the chord length and have a smooth transition from the first profile to the second profile. The different profiles of the microstructure are optimized to reduce noise generated by turbulent fluid flow across the structure.
US08460778B2
Composite forming screens comprise a layer of hard rubber with a Shore D hardness of 12-90, preferably 33-90 and most preferably 46-60 and in preferred embodiments, comprise a support layer of plastic or metal bonded to the hard rubber to form a composite. The forming screens may be planar or cylindrical and are provided with a plurality of apertures or through holes and a pattern of fine scale structures. Methods of making the forming screens are also disclosed.
US08460777B2
A multifunctional composite having high strength, low weight, low distortion, low CTE, impact resistance, and multi-faceted radiation protection.
US08460772B1
Break away panels, devices and methods of using the breakaway panels with grid scored patterns for fire extinguisher cabinets which can be made for small, mid-size and large size fire extinguisher cabinets, and easily resized when needed. Three novel panels each having novel vertical and horizontal scored lines running throughout the panels and be located on the inside surface of the installed panels. An installer can easily break off upper and/or lower and/or side edges of the panels in order to resize the panel to fit almost any size fire extinguisher cabinet. The scoring lines can be accomplished by a router. Alternatively, the entire panel and the scored lines can be formed from injection molding.
US08460768B2
A paper includes a substrate and a polymer layer disposed over at least one side of the substrate. The paper further includes an aluminous material at least partially dispersed within the polymer layer. The aluminous material has a primary aspect ratio of at least about 1.5, a secondary aspect ratio of not greater than about 3.0, and a primary particle size between about 50 nm and about 1000 nm.
US08460738B1
Edible phytosterol-containing compositions include molecular complexes of non-esterified phytosterols (P) and glycerine (G) in the form of liquid crystalline microparticles. Addition of an emulsifier (M) such as a monoglyceride or a modified lecithin, and optionally an ionic surfactant, to the complex facilitates its dispersal in an aqueous medium. A composition containing either the binary PG or ternary PGM molecular complexes can be formulated as a beverage, food product, or nutritional supplement. When administered to a human subject, the complexes sequester cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract and reduce LDL cholesterol and total plasma cholesterol levels.
US08460735B2
This invention provides a soy sauce powder having a strong and preferable soy sauce-derived flavor with simple operations in an advantageous manner in industrial practice and without the need of a step of, for example, preparing an aromatic substance by distilling soy sauce oil with the use of water vapor. This invention also provides a soy sauce powder having a strong and preferable soy sauce-derived flavor by adding an emulsifier such as glycerin fatty acid ester to soy sauce, mixing the soy sauce with soy sauce oil, agitating the mixture, allowing the mixture to stand still, separating the mixture into an oil phase and an aqueous phase so as to obtain an aqueous phase containing soy sauce-derived aroma components at high concentrations, and subjecting the obtained aqueous phase to spray drying.
US08460734B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for enhancing the emulsification ability of gum arabic.The present invention can provide a modified gum arabic having an excellent emulsification ability without coloration and/or unpleasant odor, by a method which has a step of making unheated gum arabic into an aqueous solution having a concentration of not higher than 50 mass %, and a step of maintaining the aqueous solution below 60° C. for at least 6 hours. The gum arabic modified by the method of the present invention can be used as an emulsifier for use with beverages, confectioneries, chewing gums, oil-soluble flavors, oil-soluble colors, oil-soluble vitamins, etc.
US08460733B2
A method and system for producing a flavored beverage wherein the flavor is added in a separate step to a combination of the base ingredients after the base liquid has been pasteurized by, for example, thermal heating. The flavor can be added to a continuous stream of the base liquid after a thermally processed hot-fill beverage base liquid is made up. A return loop conduit of the hot-fill beverage base liquid portion of the system is capable of diverting the heated hot-fill beverage base liquid in a stable state, that is, at the desired temperatures ready for continued beverage production, while the flavor may be switched over in a downstream flavor dosing portion of the system. The system may be used to produce a desired batch of flavored beverage by producing a first flavor, cleaning only that portion of the system to remove the first flavor and then changing over the flavor additive component to a desired second flavor.
US08460724B2
Disclosed herein is a method of reducing the purine content of an edible material, including treating an edible material having a first level of purine content with a microorganism capable of digesting purine compounds, such that the thus treated edible material has a second level of purine content lower than the first level of purine content, wherein the microorganism is selected from Aspergillus oryzae ATCC 11493, Aspergillus oryzae ATCC 26850, Aspergillus oryzae ATCC 44193, Aspergillus oryzae ATCC 26831, Rhizopus oryzae ATCC 52362, and combinations thereof. An edible material obtained from the aforementioned method is also disclosed.
US08460722B2
The invention refers to use of Nocardia Rubra Cell Wall Skeleton, especially the new use of the same in the preparation of Anti-HPV medicaments.
US08460720B2
The present invention relates to deodorants and other body care products comprising a CO2 extract of the hops plant having bacteriocide/bacteriostat properties wherein the CO2 extract has a very low level of essential hops oils.
US08460719B1
A first composition including copper sulfate, citric acid, ammonium carbonate, propionic acid, Yucca schidigera extract, and antioxidants from essential oils and a second composition including sodium acid sulfate, citric acid and antioxidants from essential oils are sequentially administered to livestock through the drinking water supply to reduce the incidence of diseases such as Clostridium, E. coli and Salmonella and, thus, reliance on antibiotics to control the diseases.
US08460718B2
Pharmaceutical compositions for oral administration comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a synergistic combination of lycopene and at least one phytosterol wherein the ratio of said lycopene to said phytosterol in said pharmaceutical composition is a maximum of about 5:1 and wherein said composition produces a synergistic inhibition of cell growth are disclosed.
US08460706B2
An oral dosage form comprising a pharmaceutical tablet of one or more layers, one of which carries a biologically active substance; the formulation of said tablet includes different percentages of hydrophilic and lipophilic polymeric materials, and adjuvant substances. The tablets of the present invention show a release rate which is independent from the amounts of active substance present in the tablet.
US08460705B2
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations for the controlled delivery of threo-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine (threo-DOPS) and derivatives of it. Such formulations can contain an extended or slow release component that maintains therapeutic concentration of threo-DOPS in the blood plasma over a prolonged time period. They can be further combined with an immediate release formulation to produce a product that, when administered to a patient in need thereof, results in substantially steady levels of active drug, eliminating the sharp peaks and troughs in blood plasma drug levels experienced with the existing threo-DOPS formulations.
US08460699B2
A device for promoting the clotting of blood comprises a clay material in particle form and a receptacle for containing the clay material. At least a portion of the receptacle is defined by a mesh. Another device comprises a gauze substrate and a clay material disposed on the gauze substrate. Another device is a bandage comprising a substrate, a mesh mounted on the substrate, and particles of a clay material retained in the mesh. A hemostatic sponge comprises a substrate, a hemostatic material disposed on a first surface of the substrate, and a release agent disposed on a second surface of the substrate. The release agent is disposed on the wound-contacting surface of the substrate. When treating a bleeding wound, application of the hemostatic sponge causes at least a portion of the hemostatic material to come into contact with blood through the release agent and through the substrate.
US08460687B1
The present invention discloses cosmetic compositions based on phytic acid and used for skin resurfacing, treating hyper pigmentation, control sebum production, for pore size reduction and combating acne and a method of application. The trichloroacetic acid can be added to the composition, containing phytic acid for more deep peels. The compositions and the methods of application of the composition containing phytic acid and the composition, containing trichloroacetic acid and phytic acid are claimed.
US08460686B2
The invention relates to biocompatible bone graft materials for repairing bone defects and the application of such bone grafts. The devices of the invention comprise resorbable calcium phosphate, resorbable collagen and bioactive glasses.
US08460685B2
The invention relates to methods of improving the osteoinductivity of calcium phosphate materials, to calcium phosphate materials having improved osteoinductivity as well as bone (re)generation scaffolds produced therefrom and to the use of such materials and scaffolds in methods of treatment.
US08460683B2
Disclosed is a protein or glycoprotein obtainable from a crude extract of Haliotis midae, with a molecular weight of approx. 30 kDa and an isoelectric point of around 4.3-4.5, possessing passive cutaneous anaphylaxis-inhibiting activity.
US08460682B2
The specification discloses modified Clostridial toxins comprising a Clostridial toxin enzymatic domain, a Clostridial toxin translocation domain and an enhanced Clostridial toxin binding domain; polynucleotide molecules encoding such modified Clostridial toxins; and method of producing such modified Clostridial toxins.
US08460672B1
The invention relates to immunogenic compositions useful as HCV vaccines. Provided are HCV mosaic polypeptide and nucleic acid compositions which provide higher levels of T-cell epitope coverage while minimizing the occurrence of unnatural and rare epitopes compared to natural HCV polypeptides and consensus HCV sequences.
US08460661B2
Isolated antibodies that specifically binds to an extracellular conserved ligand binding region of a human Notch receptor and inhibits growth of a tumor are described. Also described are methods of treating cancer, the method comprising administering an anti-Notch antibody in an amount effective to inhibit tumor growth.
US08460654B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the use of placental alkaline phosphatase, and other members of the alkaline phosphatase family, to enhance protein synthesis in the muscle as well as the survival of non-cancerous differentiated cells in the muscle, adipose and other tissues. The ability of alkaline phosphatase to selectively enhance the survival of healthy cells and increase protein synthesis has many therapeutic applications. The use of alkaline phosphatase may prevent the loss of body weight and muscle mass typically experienced by diseased (such as cancer) or aging patients, or developing fetuses subjected to harmful conditions, or by patients who are treated with a toxic therapy including chemotherapy.
US08460653B2
The present disclosure provides variant superoxide dismutase polypeptides, compositions comprising the polypeptides, and nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the polypeptides. The present disclosure provides methods of reducing oxidative damage in a cell, tissue, or organ. The present disclosure provides methods of identifying agents that increase superoxide dismutase activity.
US08460649B2
The invention relates to a strain of Saccharomyces cerivisiae characterized in that it is selected from strain No. I-3936 deposited on Mar. 4, 2008 at the CNCM, strains No. I-3937 deposited on Mar. 4, 2008 at the CNCM, strain No. I-3938 deposited on Mar. 4, 2008 at the CNCM, and strain No. I-3939 deposited on Mar. 4, 2008 at the CNCM. The invention also relates to a phytosanitary composition and to a method for treating or protecting plants against diseases caused by pathogens, using said strain.
US08460648B2
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions suitable for the treatment of chronic diseases associated with the presence of abnormal or an abnormal distribution of microflora in the gastrointestinal tract of a mammalian host, which compositions comprise viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic Clostridia. The compositions further comprise one or more additional viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic microorganisms selected from the group consisting of Bacteroides, Eubacteria, Fusobacteria, Propionibacteria, Lactobacilli, anaerobic cocci, Ruminococcus, E.Coli, Gemmiger, Desullomonas, Peptostreptococcus, and fungi. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions suitable for the treatment of the same chronic diseases comprising viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic Escherichia coli, at least one strain of viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathoenic Bacteroides and at least one strain of viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic microorganism.
US08460641B2
An oil-in-water microemulsion or sub-micron emulsion composition for dermal delivery of at least one pharmaceutically active ingredient, comprising: a first part including at least one occlusive agent and one or more lipophilic surfactants dispersed throughout a second part including water and at least one hydrophilic surfactant, and a non-surfactant amphiphilic type compound, pharmaceutically active ingredient, and water. It has been found that if a non-surfactant amphiphilic type compound is added together with the second part as would conventionally be the case, a microemulsion or sub-micron emulsion is not formed, by adding the so called third part, phase assembly occurs at a lower temperature than would be expected and moreover, this phase appears to assist in maintaining the microemulsion or sub-micron emulsion characteristics of the formulation during storage at normal temperatures.
US08460636B2
Novel gadolinium complex compounds responsive to ions and compounds other than zinc ion, as well as MRI probes made of the compounds are disclosed. Since the gadolinium complex compounds of the present invention such as that represented by the following structural formula exhibit responsiveness to potassium ion, calcium ion, glucose or the like, by using the gadolinium complex compounds of the present invention as a MRI probe, the ion or compound in a living body can be detected and concentration distribution thereof may be determined.
US08460630B2
When the production of hydrogen and the recovery of carbon dioxide are simultaneously performed by using as a raw material a carbon-containing fuel, the increase of the system cost is suppressed and the efficiency is improved. Disclosed is a method for producing hydrogen and recovering carbon dioxide which method produces hydrogen from a carbon-containing fuel and recovers carbon dioxide, including: a hydrogen-containing gas producing step of obtaining a hydrogen-containing gas that contains hydrogen and carbon dioxide by reforming a carbon-containing fuel; a PSA step of separating, by using a pressure swing adsorption apparatus, the hydrogen-containing gas into a first hydrogen-enriched gas that is a gas enriched in hydrogen and a PSA offgas that is a gas enriched in the components other than hydrogen; and a step of obtaining, by treating the PSA offgas with a hydrogen separation membrane and a carbon dioxide separation membrane, a second hydrogen-enriched gas that is a gas enriched in hydrogen and a carbon dioxide-enriched gas that is a gas enriched in carbon dioxide. Also disclosed is an apparatus for embodying the method.
US08460629B2
The present invention is apparatus for, and method of, heating, melting and purifying a material by electric induction heating in a susceptor furnace. Non-electrically conductive solid charge may initially be placed in the furnace. Output frequency from a power source supplying current to one or more induction coils surrounding the furnace is selected to maximize magnetic coupling with the susceptor material in the susceptor furnace to induce eddy current heating in the material. Heat transfers by conduction from the susceptor material to the non-electrically conductive charge placed in the susceptor furnace to melt the charge. Output frequency is reduced as the charge melts and becomes electrically conductive to enhance magnetic coupling with the melt in the furnace. Degassing of impurities from the melt can be achieved by bubbling a gas through the melt while the surface level of the melt is maintained at vacuum. Degassing is enhanced by creating an electromagnetic ripple/wave action that increases the surface area of the melt during the degassing process.
US08460623B2
Provided are methods using ketoximes and/or aldoximes, including 3-methyl-5-alkylsalicylaldoxime and/or 3-methyl-5-alkyl-2-hydroxyacetophenone oxime, in reagent compositions for metal extraction/isolation. One such method is of extracting a metal from a nitrate-containing aqueous solution. Another such method is of extracting a metal from an aqueous ammoniacal solution. A third method is of multi-metal extraction based on a predetermined pH.
US08460610B2
An aftertreatment module for use with an engine is disclosed. The aftertreatment module may have a canister, and a wall disposed within the canister and axially-dividing the canister into a first portion and a second portion. The aftertreatment module may also have a first treatment device disposed within the first portion, an inlet connected to the first portion, a second treatment device disposed within the second portion, an outlet connected to the second portion, and an external tube extending from the first portion to the second portion.
US08460600B2
Process for producing bodies from ceramic materials using silicon carbide, comprising the steps: configuration of fiber-reinforced porous bodies (1, 5) that consist of carbon on a base (2) that is inert relative to liquid silicon, the bodies having cavities (3) that are accessible from the exterior or surface recesses (3′), and the cavities (3) being closed at the bottom in the porous bodies or the surface recesses (3′) together with the base (2) forming a reservoir that is sealed at the bottom; heating the configuration by introduction of energy to melt the silicon (6) that is present in the reservoir; and infiltrating the melted silicon in the bodies (1, 5) and reaction of the silicon with the carbon to form silicon carbide; and use of the thus produced bodies as brake disks and as clutch driving disks.
US08460599B2
A method and an apparatus for the economical production of containers from thermoplastic material with a blow moulding machine (3) are disclosed. For shaping the containers at least one first pressure channel (21) is provided, supplying a first pressure. Likewise at least one second pressure channel (22) is provided, supplying a second pressure, wherein the first pressure is lower than the second pressure. The air in the first pressure compartment (21) is used for the pre-blowing or for other blowing steps of the containers. The air in the second pressure compartment (22) is used for the final blowing of the containers. The final blown containers are vented into the first pressure compartment (21). A control unit is provided which maintains an essentially constant pressure in the first pressure compartment during the pre-blowing and the venting into the first pressure compartment. A pressure level of the external pressure reservoir (20) can be adjusted accordingly.
US08460598B2
A method for recycling energy and related blow molding machine—for blow molding plastic material containers including a recycling system for recycling the pneumatic energy of the discharge air coming from the blowing cavities of said machine, capable of recycling the discharge air making it available at a given pressure for a subsequent blowing in a cavity.
US08460597B2
The present invention relates to a method of producing color change in a substrate. The substrate includes an activatable colorant and a region that is heated prior to activating the activatable colorant. The substrate is exposed to electromagnetic radiation producing a first activated color region in the heated region and a second activated color region in a non heated region. The first activated color region appears in a different shade than the second activated color region.
US08460592B2
A hollow golf club head with a concave portion is disclosed and claimed. The club head includes a metallic portion and a light-weight portion, which may be formed of plastic, composite, or the like. The concave portion allows the club designer to make a club head having very thin portions while still maintaining the requisite structural integrity. Convex bulges may optionally be provided to house weight inserts to enhance the playing characteristics of the golf club. The metallic portion of the club head may take on the appearance of a frame, into which several light-weight inserts are positioned. These light-weight inserts may be positioned in the crown, skirt, and sole of the club head. The club head may be formed by co-molding, eliminating the need for welding or adhesives, freeing mass to be used in more beneficial ways. The club head may be large to increase playability and forgiveness.
US08460587B2
A method for producing a foamed article including a supporting element, a foam layer, and an upholstery cover applied on said foam layer, comprising the steps of forming said upholstery cover by stitching together a plurality of lengths of upholstery cover, positioning the sewn upholstery cover on a convex positioning surface of a positioning member withholding the sewn upholstery cover on said positioning member by means of a first suction system, setting said positioning member with the sewn upholstery cover withheld thereon by suction in a bottom die of a foaming die, deactivating said first suction system and withholding the upholstery cover on a concave positioning surface of said bottom die by means of a second suction system, extracting said positioning member from said bottom die leaving said upholstery cover positioned and withheld by suction on said concave positioning surface, positioning a rigid supporting element on a plunger of said foaming die and closing the plunger on said bottom die so as to form a foaming cavity between an outer surface of said supporting element and said upholstery cover; and injecting foaming material in said foaming cavity and polymerizing the foaming material.
US08460582B2
Disclosed is an arylsulfonic acid compound characterized by being represented by formula (1). By using this compound as an electron-acceptor material, highly uniform film formability can be achieved. By using a thin film containing the arylsulfonic acid compound in an OLED device or a PLED device, there can be obtained excellent EL device characteristics such as low driving voltage, high luminous efficiency and long life. (In the formula, X represents O, S or NH; Ar represents an aryl group; and n represents the number of sulfonic groups, which is an integer of 1-4.)
US08460578B2
A method of producing a rare earth oxysulfide scintillating ceramic body includes heat treatment to form a consolidated body, followed by gas hot isostatic pressing (GHIPing). A powder is first provided having the general formula (M1-xLnx)2O2S, wherein M is a rare earth element, and Ln is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Eu, Ce, Pr, Tb, Yb, Dy, Sm, and Ho, and 1×10−6
US08460566B2
A staggered laser-etch line graphic system, method, and articles of manufacture are provided. One described method includes the steps of laser engraving a first plurality of lines associated with a first component section of a graphic on a surface of an article; laser engraving a second plurality of lines associated with a second component section of the graphic on the surface of the article; and controlling said laser engraving of the first plurality of lines and said laser engraving of second plurality of lines to reduce the visual impact of a demarcation line separating the first component section of the graphic and the second component section of the graphic.
US08460558B2
A first connector of a connector assembly of a sterile batch container can be unsealed. The connector assembly can be attached to a filling port of the sterile batch container and can have a sterile filter arranged between the filling port and the first connector. The first connector can be coupled so as to receive produced purified water. A transmembrane pressure can be monitored across the sterile filter while flowing the purified water through the connector assembly into the sterile batch container so as to provide a sterile fluid stored therein. The connector assembly can be detached from the filling port of the sterile batch container. After the detaching, the sterile batch container can be coupled to the blood treatment system. In response to a change in the transmembrane pressure exceeding a predefined level, an alarm signal can be generated.
US08460557B2
A system and method for the treatment of process streams. A catalyst mediates a wet oxidation process at elevated temperatures and pressures for treating at least one undesirable constituent in an aqueous mixture. A catalyst may be selected for its solubility at a detected pH level of the aqueous mixture. Alternatively, a pH level of the aqueous mixture may be adjusted to solubilize a selected catalyst and/or maintain the selected catalyst in a soluble form. A controller in communication with a pH sensor may be configured to generate a control signal to adjust the pH level of the aqueous mixture in response to the pH sensor registering a pH level outside a predetermined pH solubility range for a selected catalyst.
US08460556B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a bacterial eliminator suitable for reduction in size or lowering of cost.A UV filament lamp is preheated by a control section even when water is not flowing. Consequently, the UV filament lamp can be lit immediately upon flow of water. The lamp can thereby be kept unlit when water is not flowing. Consequently, the lamp is unlikely to overheat easily when water is not flowing. Also, power consumption is reduced and lifespan of the lamp can be prolonged. If the lamp overheats and unheated water flows in, there is a possibility of the lamp being damaged. In order to avoid such damage, a special structure or material is normally required. Since overheating of the lamp can be avoided with the invention, a special structure or material for avoiding damage to the lamp due to unheated water are not necessary, or the structure can be simplified.
US08460538B2
The method for detection of cyanide in water is a method for the detection of a highly toxic pollutant, cyanide, in water using ZnO2 nanoparticles synthesized locally by an elegant Pulsed Laser Ablation technique. ZnO2 nanoparticles having a median size of 4 nm are synthesized from pure zinc metal target under UV laser irradiation in a 1-10% H2O2 environment in deionized water. The synthesized ZnO2 nanoparticles are suspended in dimethyl formamide in the presence of Nafion, and then ultrasonicated to create a homogenous suspension, which is used to prepare a thin film of ZnO2 nanoparticles on a metal electrode. The electrode is used for cyanide detection.
US08460535B2
Electrowinning methods and apparatus are suitable for producing elemental deposits of high quality, purity, and volume. Respective cathodes are used during electrowinning for bearing the elemental product, segregating impurities, dissolving morphologically undesirable material, and augmenting productivity. Silicon suitable for use in photovoltaic devices may be electrodeposited in solid form from silicon dioxide dissolved in a molten salt.
US08460531B2
An integrated bio-analysis system incorporates built-in sample preparation capabilities. In one aspect of the present invention, a bio-analysis instrument is provided with a built-in sample preparation device based on PCR (or thermal cycling block/module). In one embodiment of the present invention, a peltier unit in the sample preparation device provides thermal cycling of samples supported in a multi-well tray. In another aspect of the present invention, a CE instrument is provided with a built-in sample preparation capability, which may comprise a sample preparation (bio-molecular reaction) device based on thermal cycler type. In another aspect of the present invention, a PCR device is provided with a built-in analysis device, such as a CE device, for verifying the results of the PCR (bio-molecular reaction) process.
US08460529B2
A degradable polyacrylamide gel for analyzing or separating at least one macromolecule in a sample using electrophoresis includes a polyacrylamide cross-linked with at least one degradable cross-linker having a ketal or acetal group with the formula (I), wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and are hydrogen, an alkyl, or a substituted alkyl.
US08460522B2
A plurality of targets are disposed in parallel with, and at a given distance to, one another. In case a predetermined thin film is formed by sputtering, the occurrence of non-uniformity in the film thickness distribution and the film quality distribution can be restricted. During the time when electric power is charged to a plurality of targets (31a to 31h) which are disposed inside a sputtering chamber (11a) so as to lie opposite to the process substrate (S), and are disposed at a predetermined distance from, and in parallel with, one another, thereby forming a predetermined thin film by sputtering, each of the targets is reciprocated at a constant speed in parallel with the process substrate. Also, magnet assemblies that form tunnel-shaped magnetic flux (M) in front of each target are reciprocated at a constant speed in parallel with each of the targets. When each of the targets has reached a turning position of the reciprocating movement, the reciprocating movement of each of the targets is stopped for a predetermined period of time.
US08460520B2
Contaminants are removed from raw water or discharge water from plants, such as sewerage and industrial plants, by applying direct current through an array of spaced, alternately charged electrodes to eliminate or minimize clogging of the electrodes with precipitated contaminants. Polarity may be switched periodically to assist in eliminating or minimizing clogging. In illustrated embodiments, electrode arrays are contained in housings of dielectric material to form modules, To increase processing capacity, the modules are arranged in parallel arrays. Alternatively, a single module is scaled up for large or industrial applications or scaled down for personal use. Instead of housing the electrode arrays in modules through which liquid passes, the electrode arrays for some batch applications are dipped in the water or aqueous solutions.
US08460517B2
Methods and apparatuses for extractive distillation using internal addition of steam to an extractive distillation column from a reboiler are described herein. The apparatuses include an extractive distillation column, a reboiler (for example, a kettle reboiler) coupled to the extractive distillation column, and a steam input line. The steam input line is coupled to an internal steam sparger device of the reboiler. Methods utilizing the apparatuses to perform extractive distillation of a hydrocarbon feed stream are also described herein.
US08460510B2
The present invention related to the use of a surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate as filler in tissue paper products, to a process to prepare tissue paper products, and to a tissue paper product featuring an improved softness, wherein said surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate is the reaction product of a natural calcium carbonate with an acid and carbon dioxide, which is formed in situ by the acid treatment and/or supplied externally.
US08460507B2
Chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) systems comprising apparatus and methods which allow the physical and chemical characteristics of a CMP slurry to be monitored during the polishing process, both on the pad and in the fresh slurry, are provided. The methods and apparatus of the invention also furnish the CMP operator with real-time information about the polishing process, which can provide insight into various chemical and physical mechanisms involved in chemical-mechanical polishing. The data provided by the sensors also make available valuable information about the stability and reproducibility of the particular CMP process being observed.
US08460506B1
Improved compositions for the restoration, repair and assembly of materials include (a) a conditioner composition including a polymer that matches or is substantially the same as that to which Chemical Abstracts registry number (CAS No.) 222414-16-6 is assigned (commercially available as RHOPLEX 1834 acrylic emulsion) and (b) an adhesive composition that also includes a polymer that matches or is substantially the same as that to which CAS No. 222414-16-6 is assigned. Adhesive composition can also include a polymer that matches or is substantially the same as that to which CAS No. 253351-13-2 (commercially available as RHOPLEX 1950 acrylic emulsion) is assigned. First, the conditioner composition is injected into a gap between the two structures to be adhered. Next, the adhesive composition is injected into the gap. In one embodiment, the compositions are used to restore and repair historic plaster ceilings and walls.
US08460503B2
The present invention relates to a preformed liner of Tetrafluoroethylene/perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer adhered to the surface of a pipe, and in particular, an oil well pipe, without the need for either a primer layer or an adhesive. The liner comprises an effective amount of metal powder which provides adhesion between the liner and the surface of the pipe. The present invention also relates to a process for making such pipe, where in a preferred embodiment, the liner is co-extruded to form an inner layer and an outer layer. This co-extrusion embodiment is particularly useful in applications where high purity is necessary. In this case, the inner layer comprises an effective amount of metal powder and the outer layer is pure tetrafluoroethylene/ perfluoro(alkyl vinyl ether) copolymer.
US08460494B2
This invention relates to a pneumatic rubber tire having a rubber tread of a cap/base construction. More specifically, the invention relates to a tire having a tread with minimized, or inhibited, base peaking.
US08460491B1
The present invention provides die bonder and bonding method by which a bonding load from a high load to a low load is obtained or high-speed mounting is attained.In a die bonder or a bonding method in which a bonding head is ascended/descended by a first ascending/descending drive shaft unit, a die is picked up, the picked-up die is installed onto a workpiece, and after installed, a load is exerted on the die by the bonding head to bond the die to the workpiece, whether the load is higher/lower than a predetermined load is determined, and in bonding, when the load is higher than the predetermined load, the high load is exerted by the first ascending/descending drive shaft unit, and when the load is lower than the predetermined load, the low load is exerted by a second ascending/descending drive shaft unit.
US08460490B2
A roll of a continuous web of an optical film laminate with predefined slit lines for use in a continuous manufacturing system by laminating optically functional film sheets to liquid-crystal panels. The optical film laminate with predefined slit lines comprises an optically functional film having an adhesive layer which is subjected to a preliminary inspection, and a carrier film releasably laminated to the adhesive layer. Defect-free normal sheets and defective or defect-containing sheets having predefined length corresponding to the dimension of the liquid-crystal panel are formed on the carrier film by sequentially forming slit lines along the transverse direction with respect to the lengthwise direction of the optical film laminate.
US08460488B2
A holder clip having a planar body is secured to a temple piece of a pair of eyeglasses to allow a user to suspend and support the eyeglasses from a pocket, lapel, or other location on a garment. The holder clip can be secured by adhesive or flexible gripping fingers that are crimped around the temple piece.
US08460487B1
A method of desensitization of a sensitive liquid is provided, which includes the continuous stirring of the sensitive liquid with an inert liquid.
US08460465B2
A support ring for supporting a monocrystalline silicon semiconductor wafer during a thermal treatment of the semiconductor wafer has outer and inner lateral surfaces and a curved surface extending from the outer lateral surface to the inner lateral surface, this curved surface serving for the placement of the semiconductor wafer. The curved surface has a radius of curvature of not less than 6000 mm and not more than 9000 mm for 300 mm diameter wafers, or a radius of curvature of not less than 9000 mm and not more than 14,000 mm for 450 mm diameter wafers. Use of the support ring during thermal treatment reduces slip and improves wafer nanotopography.
US08460457B2
The present invention discloses compositions and methods wherein air entrained in cementitious materials at least one air-entraining cement additive is detrained using an ethoxylated, propoxylated fatty alcohol or alkylphenol having robustness for withstanding the harsh temperature and mechanical shearing effects of cement grinding mills. Exemplary air-entraining cement additives include a tertiary alkanolamine, a lignosulfonic acid or salt thereof, naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensate, melamine sulfonate formaldehyde condensate, a glycol, a glycerin, or mixtures thereof.
US08460455B2
An air clay and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes i) selecting at least one raw material from a group consisting of sand powder, shell powder, crop powder and a mixture thereof, ii) finely grinding the raw material to prepare a base material having a particle diameter of about 0.02 mm to about 0.2 mm, iii) adding about 10 wt. parts to about 30 wt. parts of glycerin to about 100 wt. parts of the base material, iv) mixing and kneading these materials together to form a paste and v) adding about 0.1 wt. parts to about 9 wt. parts of a liquid coagulating agent for water treatment to the paste and mixing these materials together. According to one embodiment, the clay is useful for various types of play and learning for infants and young children.
US08460454B2
The present application discloses an acidic-stabilized alkyl silicate composition comprising 0.5-30% by solids volume of inorganic fibers, wherein the fibers have (i) an average length of 25-250 μm and an average thickness of 1-50 μm, and a ratio between the average length and the average thickness (aspect ratio) of at least 5; and (ii) a specific surface area (BET) of 0.01-6 m2/g. A corresponding acidic-stabilized alkyl silicate composition comprising zinc and inorganic fibers, wherein the zinc constitutes 50-95% by solids weight of the total composition, and the fibers constitutes 0.5-30% by solids volume of the non-zinc fraction of the composition, is also disclosed. The application further discloses a method for the establishment of a crack resistant alkyl silicate paint coat by applying one of the compositions to a metal surface.
US08460451B2
In one aspect, support materials operable for use in 3D printing systems are described herein. In some embodiments, a support material comprises a wax component comprising at least one ethoxylated fatty alcohol and a viscosity modifying agent, wherein the support material is water dispersible. In some embodiments, the wax component comprises a mixture of at least one fatty alcohol and at least one ethoxylated fatty alcohol.
US08460449B2
A water-based ink set includes a yellow ink, a magenta ink, and a cyan ink, each including a coloring agent, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent. The yellow ink includes dyes (Y-1) and (Y-2), the magenta ink includes dyes (M-1) and (M-2), and the cyan ink includes a dye (C-1).Dye (Y-1): a dye represented by the formula (Y-1)Dye (Y-2): at least one dye selected from the group consisting of C. I. Direct Yellow 86, C. I. Direct Yellow 132, and C. I. Direct Yellow 142Dye (M-1): a dye represented by the formula (M-1)Dye (M-2): at least one dye selected from the group consisting of dyes represented by a formula (M-2a), dyes represented by the formula (M-2b), C. I. Acid Red 1, and C. I. Acid Red 254Dye (C-1): a dye represented by the formula (C-1).
US08460435B2
An apparatus for producing high-concentration ozone gas has a plurality of adsorption/desorption columns and a plurality of valves capable of switching opening/closing of the passage of gas flowing into or out of the adsorption/desorption columns, such that each of the adsorption/desorption columns can performs ozone adsorption processing, evacuation processing or desorption processing. At least two of the adsorption/desorption columns are placed in a serial cycle arrangement to constitute a main adsorption/desorption column group, and one or more of the other adsorption/desorption columns is placed in parallel with the main adsorption/desorption column group to constitute an auxiliary adsorption/desorption column. The auxiliary adsorption/desorption column performs desorption processing during a period in which none of the adsorption/desorption columns of the main adsorption/desorption column group is performing desorption processing.
US08460432B2
The present invention provides a membrane, comprising a porous support layer a gas tight electronically and ionically conducting membrane layer and a catalyst layer, characterized in that the electronically and ionically conducting membrane layer is formed from a material having a crystallite structure with a crystal size of about 1 to 100 nm, and a method for producing same.
US08460414B2
Disclosed is a polishing slurry which enables to suppress damages to an under layer while securing an adequate polishing rate. The polishing slurry contains a resin (A) having an amide group and an organic resin (B).
US08460413B2
A carburetion system and method for adapting a low-Btu gas source with a low-Btu gas consumer. Pressure-based air-gas mixers geometrically appropriate for the carburetion system and method. The carburetion system comprises a low-Btu gas inlet, a gas outlet, a zero-pressure regulator, and at least one pressure-based air-gas mixer capable of maintaining a volumetric air to low-Btu gas ratio of no more than about 2:1. The method comprises diverting a low-Btu gas to a gas outlet when the gas consumer is off. The method further comprises, during operation of the consumer, diverting low-Btu gas to a zero-pressure regulator in order to balance low-Btu gas pressure with air pressure, passing low-Btu gas to at least one pressure-based air-gas mixer capable of maintaining a volumetric air to low-Btu gas ratio of no more than about 2:1, mixing the low-Btu gas with air in the at least one pressure-based air-gas mixer to form an air-gas mixture, and sending the air-gas mixture to the consumer. A venturi air-gas mixer comprising at least one venturi gas intake and at least one venturi air intake wherein the at least one venturi gas intake has a cross-sectional area at least equal to the cross-sectional area of the at least one venturi air intake whereby the venturi air-gas mixer is capable of maintaining a volumetric air-to-gas ratio of no more than about 1:1.
US08460410B2
The present invention relates to a system and process for gasifying feedstock such as carbonaceous materials. The invention includes partial combustion of dry solids and pyrolysis of carbonaceous material slurry in two separate reactor sections and produce mixture products comprising synthesis gas. The invention employs one or more catalytic or sorbent bed for removing tar from the synthesis gas. The inventive system and process allow a gasification to be carried out under higher slurry feeding rate and lower temperature with the provision to manage the tar being produced, therefore to increase the conversion efficiency of the overall gasification.
US08460409B2
A reformer is disclosed that includes a plasma zone to receive a pre-heated mixture of reactants and ionize the reactants by applying an electrical potential thereto. A first thermally conductive surface surrounds the plasma zone and is configured to transfer heat from an external heat source into the plasma zone. The reformer further includes a reaction zone to chemically transform the ionized reactants into synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide. A second thermally conductive surface surrounds the reaction zone and is configured to transfer heat from the external heat source into the reaction zone. The first thermally conductive surface and second thermally conductive surface are both directly exposed to the external heat source. A corresponding method and system are also disclosed and claimed herein.
US08460396B1
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, and/or device adapted for washing and drying a product via a continuous forward flow of product and a reverse flow of aqueous content. Certain exemplary embodiments can provide an auger, a rotating paddle wheel, a spiral drum, a cylindrical drum, and/or a ram press.
US08460393B2
An implant for a hip can include a lateral augment adapted to be coupled to a lateral side of a femoral body implant. The lateral augment can include a body portion having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a protrusion extending from the second surface. The protrusion can have a shape adapted to mate with a complimentary shaped recess formed in the lateral side of the femoral body implant. An aperture can be positioned in the body portion and extend through the protrusion. A fastener can be received through the aperture and adapted to be threadably secured to the lateral bore. The fastener can be configured to have a length sufficient to pass through a portion of a greater trochanter for securing the portion of the greater trochanter and the lateral augment to the femoral body implant.
US08460385B1
Some embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus that (1) delivers a fusion member between two vertebral bodies after at least a portion of the fibrocartilaginous disc between the vertebral bodies has been removed, and (2) affixes the fusion member to the vertebral bodies. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes (1) a fusion member that is delivered and positioned between the vertebral bodies, (2) a delivery mechanism that delivers and positions the fusion member between the vertebral bodies, and (3) an anchoring member that affixes the fusion member to the vertebral bodies.
US08460381B2
Devices for the treatment of intervertebral discs are described. The devices, when implanted into the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc, are specifically configured with an inert outer layer and an inner layer containing at least one chemonucleolysis agent so as to provide a delayed and controlled release of the chemonucleolysis agent from the inner layer into the disc. The implant can be an elongated solid body having a tapered or rounded insertion end having at least one therapeutic agent in the inner layer of the implant surrounded by an outer layer of inert material.
US08460380B2
An intervertebral implant has a head positioned at one end of the implant. The head has a conical portion, on which an external thread is formed, and an outer end region formed by a protective elevation. The elevation is, is viewed from the outside, convexly curved and free from sharp edges. A central portion is positioned between the head and a basic structure which is formed at an opposite end of the implant. The central portion is formed by a plurality of struts extending from the head to the basic structure. The central portion is provided with an external thread and has openings formed between the head, the struts and the basic structure.
US08460379B2
An adjustable construct for fixation of a tendon or ligament graft in a tunnel. The construct comprises a flexible, adjustable loop connected to tissue (for example, graft, ligament or tendon). The adjustable loop may be integrated with an additional tissue supporting device (for example, a wedge or a plug). The tissue is secured within a bone socket/tunnel by adjusting the length of the flexible adjustable loop.
US08460378B2
Biocompatible, biodegradable polyurethane materials with controlled hydrophobic to hydrophilic ratio
The biocompatible, biodegradable materials in the solid and/or liquid form are based on segmented linear polyurethanes and/or segmented crosslinked polyurethanes based on A) one or more biocompatible polyols susceptible to hydrolytic and/or enzymatic degradation having a molecular weight of 100 to 20,000 dalton and a number of active hydroxyl groups per molecule (functionality) of at least two or higher; B) one or more diisocyanates and/or triisocyanates; and C) one or more low molecular weight chain extenders having a molecular weight of 18 to 1000 dalton and the functionality of at least two or higher.
US08460372B2
The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for implanting a prosthesis into a heart of a mammal, such as a person. The disclosure includes a prosthesis that acts as a pressure vent between the left and right atria of the heart. The intracardiac pressure vents disclosed allow sufficient flow from the left atrium to the right atrium to relieve elevated left atrial pressure and resulting patient symptoms. The devices also limit the amount of flow from the right atrium to the left atrium to minimize the potential for thrombi or other embolic material from entering arterial circulation.
US08460370B2
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a prosthesis that can be implanted within a heart to at least partially block gaps that may be present between the two mitral valve leaflets. In one preferred embodiment, the prosthesis includes an anchoring ring that expands within the left atrium to anchor the prosthesis and a pocket member fixed to the anchoring ring. The pocket member is positioned within the mitral valve, between the leaflets so that an open end of the pocket member is positioned within the left ventricle. When the mitral valve is open, blood flows past the pocket member, maintaining the pocket member in a collapsed state. When the mitral valve closes, the backpressure of the blood pushes into the pocket member, expanding the pocket member to an inflated shape. The mitral valve leaflets contact the expanded pocket member, allowing the prosthesis to block at least a portion of the openings between the leaflets, thereby minimizing regurgitated blood flow into the left atrium.
US08460365B2
A valve with a frame and valve leaflets that provide a sinus pocket. The valve provides for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the valve.
US08460363B2
Expandable medical implants for maintaining support of a body lumen are disclosed. These implants comprise an axially-radially nested, diametrically expandable, moveable vascular device for enlarging an occluded portion of a vessel. The device can be configured to allow for motion such as translating and/or slide and lock. One advantage of the axially-radially nested stent is that it maintains the expanded size, without significant recoil.
US08460358B2
Wire-guided interventional devices and methods are provided which enable faster and easier catheter exchanges. The interventional devices include a catheter shaft and a guidewire tube wherein the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube each have a length sufficient to extend to the vascular penetration when the interventional device is positioned at the treatment site. In some embodiments, a collar is disposed around the catheter shaft and guidewire tube that automatically inserts or removes the guidewire from the guidewire tube or automatically collapses or extends the guidewire tube as the catheter is introduced or withdrawn.
US08460354B2
An inflatable convective pad for warming a person during surgery has two ends, two sides, and at least two openings, each located in an area of the pad between the two ends and between a respective side and the center of the pad. The openings, which may be in the form of slits, allow the threading of a sheet or the person's arms through the pad to restrain the arms during surgery.
US08460350B2
A three-dimensional mesh or screen in the shape of a simple flat piece of material that can be provided adjacent the graft (i.e., in between graft bundles, or around the graft, or between the graft and the fixation device) for improved strength and structural support for graft fixation. The mesh provides improved methods for installing and securing ligament grafts (such as double-bundle cruciate ligament grafts) with enhanced reconstruction results.
US08460343B2
An intramedullary bone fixation device suitable for treatment of fractures of the tubular bones of the hand or feet. The implantable device can be used singly or introduced through both the radial and ulnar aspects. The device includes a stem having a tip portion at one end and a base member at the opposite end of the stem. The stem and tip portions are configured with a unique configuration and cross section to facilitate insertion into and through the canal and provide the necessary forces on the stem portion within the canal. The base is sized and configured to minimize tissue damage while as the same time providing a strong point of fixation.
US08460339B2
A suture clamp comprising a plurality of elements positioned together in a row, each element of the plurality of elements having a lower portion separated from an upper portion by a flexible neck, each element of the plurality of elements including a slot having an outwardly facing opening, the slots from the plurality of elements configured to accept a suture element through the row of elements and secure the suture element. A method of clamping a suture, including applying a biasing force to at least one element into the first position to provide access to the outwardly facing opening of the slot, passing the suture through a tissue layer, receiving the suture into the slot through the outward facing opening, and removing the biasing force to form a tortuous path between adjacently positioned elements of the plurality of elements.
US08460328B2
A surgical marking tool for marking a location on a patient includes a cutting head and a handle. The cutting head includes a screw thread. The handle is coupled to the cutting head to rotate the cutting head. The screw thread is configured to progressively embed in the patient to mark the location when the cutting head is placed in contact with the patient and rotated with respect to the patient using the handle.
US08460327B2
A tissue cutting device that is especially suited for neurosurgical applications is disclosed and described. The device includes a handpiece and an outer cannula in which a reciprocating inner cannula is disposed. The inner cannula includes a hinge between a body section and a cutting section that allows the cutting section to pivot when the inner cannula reciprocates within the outer cannula. The inner cannula also includes a bending portion between the proximal end of the inner cannula and the hinge which is bendable with the outer cannula. The device is particularly suited for accessing neurosurgical sites that are not accessible along a linear path.
US08460325B2
A surgical tool includes a surgical blade configured to be moved to form an incision. The surgical tool also includes a wire configured to cause movement of the surgical blade. The surgical tool further includes an actuator configured to shorten a length of the wire to cause the movement of the surgical blade. The surgical tool could be configured to move the surgical blade in a first direction and then in a second direction in response to a single shortening of the wire. Also, the wire could represent a first wire, the surgical tool could include a second wire, and the surgical tool could be configured to move the surgical blade in a first direction in response to shortening the first wire and to move the surgical blade in a second direction in response to shortening the second wire.
US08460321B2
Methods, systems, devices and assemblies are provided for treating a patient by: making an incision or puncture though the patient's skin over the abdominal cavity; establishing an initial tract through an opening formed by the incision or puncture; advancing an instrument through the tract; contacting a distal end portion of the instrument against an inner surface of the abdominal cavity; driving at least one stitching needle through the inner surface of the abdominal cavity; continuing the driving until the at least one stitching needle exits the inner surface of the abdominal cavity; anchoring a suture carried by each of the at least one stitching needle to a suture anchor at an exit location, respectively; and applying tension to each of the sutures.
US08460319B2
A device for at least partially closing an aperture in an annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc of a patient comprises an implant delivery tool and an implant releasably coupled to the implant delivery tool. The implant delivery tool includes a substantially rigid outer tube having a sharpened distal tip, a body a body coupled to the proximal section of the outer tube, and a plunger assembly movable axially relative to the body and including a plunger member and a pusher tube coupled thereto and disposed within the outer tube. The implant includes first and second tissue anchors serially disposed within the distal section of the outer tube, and a flexible connecting element coupling the first and second tissue anchors including a knotless braided suture structure for adjusting the length of the flexible coupling element.
US08460318B2
Apparatus and methods for passing multiple sutures in tissue repair and/or other mini-open procedures. The apparatus includes a pair of jaws mounted on a distal end of a shaft, a hand assembly mounted on a proximal end of the shaft, and a needle mounted on the hand assembly and passing through a cannulation of the shaft. The pair of jaws includes a lower jaw and an upper jaw, the lower jaw being provided with a slot configured to sequentially engage multiple sutures inserted into the instrument. The handle assembly has a cam mechanism and a finger lever with a ratchet and a releaser with a hook, the handle assembly being designed to move the needle from a first position to a second position, and to thereby sequentially capture, in the needle, each of the multiple sutures inserted in the instrument, for subsequent passing through tissue.
US08460310B2
An apparatus and methods for exerting force on a first bone with respect to a fulcrum, which may be a second bone. A base structure, mechanically coupled to the fulcrum, is coupled to the closure top so that a force may be exerted by the base structure, acting against the fulcrum, in at least one of axial and transverse directions with respect to a pedicle screw inserted into bone. A leg extension, allowing force to be applied through the pedicle screw to a bone, has a first end rotatably coupled to the base structure; and a second end threaded as the closure top. The base structure may also support a retractor in a manner local to the immediate region of surgery.
US08460308B2
Disclosed are devices, methods and systems for manipulating a pedicle screw assembly and for inserting and reducing a rod relative to the pedicle screw assembly. The system can include a cannula assembly having a reduction cannula with an internal bore extending between a proximal region and a distal region and an insertion cannula co-axially positioned within the internal bore of the reduction cannula. The insertion cannula includes a pair of opposed prongs extending distally from a distal region of the insertion cannula, wherein each prong is interposed between a pair of flexible projecting elements. The pair of opposed prongs of the insertion cannula and the distal region of the reduction cannula are aligned to collectively define an opening that is sized and shaped for receiving a spinal rod. The device also can include an annular collar mounted on the proximal region of the reduction cannula and rotatably coupled to a proximal region of the insertion cannula. The cannula assembly can also be a pivoting cannula assembly.
US08460304B2
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.
US08460296B2
Instruments and methods for treating vertebral endplates are disclosed. The instrument includes one or more treatment members movable from a reduced profile position for insertion to the operative site to a deployed position for providing treatment to the vertebral endplates.
US08460294B2
An intramedullary device includes an intramedullary nail extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, a proximal portion of the intramedullary nail including a cavity extending from an opening at the proximal end along the longitudinal axis and a locking hole extending transversely therethrough along with a first insert sized and shaped for insertion into the cavity along the longitudinal axis thereof and including a transverse bore aligning with the locking hole and a second insert for engaging an inner surface of the cavity proximally of the first insert to retain the first insert within the cavity and including a central bore extending longitudinally therethrough for coupling to an insertion instrument.
US08460293B2
An intramedullary nail for a fractured elongated bone, comprising a cannulated rod having proximal and distal ends; an outside tubular sleeve for coaxially hosting and guiding the rod; and at least a pair of shape memory elements hosted in corresponding seats at the distal end of the rod. Each shape memory element can be retractably housed in its seat in a first configuration, allowing insertion of the nail into the bone, and can project from a sleeve opening in another configuration. Pairs of transversal holes are provided in proximal portions of the rod and the sleeve. The distal pair of shape memory elements lie on an offset plane to the plane of the proximal holes and are kept in their corresponding seats by a distal cover fixed to the rod. This improves the stability of the nail in the medullary canal.
US08460289B2
A sheath system for selectively covering a distal end of an electrocautery blade is provided. The sheath system includes a hub having a body portion defining a lumen therethrough and a sheath having a body portion defining a lumen therethrough. The lumen of the sheath is configured and dimensioned to operatively receive an electrocautery blade therein. The sheath is translatably associated with the hub such that rotation of the hub in a first direction results in axial movement of the sheath in a first direction to expose a distal end of the electrocautery blade and rotation of the hub in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, results in axial movement of the sheath in a second direction to cover the distal end of the electrocautery blade. The hub and the sheath may be concentric with one another.
US08460285B2
The invention relates to electrodes used in ablation catheter devices, where the electrodes contain two or more thermal sensors at different positions within the electrode that are capable of detecting temperature differences along the external surface of the electrode. In preferred embodiments, the thermal sensors are separated by one or more thermal insulating members and the thermal sensors are positioned near the external surface of the electrode at about the same distance from the end of the electrode, so that temperature measurements can indicate the position of the electrode with respect to the tissue desired to be ablated.
US08460282B2
Methods, apparatus, and systems for occluding a left atrial appendage are provided. One embodiment includes an elongate body having a tissue apposition member extendably positioned within a lumen of the elongate body to appose tissue of the LAA. An energy emitting device coupled to the elongate body can be used for emitting high intensity focused ultrasound to the tissues to fuse the tissues.
US08460280B2
A flashlamp device having a small diameter waveguide is disclosed for use in localized dermatological applications. A preferred waveguide has a curvilinear wall surface. The waveguide is supported by a plurality of spaced apart thermally-conductive elements in contact with the curvilinear wall surface allowing sufficient cooling of the waveguide while minimizing the amount of high angle light stripped from the waveguide at points of contact with the contact elements.
US08460272B2
The extensible intravenous (“i.v.”) drip line tubing uses a helical accordion support structure on which the i.v. tubing is attached. The helical accordion backbone has some tendency to spring back, but this is not relied upon to extend and return the i.v. tubing it carries. The carrier structure keeps the i.v. tubing from getting tangle or kinked. A centrally located retractable line, which is located within the center of the helical accordion structure, acts as the retracting mechanism, as it tends to allow the accordion structure to be pulled into an extended position, while upon rewinding the central cord, the helical accordion support structure can be pushed toward a collapsed position without the i.v. drip line tubing becoming tanked, kinked, and thereby blocked. As a safety feature, so the i.v. line does not encounter and strain between it and the point of entry of the i.v. line into the patient, is one or more wrist and or armbands to which the i.v. carrier is attached by a short, strong line.
US08460265B1
A washable female undergarment is designed for comfort and for alleviating leakage. The undergarment comprises an outer layer of a stretchable fabric, an inner layer of an absorbent fabric, and a main absorbent layer positioned between the inner and outer layers in the crotch area. The three layers are permanently secured together to form a reusable reliant undergarment.
US08460259B2
A controlled discharge ostomy appliance is described for use with an adhesive body fitment. The body fitment comprises an adhesive wafer having a stomal aperture that is manually shapeable by folding or rolling back a rim portion of the adhesive around the stomal aperture.
US08460257B2
A wound-closing dressing, which is suitable for use as part of a reduced-pressure, wound-treatment system, may include a sealing drape, one or more contracting elements, and a gripping member. The contracting element may be coupled to the sealing drape and is configured to contract when activated and to generate a closing force. A gripping member is coupled to the sealing drape and is configured to transmit the closing force to a patient's epidermis. Other dressings, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
US08460256B2
A fluid collection system includes a disposable collection container and a disposable collection container receiving housing, the housing having a cavity and a suction source. The fluid collection container may include a flexible liner and a shelf for diverting fluid from the suction and to assist with a collapse of the liner during evacuation of the fluid from the liner. The collection container receiving housing may include a piston assembly having a main piston body and a scraper ring. The collection container receiving housing may include a piston stop feature. The system may include a partially hydrophobic filter and a flat surface suction tool.
US08460253B2
The magnetically sealed intravenous access valve is an implantable port and valve for vascular access. The magnetically sealed intravenous access valve includes a housing and a pair of hollow tubes provided for interconnection and communication with the patient's blood vessel. Each tube is partially slidably received within a lower portion of the housing. A hollow key is used to selectively open and close the valve and also to inject medication into the patient's blood vessel. The hollow key is removably received within channels formed through a retainer and a rotatable obturator so that the lower end of the hollow key releasably engages the obturator. Selective rotation thereof allows eccentric spout formed in the obturator to align with an eccentric aperture formed in a valve plate. Fluids flow through the hollow key, the aligned spout and plate opening, the lower portion of the housing, and the opposing tubes for fluid transfer.
US08460249B2
Needle assemblies are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to needle assemblies having a tip protector with a plurality of wall surfaces for preventing contact with the needle tip from a side. Aspects of the tip protectors discussed herein include a first protector body having an arm for blocking a needle tip surrounded by a second protector body having a plurality of wall surfaces.
US08460244B2
The present invention provides a reservoir compartment adapter for use with a fluid delivery device. The adapter includes a first end adapted for coupling with a fluid delivery device, a second end adapted for coupling with a connector, and a structure between the first end and the second end including an interior space for receiving the reservoir, wherein an extended reservoir compartment for accommodating the reservoir is adapted to be formed when the first end is coupled to the fluid delivery device, and the reservoir is adapted to be secured in the extended reservoir compartment when the connector is coupled to the second end. The adapter allows a user of a delivery device accommodating reservoirs of a certain size to manage periods where increased medication dosage is needed without the burden of carrying a larger delivery device for accommodating reservoirs filled with the increased dosage.
US08460236B2
Systems are described herein that improve control of a shapeable or steerable instrument using shape data. Additional systems use such shape data for improved mapping or adjusting models of the instrument. Such systems include robotic medical systems for controlling a shapeable instrument within an anatomical region having a controller, one or more actuators, and a localization system for guiding one or more shapeable instruments.
US08460228B2
A tubing set is disclosed including a first line having first and second ends, a bag spike at the first end configured for connection to a source of infusate, and a connector at the second end configured for connection to a blood line. The first line has a pumping portion for engagement with an infusate pump. The tubing set includes a second line having first and second ends, the first end being attached to the first line between the first line pumping portion and the first line second end and the second end being configured for connection to the first line between the first line first end and the first line pumping portion. The second line second end is configured for connection to the first line by a dual lumen spike.
US08460224B2
A therapeutic compression device for applying compression force to a patient. The device is constructed of multiple layers, at least two of which are fluid-tight. At least two fluid-tight layers define a fluid-tight chamber that has a smaller surface area than the overall device. Fluid supplied to the fluid-tight chamber causes compressive force to be exerted on a patient. Preferably at least one layer is a fluid permeable material. An additional layer of fluid permeable material may be also be added to ensure a fluid permeable barrier exists between the fluid-tight chamber and a patient.
US08460221B2
An exemplary embodiment provides a hand-held apparatus for treatment of conditions requiring ultra-sonic or vibratory treatment. The apparatus includes a transducer, an electronic tuning circuit and a power source for powering the apparatus. The transducer has a first section axially aligned with the second section. The second section has an outer wall of predetermined thickness surrounding an annular cavity that contains a piezoelectric stack. The electronic tuning circuit is in communication with the piezoelectric stack. The circuit is configured to tune the transducer to a target output frequency. The transducer, electronic tuning circuit and power source are at least partially contained within a common housing that is configured to be grasped by a human hand to administer treatment.
US08460212B2
A body fluid sampling unit includes a puncture device including a needle having a sharp needle point and a drive mechanism for operating the needle to puncture a living body surface with the needle point, a tip including an introducing section for introducing a body fluid flowing out from a puncture portion of the living body surface punctured with the needle point, a test paper for detecting a predetermined component in the body fluid, and a tip body mounted to a component measuring device for measuring the quantity and/or property of the predetermined component detected by the test paper; and a case including a mechanism containing section for containing the puncture mechanism so that the needle point of the puncture mechanism can be moved by the drive means, and a sampling implement containing section for containing the body fluid sampling implement so that the tip can be taken out.
US08460208B2
A system for preparing a cytological suspension is based on a fixing solution. The system containing a cytological sample-taking brush and a flask having an opening for receiving the cytological sample-taking brush are detachably fastened to a handle including a brush-receiving filter basket that is at least partially immersed in the a suspension.
US08460203B2
A gas flow diverter for increasing the turbulence of an incoming respiratory gas flow through a respiratory gas sensor is provided. The diverter is positioned at a patient or inlet end of a tube section of the sensor in order to divert the respiratory gas flow from the patient generally equally across the cross-sectional area of the tube section. The diverter can be formed integrally as a part of the sensor, or can be releasably attached to the sensor or to an adapter that is releasably connected to the inlet end of the sensor for use in situations in which the volume of the incoming respiratory gas flow from the patient is greatly reduced due to the size of the patient, i.e., when the patient is an infant.
US08460201B2
The invention relates to a system (100) for visualizing a cardiac parameter at a plurality of positions in a myocardium and at a plurality of stress levels, the system comprising a determination unit (110) for determining a value of the cardiac parameter at a position from the plurality of positions in the myocardium and at a stress level from the plurality of stress levels on the basis of stress level cardiac functional data, and a visualization unit (120) for visualizing the determined value of the cardiac parameter by displaying a point in a viewing plane. The visualized points are defined by their polar coordinates in a polar coordinate system in the viewing plane. A radial coordinate of the point visualizes the determined value of the cardiac parameter. An angular coordinate of the point visualizes an angular coordinate of the position in the myocardium in a cylindrical coordinate system. Thus, the system allows easy numerical comparison of local myocardial contractions at different stress level values.
US08460199B2
A monitoring device for monitoring the vital signs of a user is disclosed herein. The monitoring device is preferably comprises an article, an optical sensor, an accelerometer and processor. The optical sensor preferably comprises a photodetector and a plurality of light emitting diodes. A sensor signal from the optical sensor is processed with a filtered accelerometer output signal from the accelerometer to create a filtered vital sign signal used to generate a real-time vital sign for a user.
US08460194B2
An ultrasonic imaging apparatus and method are described for monitoring the progress of therapy for pathology such as lesions, tumors, and metastases by means of contrast agent imaging. A sequence of images are acquired as a bolus of contrast agent infuses the tissue containing the pathology. A contrast wash-in time parameter is calculated for both the tumor and normal tissue, and a ratio is calculated of the two wash-in time parameters (called WITR) which removes the effects of variations in the procedure from one therapy monitoring session to another. A difference curve of the time-intensity curves of the pathology and normal tissue is also produced, which is similarly immune to procedural variations.
US08460193B2
A non-invasive ultra-high frequency ultrasound treatment method and system are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a high-frequency ultrasound transducer system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a patient such that the superficial and/or subcutaneous regions of the patient can be treated. An exemplary high-frequency ultrasound transducer system comprises a control system and a transducer configured to provide treatment to the superficial and/or subcutaneous regions of interest. The high-frequency ultrasound transducer may be configured to operate at higher frequencies and controlled power levels to provide treatment to the superficial and/or subcutaneous regions of interest. For example, higher frequencies within the range from approximately 20 MHz to 500 MHz or more may be utilized.
US08460189B2
An adherent device comprises an adhesive patch with at least two electrodes and an accelerometer. The accelerometer can be used to determine an orientation of the at least two measurement electrodes on a patient. By determining the orientation of the electrodes of the patch on the patient, physiologic measurements with the at least two electrodes can be adjusted and/or corrected in response to the orientation of the patch on the patient. The adherent patch and/or electrodes can be replaced with a second adherent patch and/or electrodes, and the orientation of the second adherent patch and/or electrodes can be determined with the accelerometer or a second accelerometer. The determined orientation of the second patch and/or electrodes on the patient can be used to correct measurements made with the second adherent patch and/or electrodes.
US08460186B2
Methods and devices are provided for providing access through tissue to a surgical site. Generally, the methods and devices allow adjustment of a surgical access port's longitudinal length. In one embodiment, a surgical access port is provided that includes a housing having a cannula distally extending therefrom. The housing can be configured to cut a proximal portion of the cannula to adjust a longitudinal length of the cannula and hence of the surgical access port. In another embodiment, a surgical access port is provided that includes a cannula formed of a plurality of modular segments removably coupled together. One or more of the segments can be configured to be removable from the cannula to change the cannula's longitudinal length.
US08460185B2
A surgical retractor assembly that utilizes a tubular shaft and a connection nub. A pivot joint connects one end of the tubular shaft to the connection nub. The pivot joint enables the connection nub to move relative the tubular shaft along a path that is coplanar to the axis of the tubular shaft. Together, the tubular shaft and the connection nub create an elongated element that can be introduced into a small incision. A retractor blade is provided. A bearing joint extends from the retractor blade. The retractor blade and bearing joint are introduced into a surgical site independent of the elongated element. Within the surgical site, the connection nub interconnects with the bearing joint, therein joining the retractor blade to the tubular shaft and a handle.
US08460179B2
The present invention provides a balloon unit for an endoscope apparatus comprising: a balloon for an endoscope apparatus having an opening formed in a cylindrical shape in which an insert part of an endoscope or an insert supporter having the insert part inserted therein is inserted and fixed; and a cylinder body having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the insert part or the insert supporter; wherein the opening of the balloon is fitted over and fixed to the cylinder body to form a unit and the unit is attached to the insert part or the insert supporter or detached from the insert part or the insert supporter.
US08460170B2
An anterior implant adapted to treat central and lateral cystoceles present in a female patient includes laterally extending stabilizing straps for supporting the implant between the patient's bladder and vagina independently of the patient's arcus tendineous fascia pelvis. Rectocele and hysterocele repairs can be carried out using a single posterior implant which, like the anterior implant, is provided with laterally extending stabilizing straps for supporting the implant between the patient's rectum and vagina.
US08460166B2
Methods of radiotherapy planning and delivery are disclosed in which a radiation beam is directed towards a time-averaged mean position of the target during radiation-on. In addition, the radiation beam is gated to deliver radiation to the target only when the target is within a treatment volume centered on the mean position. Treatment plans according to embodiments of the present invention result in low doses to the surrounding healthy tissue, but high duty cycles and quicker treatment times.
US08460163B2
An ingenious calf, shin and ankle rehabilitation and exerciser apparatus for engagement with the lower leg muscles and ankle comprising of a rigid sole plate member having a sole plate protective pad and affixed fastening sole straps for securing foot to sole plate member, an attachable fulcrum heel ball member for attaching to the bottom of heel section. Sole plate member is pivotally attached to a rigid cross brace member which is comprised of a fastening shin straps affixed to a shin protective pad member to secure the lower leg to a rigid pivoting back support member that is pivotally engaged to cross brace member. Cross brace engages the toe section of sole plate member via an engaging biasing resistance means that provides posterior and anterior resistance not limited to isotonic and isometric for the flexing of the foot and ankle not limited to dorsi-flexion, plantar-flexion, inversion or eversion.
US08460161B2
An exercise apparatus includes a substantially flat, rigid platform for supporting a user during exercise. An inflatable tubular support having an upper portion with a first radial outside diameter, and a lower portion with a second radial outside diameter that is greater than the first radial outside diameter, is coupled to the platform by a fastener. The tubular support defines a central opening that communicates between the platform and a support surface. The platform includes a venting structure for releasing air from the central opening during use. The inflatable support includes an intermediate portion between the upper portion and the lower portion of the tubular support, the intermediate portion including a support feature to restrain the intermediate portion from radial expansion induced by an air pressure internal to the integral inflatable support.
US08460154B2
In a frictional drive device comprising a pair of drive disks (48) rotatably supported by a frame (10) around a central axial line (A) in a mutually opposing relationship, a pair of motors (64) supported by the frame for individually rotatively actuating the drive disks, a plurality of drive rollers (56) arranged along an outer periphery of each drive disk at a regular interval and each having a rotational center line so as to be rotatable along a plane which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the central axial line, and an annular main wheel (84, 110) disposed approximately coaxially with respect to the central axial line and engaged by the drive rollers of the drive disks, the main wheel comprising an annular member (86, 111) and a plurality of driven rollers (92) supported along the annular member so as to be rotatable around a tangential line of the annular member, a resiliency is incorporated either in the main wheel or in the drive rollers so that a relatively large number of driven rollers can be simultaneously engaged by the drive rollers and, hence, a relative high drive efficiency can be maintained even when the axial center of the annular member and the axial center of the drive disks are offset from each other.
US08460153B2
A power tool that includes a housing, a motor, a planetary transmission, a first bearing and a second bearing. The motor is disposed in the housing and includes an output shaft. The planetary transmission has a sun gear, a plurality of first planet gears, a first ring gear and a carrier. The sun gear is driven by the output shaft. The first planet gears are driven by the sun gear and have teeth that are meshingly engaged to teeth of the first ring gear. The carrier includes a rear carrier plate and a front carrier plate between which the first and second planet gears are received. The rear carrier plate includes a first bearing aperture. The first bearing is received in the first bearing aperture and is configured to support the output shaft. The second bearing is received onto the rear carrier plate to support the carrier relative to the housing.
US08460152B2
A pulley assembly with an auto-selecting multi-speed transmission that can be operated in at least two modes depending on the manner in which rotary power is transmitted through the pulley assembly.
US08460150B2
A multi-speed transmission includes an input member, an output member, a stationary member, and a first and a second compound planetary gear set. The first compound planetary gear set has a first, a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth member. The second compound planetary gear set has a first, a second, a third, and a fourth member. The first member of the second compound planetary gear set is continuously connected for common rotation with the output member. An interconnecting member continuously connects the first member of the first planetary gear set for common rotation with the second member of the second planetary gear set. The transmission includes seven torque-transmitting mechanisms that are engagable to establish up to fifteen forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
US08460145B2
Each of reclining devices is formed so as to have a different size. An external gear wheel of each of the reclining devices has a diameter smaller than an internal gear wheel thereof and has a teeth number different from the internal gear wheel. The internal gear wheels and the external gear wheels of the connection devices respectively have the same teeth number as each other. The internal gear wheels and the external gear wheels of the connection devices are formed such that distances between centers thereof are equal to each other. Further, a meshing line of the internal gear wheel and the external gear wheel of each of the connection devices is formed between two curves defining a meshing range and is drawn as a line that extends from a side of a radially inwardly positioned curve in a circumferential direction in which the two curves are gradually spaced from each other and reaches to a side of a radially outwardly positioned curve.
US08460144B2
An arrangement which comprises at least one claw clutch for the shiftable coupling and decoupling of a shaft (1), in an automatic transmission of a planetary design, with at least one component. The shaft can be connected to a component of the planetary gearset (4) and the claw clutch is arranged centrally, substantially inside a sun gear (3) of the planetary gearset (4).
US08460141B2
A chain has links formed by pairs of internal and external plates respectively connected by pins and inserts fitted onto the pins and projecting through the internal plates. Rollers are fitted onto the inserts between the internal plates and a lubricated interface is identified between each roller and the respective insert. The roller is provided, at each end, with a bevel or cavity tilted inwards the roller to identify a seat between the internal plate and the external surface of the respective insert, into the seat the sealing gasket being accommodated. A further sealing gasket is advantageously arranged between the plates to seal an interface between the pin and insert.
US08460140B2
A belt tensioner includes a support housing at least in part defining a spring cavity and an arm pivotally attached to the support housing. A spring is located in the spring cavity and is operatively connected to the arm and the support housing to bias the arm about a pivot axis toward an unloaded position relative to the support housing. A damping member includes a hub and deflectable, force-applying elements that are connected to and spaced apart about a periphery of the hub. The force-applying elements are biased toward a contact surface of the arm to apply a frictional force between the contact surface and the force-applying elements to impede rotation of the arm relative to the support housing.
US08460139B2
A belt installation guide is disclosed which accommodates the loading in a belt module of a new belt around drive rollers. The guide is placed opposite the end portions of the rollers, the belt is slipped over the guides and held by the guides until the belt is pushed over the rollers. The guides can be attached to the belt module or can be detachable therefrom. Once in place over the rollers, a tension is exerted on the belt to make it taut over all of the rollers. The guide is removed from near the rollers after the belt is in place over the rollers.
US08460128B2
A ball sports practice device is disclosed having a forward facing ball capture enclosure and a rear facing rebound structure. The angle between the ball capture enclosure and the rebound structure may be adjusted to support the device to a plurality of use positions on a support surface. An optional support arm may be included to maintain or limit the angle between the capture enclosure and the rebound structure.
US08460121B2
A putting training apparatus having a frame, a handle on the frame to be gripped by a user to perform a putting stroke, a putter head on the frame for striking a golf ball, and a stabilizer assembly on the frame. The stabilizer assembly is engageable with a user's frontal region with the putting training apparatus operatively positioned to maintain a user's arms braced consistently relative to each other and the handle with the user's hands gripping the handle in a manner to perform a putting stroke.
US08460120B1
A golf club that can automatically align the club head with intended path of ball direction. The golf club encompasses a movable club head, electronics, a power source and motor driver for adjusting golf club head position at time of impact with a golf ball. The golf club can also serve as teaching aid for tracking a golfer swing path and errors in golf club path.
US08460109B2
The present invention involves methods and devices for controlling many aspects of a player's gaming experience, including game themes presented, game denomination, pay models, content and promotions. Some implementations of the invention provide a casino operator the necessary tools to create subsets of customers, often referred to herein as “communities,” and to control the gaming experiences of players in these communities. In some such implementations, communities may be created and/or modified according to various criteria, some of which may be weighted more heavily than others. Specific marketing messages, promotions, etc., may be provided to attract and retain players having similar characteristics and preferences.
US08460103B2
Various techniques are disclosed for controlling a wager-based game played at a gaming system. In one embodiment the gaming system may include a handheld device operable to communicate with a gaming controller. In one embodiment, the handheld device may include a gesture input interface device operable to detect movements gestures associated with one or more persons. The gaming system may further include a gesture interpretation component operable to identify selected movements or gestures detected by the gesture input interface device, and operable to generate gesture interpretation information relating to interpretation of the selected movements or gestures. In at least one embodiment, the gaming system may be operable to control a wager-based game played at the gaming system; automatically detect a gesture by a player participating in a game session at the gaming system; interpret the gesture with respect to a set of criteria; identify at least one action to be initiated in response to the gesture interpretation; and initiate the at least one action. In at least one embodiment, information relating to the gesture and/or information relating to the gesture interpretation may be recorded as part of the game history associated with the game session.
US08460100B2
A game apparatus generates control point data for forming a contour of each part of a character, generates a line model of a body being a line polygon model along the body on the basis of the control point data, then generates a line model of a foot being a line polygon model along a contour of one foot, and arranged at the back of the line model of the body Bd in a Z direction, and generates a mask model of the body being a transparent polygon model arranged at the back of the line model of the body in the Z direction and in front of the line model of the foot in the Z direction, and having the contour along the line of the body. Then, when the respective models are depicted with a Z comparison performed after depicting a background, the mask model of the body, the line model of the foot, the line model of the body are depicted in this order.
US08460097B2
A portable information terminal includes a state determination section that determines whether a current state of a screen is in a first state in which a first area in the screen is not touched, or in a second state in which the first area is touched, based on a touch operation and a touch position on the screen, an image generation section that generates an image in which a current touch position image is returned to an initial position when the second state changes to the first state, an update section that updates operation data based on the touch operation and the touch position in the first area when the screen is in the second state, the operation data indicating an operation direction and an operation amount of a moving object in a game space, and a calculation section that performs calculations for moving the moving object based on the operation data.
US08460096B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for use in a casino gaming system where data concerning set-up configuration of gaming units may be copied from one gaming unit to another gaming unit. The data concerning gaming unit configuration may be copied via an external device, such as a smart storage device or a dumb storage device, copied directly between gaming units or copied via a network storage device of a network that interconnects gaming units.
US08460094B2
The present invention includes an apparatus and method for a bonus game, and particularly a free spin bonus with an incrementing multiplier. The bonus game includes a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols and multipliers. The gaming device provides a number of free spins to the player at the beginning of the bonus game. The multiplier preferably starts at “1×” and increases by one after each free spin. Initially, the player spins the reels attempting to obtain a winning symbol combination on the reels. If the player obtains a winning combination, the gaming device provides an award. The award is multiplied by the multiplier and the player receives the multiplied award for that free spin. The player continues to spin the reels until there are no free spins remaining in the bonus game.
US08460088B1
A game processing server apparatus connected to a terminal device via a network and controlling a game in which a reward is given by completing a collection of predetermined items, includes a parameter updating unit which receives an instruction to send an item from a first player to a second player, and calculates and updates a bonding parameter indicating intimacy from the first player toward the second player; and a display unit which displays in a screen for a target player a value of a first bonding parameter indicating intimacy from the target player toward another player and a value of a second bonding parameter indicating intimacy from the other player toward the target player.
US08460087B2
A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a plurality of linked gaming machines for receiving multiple player selections in a community bonus game. The community bonus game may be displayed to all players at the linked gaming machines on a community display. Upon receiving multiple player selections in the community bonus game, players are awarded bonus awards based on the respective player selections.
US08460084B2
A gaming device including a first and second indicator plate which are adjacent to each other and on the same axis where the second plate overlaps at least a portion of the first plate and the first and second plates are in different planes. In one embodiment, the first plate includes at least one symbol where one or more awards are associated with the symbol. The second plate is composed at least in part of a substantially transparent material, which enables a player to see through at least a portion of the second plate to view one or more symbols on the first plate. The second plate also includes a plurality of sections, which indicate one or more symbols on the first plate. In one embodiment, the second plate includes at least one transparent section and at least one non-transparent section.
US08460081B2
A lottery game method and associated system include offering a plurality of different draw-type lottery games to players, with each of the lottery games having a different game theme and respective rules of play. Lottery tickets are issued to the players in the different lottery games, with each lottery ticket having a grid of uniquely identifiable positions displayed thereon. The number of grid positions may vary between the different lottery games. In a single drawing event, grid positions are randomly and sequentially drawn in a number so as to encompass all of the different types of grids for the respective different lottery games. The sequential order in which the grid positions were drawn is provided to the players and prizes are determined for winning lottery tickets in each of the different lottery games as a function of the order in which the grid positions are sequentially and randomly drawn.
US08460074B1
Apparatus and method for providing breathable air to one or more safe havens in an underground mine from a source external to the mine utilizing a source of compressed, breathable air located outside of the underground mine.
US08460068B2
A disc sander includes a housing having an operation platform for holding a workpiece on a work surface at the operation platform for sanding, a sanding mechanism pivotally mounted on the housing and having a sanding surface for sanding the workpiece, and an angle adjustment unit set between the housing and the sanding mechanism and including two swing plates disposed at two opposite lateral sides relative to the housing and respectively connected to the sanding mechanism so that the sanding mechanism is biasable with the swing plates relative to the housing to change the angle between the work surface and the sanding surface.
US08460062B2
A polishing machine for lenses with at least one first polishing spindle having a polishing axis (K) and a tool holder disposed on the first polishing spindle for a first polishing disc designed as a tool, further comprising at least one first workpiece spindle having a rotary axis (C) and a workpiece holder disposed on the first workpiece spindle for a lens, wherein the workpiece holder and the tool holder are disposed so as to be movable in translation in the direction of a telescoping axis (Z) disposed parallel to the polishing axis (K) and in the direction of a translation axis (X) disposed at right angles to the rotary axis (C). The polishing machine further has at least one first tool changer for changing the tool and a working chamber formed of at least one wall spatially limiting a spray of polishing medium during processing, wherein at least the workpiece holder and the tool holder are disposed within the working chamber, wherein the first tool changer is disposed at least partially within the working chamber during operation.
US08460056B2
The shaper device for shaping an ophthalmic lens comprises a blocking support on a blocking axis, a shaper tool, an electronic or computer unit for controlling the position of said shaper tool, and a man/machine interface connected to said electronic or computer unit, and comprising a display screen (253) and input means for inputting numerical values. The electronic or computer unit is adapted to display on said display screen at least three so-called “offset” fields (301-304) for inputting numerical values via said input means, the fields being displayed simultaneously or in succession, then for generating a control setpoint for said shaper tool relative to said blocking support, for shaping the ophthalmic lens by forming an engagement ridge on its edge face, the ridge presenting, at each axial section of the ophthalmic lens, a profile having front and rear ends that present respective first and second distances from the blocking axis, with the difference between said distances being a so-called “offset” function that is not entirely uniform around the edge face of the ophthalmic lens, and that depends on the numerical values input in each of the offset fields.
US08460054B2
An exercise garment includes front and rear panels with height adjusting straps that extend over the wearer's shoulders. The front panel includes an outer compression fabric and an inner cup assembly, which is essentially non-compressive. The cup assembly includes individual cups for each breast, which can each include an under support. An elastic band extends around the bottom portion of the garment. Tensioning structures, such as side flaps extending from the back to the front, can be provided to adjust the circumferential size of the garment. The garment can include releasable connectors on the side of the garment to at least partially release the compressive tension to aid in putting on and taking off the garment.
US08460053B2
Systems and methods enable attaching toys or other items to child care equipment such as a play gyms, swings, bouncers, changing pads, and the like. Attachment is accomplished by passing a compressible portion of the item to be attached through an opening in the child care equipment. The opening may be provided by a hole in the equipment, or by a hole in a clip engaged with a rod embedded in or attached to the equipment. The clip may slide along the rod to adjust the position of the item. In one application, rods embedded in a play gym provide a structural support for a canopy of the play gym, and also may receive clips for attaching toys or other items to the play gym.
US08460048B2
A method for manufacturing a plasma display panel in which an electrical discharge gas is introduced into a space between a first substrate and a second substrate which are sealed together, the method including: a first deaeration step of releasing impurity gases from a protective film by heating the first substrate, on which the protective film is formed for withstanding plasma electrical discharge, to 280° C. or more in a vacuum or in a controlled atmosphere; and a sealing step of sealing the front substrate, in which the impurity gases have been released from the protective film, and a rear substrate which are placed in contact with each other.
US08460047B2
Provided is a film formation mask capable of preventing slit-like openings from being closed by vibrations so as to form a highly precise patterned film with stability. In a film formation mask formed by providing multiple slit-like openings in a metal foil, the shape of the opening of at least one end of the slit-like openings is asymmetrical with respect to a center line of the width direction of the slit-like openings.
US08460046B2
The object of the invention is to provide a highly reliable organic functional element such as an organic EL element or an organic semiconductor element exemplified by an organic TFT element which can be manufactured without requiring a vapor deposition process for forming an electrode on an organic material layer. Consequently, such an organic functional element can be large-sized easily and produced at lower cost. In addition, no damage is caused to the organic material layer during formation of the electrode, and the organic functional element is not affected by environmental changes. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing such an organic functional element. To attain the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an organic functional element comprising at least a plurality of electrodes and an organic material layer which is characterized in that at least one of the electrodes is composed of a metal having a melting point not higher than a temperature that is higher by 30° C. than the glass transition temperature of the organic material layer.
US08460045B2
A high intensity discharge lamp comprises a discharge vessel and two electrode rods having substantially flat ends facing to each other in opposite positions within the discharge vessel. A spiral coil of wire is wound at least on a part of the surface of at least one of the electrode rods. The spiral coil protrudes over said end of the corresponding electrode rod and thus forms a hollow cavity for extending dimmable wattage range of the lamp.
US08460027B2
An interlock for use with an electrical system includes an electrical component that is supported on a support structure. A first member is removably secured to the support structure. The first member prevents contact with the electrical component while the first member is secured to the support structure. A second member is also removably secured to the support structure. The second member prevents removal of the first member while the second member is secured to the support structure. The electrical component is adapted to be connected to a power source only when both the first member and the second member are secured to the support structure.
US08460024B2
A contact assembly includes a contact organizer having a central axis. A plurality contacts are secured to the contact organizer. The contacts are arranged as differential pairs. The contacts have mating segments and termination segments extending from the mating segments. The mating segments extend along the central axis. The termination segments are configured to terminate to corresponding wires. The mating segments of each differential pair of contacts are radially offset from the central axis of the contact organizer. Wire holders are coupled to the contact organizer. The wire holders have openings extending therethrough and are configured to receive wires. The wire holders are configured to terminate the wires to the termination segments of the contacts when the wire holders are coupled to the contact organizer.
US08460012B2
A socket protection device includes a fixing member, a cover, a limiting member, and an operation member. The fixing member is secured to a circuit board. The fixing member includes a pair of first connecting blocks. The cover includes a second connecting block, a first latching portion, and a second latching portion. The limiting member is secured to the circuit board. The operation member includes a shaft and an operation rod secured to the shaft. The shaft rotatably connects the cover to the fixing member via the first and second connecting blocks. When the operation rod is pressed to drive the shaft to rotate, the cover is rotated toward the socket. When the cover covers the socket, the first latching portion latches the limiting member, and the second latching portion latches the operation rod.
US08460011B2
A substrate connector utilizes a plurality of conductive terminals, each of which are held in a single terminal-receiving cavity of a substrate. The terminals of the connector have a hook-shape with a retention portions in the form of a fork having a central slot and two free ends spaced apart from the retention portion and which protrude out of their cavities for contacting contact pads on opposing circuit boards. The retention portions engage abutments formed in the cavities to hold the terminals in place but do so in a manner that permits the terminals to move in both the vertical and horizontal directions.
US08460010B2
A contact according to the present invention comprises a plate-shaped first plunger contacting one member, a plate-shaped second plunger contacting the other member in a state of being overlapped with the first plunger and conducting electricity between the one member and the other member in cooperation with the first plunger, and a compression coil spring which is a member coupling the first plunger with the second plunger in a state where contact pieces thereof are in opposite directions from each other, covering outer circumferences of coupling portions of the first plunger and the second plunger, abutting on spring receiving portions of the respective plungers, and supporting the respective plungers to be relatively slidable. In an electrical connecting apparatus, the contacts are incorporated.
US08460009B1
A system for electrically connecting circuit boards includes a pair of board connectors configured to be electrically connected to respective circuit boards. Each of the board connectors includes a plurality of electrical conductors and a housing configured to enclose at least a portion of the electrical conductors. An interconnector includes a plurality of electrical conductors, each of which is configured to be electrically connected to a respective electrical conductor of the board connectors, thereby electrically connecting the circuit boards. An interconnector housing is configured to cooperate with the housings of the board conductors to at least partially enclose the electrical connections between the electrical conductors of the interconnector and the board connectors.
US08460004B2
An educational field chart used for observing the Moon. The two-piece chart has an indicator wheel joined with a background chart that depicts the Sun, Earth and the Moon in orbit. The pieces rotate to locate a moon phase illustration that matches the Moon in the sky. Once set, a user can automatically determine facts and aspects about the Moon during this phase. Information aligns on both pieces to tell the following about the Moon: a) the moon phase name, b) the position of the Moon in orbit going around Earth, c) the rise & set time of the phase, and when it is visible in the sky, and d) the approximate day of the phase in the lunar month. The illustrations on the chart also visually correlate the relationship of the Sun, Earth and Moon during each moon phase.
US08459996B2
A laser-based system is useful for training soldiers in the operation and use of a grenade launcher. The system comprises a training assembly rotatably attached to the body of a grenade launcher and at least one sensor to detect laser energy at a target site. The training assembly comprises a housing; a variable output laser; a shaft extending through the housing to the body of the grenade launcher; a motor within the housing that engages the shaft and is capable of causing the housing to rotate about the shaft; at least one sensor to detect rotation of the housing, trigger pull, and/or gravitational direction; and a control unit operationally connected to the laser, the at least one sensor, and the motor. The training assembly rotates from the elevation of the launcher barrel to the elevation of the target site to generate a burst of laser energy at sensors at the target site.
US08459993B2
A cover and holdback element for permitting disturbance-free dental operations to be performed on a patient's teeth includes an expandable sheet operable to cover at least a portion of the mouth volume of a patient and an intra-oral spanner and an extra-oral spanner. The sheet is turned around the at least one of the spanners and is displaceable relative thereto.
US08459988B2
An orthodontic connector assembly 10 including a plurality of substantially identical connecting members, such as members 12, 14 which include a movable but biased portion 20 which is adapted to selectively and removably receive a pocket portion 44 which is deployed on at least one bracket, such as bracket 40. In an alternative embodiment, the members, such as member 12, 14 each include a ridge, such as ridge 212, which is selectively, removably, and frictionally placed within slot 236.
US08459978B2
A mold for manufacturing a composite drive shaft, most of which, except for opposite ends functioning as power transmission parts, has a tubular shape with a circular cross-section similar to that of a general shaft, and the shape of each end of which is changed so as to realize easy removal of the drive shaft from the mold after molding. Further, the present invention provides a composite drive shaft, which is manufactured using the mold and is configured such that, when a connection joint (metal yoke) is assembled with each end of the drive shaft, the drive shaft can be rotated in an integrated state realized by the connection joints. Thus, the composite drive shaft of the present invention can directly transmit power, instead of a mechanical fastening jointing technique or an adhesive bonding jointing technique, thus efficiently transmitting high torque.
US08459967B2
An axial flow fan is provided that is arranged in a rotatable manner around an axis in a stationary shroud ring, with fan blades. The shroud ring has an essentially cylindrical annular surface with an axial extension from a leading edge to a trailing edge and the fan blades have an axial depth from an inflow edge to an outflow edge. The outflow edges of the fan blades in an axial direction project beyond the trailing edge of the annular surface and form a blade overhang and flow guidance elements are arranged radially outside the fan blades as well as in the axial region of the blade overhang.
US08459961B2
A multistage compressor unit consisting of a low-pressure charging device having a low-pressure compressor housing, a high-pressure charging device having a high-pressure compressor housing and a cooling device, characterised in that the cooling device comprises a cooling device housing and the cooling device housing of the cooling device is indirectly connected to the low-pressure compressor housing of the low-pressure charging device and the high-pressure compressor housing of the high-pressure charging device.
US08459960B2
A jet pump assembly includes a fuel supply conduit, a first jet pump integrally formed as a single piece with the fuel supply conduit and in fluid communication with the fuel supply conduit, a second jet pump integrally formed as a single piece with the fuel supply conduit and in fluid communication with the fuel supply conduit, and an inlet conduit integrally formed as a single piece with the second jet pump.
US08459957B2
A water-injected compressor, which injects the water inside the separator 3 into the compressor and discharges the water along with compressed air into the separator and then gains condensed and separated water, has the compressor stopping and then, if staying at a stop for a predetermined duration of time without activating, becoming activated and operating for a set duration of time.
US08459954B2
A lock for constraining blades in a hub includes a flexible ring for constraining the blades from moving axially in the hub, a finger attached to the hub for preventing the ring from rotating relative to the hub and whereby the ring flexes about at least a partial circumference thereof if urged axially by the blades.
US08459937B2
A wind power plant has a turbine with its axis of rotation (1) substantially at right angle to wind direction, and wings (2) protruding from the axis (1) and the wings (2) have their crossways extension essentially in vertical direction. The wings (2) can be in odd as well as even number distributed around the axis of rotation (1), and composed of wing elements (21-24 and 31, 32) of optional length. For formation of the wings (2), the wing elements (21-24) are connected into a torsion link configuration (like a row of pairs of scissors), and thus synchronously movable in relation to each other. To adjust the extension of the wing elements (21-24 and 31, 32) an along the axis of rotation (1) adjustable sleeve means (4) is present, to which the inner end of an inner wing element (21) is connected.
US08459936B2
A system includes a gas turbine engine, a nozzle structure located adjacent to the gas turbine engine, a flexible annular seal linking the gas turbine engine and the nozzle structure, the flexible annular seal having a plurality of corrugate sections arranged about a centerline, and a connection device secured to the gas turbine engine and to the nozzle structure. The connection device is adjustable to select a length of the flexible annular seal measured along the centerline.
US08459935B1
Turbine stator vane with endwall cooling that includes a number of impingement chambers that extend around the airfoil perpendicular to a hot gas flow over the endwall, the impingement chambers are connected by rows of near wall cooling channels offset so that impingement cooling occurs within the chambers, some of the impingement chambers are connected by resupply cooling air holes and some of the impingement chambers are connected to film cooling holes.
US08459934B2
A guide blade for a gas turbine includes an inner and an outer platform, an airfoil extending in a radial direction between the inner and the outer platforms and having a height in the radial direction, and at least one cooling channel disposed in an interior of the airfoil and configured to receive a cooling medium flowing through the at least one cooling channel configured to cool the guide blade, wherein a cross-sectional area of a blade material of the airfoil varies over the height.
US08459929B2
A mailpiece loader device comprising a storage tower for receiving mailpieces and whose mailpieces are separated into a plurality of independent stacks that are superposed one above another and that are held by a plurality of paddles, control means being provided for successively releasing, by gravity, each of said independent stacks separated in this way, it being possible for each paddle to retract horizontally from a support position to a retracted position under the action of rotation of a toothed wheel to which said paddle is connected via a mechanism of the crank and connecting rod type, said retracted position making it possible for said stack of mailpieces to be released by gravity.
US08459901B2
A jacking system for jacking a structure, includes a leg having a longitudinal axis and including first engagement parts along the leg, and a guiding frame displaceable along the leg. The guiding frame includes at least a first, second, third and fourth actuator, the actuators each having a first and second actuator part which in operation can displace with respect to one another along the leg, the first actuator part of the actuators coupled to the guiding frame, the second actuator parts of the actuators each coupled to first engagement parts for engaging and disengaging the first engagement parts of the leg for providing abutment in the longitudinal direction of the leg, the second actuator parts of the actuators displaceable along the leg past one another, and the actuators being arranged in pairs opposite one another with respect to a longitudinal plane of the leg.
US08459892B2
An oral care implement (210) includes a handle (214) and a head (212) mounted to one end of the handle (214) that includes a first face (237) having plurality of tooth cleaning elements (226) extending therefrom, a second face (247) and a store of oral care material (232). A soft tissue cleaner (241) can be included on the second face (247). Oral care material can be provided simultaneously to the first (237) and second faces (247) during use from the store of oral care material (232). The oral care implement can include a plurality of oral care material stores (232), which can include different dentifrices. A store of oral care material (232) can be located within an arrangement of the tooth cleaning elements (226) and can extend through the head (212) to an arrangement of soft tissue cleaning elements (226). The toothbrush (210) can be small in size and lightweight so as to be readily portable for use away from the home.
US08459881B2
Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) containment assemblies for use in optoelectronic modules. In one example embodiment, an EMR containment assembly includes an EMR shield and a mounting spring plate attached to the EMR shield. The EMR shield includes a first substantially flat body defining at least one edge, a plurality of optical ports defined in the first body; and a plurality of fingers defined along at least one edge of the first body. The fingers are configured to bias against a housing of an optoelectronic module. The mounting spring plate includes a second substantially flat body defining at least one edge, an optical window defined in the second body, and a plurality of leaf springs defined along at least one edge of the second body. The leaf springs are configured to bias against an alignment guide positioned within the optoelectronic module.
US08459880B2
Disclosed are fiber optic connectors including a holder for attaching a fiber optic cable to a fiber optic connector along with cable assemblies and methods for making the same. In one embodiment, the holder includes a first and a second cantilevered arm that are squeezed together when a sleeve is placed over the holder. Further, one or more of the cantilevered arm may include a plurality of teeth for “biting” into the cable jacket and providing a suitable fiber optic cable retention force. The fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and methods disclosed herein are advantageous since they allow the craft to quickly, reliably, and easily attach a robust fiber optic cable to a connector, thereby providing a rugged solution for the craft.
US08459873B2
A self-lubricating composite bearing includes a casing and a bearing set. The bearing set comprises at least two bearing members. The casing axially defines an accommodation space through two opposite ends thereof for mounting the bearing set therein. An axial hole is defined through two opposite ends of the bearing set for the insertion of a shaft. The bearing set includes at least one neck portion. At least one storage chamber is defined between an inner surface of the casing and an outer surface of the at least one neck portion of the bearing set and stores a higher viscosity lubricant therein. At least one fine flow passage is defined through the at least one neck portion of the bearing set. The at least one storage chamber is in fluid communication with the axial hole of the bearing set via the at least one fine flow passage.
US08459865B1
Innovative tracking heat flux sensors located at or near the solar collector's focus for centering the concentrated image on a receiver assembly. With flux sensors mounted near a receiver's aperture, the flux gradient near the focus of a dish or trough collector can be used to precisely position the focused solar flux on the receiver. The heat flux sensors comprise two closely-coupled thermocouple junctions with opposing electrical polarity that are separated by a thermal resistor. This arrangement creates an electrical signal proportional to heat flux intensity, and largely independent of temperature. The sensors are thermally grounded to allow a temperature difference to develop across the thermal resistor, and are cooled by a heat sink to maintain an acceptable operating temperature.
US08459855B2
A ultra-violet based color pixel backlight system for color filter-less Liquid Crystal Display, comprising multiplicity of LEDs, emitting UV or NUV light in the wavelength range of 150 nm to 390 nm, assembled at one edge of a UV transmitting light guide, which has other three edges and bottom surface coated with UV reflecting layer and its top surface roughened with UV and NUV extracting pixel patterns that contain layers of quantum dots that emit different colors of light in red, blue and green region with sharp spectrum, to increase the color gamut on LCD screen, upon excitation by UV or NUV light. The formed pixels contain reflective islands, underneath the layers of quantum dots, to reflect the visible rays, generated by the pixelated quantum dots, towards the LCD and suppress the visible light leaving the pixel as well as suppress the visible light from adjacent pixels entering the pixel. Thus suppressing the color mixing that could occur without the incorporation of reflective islands. LCD without color filters, a micro-lens sheet and the light guide with color pixels are placed in substantial alignment to provide a color pixel backlight system for LCD. Thus red, blue and green pixels of light from the light guide passes through the intended red, blue and green pixels of the color filter-less LCD, resulting in color pixel backlighting that enhances the optical efficiency of LCD as well as the color gamut on LCD screen.
US08459844B2
A light assembly for a hand-held medical diagnostic instrument. The light assembly includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a light source mounted to the top surface, and the bottom surface having first and second electrical terminals. The light assembly further includes a circuit board disposed inclined to the substrate, the circuit board having first and second electrical terminals, a first connector mounting and electrically connecting the first electrical terminal of the substrate to the first electrical terminal of the circuit board, a second connector mounting and electrically connecting the second electrical terminal of the substrate to the second electrical terminal of the circuit board, a heat sink, and a thermal conductor thermally connecting at least one of the first and second electrical terminals of the substrate to the heat sink.
US08459840B2
A semiconductor light emitting apparatus includes a solid-state light emitting device and a wavelength converter that converts primary light emitted by the solid-state light emitting device into secondary light at a loner-wavelength. The wavelength converter is an inorganic compact that includes a transparent wavelength conversion layer containing phosphor having a garnet crystal structure. The phosphor contains a constituent element group composed of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Y, La, Gd, Tb, and Lu. Part of the constituent element group is substituted by Ce3+ and the amount of Ce3+ is 1 atomic % less of the entire constituent element group. As a result, a high-power and highly reliable semiconductor light emitting apparatus suitable as a point light source is provided. In addition, such a semiconductor light emitting apparatus is manufactured through a simple application of traditionally used practical technicians.
US08459839B2
A UV curing lamp has variable resistive ballast provided by at least one resistance alloy wire and a set of switches tapping varying positions along the resistance alloy wire. The variable resistance ballast defines the lamp's maximum operating power consistent with the power supply. The wire in combination with a fan also doubles as thermal ballast provided by air flowing across the wire onto the UV lamp. A detachable reflector in a generally parabolic cylinder shape directs light from the lamp located on the reflector's focal axis. The curing lamp with resistive ballast can be in the form of a handheld unit or as a floor unit with rotating lamps within the housing.
US08459838B2
A traffic light assembly includes at least one light module, at least one lens located in front of the at least one light module, a transparent housing located in front of the at least one lens, and a cleaning device. The cleaning device includes a wiper located on an outer surface of the transparent housing, and a driver which drives the wiper to brush the transparent housing.
US08459828B2
A backlight assembly includes a lamp unit, a covering member, a panel guiding member and a lamp supporting member. The lamp unit has a first electrode and a second electrode disposed at a first side of the lamp unit and a curved portion disposed at a second side of the lamp unit that is opposite to the first side. The covering member covers at least one of a first region corresponding to the first and second electrodes and a second region corresponding to the curved portion. The panel guiding member is configured to support a display panel that displays images using light generated by the lamp unit. The lamp supporting member is configured to retain the lamp unit. Therefore, a number of inverters may be reduced, thereby lowering cost and time of manufacturing the backlight assembly. Furthermore, reliability of the backlight assembly may be enhanced.
US08459827B2
A test device is used for projecting light into a to-be-tested product. The product includes a sidewall, the sidewall defines an opening, and the opening communicates with an internal space of the product. The test device includes a collimated light source and a support element. The collimated light source is used for emitting collimated light into the internal space through the opening. The support element supports the collimated light source. An included angle between the collimated light and the sidewall is about 5 degrees.
US08459824B1
A ceiling mounted lighting fixture for insertion in a ceiling grid wherein the source of artificial light is a plurality of light emitting diodes.
US08459820B2
A backlight unit is provided. The backlight unit comprises: a cover bottom: a printed circuit board (PCB) that is supported by the cover bottom; a light emitting element that is positioned on the PCB; an optical film layer that is supported by the cover bottom and that is positioned on the PCB; and a guide that is mounted separately from the light emitting element in a surface of the PCB in order to support the optical film layer.
US08459814B2
The disclosure provides a dominant wavelength stabilized white light emitting device and a method for stabilizing dominant wavelength of a white-light light emitting device. The light emitting device includes light-emitting diode chips, a phosphor resin layer disposed above the diode chip, and an optical filter disposed above the resin with a gap interposed between the phosphor resin layer and the optical filter. The phosphor resin layer contains a phosphor that is excited by light of the first wavelengths to emit light of second wavelengths. The optical filter reflects light of wavelength shorter than the peak wavelength and transmitting light of the second wavelengths with a modulated transmittance in a range of the first wavelengths.
US08459811B2
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprises a light source capable of illuminating a target scene and an adjustable light filter coupled with the light source, the adjustable light filter adapted to display a filter image, the filter image created to spatially filter the illumination based at least in part on at least one parameter.
US08459799B2
An optical scanning projector includes: a raster scanning unit that draws an image in a drawing area on a display surface by scanning beams in a first direction on the display surface while scanning beams in a second direction on the display surface that is orthogonal to the first direction; and a vector scanning unit that draws an image by irradiating beams so as to sequentially form segments each connecting two different points positioned on the display surface.
US08459796B2
Shaped glasses have curved surface lenses and spectrally complementary filters disposed on the curved surface lenses configured to compensate for wavelength shifts occurring due to viewing angles and other sources. The spectrally complementary filters include guard bands to prevent crosstalk between spectrally complementary portions of a 3D image viewed through the shaped glasses. In one embodiment, the spectrally complementary filters are disposed on the curved lenses with increasing layer thickness towards edges of the lenses. The projected complementary images may also be pre-shifted to compensate for subsequent wavelength shifts occurring while viewing the images.
US08459794B2
An ophthalmic system is provided that includes an ophthalmic imaging device to generate an image of a portion of an imaged eye of a patient, an image processor to determine a misalignment of the imaged eye and the imaging device by processing the generated image, and to generate a control signal according to the determined misalignment, and a misalignment-reduction system to receive the control signal, and to generate a misalignment-reduction response. The misalignment-reduction system can include a fixation light system or a gantry. In some cases a locator light system may provide additional alignment information for the image processor.
US08459791B2
A spectacle frame comprises a substantially straight or slightly curved structure composed of two rims and a bridge, and two temples. The bridge is connected between the two rims. One end of each temple is rotatably connected with an outward portion of a respective rim via a hinge. Each temple is formed into a bow-shaped bar that has a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion. The spectacle frame is designed to have a predetermined first parameter, a predetermined second parameter, a predetermined third parameter, and a predetermined fourth parameter, whereby the spectacle frame has a size smaller than general glasses to facilitate a person engaging a special task to wear a protective shield and prevent the protective shield from being interfered with, and can perfectly fit various facial profiles of persons so as to keep the protective shield airtight.
US08459783B2
A liquid ejecting head comprising: a pressure chamber substrate where pressure chambers that communicates with nozzle holes are provided, and a piezoelectric element including a first conductive layer, a piezoelectric material layer, and a second conductive layer, wherein the piezoelectric element has an overlap area that overlaps the pressure chamber, the first conductive layer, the piezoelectric material layer, and the second conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layers overlap a plurality of the pressure chambers continuously, wherein, the first conductive layer is provided in each of the overlap areas and has an end portion area at one end side of the overlap area in the longitudinal direction, and wherein a width of the end portion area gets narrow in the lateral direction as the end portion area directs to the end of the longitudinal direction.
US08459782B2
A liquid ejecting head having pressure chambers each communicating with a nozzle opening for liquid ejection and piezoelectric element having a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer consisting a perovskite oxide containing lead, zirconium, and titanium, and a second electrode. The piezoelectric layer has a carbon intensity ratio in the range of 8 to 28 in its inner region excluding the volume 20 nm in depth from the second electrodes. The carbon intensity ratio is defined as the ratio of the maximum carbon intensity to the minimum as measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry along the thickness of the piezoelectric layer.
US08459780B2
A piezoelectric element includes electrodes and a piezoelectric layer provided between the electrodes. The piezoelectric layer is made of a complex oxide which contains bismuth, iron, and chromium. The piezoelectric layer contains 0.125 to 0.875 mole of chromium per mole of the combination of iron and chromium.
US08459774B2
There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus including: a first and a second cartridge attaching section; a liquid jetting head on which a plurality of first nozzles and a plurality of second nozzles are formed and which has a plurality of driving sections provided corresponding to the nozzles respectively; and a flushing control unit which operates the driving sections to cause execution of a first flushing operation in which an amount of the liquid forcibly jetted from the first nozzles is made smaller than an amount of the liquid forcibly jetted from the second nozzles when a height of the first cartridge is greater than a height of the second cartridge.
US08459772B2
An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt having holes facing a head and to transfer a recording medium in a transferring direction perpendicular to an array direction of nozzles in the head, a driving unit to drive the endless belt, a driving speed control unit to control a driving speed of the endless belt, and a maintenance discharge amount acquisition unit to acquire an amount of a recording liquid to be discharged from the nozzles of the head to allow the amount of the recording liquid to be passed through the holes in the endless belt for performing maintenance during a non-image forming operation. The driving speed control unit sets the driving speed of the endless belt based on the amount of the recording liquid to be discharged from the nozzles acquired by the maintenance discharge amount acquisition unit.
US08459769B2
A grayscale printing control method, a device thereof and a storage medium are provided. The method comprises: determining the grayscale level of image data of each point in each point line and converting the same into multi-bit binary data; forming a data set using the binary data of the same bit of all the points in a point line, thereby forming multiple data sets; each data set corresponding to a predetermined strobe time, and the print head heater corresponding to each point heating upon receiving predetermined data during the strobe time. The present invention can reduce the number of printing strobes and the times of data transmission while ensuring printing quality, thereby greatly improving printing speed.
US08459765B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid containing a sedimentary component from an ejection nozzle provided in an ejection head includes: a liquid channel that conducts the liquid to the ejection head; a liquid discharge unit that discharges the liquid from the ejection nozzle. The liquid channel is provided with a first channel region and a second channel region; and the liquid discharge unit discharge a predetermined amount of the liquid from the ejection nozzle in the case where the amount of time that has elapsed a predetermined threshold time.
US08459761B2
A recording apparatus that records onto recording paper includes: a main case housing a noise source that generates noise when printing is carried out; a scanner space portion that is within the main case but that is independently separate from a housing space portion of the noise source; and a communication tube portion that communicates between the housing space portion and the scanner space portion. An inner surface area that intersects with the axial direction of the communication tube portion at the inner surface of the scanner space portion is formed of a document platform glass whose surface density is higher than that of the material of which the other wall surface areas are formed in the inner surface of the scanner space portion.
US08459754B2
A washing machine comprises a casing, a top cover installed on an upper surface of the casing, a door installed at the top cover, through which laundry is accommodated into the casing, and a tub installed in the casing, wherein the door is connected to the top cover by a hinge assembly or a damper assembly provided thereat. The hinge assembly includes a first hinge portion, and a second hinge portion having a torsion spring therein. The damper assembly includes a first damper portion, a second damper portion, and a ring member having a round shape and fitted into an outer circumferential surface of the second damper portion. Accordingly, even when the door has a heavy weight due to its material of a reinforcing glass, the hinge assembly or the damper assembly can endure the weight of the door. This may prevent noise or impact occurring when the door is closed.
US08459736B1
An adjustable poolside chair comprises a chair assembly, a height-adjustable support mechanism, and a weighted base. The chair assembly comprises an outdoor padded chair with a tilting back portion and is constructed of lightweight, waterproof materials. The weighted base comprises a pair of horizontally adjustable hooks which are extended around a lip of a pool. The base also comprises a pair of rollers for transportation of the chair. The adjustable support mechanism comprises a height adjustable pneumatic cylinder and also provides a swivel function. In use, the base is placed in a desired location and the hooks are extended around the lip of the pool and secured in place using tightening knobs, thereby providing additional stabilization of the chair in a poolside position.
US08459725B2
Various embodiments of an improved top rail for a container body, e.g. a truck body, are disclosed. In exemplary embodiments, a support structure is disposed at least partially within a channel of the top rail to provide increased strength to the top rail and to protect the top rail and container body from damage. Examples of support structures include support blocks, such as composite blocks, and support rails, such as metal rails. In an exemplary embodiment, a low-profile light source can be installed on the top rail and/or the support structure.
US08459714B2
The invention provides techniques for diagnosing medical conditions and providing appropriate treatment at a patient's home residence. A mobile x-ray team can be dispatched to the patient's home residence. A technical team reviews patient data to determine a proper therapy plan. A mobile radiation therapy apparatus is dispatched to the patient's home as required by the therapy plan. The mobile radiation therapy apparatus includes a radiation source and shielding, and is capable of superficial radiation therapy and/or High Dose Rate (HDR), Low Dose Rate (LDR), and Medium Dose Rate (MDR) implant therapy and/or particle therapy. For HDR, LDR and MDR therapy, the mobile radiation therapy apparatus itself is a specialized radiation vault which the patient will enter. The technical team adjusts the therapy plan based on the additional analysis, and the mobile radiation therapy apparatus is dispatched in accordance with adjusted therapy plan.
US08459711B2
A five-fingered hand device suitably applicable to a humanoid robot is provided. The device includes a hand body (2) which has a base (4) and five finger mechanisms (5) to (9), a drive unit (3) which drives the finger mechanisms, and a control unit (36) which controls bending and stretching of the finger mechanisms. The drive unit (3) has driven fluid pressure cylinders provided inside the hand body (2) and driving fluid pressure cylinders (37) provided outside the hand body (2), the driven fluid pressure cylinders being connected to the driving fluid pressure cylinders via fluid pressure transmission pipes (45).
US08459709B2
A gripper mechanism for machines, robots and manipulation devices comprises at least one moving gripping finger, operated by coupling to an operating mechanism by two drive shafts. As a result of operating the gripping finger by two connecting bars, in turn each driven by the drive shafts, it is possible to move the gripping finger through a rotation over 180° through the path or range thereof and hence securely transmit forces and torques without tipping or getting in an unstable position. The drive shafts are divided axially into at least two parts in order to be housed completely in an enclosed and unitary gripper housing, protected from dust and dirt and hermetically sealed. The different parts of the drive shafts are centered on one another and positively connected by means of axial toothing, in the form of pinion gears and pins, and have a carrier support bearing.
US08459707B2
A pet waste scoop, e.g., cat litter scoop, having a relatively large mouth opening includes body having an open end opposite a closed end and defining an interior therebetween for receiving pet waste for easy disposal thereof. A handle is integrally formed with the body and extends downwardly toward the closed end a predetermined distance such that the user may easily grasp the handle for manipulating the pet waste scoop while maintaining his or her hand a safe distance from the pet waste to be scooped. A plurality of elongate slot-shaped apertures that can be curvilinear are formed within a front surface opposite the handle for sifting the litter scooped with the pet waste scoop. The apertures are defined by a number of rounded elongate sifting bars that also can be of curvilinear construction and configured to prevent pet waste and/or litter build up within the apertures.
US08459706B2
A door handle apparatus for a vehicle, includes a frame, a handle, a rotational movement connecting portion integrally formed at one of the frame and the handle, a contact wall portion integrally formed at the other one of the frame and the handle and restricting a displacement of the handle towards one end portion thereof in a longitudinal direction thereof when contacting the rotational movement connecting portion, and a protruding portion integrally formed at the other one of the frame and the handle, being elastically deformable when press-contacting the rotational movement connecting portion to allow the handle to be slidably displaced towards the one end portion, elastically returning to an initial position where the slide displacement of the handle towards the other end portion in the longitudinal direction is restricted when the press-contact is cancelled, and rotatably supporting the rotational movement connecting portion in conjunction with the contact wall portion.
US08459705B2
Provided is a door lock apparatus which is adopted in an electronic product to lock or release a door of the door lock apparatus. The door lock apparatus includes a rocker, a rocker supporting member, a door lock main body and a locking unit. The rocker rotates when the hook of the door enters or withdraws from the door lock apparatus, to be coupled with or separated away from the hook. A rocker hinge rod and a position fixing rode positioned in parallel to the rocker hinge rod are integrated into the rocker. The rocker supporting member is hinge-coupled with the rocker hinge rod to rotatably support the rocker, reciprocatingly moves in a direction in which the hook enters or withdraws when the rocker is rotated, and receives an elastic force from a first elastic member in the direction in which the hook enters. The door lock main body supports the reciprocating movement of the rocker supporting member, and includes position fixing holes to guide movement of the rocker while being coupled with the position fixing rod when the rocker rotates and to fix the rocker while the rocker is coupled with or separated from the hook. The locking unit locks the rocker while the rocker is coupled with the hook. Accordingly, the door lock apparatus has a simple, compact structure, which has fewer failures, ensures convenience in maintenance and repair and reduces the number of assembly steps.
US08459703B2
A pawl assembly that can be installed to the output shaft of a latch mechanism more easily, and in some embodiments without the use of tools, as compared to prior art pawls.
US08459691B2
An inflatable curtain airbag is secured along an upper edge to a body structure of the motor vehicle and deploys downwardly when inflated. Prior to deployment, the lower edge of the curtain is not tethered to the vehicle body. When nearly or fully deployed, the lower edge of the curtain engages an adjacent part of the motor vehicle so as to form a virtual tether therebetween resisting relative movement between the curtain and the adjacent part.
US08459686B2
A horn switch mechanism 15 has a securing pin 31 serving as a support member, a movable member 32 serving as an insulating portion, a compression coil spring 35 serving as an urging member, and a contact terminal 34 serving as a movable contact. The securing pin 31 is fixed to a metal core 12 of a steering wheel body 11 and supports a bag holder 21 in such a manner that the bag holder 21 selectively proceeds toward and retreats from the metal core 12. The movable member 32 is arranged between the securing pin 31 and the bag holder 21 and electrically insulates the securing pin 31 and the bag holder 21 from each other. The coil spring 35 urges the bag holder 21 away from the metal core 12. The contact terminal 34 moves together with the bag holder 21. When the bag holder 21 moves toward the metal core 12 against the urging force of the compression coil spring 35, the contact terminal 34 contacts the securing pin 31 and permits conduction between the contact terminal 34 and the securing pin 31. This activates a horn device 40 of the vehicle.
US08459683B2
A gangway includes an articulated bridge which extends between two vehicles coupled in an articulated manner. The articulated bridge has, at both ends, an enclosed carriage whereby at least one enclosed carriage can be attached to the vehicle in such a manner that it may be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the vehicle.
US08459675B2
The present invention is predicated upon methods and devices for positively mounting structural members while preventing or substantially limiting exposure of such members to environmental conditions possibly leading to corrosion.
US08459670B1
A long board for street skating having an offset axial joint with a lower hinge support block on a front segment and a lower hinge support block on a rear segment having a hinge which folds the board in the direction of the upper surfaces of each segment, the offset joint allowing a first set of wheels to set behind a second set of wheels depending from each segment when in a folded position for a more compact profile, each lower hinge support block providing the hinge so that each front and rear segment are parallel in a stored and folded position.
US08459666B2
A lift assembly for a suspension assembly of an axle/suspension system is located generally adjacent to and beside the suspension assembly. The lift assembly includes an air chamber, a support member assembly, a pivot arm assembly and a beam support assembly. The support member assembly attaches to the hanger of the suspension assembly, to the air chamber, and pivotally attaches to the pivot arm assembly. The air chamber also attaches to the pivot arm assembly. The pivot arm assembly pivotally attaches to the beam support assembly which in turn attaches to the beam of the suspension assembly, for raising and/or lowering the suspension assembly during operation of the heavy-duty vehicle.
US08459665B2
A foldable stroller frame includes a seat frame assembly, and a leg tube assembly including a front leg tube, a rear leg tube, and a pivot joint connected between the front and rear leg tubes and connected pivotally to the seat frame assembly. A link is connected pivotally to a handle tube at one end thereof and to the pivot joint at the other end. Two supporting tubes are connected respectively to the seat frame assembly and the leg tube assembly. A drive member is connected among the rear leg tube, the handle tube, and the supporting tubes, in such a manner to allow for rotation of the handle tube relative to the drive member. When said handle tube is rotated relative to said drive member, said drive member is activated to result in rotation of said seat frame and leg tube assembly, and said stroller frame is converted between unfolded and fully folded states.
US08459662B2
A mowing apparatus having a center of gravity having a frame member, at least one front ground engaging wheel rotatably connected proximate the front end of the frame member and at least two rear ground engaging wheels rotatably connected proximate the back end of the frame member so as to substantially prevent the mowing apparatus from rolling over as it traverses along an inclined surface.
US08459660B2
A transport that is manually powered for transporting an injured or disabled person from one location to another. The chair is particularly useful for transporting an injured or disabled person (who is of a heavy weight) up or down a flight of stairs. The chair lift is manually driven by reciprocating hand levers operated by an attendant. A ratchet and pawl mechanism in combination with a brake system, which is continuously set/locked, allows movement of the chair only when the chair is being propelled up a flight of stairs and when an attendant purposefully actuates a hand lever to release the brakes and allow movement of the transporter.
US08459656B2
Disclosed is a gasket for sealing a fuel connection for a diesel fuel injector. The gasket resides between the filter caps and the jumper block. The gasket includes a pair of holes having frustoconical shaped sidewalls designed to fit within the chamfer walls of the filter caps. The gasket further includes an aperture designed to fit over the threaded injector stud.
US08459654B2
A hydrodynamic shaft seal assembly includes a PTFE seal member having outer and inner sections. The outer section is affixed to an annular carrier. The inner section is free and includes at least one hydrodynamic groove in direct running contact with a rotating shaft or wear sleeve. A mid-portion of the seal member is formed between the inner and outer sections. The mid-portion is thinned and includes one or more annular undulations formed therein to improve flexibility of the inner section relative to the outer section. The seal assembly may include one or more excluder features. A rubber casing is molded about portions of the carrier. Preferably, one or more annular undulations are formed in a coining operation during the rubber molding process.
US08459645B2
A media actuated, media diverter mounted on a guide member positioned between the output of a simplex path and the entrance of a duplex path in an imaging device. The media diverter comprises a first plate having a media contact surface, a biasing member for biasing the first plate, and a second plate having a media guiding surface. First plate and second plate are movable in a slot through the guide member and are biased in first positions where media contact surface extends into the duplex path and media guiding surface extends into the simplex path while second plate remains movable from its first position to a second position. A media sheet fed into the duplex path moves first plate to its second position blocking movement of second plate from its first position allowing a following media sheet in the simplex path to the exit of the imaging device.
US08459643B2
There is provided a printing apparatus including: a printing mechanism; a plurality of trays; a discharge mechanism; a plurality of detection mechanisms which detect whether a height of the sheets stacked on the trays is not less than a threshold value; and a controller which controls the discharge mechanism and the printing mechanism. When the detection mechanisms detect that all heights of the sheets stacked on the trays are not less than the threshold value, the controller controls the discharge mechanism to discontinue a discharge of the sheets. After the discharge of the sheets is discontinued, when the detection mechanisms detect that the heights of the sheets stacked on at least two trays became smaller than the threshold value, the controller controls the discharge mechanism to resume the discharge of the sheets on a tray which is other than a tray which is recovered last.
US08459636B2
This device has an arrival corridor via which the articles arrive, an article-receiving zone on which a stack (P) of said articles is formed, and a rotary actuator (22) suitable for pushing said articles away against a retaining element (32) for retaining the stack. The actuator (22) has at least one protective member (281, 282) for protecting the last article (N) in the stack (P) being formed, said protective member being suitable for being interposed between said last article and a current article (N+1) coming from the arrival corridor.
US08459635B2
A sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus which can stably separate sheets even when the position of a pressing portion is changed are provided. A guide portion supports sheets from below and guides the sheets to a pressing portion between a sheet feeding roller which is biased in the direction pressing the sheet feeding roller onto the sheets stacked on a sheet stacking portion and a separating member which separates the sheets fed from the sheet feeding roller one by one. The guide portion is linearly lowered together with the separating member with the downward movement of the sheet feeding roller biased by a roller biasing member.
US08459630B2
A sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus are provided which can stabilize the shape of the spine after a squaring process. To square a spine Sb of a sheet bundle S, a spine processing apparatus 400 which squares the spine Sb performs squaring of the spine by moving the spine Sb which projects from a pair of first nipping rollers 405 and 406 while pressing the spine Sb by means of a pressing roller 411 in a state where the spine Sb is nipped by a pair of second nipping rollers 403 and 404.
US08459628B2
A work piece support device that includes a body and at least two portions of high-grip material on opposite sides of the body is provided. The body may have a flowable media stored therein to provide a lowered center of gravity depending on the orientation of the work piece support device. The work piece support device may include mating projections and recesses for coupling a plurality of work piece support devices together. Further, the projection can be in the form of a cone such that the work piece support device may function as a support cone.
US08459625B1
A vehicle body clamping device including a clamping linkage unit adapted for mounting to a conveyor carrier at a location beneath a vehicle body while said vehicle body is carried on a conveyor carrier. A clamping actuation assembly is located below the conveyor carriers and along their path of travel, and includes a pair of actuator units for operating the clamping linkage. Activation of a first actuator unit cause the clamping linkage to place a clamping bar thereof in an unclamped position, such that a vehicle body can be loaded to or removed from the conveyor carrier. Activation of the second actuator unit cause the clamping linkage to place the clamping bar in a clamped position, such that a vehicle body is securely clamped to the conveyor carrier.
US08459623B2
A powered grip that can engage and hold an item which includes a primary body member, an actuator dependent from the primary body member and a pair of spaced apart clamp jaws to move towards and away from each other. A force transmission mechanism is operatively located intermediate of the actuator and each of the clamp jaws to displace the clamp jaws relative to the primary body and that, through mechanical advantage, establishes a multiplication of the force of the actuator force at the clamp jaws. A force transmission mechanism geometry adjuster is provided to vary the spacing between the clamp jaws for any given operating force applied by the actuator, allow the pre-testing setting of the spacing between the jaws such that the range of force applied by the clamping jaws to the item to be tested is within a desired range.
US08459619B2
A vehicle suspension system includes a pump, a gas spring, and an accumulator. The suspension system also includes a controller for adjusting the suspension system. The controller has a processing circuit configured to receive a measure of gas in the spring. The processing circuit is further configured to calculate a difference between a target value and a current value based on the received measure of gas. The processing circuit is also configured to provide an output for adjusting the gas in the spring in response to the calculated difference.
US08459617B2
A disc assembly of an air cleaning humidifier includes a disc member provided with assembly parts formed by cutting parts of the disc member; first and second plate members respectively disposed at both sides of the disc member; at least one fixing member inserted into a corresponding one of the assembly parts between the first and second plate members to fix the disc member; and water storage parts formed in the at least one fixing member.
US08459614B2
A puller is provided with a number of advantages. Pullers are described that have a high power to weight ratio, and a high power to volume ratio. Examples of pullers and pulling systems include harmonic drive gear reduction elements and configurations that provide high cable friction in a small device volume. Examples of pullers and pulling systems also include constant force pulling which is desirable in particular for small diameter pipe replacement. Using pullers and pulling systems as described, minimally invasive pipe replacement operations are possible. Reversible pullers are also provided that decrease the amount of time needed to burst or split multiple segments of pipe.
US08459613B2
A strap-drive system that provides smooth, reliable potentiometer adjustment, particularly in devices used in conjunction with musical instruments.
US08459605B2
A rail system for a vehicle seat comprises at least one profiled fitting part and at least one cross member. The cross member is arranged perpendicular to a main direction of travel. The at least one fitting part completely surrounds the cross member. The cross member is able to be moved in relation to the fitting part perpendicular to the main direction of travel. Rolling bodies guide the cross member in the interior of the fitting part, and are arranged between the cross member and the fitting part.
US08459600B2
A trestle stabilizing device is provided for a model track assembly having support apparatuses or trestles for elevating track sections. The device includes a base including a first end section and a second end section. A first fastening member is connected to the first end section. A second fastening member is connected to the second end section. The first and second fastening members releasably secure the device to the track support apparatuses.
US08459592B2
The present invention relates to a fuselage nose door for sealing an opening in the hull of an aircraft. In order to make loading and unloading as efficient as possible, a door shell is proposed that is movably held between a closed setting and an open setting by a bearing device, wherein the door shell can be pivoted and shifted in relation to the bearing device. The invention also relates to an aircraft with such fuselage nose door. In addition, the invention also relates to a method for opening and closing an opening in the hull of an aircraft with a fuselage nose door, which has a door shell that is movably held by a bearing device between the closed setting and open setting, wherein the door shell is pivoted and shifted in relation to the bearing device in the opening and closing process.
US08459591B2
Methods and systems are provided which may allow a first vehicle to recover a second air vehicle while both are moving. The first vehicle and the second air vehicle may be traveling at different velocities. An attachment member of the second air vehicle may attach to a recovery member of the first vehicle while the first vehicle and the second air vehicle are traveling at different velocities. The recovery member attached to the second air vehicle may move relative to and along an exterior surface of the first vehicle in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the first vehicle.
US08459581B2
Systems and methods for processing and sorting a municipal solid waste stream are described herein. A system can include a processing sub-system configured to receive a municipal solid waste stream and to remove the non-processable waste, a processing apparatus configured and disposed to receive constituents of the municipal solid waste stream from the processing sub-system and reduce the size of the constituents of the waste stream to an average particle size of less than about ¾ inch, and separators configured to sort the waste stream into constituents based on density.
US08459580B2
A grinding apparatus for dispensing a dose of ground frozen material starting from a frozen block includes a grinding unit for grinding the frozen block in order to provide an amount of ground frozen material and a feeding unit for feeding the frozen block to the grinding unit. In particular, the feeding unit includes a feeding member that is adapted for moving frozen block for a desired predetermined grinding stroke against grinding unit such that a grinding length of block is ground. A grinding unit provides at least one grater and one motor for causing the grater to rotate. In order to obtain a desired weight of the dose, a volume of frozen material is calculated that corresponds to said weight, since the density of the frozen material is known.
US08459564B2
An integrated circuit, a non-contact IC card, a reader/writer, a wireless communications method, and a computer program are provided to improve communication. The integrated circuit configured to execute wireless communication by means of magnetic field. The integrated circuit has a resonance circuit having resonance frequencies of a plurality of levels, a confirmation block configured to confirm whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, and a switching block configured to change the resonance frequencies if the predetermined condition is found satisfied as a result of the confirmation.
US08459561B2
A separation layer and a semiconductor element layer including a thin film transistor are formed. A conductive resin electrically connected to the semiconductor element layer is formed. A first sealing layer including a fiber and an organic resin layer is formed over the semiconductor element layer and the conductive resin. A groove is formed in the first sealing layer, the semiconductor element layer, and the separation layer. A liquid is dropped into the groove to separate the separation layer and the semiconductor element layer. The first sealing layer over the conductive resin is removed to form an opening. A set of the first sealing layer and the semiconductor element layer is divided into a chip. The chip is bonded to an antenna formed over a base material. A second sealing layer including a fiber and an organic resin layer is formed so as to cover the antenna and the chip.
US08459558B2
The invention relates to a device for optically scanning a machine-readable device applied to an object, comprising a transport apparatus for transporting the object in a transport direction, the object being supported on the transport apparatus on an underside, the transport apparatus containing a first transport belt with a first upper strand and a second transport belt with a second upper strand, wherein a gap is formed between the first transport belt and the second transport belt which is arranged ahead of the first transport belt in the transport direction, and comprising a scanning apparatus for scanning the machine-readable marking, wherein the scanning apparatus has at least one scanning element associated with the gap, wherein the first upper strand and the second upper strand are arranged so as to have a height offset relative to each other in such a way that the underside of the object can be scanned by tipping the object when the object is transferred from the first transport belt to the second transport belt.
US08459533B2
A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. A handle comprises a first handle panel and a second handle panel. The first handle panel comprises a central portion in the top panel and an end portion in a first top end flap. The second handle panel comprises a first portion in the second top panel and a second portion in a second top end flap. The central portion of the first handle panel is attached to the first portion of the second handle panel and the end portion of the first handle panel is attached to the second portion of the second handle panel.
US08459532B2
A folded box is for transporting cylindrical articles such as tires. The folded box includes two octagonal base planes that are arranged in parallel to each other. At least three rectangular main side planes, that are attached to three outer edges of each octagonal base plane, connect the base planes with each other. At least one hinged cover plane is connected to another outer edge of one of the octagonal base planes.
US08459531B2
A container (1) for storing and removing food comprises a first and a second container half (2, 3) which are connected to each other by means of a pivotable connection in order to pivot between an open position (4) and a closed position (5). To improve such a container to the effect that it is also suited for the consumption of the food and can be simultaneously produced more stably and economically while it is easy to assemble, each container half (2, 3) comprises an upper and lower polygonal container wall (7, 8; 9, 10), when seen from above, and a lateral wall (11, 12) which connects the walls at a distance in relation to each other, wherein the pivotable connection is embodied by a pivotable line embodied between facing first ends (13, 14) of the lateral walls (11, 12), and the second ends (15, 16) of the lateral walls (11, 12) are in the closed position (5) detachably connected to each other, wherein the pivotable axis (17) associated to the pivotable line (6) extends essentially perpendicular to the upper and lower container walls (7, 9; 8, 10). Moreover, a single-pieced blank (60) is provided for producing such a container (1).
US08459527B2
A welding jig for ensuring concentricity of an interior surface of a pipe with a circular outer periphery of a bolting flange thereon, comprising (i) a frame member; (ii) two spaced-apart rollers positioned at one end of said frame member, each adapted to remain in contacting engagement during welding with said circular outer periphery of said bolting flange; and (iii) a chill block, having a convexly-curved outer surface of a curvature corresponding to a desired inner diameter of said pipe, adapted to be positioned proximate said interior surface of said pipe. The rollers permit translational movement of the chill block about a center point of said pipe flange when the welding jig is placed on the pipe flange, to permit uniform diametrical deposition of weld material on said inner diameter of said pipe flange. A method of making a pipe is further disclosed and claimed.
US08459524B2
A surgical fastening device includes a handle assembly having a stationary handle and a movable handle and an elongated member extending distally from the handle portion. The elongated member includes a distal end portion. The device also includes a pair of firing rods operably coupled with the movable handle and movable between a proximal position and a distal position. A tool assembly has a plurality of helical fasteners supported therein and includes a pair of opposing jaw members. At least one of the jaw members is movable in relation to the other jaw member between spaced and approximated positions. The jaw members are configured to form a pair of radial channels when the jaw members are in the approximated position. The firing rods are configured to advance helical fasteners through at least one radial channel and into tissue upon movement from the proximal position to the distal position.
US08459520B2
A surgical instrument, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument. The surgical instrument may comprise an end effector comprising at least one sensor. The surgical instrument may also comprise an electrically conductive shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector wherein the sensor is electrically insulated from the shaft. The surgical instrument may also comprise a handle connected to a proximate end of the shaft. The handle may comprise a control unit electrically coupled to the shaft such that the shaft radiates signals as an antenna from the control unit to the sensor and receives radiated signals from the sensor. Other components electrically coupled to the shaft may also radiate the signals.
US08459519B2
An electromagnetic nail gun with a lever, comprising a handle for holding the nail gun and triggering the operation of the nail gun, an electromagnetic lever driving device for driving nails with variable speeds through the movement of the lever, wherein electromagnetism is used as driving force, a firing pin slideway for allowing the lever to move therein, and a muzzle magazine assembly for loading nails inside. The present invention uses the magnetism as driving force directly and then applies the lever and variable speed drive to launch nails. Therefore, the structure of the present invention is very simple, light, the manufacture cost is decreased drastically, vibration and noise when used are quite little, very convenient to operate, dispense with the air compressor, easy to carry around.
US08459512B2
A re-sealable spigot includes a cylindrical structure configured to be attached to a liquid receptacle, wherein said cylindrical structure further comprises a stem, having an upper portion and a base portion, and a top in a coaxial arrangement with said upper portion of said stem, and a cap having a hollow receiving portion shaped as a multi-sided geometrical element, wherein said cap seals said cylindrical structure.
US08459509B2
A fluid dispensing apparatus includes a fluid reservoir and a dispensing assembly. The dispensing assembly includes a housing and a deformable member that define a metering chamber that is configured to receive a predetermined volume of fluid from the fluid reservoir. The deformable member is deformed from a rest position to an eject position and the deformation causes the volume of the metering chamber to change which results in a change in fluid pressure within the metering chamber. An increase in the fluid pressure within metering chamber causes a predetermined volume of fluid within the metering chamber to be ejected and a decrease in the fluid pressure within the metering chamber causes fluid to be drawn into the metering chamber from the reservoir.
US08459506B2
A dispensing assembly for dispensing a mixture of fluids is provided. In some embodiments, the dispensing assembly includes a first valve for selectively permitting fluid flow to a mixing chamber in which a second fluid is introduced, wherein the valve is actuated between open and closed positions responsive to fluid pressure downstream of the mixing chamber. In such embodiments, the fluid pressure downstream of the mixing chamber can change based upon whether fluid is dispensed from a spray gun, wand, nozzle, or other dispensing head of the dispensing assembly.
US08459499B2
A method of operating a dispensing unit including the steps of applying a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a container and performing a startup procedure in response to applying the power source. The startup procedure includes performing an activation sequence that discharges a fluid from the container. The method further includes the step of performing an active mode procedure after the startup procedure without providing a lockout period in between. The active mode procedure includes activating a motion sensor associated with the dispensing unit, performing an activation sequence that discharges the fluid from the container when the motion sensor detects motion, and performing a transition procedure.
US08459497B2
A smoothie dispenser (20, 20S, 20A) comprises a frame (22); a smoothie receptacle storage section (24); and a receptacle conformed chiller section (26). The smoothie receptacle storage section (24) is provided within the frame (22) and configured to house plural smoothie receptacles (30) at a first temperature. The chiller section (26) is arranged to receive a selected smoothie receptacle released from the smoothie receptacle storage section and configured to crystallize contents of the selected smoothie receptacle. The receptacle conformed chiller section (26) is “receptacle conformed” in the sense that a surface of the chiller section is configured to conform to (e.g., have a surface of shape to mate with or to form substantially greater than linear contact with) at least a portion an exterior profile or periphery of the selected smoothie receptacle.
US08459485B2
A two-piece lid is provided and includes a base portion defining at least two openings of differing sizes and a single cover portion connected to the base for covering the openings. At least one opening is constructed as to maximize the size of the opening. A confectionery container comprising the two-piece lid is also provided.
US08459484B2
A system for aiding in drinking from a drink container is provided. The system includes a spring-style, flexible straw located inside a drink container such that when the container is closed the straw is compressed. A lever located on the exterior top portion of the container can be used to produce a circular orifice in the top of the container. When the container is opened via the circular orifice, the straw automatically extends through the orifice in the top of the container, thereby allowing a person to use the straw to drink the liquid in the container. Whereas the lower portion of the straw is spirally shaped like a spring mechanism, the upper portion of the straw is straight and an accordion mechanism is located at a base of the upper portion to allow the consumer to bend the straw when sipping from the straw.
US08459480B2
A case structure and a method for pre-forming the same are described. The pre-forming method includes the following steps. A first case body and a second case body are supplied. Two side plates of the second case body are bent, such that the two side plates respectively form an initial angle with the bottom plate. The second case body is disposed in the first case body. The two side plates are pulled to respectively come close to two side walls of the first case body, such that the bottom plate forms a curved surface in the first case body. When having an object disposed therein, the case structure overcomes a downward pressure generated by the object through the curved surface, thereby preventing the first case body and the second case body from sagging out of the case structure.
US08459478B2
The self-opening closure includes a pouring spout (10), which can be assembled leak-proof on a combipack or a container spout sealed with foil material, twist cap (9) and a self-opening sleeve (1) arranged inside the pouring spout, which can be made to rotate by the twist cap. The self-opening sleeve forms on its upper edge an indentation (4), which becomes smaller towards the bottom edge (6) and tapers off into the same. There are guiding means present on the outer side of the self-opening sleeve and on the inner side of the pouring spout so that the self-opening sleeve is guided downwards by rotation on the pouring spout. The indentation (4) lies partially inside the pouring spout and partially below the same after unscrewing of the cover cap and forms an air inlet channel, which results in a steady outpour of the liquid content of a combipack.
US08459476B2
An apparatus and system for video and audio components. According to one embodiment, the present invention generally comprises carbon fiber composite shelves separated by carbon fiber posts and supported by carbon fiber legs. The posts and legs are secured by studs. Adjacent to at least the bottom surface of each of the shelves at each opening where a stud passes through is a polyurethane ring.
US08459470B2
A grafted nonwoven substrate is disclosed having average fiber sizes of 0.7 to 15 microns, and a void volume of 50 to 95%, and a polymer comprising cationic aminoalkyl(meth)acryloyl monomer units grafted to the surface of the nonwoven substrate. The article may be used as a filter element to purify or separate target materials, such as oligonucleotides or monoclonal antibodies (MAb), from a fluid mixture.
US08459466B2
Systems and methods for sorting a plurality of recyclable items in a single-stream materials recovery facility (SSMRF) are provided. In some embodiments, a system includes an infeed conveying system, a fiber transfer conveyor, a container transfer conveyor, and a glass sorting and conveying system. The system further includes a controller configured to obtain total weight and volume of recyclable items at the infeed conveying system. The controller estimates a percent weight of fiber items and a percent weight of non-fiber items relative to the total weight. Based on the estimates, the controller controls speed of at least one of the infeed conveying system, the fiber transfer conveyor, the container transfer conveyor, and the glass sorting and conveying system.
US08459455B2
A catheter assembly includes a catheter, preferably having a hydrophilic surface coating; and a package accommodating said catheter. The package preferably also accommodates a wetting fluid. The package includes a first and a second sheet material connected around the edges; a perforation line extending along a non-closed loop in one of said sheet materials, which defines a flap opening; a third sheet material connected by means of an adhesive over said flap opening. The third sheet material with a margin covers the entire flap opening. The adhesive is adapted to maintain a sterile closure of the package before use, and to be resealable after use. The third sheet material forms a tab not provided with adhesive and the tab provides a grip portion for peel opening of the package.
US08459453B2
A carrying case for a display apparatus which includes a frame for receiving the display device and a folding stand mechanism secured to the frame for supporting the frame on a support surface. The folding stand mechanism includes a folding stand base, a major folding support rotatably mounted on the folding stand base, with the major folding support being movable between a closed position adjacent the folding stand base and at least one open position. A minor folding support is rotatably mounted on the major support, with the minor folding support being moveable between a closed position near the major folding support and at least one open position. When the major support is moved to it's at least one open position, the minor support is movable to it's at least one minor open position where the minor support is disposed between the major folding support and the folding stand base. The display apparatus is supported on a surface by any one of four edges of the display apparatus along with the opened folding stand mechanism.
US08459448B1
My match container and striker for a match handle or holder enables self-sufficient functionality. It does so by incorporating match containment and striking within the application device itself. No secondary component such as a disconnected box of matches is necessary. Within one device a match can be lit and applied with convenience, efficacy, and safety.
US08459438B2
Workpiece conveyance device employs a workpiece conveying traveling body composed of a workpiece support carriage supporting a longitudinal central portion of a workpiece and two auxiliary carriages and positioned below both longitudinal end portions of the workpiece. The workpiece support carriage includes a workpiece high-position supporting means switchable between a rising posture of supporting the workpiece at a high position and a folded posture. The two auxiliary carriages nd include workpiece low-position supporting means and to support front and rear two places in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece at a height higher than the workpiece high-position supporting means in the folded posture.
US08459436B2
A method of processing documents includes receiving a stack of documents including currency bills and substitute currency media. Each substitute currency medium has at least one barcode. The method further includes transporting the stack of documents via a transport mechanism, one document at a time, along a transport path and denominating with a currency detector each of the currency bills in the stack of documents. The currency detector is positioned adjacent to the transport path. The method further includes scanning with a barcode scanner a barcode on each substitute currency medium in the stack of documents. The barcode scanner is positioned adjacent to the transport path. The method further includes imaging with an image scanner each substitute currency medium in the stack of documents to generate a raw image file of the substitute currency medium. The image scanner is positioned adjacent to the transport path.
US08459432B2
A wet clutch includes a rotatable hub and a rotatable drum having an aperture extending therethrough. A plurality of outer clutch plates are fixed for rotation with the drum. A plurality of inner clutch plates are fixed for rotation with the hub and interleaved with the outer clutch plates. A piston is moveable to apply a force to the inner and outer clutch plates to transfer torque between the hub and the drum. A cover is moveable relative to the drum between first and second positions. The cover selectively restricts a flow of fluid through the aperture in the drum when in the first position.
US08459428B2
An electronic clutch control apparatus is provided for a vehicle having a clutch assembly and a clutch lever operatively associated with the clutch assembly. The electronic clutch control apparatus includes an actuator for driving a clutch assembly, an operation amount sensor for sensing an operation amount of a clutch lever, an electronic control unit for controlling the operation of the actuator based on the detected operation amount received from the operation amount sensor, and a feedback unit for applying an operation reaction force to the clutch lever. The feedback unit includes a plurality of springs having different spring constants. The feedback unit is configured such that when the clutch lever is operated in an operation amount increasing direction thereof, the operational reactive elastic forces of the plural springs are sequentially applied to the clutch lever.
US08459422B1
The luggage with integrated vacuum bags includes a standard piece of luggage that includes at least one vacuum bag within said piece of luggage. The vacuum bags are vacuumed via a vacuuming means integrated on a side of said luggage, which engages a male valve located on an exterior surface of said luggage and of which engages a female valve located on a vacuum bag. The vacuum bags are filled with items typically associated with luggage (garments, etc.) in anticipation of vacuuming, which increases the packing efficiency of the luggage such that more items may be packed into said luggage than when compared with luggage excluding said vacuum bags. The vacuuming means includes a hose, motor, and powering means and vacuums the vacuum bag(s) from outside of said luggage.
US08459420B2
A brake lever assembly includes a body connected to an oil pipe and includes a first room and a second room. A first path communicates between the storage space and the first room. A second path communicates between the first room and the second room. The oil pipe is connected to a hydraulic oil storage space in the body. A lever is pivotably connected to the body and includes a push portion. A first cylinder unit is located in the first room and connected between the oil pipe and the push portion. The first cylinder unit is operated a first travel. A second cylinder unit is located in the second room and has a first end contacting inside of the body and a second end connected to the push portion. The second cylinder unit is operated a second travel which is longer than the first travel.
US08459418B2
A bicycle fork includes a pair of fork leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies having an upper leg telescopingly engaged with a lower leg. A damping assembly is provided in at least one of the legs. The damping assembly includes lock-out and blow-off compression circuits. These compression circuits are externally adjustable without tools. Furthermore, these two compression circuits may be adjusted independently of each other.
US08459414B2
A lubrication cartridge includes a cartridge body. A cartridge coupling is located on the cartridge body and defines a first passage and a second passage. A lubricant reservoir is housed in the cartridge body and comprises a pressurized fluid inlet coupled to the first passage and a lubricant outlet coupled to the second passage. A metering insert is located between the lubricant outlet and the second passage and comprises a density that controls lubricant flow between the lubricant reservoir and the second passage.
US08459412B2
A scaffold system includes first and second spaced apart vertical posts. An upper support device mounts at an upper portion of each of the first and second vertical posts and includes spaced apart arms extending in a first direction from the associated vertical post for engaging the side of a building. A lower support device mounts at a lower portion at each of the vertical posts to support one or more planks and includes outriggers extending laterally and in a second direction opposite the first direction. The outriggers include a wheel mounted near an extended end of each of the outriggers to provide for rolling the system to a worksite. The outriggers may be vertically adjusted and combined in multiple combinations and with multiple arm configurations to adapt to uneven terrain.
US08459410B2
A modular step stool system according to various embodiments can include a plurality of stepping blocks comprising a first stepping block and a second stepping block configured to support a user's body weight. A plurality of interlocking elements is interposed between the first stepping block and the second stepping block for horizontally and vertically interconnecting and interlocking at least the first and second stepping blocks to form a raised step platform. Some of the plurality of interlocking elements include sub-couplings which are configured to provide simultaneous horizontal and vertical interconnections. Some embodiments of the device include raised walls configured within the side walls and corner tabs inserted within the corners of the stepping blocks and configured having a profiled selected based upon the shape of the sub-couplings to facilitate stacking and interconnections in at least one of a horizontal, a vertical, a perpendicular, and an offset configuration.
US08459390B2
The invention relates to a vehicle having a drive train, which comprises at least one first engine and a wheel, wherein a torque can be transmitted from the first engine to the wheel by the drive train, and wherein at least one first unit of the drive train is connected to an interface, by which rapid and simple replaceability of said unit is possible, wherein the interface is designed to be connected to a second unit, which is different from the first unit, wherein both units are designed to store electricity, to convert chemically bound energy into energy of rotation and/or to convert electricity into energy of rotation and/or to convert rotation energy of rotation into electricity.
US08459388B2
An evaporation cycle heat exchange system for a vehicle is provided. The evaporation cycle heat exchange system is a new type of cooling system that cools vehicle electronic components, a fuel cell stack, an internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission, a turbocharger, etc. using an evaporative heat exchanger, thus improving cooling efficiency and reducing the size of components such as a radiator. The evaporation cycle heat exchange system cools coolant circulating through a vehicle cooling system by employing an evaporative heat exchanger in which a working fluid flows by a pressure difference caused by volume expansion and capillary phenomenon. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency of the entire cooling system, reduce the size of components to comply with pedestrian protection regulations, improve fuel efficiency, and ensure the stability of the system. Moreover, the present invention provides an evaporation cycle heat exchange system for a vehicle, in which a product-integrated or line-integrated evaporative heat exchanger capable of being mounted in various vehicle components such as an inverter, a fuel cell stack, an oil fan of an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger, an automatic transmission oil fan, etc. is employed. Accordingly, it is possible to easily apply the evaporative heat exchanger to various vehicle components and various vehicle models, and thus it is possible to increase the degree of freedom of the design of the cooling system.
US08459387B2
A material handling vehicle includes a cyclonic motor cooling system for a motor compartment that accommodates an ergonomically designed operator compartment. Together, the motor compartment and cyclonic motor cooling system include a generally cylindrical housing with a tangentially arranged cooling air injection port at a lower end and exhaust port at a radially and axially opposite end. An air blower directs cooling air into the compartment where a cyclonic cooling air flow and a vortex cooling flow is produced. The cyclonic air flow cools more effectively than conventional linear air flow while also reducing dust contamination and buildup of the motors in the motor compartment.
US08459386B2
A road wheel propulsion apparatus for alternately propelling and retarding the rotation of a road wheel supporting an automotive vehicle. An electric drive motor is carried by a vehicle and is drivingly connected to a road wheel to provide motive force to the vehicle by driving the road wheel in rotation relative to the vehicle. The electric drive motor includes a radially inner motor stator to be fixed to a vehicle. The electric drive motor also includes a radially outer annular motor rotor to be carried within a road wheel and to be driven in rotation relative to the motor stator by electromagnetic forces developed by between the motor stator and the motor rotor.
US08459376B2
A system for drilling a well bore with an under-balanced hydrostatic pressure. The system includes a tubular member containing a first port, a compression member disposed about the outer portion of the tubular member and having an internal sliding mandrel extending therefrom with a second port, an external sliding sleeve having a third port and being in contact with the internal sliding mandrel and operatively associated with the internal sliding mandrel, and a compressible seal disposed about the external sliding mandrel that is responsive to a longitudinal weight transferred to the compression member. In a closed position the first, second and third port are misaligned and in an open position the first, second and third ports are aligned.
US08459361B2
A system for interconnecting a floating rig and a riser assembly includes a rotating control device permitting pressurization of the riser assembly; and a sliding joint connected to the rotating control device, the sliding joint being longitudinally extendable and compressible while the riser assembly is pressurized. Another system includes a sliding joint including more than two telescoping sleeves, and the sliding joint being longitudinally extendable and compressible while the riser assembly is pressurized at the surface. An apparatus includes a sliding joint with multiple sets of telescoping sleeves, each set including at least two of the sleeves. Another apparatus includes a sliding joint with multiple radially overlapping seal assemblies.
US08459359B2
A method for treating a nahcolite containing subsurface formation includes removing water from a saline zone in or near the formation. The removed water is heated using a steam and electricity cogeneration facility. The heated water is provided to the nahcolite containing formation. A fluid is produced from the nahcolite containing formation. The fluid includes at least some dissolved nahcolite. At least some of the fluid is provided to the saline zone.
US08459354B2
A method of sealing a leak of fluid from a container comprises introducing a solute to a body of fluid within the container. The solute is selected so as to be soluble in the fluid at the expected conditions prevailing inside the container, and insoluble when the pressure experienced by the fluid is reduced at the site of a leak.
US08459353B2
A wellbore fluid is an aqueous carrier liquid with first and second hydrophobic particulate materials suspended therein. The first hydrophobic particles have a higher specific gravity than the second hydrophobic particles and the fluid also comprises a gas to wet the surface of the particles and bind them together as agglomerates. The fluid may be a fracturing fluid or gravel packing fluid and the first particulate material may be proppant or gravel. The lighter second particulate material and the gas both reduce the density of the agglomerates which form so that they settle more slowly from the fluid, or are buoyant and do not settle. This facilitates transport and placement in a hydraulic fracture or gravel pack. One application of this is when fracturing a gas-shale with slickwater. The benefit of reduced settling is better placement of proppant so that a greater amount of the fracture is propped open.
US08459343B2
A thermal module assembly includes a first thermal module (10) and a second thermal module (20). The first thermal module (10) has a fan (300) with an air outlet, a first heat sink (120) positioned at the air outlet and a first clamp portion (122) formed on the first heat sink (120). The second thermal module (20) has a second heat sink (220) and a second clamp portion (222) formed on the second heat sink (220). The second heat sink (220) is juxtaposed with the first heat sink (120). The first heat sink (120) and the second heat sink (220) are combined together via engagement of the first clamp portion (122) and the second clamp portion (222) so that airflow produced by the fan (300) flows past the first heat sink (120) and the second heat sink (220) in order.
US08459338B2
The invention relates to a scraped surface heat exchanger (100) comprising a heat exchanging wall (20) having an cylindrical inner surface (21) with a radius (R+.delta.), a shaft (10) being rotatable mounted inside of and concentrically to the inner surface (21) of the heat exchanging wall (20) and having at least one gap portion (10A) with an outer surface (11) and a radius (R), and at least one scraping member (40) supported by the shaft (10) and extending to the inner surface (21) of the heat exchanger wall (20), characterized in that the at least one or the gap portions (10A) with an outer surface (11) and a radius (R) extend over at least 60% of the circumference of the shaft (10).
US08459337B2
An apparatus may include a heat exchanger and an equalizing vessel for equalizing changes in coolant volume. The heat exchanger may include an inflow for delivering coolant to the heat exchanger and an outflow for discharging coolant from the heat exchanger. The equalizing vessel may be closed off by a flexible membrane that follows changes in volume of the coolant. The equalizing vessel may include a first chamber that is in liquid communication with the inflow of the heat exchanger and a second chamber that is in liquid communication with the outflow of the heat exchanger. A filter may also be provided to filter the coolant.
US08459331B2
Disclosed is a vacuum mold with at least a first plate and a second plate to mold materials (e.g., amorphous alloys), and a method for manufacturing parts using the mold. An ejector mechanism, to eject molded material, is enclosed within an ejector box that is vacuum sealed relative to the plates. An ejector rod for moving the mechanism is also vacuum sealed via a seal in a vacuum feed through opening. Seals are provided between adjacent interfaces of the mold parts (plates and ejector box) to vacuum seal the mold. The mold is connected to at least one vacuum source that applies vacuum pressure thereto via a first vacuum port in a first direction. A second vacuum port may also be provided to apply pressure in a second direction. A vacuum release valve may be connected to the mold to release vacuum pressure applied to the mold.
US08459325B2
An operating system for a retractable covering for an architectural opening wherein one edge of the covering is fixed and the opposite edge is movable between extended and retracted positions, includes an endless cord loop having a finger slide that is slidably mounted adjacent to the fixed edge of the covering to effect circulation of the cord loop. Also included in the cord loop is an anchor plate secured to the fabric of the covering adjacent to its movable edge, with the anchor plate also moving with circulatory movement of the cord loop to move the movable edge of the covering between extended and retracted positions. The tension in the cord loop is adjustable through the connection of opposite ends of the cord loop to the finger slide and the routing of the cord loop is directed through cord guides of low friction material so that the entire operation of the covering is smooth and reliable.
US08459321B2
Tread for a tire provided with a running surface intended to come into contact with the roadway when running, this tread comprising a plurality of blocks of mean axis XX′ intersecting the running surface of the tread, each block, including a side wall that makes a full circuit of the block about the axis XX′. This side wall intersects the running surface at an edge with a closed geometric outline, this edge delimiting a contact surface via which the block makes contact with the roadway. The side wall of the block and the opposite wall delimit an incision, the blocks being provided on their lateral surface with at least one notch having a depth measured perpendicular to the lateral surface of the block and a width measured parallel to the lateral face of the block, the at least one notch at least partially making a circuit of the block about the axis XX′, that is to say at least over 180 degrees.
US08459320B2
A pneumatic tire comprises grooves 1 to 3 formed in a tread and land portions 4 each having an acute angle portion 5 formed by the grooves 2 and 3. The acute angle portion 5 is chamfered by a plurality of chamfered surfaces 11 and 12 to form into a step shape by the chamfered surfaces 11 and 12 and a connecting surface 21 that connects the adjacent chamfered surfaces 11 and 12. Furthermore, from one sidewall to the other sidewall of the acute angle portion 5 at an end 6 of the acute angle portion 5, a height H1 of the chamfered surface 11 and a height H2 of the chamfered surface 12 are gradually decreased while a length L1 of the chamfered surface 11 and a length L2 of the chamfered surface 12 are gradually increased.
US08459316B2
Safety cabinet for filling self-contained breathing apparatus bottles comprising a housing body with high-strength walls, openable on its front and top sides and forming a work surface fitted with a plurality of tapered rubber rollers, linked at their narrow ends and arranged to form a bed of supporting rollers for the bottles to be filled, arranged horizontally and to which the respective filling taps are attached. The housing body is closed using a vertical front door and a horizontal top door.
US08459313B2
[Problem to be Solved] A gas fuel vehicle capable of detecting a gas leakage on the back side of a fuel fill port (inside of a vehicle body) extremely easily is provided.[Means for Solving the Problem] The gas fuel vehicle includes: a gas filling port that receives a supply of a gas fuel from a fuel supply device on the outside of a vehicle body; a communicating hole that connects the inside of the vehicle body and the outside of the vehicle body; a shielding member that shields the fuel fill port and the communicating hole from the outside of the vehicle body; and a gas fuel storage unit that stores the gas fuel supplied from the fuel supply device through the fuel fill port. A rod portion of a gas leakage detector is inserted into the communicating hole from the outside of the vehicle body, thereby detecting a gas leakage inside the vehicle body.
US08459310B2
The invention relates to systems and methods for filling a medical device with an active agent composition. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for filling a medical device with an active agent composition. The method can include applying the active agent composition to the outside surface of the medical device, the medical device comprising a housing defining a lumen and a plurality of apertures. The method can also include contacting a surface of a press member against the outside surface of the medical device thereby pushing the active agent composition through the apertures and into the lumen of the medical device. Other embodiments are also included herein.
US08459308B2
A cylindrical shaft is provided of which a pair of ends are formed in a cylindrical shape by a press work so as to form a joining portion therebetween. Here, the joining portion includes: a central linear section which is provided on a center portion in an axis direction of the cylindrical shaft and is formed in a linear shape to be parallel to the axis direction of the cylindrical shaft; and a folded section which includes a plurality of intersections which are provided on both ends of the center portion and are disposed so as to be extended in a direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the cylindrical shaft, and a connection linear section which connects ends of a pair of the adjacent intersections.
US08459298B1
A check valve for deterring intrusion into drain pipes comprises a body member having at least a first orifice and configured to mount on a drain pipe wherein the drain pipe is adapted to promote fluid flow in a single direction. Pivotably mounted on said body member will be a valve member. The mounting arrangement will provide a closed position that substantially occludes the first orifice and a range of open positions when the valve member is pivoted to open in the flow direction. In addition, at least one additional orifice is provided in either the body member or the valve member to permit fluid flow irrespective of the position of the valve member.
US08459286B2
A pressure retention valve with integrated valve is disclosed. The pressure retention valve with integrated valve includes a housing; an outer piston positioned in the housing; a main seal between the outer piston and the housing; an inner piston positioned in the outer piston, the inner piston having a bore containing a valve; a spring between the housing and a top of the outer piston; an ambient bore in the housing above the main seal; an outlet in the housing below the main seal; and a vessel connection in the housing adjacent to the bore of the inner piston. Methods of supplying fuel to a gas consuming system using the pressure retention valve are also described.
US08459284B2
An apparatus for preparing a chemical solution includes a lower housing and an upper housing. The lower housing has a base, an upper plate having a central opening, and a side wall. A grid mounted on the upper plate covers the opening. A wall within the lower housing divides the interior of the lower housing into a central inner chamber and an annular outer chamber; this wall extends into an upper portion of the lower housing. One portion of the wall has a reduced height to permit fluid flow from the inner chamber to the outer chamber. A nozzle is mounted in the inner chamber for discharging fluid into the inner chamber, and causes local elevation of a portion of the fluid surface above the grid. The nozzle may be an eductor creating a venturi effect to draw fluid into the eductor.
US08459282B2
An illuminated apparatus for assisting movement is provided that is able to illuminate surface areas upon which one walks, hikes, skis, skates, runs, reads from, signals, examines or studies. The illuminated apparatus for assisting movement may provide both broad and focused illumination. The device may ensure safe footing, solid purchase, and stable load bearing by providing illuminated assistance for foot, ski and skate placement, as well as the placement of singular and multi-pole fixtures used for activities such as hiking, climbing, skiing, skating, running, and walking. The illuminated apparatus for assisting movement may be compact and lightweight.
US08459280B2
A support structure removal system comprising a vessel and a second component. The vessel comprises a vessel body, a porous floor configured to retain a three-dimensional part, and an impeller rotatably mounted below the porous floor. The second component comprises a surface configured to operably receive the vessel, and a rotation-inducing assembly located below the surface, where the rotation-inducing assembly is configured to rotate the impeller with magnetic fields when the vessel is received on the surface of the second component to agitate and direct flows of an aqueous fluid through the porous floor.
US08459274B2
Disclosed is an adjustable device enabling protection of the edge of a nail and positioning of a stencil on the nail. The adjustable device comprises a first sleeve on a first bar; a second bar attached such that the second bar is non-parallel to the first bar; a second sleeve on a second bar; and a cover attached to the first and second sleeves. The cover is configured to enable a stencil to be positioned under the cover, and configured such that adjustment of the cover is effectuated by sliding of the sleeves in a direction where the first and second bars diverge from each other, causing the cover to flatten and causing the sleeves to rotate, or by sliding of the sleeves in a direction where the first and second bars converge toward each other.
US08459272B2
Improved delivery of additive materials to cigarettes is provided through the use of one or more capsules containing additive materials, such as flavor components, in the filter section of a cigarette. The capsule or capsules are provided between first and second absorbent members and the capsules are subjected to an external force, such as squeezing, by a smoker prior to or during smoking of the cigarette in order to release at least a portion of the additive material and expose the additive material to mainstream smoke passing through the filter. The capsules provide a barrier between the additive materials and other cigarettes components, such as sorbents or filter materials, in order to reduce additive material migration into the other cigarette components prior to desired use. An outer cover which is impermeable to the fluid within the capsules is provided about the capsule or capsules and the first and second absorbent members.
US08459268B2
This relates to treating an asthmatic lung and more particularly, relates to advancing a treatment device into the lung and treating the lung with the device. This also includes additional steps of treating the airway wall, applying energy or heat to the airway wall in an asthmatic lung.
US08459260B2
A respiratory treatment apparatus and method in which a leak is determined by using an averaging window. The window starts at the present time and extends back in time to a point determined according to a current one of progressively detected phase measures of a first respiratory cycle and a corresponding phase measure attributable to a preceding second respiratory cycle. In another aspect, a jamming index indicates whether the leak is rapidly changing. To the extent that jamming is high, the leak estimate used progressively changes from that using sliding breath-window averaging to a more robust and faster responding low-pass filter method, and adjustment of ventilatory support based on measures employing estimated respiratory flow is slowed down or stopped.
US08459250B2
A solar collector apparatus with Dewar-type evacuated tubes results in the more efficient collection of solar radiation by, for example, maintaining the level of a volatile liquid flowing into the solar collector so that no more than 80% of the volume of an inner cylinder of a collection tube is filled with liquid and a corresponding manifold collects the vapor produced when heat is transferred from the surface of the inner glass cylinder that absorbs solar radiation to the volatile liquid. The aforementioned apparatus may likewise be used to heat a liquid within an absorber tube, the liquid having a volatile and a non-volatile component. As heat is transferred to the liquid, a fraction of the volatile component is converted to vapor, leaving the liquid more concentrated in the non-volatile component.
US08459245B1
An electronically controlled, brushless DC, electromagnetic induction drive apparatus for use in a paintball marker active loader capable of directly driving the feeder element in the active loader while providing independently user selectable torque transfer capability and rotational speed whether used to continuously or intermittently rotate the loader feeder element. A plurality of selectively polarity reversible electromagnets are disposed in the loader housing and act to move a plurality of magnetic drive elements disposed on the rotating feed cone to rotate the feed cone a predetermined amount for each polarity cycle and cause paintballs to be fed into the paintball marker via a feed tube. A controller linked to the marker firing sequence manages the number and frequency of the sequential polarity changes of the electro-magnets to cause the feed cone to rotate in response to sensed movement of paintballs in the feed tube.
US08459244B2
An archery bow comprises a riser and a pair of bow limbs. The riser has a central portion and first and second end portions, each including a corresponding forward pivotable connection point and rearward bearing point substantially rigidly positioned on the corresponding end portion. A bearing member is positioned at each corresponding rearward bearing point. Each bow limb has a riser connection point and a pulley connection point, and is (i) pivotably connected at its riser connection point to the corresponding riser end portion at its pivotable connection point, (ii) positioned against the corresponding bearing member at a point along the bow limb between its riser and pulley connection points that is displaced from the riser connection point by at least one third of the distance between the riser and pulley connection points, and (iii) arranged at its pulley connection point to receive a pulley member pivotably connected thereto.
US08459237B2
A fill head assembly for a fuel storage system includes a check valve disposed within a central region of the fill head assembly. The check valve includes a membrane covering a vent outlet of the fill head assembly. The check valve prevents liquid flow from the central region into the vent outlet, while simultaneously allowing vapor flow from the central region into the vent outlet. The membrane includes a micro-porous material that is liquid impermeable, thereby preventing liquid flow through the membrane, and is vapor permeable, thereby allowing vapor flow through the membrane.
US08459228B2
A method for the production of a piston for an internal combustion engine, composed of at least two components, each of which has at least one corresponding joining surface, has the following steps: a) pre-working the at least two components, at least in the region of the joining surfaces; b) coating at least a part of the surface of at least one component with a covering medium containing at least one phyllosilicate; c) assembling the at least two components; d) connecting the at least two components along their corresponding joining surfaces, by means of beam welding, to produce a piston blank; e) removing the covering medium and any excess weld material adhering to it; and f) machining the piston blank to produce a finished piston.
US08459227B2
Multi-section sleeve valves for internal combustion engines for improved aspiration. An open connecting rod section is separated from an internal, tubular passageway by a closed wall. A port section proximate the wall defines valve ports. A midsection borders the port section, and an open section adjacent the midsection is in fluid flow communication with the tubular passageway. The lower-diameter midsection forms a relief annulus between the valve and the tunnel or sleeve in which the valve is disposed. Fluid flow occurs through the valve interior and through ports dynamically positioned above the compression cylinder, proximate aligned sleeve and head ports. Sleeve ports are separated by bridges that maintain valve rings in compression during reciprocation to prevent damage. High pressure gas is confined between axially spaced apart, stepped sealing rings that prevent gases from flowing axially about the valve exterior.
US08459226B2
An intake manifold is disclosed which has an upper shell portion having a first peripheral flange, a lower shell portion having a second peripheral flange, and at least one metallic post having a first plate and a second plate. The first and second peripheral flanges are friction welded and the first plate of the posts is friction welded to the upper shell portion and the second plate of the posts is friction welded to the lower shell portion. The upper and lower shells are made of a polymeric, or plastic, material. The metallic post is comprised substantially of aluminum or other suitable metals or alloys. The upper and lower shell portions define a cavity and a section of the post between the first and second plates traverses through the cavity.
US08459218B2
An adjustable-stroke solenoid valve assembly includes supply, control, and exhaust ports, an inner cavity having first and second seats, a solenoid coil, and a plunger assembly. The plunger assembly includes an armature shifted by the coil. The plunger assembly also includes a stem having a first end adjustably engaged with the armature, and a second end adjustably engaged with a poppet. The plunger assembly additionally includes a first surface that gets pressed against the first seat to block fluid flow to the control port when the coil is de-energized and a second surface that gets pressed against the second seat to facilitate fluid flow to the control port when the coil is energized. Adjustment of the stem's first end relative to the armature and of the poppet on the stem's second end establish a predetermined stroke for the plunger assembly and a predetermined fluid flow rate to the control port.
US08459213B2
A method and device to optimize the cumulative beneficial effect of harvesting available forms of lost energy, including energy that is lost while a vehicle is in motion (e.g., kinetic energy and energy contained in electromagnetic radiation. The cumulative energy that is recovered is converted to electrical energy which powers the on-board electrolyzer to produce more hydrogen and oxygen while the system is in operation and stationary. Stationary, passive forms of energy (e.g., solar, wind, hydro, etc.) will also be available to power the electrolyzer. The system also contemplates using passive forms of energy to power a non-mobile system which incorporates an internal or external combustion engine in place of a fuel cell. An oxygen injection control device is employed to control the supply of oxygen to the combustion engine.
US08459206B1
A feed port for a bird feeder is disclosed. The feed port includes a body portion having a number of edges defining a first opening through the body portion. A shroud extends from the body portion and depends downwards forming a space rear of the first opening. The shroud further defines a second opening in fluid connection with the first opening. An obstruction extends across the second opening.
US08459202B2
A gas flow of a gas pipe is indicated before an electromagnetic valve is actually opened, so that the electromagnetic valve can be prevented from being opened or closed by a wrong manipulation or hazards caused by undesired mixing of gases can be avoided so as to improve safety. The substrate processing apparatus includes a state detection unit configured to detect an opening/closing request state and an opening/closing state of a valve installed at a gas pipeline; and a indication unit configured to indicate a gas flow state of the gas pipeline predicted according to the opening/closing request state and a gas flow state of the gas pipeline when the valve is opened, in a way that each state is distinguished.
US08459198B2
An improved stern design for many types of small watercraft to eliminate “tail dragging”, porpoising, oversteer and “slide out”, improve longitudinal tracking, and provide faster planing at lower speeds. This hull extension, consisting of two buoyant sponsons extending astern of the motor output, supports the weight of the entire motor propulsion unit, extends the planing surface, shifts the center of buoyancy rearward, resulting in an ability to maintain an even fore-aft keel in a very lightweight hull. Under acceleration and cruising, high pressure under the extensions along with an improved center of gravity keeps the boat from tail dragging. Interior chines formed as part of the inner lower surface of the sponsons provide straight tracking under power, even without other hydrodynamic aids, and provide resistance to oversteer or “slideout” in turns. The long sponson extensions protect an outdrive system from contact at the stern or sides of the boat.
US08459195B2
A self-priming diaphragm pump is connected to a circuit board which activates the self-priming diaphragm pump at predetermined intervals, e.g., for 1-3 seconds. When the self-priming diaphragm pump is activated, the circuit board senses the amperage draw from the pump's motor and either continues to run the pump or stops the pump depending on the different amperage levels read. If there is water present in the bilge, the motor is working harder, requiring more amperage and circuit board keeps the pump running. If there is no water present for the pump to draw, the amperage load is very low and the circuit board shuts the pump off, retesting it in the predetermined interval.
US08459192B2
A partition divides an enclosure into an upper space and a lower space, the partition having a hole which provides essentially the only passage for gas to flow from the lower space to the upper space. A reactor tube having open ends is supported by the partition over the hole, and a grate spaced below the hole. A primary air inlet arrangement feeds air into the lower space for gasification of solid fuel on the grate, and a secondary air inlet directs a jet of air toward the inlet end of combustion tube communicating with the upper space and having an open exhaust end outside the enclosure. Product gas formed by gasification of solid fuel on the grate and passing through the reactor tube into the upper space will be drawn into the combustion tube to create a sub-atmospheric pressure in the upper space.
US08459166B2
A seal is proposed between the drum (2) having a plurality of cartridge chambers (3) and a weapon barrel (1) of a drum cannon, wherein the seal comprises at least one elastically pretensioned obturation ring (4). Each cartridge chamber (3) has an obturation ring (4) for drum-side integration, while one obturation ring (4) suffices for barrel-side integration. The obturation is integrated between the two and is pressed against the face (9) of the weapon barrel (1) or the face of the cartridge chamber (3) that is aligned with the bore axis of the weapon barrel (1) such that immediate sealing occurs even at low gas pressures.
US08459157B2
Safety systems for power equipment, components, brake cartridges and mounting systems for brake cartridges are disclosed. The safety systems, components, brake cartridges and mounting systems are specifically applicable for woodworking equipment such as saws. A brake cartridge system may include a key adapted to secure the brake cartridge in a power tool, and a bracket configured to receive at least part of the key.
US08459156B2
A tailstock device for a lathe includes a carrier defining an accommodation space for accommodating a hub mount. The hub mount is turnable relative to the carrier and has two angularly displaced stage posts extending radially and outwardly for mounting first and second holders, respectively. By turning of the hub mount, a selected one of the holders is moved to a working position to aligned with a longitudinal axis of a workpiece held thereby. The tailstock device can hold a variety of workpieces, and allow adjustment of the angle and position of a workpiece held thereby.
US08459145B2
A faucet control handle structure includes a control handle and two transforming heads, wherein the control handle has two wedging ribs cross each other at the periphery of an opening of the control handle, and two transforming heads have an inserting slot on one side and a connecting surface on the other side. Two connecting slots cross with each other are recessedly formed at the connecting surface, and the connecting slots are engaged with the wedging ribs of the control handle. According to the disclosed structure, since the control handle's receiving space has detachable transforming heads, the faucet handle in the present invention can be used in different water control bases with different sizes to increase the practicability of the faucet handle, and further increase the convenience during the assembly process.
US08459142B2
A reach-adjustable lever assembly mounted to a handlebar for actuating one of a gear-change and braking device. The lever assembly generally including a support member, a lever pivotably connected to the support member and a reach adjust mechanism. The reach adjust mechanism includes a follower, a cam and a cam seat for retaining the cam in a current user-selectable position. The follower is fixedly supported on one of the support member and the lever and the cam is rotatably supported on the other of the support member and the lever. The cam has a plurality of user-selectable positions. The lever is rotatably biased toward a rest position to position the cam against the follower. The cam and the follower are configured to provide a different rest position of the lever for each of the user-selectable positions.
US08459138B2
A system for releasably attaching a steerable disposable multi-linked device to a durable device may include a disposable portion and a durable portion. The disposable portion may include a connecting member connected to the disposable portion and the durable portion and a steerable multi-linked device. The steerable multi-linked device may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links, a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links, and a cable which passes through the first link and intermediate links and extends beyond a first end of the first link. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link. The durable portion may include an axial member which defines an opening therethrough and a feeder mechanism.
US08459133B2
The swinging operation of a rotary striker turns micro switches and, which detect the position of a piston, ON/OFF. The striker includes a lower-limit switch cam and an upper-limit switch cam. The cams and engage with switch bosses and that move together with the piston. When the piston is positioned at a lower-limit stop position L, the cam becomes engaged with the boss to make the striker swing in the X-direction and pushes a switch button of the switch. When the piston is positioned at an upper-limit stop position U, the cam becomes engaged with the boss to make the striker swing in the Y-direction and pushes a switch button of the switch.
US08459129B2
The disclosure relates to a device for diluting a sample, comprising an end-piece for dispensing a liquid diluent, means, having an upright extending upwards from the base, for supporting and moving the end-piece relative to the container support between a first position in which the outlet of the end-piece lies above the opening of the container, to allow the diluent to be fed into the container, and a second position in which the outlet is further away from the container. According to the disclosure, the second position of the outlet is to the side of the first, the upright is fixed to the base, and the upright has a cover at the upper end thereof for supporting the end-piece, the cover being rotatable on the upright between the positions, a rotary drive motor for rotating the cover between the positions being housed on the inside of the cover and/or of the upright.
US08459127B2
A flowmeter body (100) comprises a flow inlet (102), a flow passage (104) and a flow passage outlet (106). A shedder bar (108) is disposed in the flow passage (104). A sensor (110) couples to the flow passage. The sensor senses flow vortices (148) shed from the shedder bar. A flowmeter outlet surface (114) is joined to the flow passage outlet (106) and extends to an outer rim (116). The flowmeter outlet surface (114) includes an annular groove (118) positioned to interact with local vortices (120, 122) shed from the flow passage outlet.
US08459112B2
Systems and methods for fabricating a multi-axis sensor are provided. In one implementation, a method comprises: fabricating a first die having a first active surface with first application electronics; fabricating a second die having a second active surface with second application electronics and a plurality of electrical connections that extend from the second application electronics to a side surface interface of the second die that is adjacent to the second active surface; aligning the side surface interface to be coplanar with the first active surface; and forming at least one electrical connection between the plurality of electrical connections and the first active surface.
US08459108B2
An angular rate sensor includes a metallic core board having a core meal layer made of a metal plate and a wiring layer including a wiring structure, a semiconductor device for detecting an angular rate fixed on the core metal layer, and a cap fixed to the wiring layer. The semiconductor device for detecting an angular rate is disposed in a hollow chamber formed by the cap and the metallic core board. The metallic core board, the semiconductor device, and the cap are molded with resin. Consequently, the angular rate sensor has a packaging structure in which electromagnetic noise resistance and moisture resistance are improved while stress applied to the semiconductor device for detecting an angular rate is reduced.
US08459104B2
The invention relates to a pencil-type glow plug, in particular for a self-igniting internal combustion engine. The plug includes at least one plug base with at least one essentially bar-shaped heating element, which projects on one end from the plug base, and at least one measurement element, the heating element and the measurement element being integrally bonded and/or force-locked and/or form-locked.
US08459102B2
A digital system for controlling the quality factor in a resonant device. The resonant device can be a a device that includes a cantilever within its system, such as an atomic force microscope. The quality factor can be digitally controlled to avoid noise effect in the analog components. A direct digital synthesizer implemented in a way that provides access to the output of the phase accumulator. That output is a number which usually drives a lookup table to produce a cosine or sine output wave. The output wave is created, but the number is also adjusted to form a second number that drives a second lookup table to create an adjustment factor to adjust the output from the cosine table. The adjusted digital signal than drives a DA converter which produces an output drive for the cantilever.
US08459083B2
A roller guiding system for thin strips (20) at a rolling system outlet which allows a safe guiding without take-off and consequent tipping/folding of the head of the strip and without cobbles even at high feeding speeds. The system of the invention prevents the strip from impacting or sliding on the upper containment devices (8) or on the rollers (4′) by its upwards or downwards movement, thus avoiding possible damages to the surface, such as scratches or lines. Furthermore, such a guiding system acts on the mechanical-aerodynamic phenomenon which causes instability in the head moving by making a self-centering guiding system which is thus suitable for improving the winding quality of the coil itself.
US08459077B2
To form a through hole at one portion of a side wall, of an expanded portion made by plastically deforming one part of a metal tube radially outward, in a portion where the plate thickness gradually changes, a slide tool is withdrawn from inside a punch hole while applying hydraulic pressure to the inside of the side wall. At the instant of commencing withdrawal of the slide tool, the degree of progress in the shearing for the portions of the side wall matching with the two side edges of the punch hole is made different. Then, the timing for moving from shearing to rupture is made to coincide, so that of the side wall, the portions matching with the punch hole, are made reliably into a blank, and are extracted from the side wall.
US08459075B2
A cold-rolling train has a plurality of rolling stands and a strip feeding device to which an initial setpoint speed is sent to feed the cold strip to the first stand at an initial actual speed corresponding to the initial setpoint speed. A first setpoint speed is sent to the first stand so that associated rolls rotate. Between the first and next passed-through rolling stand is a thickness detection device detecting a first actual thickness. A base output signal is determined using the first actual and setpoint thicknesses and is used to adjust the first setpoint speed, but not the initial setpoint speed, conforming the first actual to the first setpoint thickness. Between the feeding device and the first rolling stand is an initial thickness detection device detecting an initial actual thickness. The initial setpoint speed is adjusted by a initial feed-forward controller to adjusted a setpoint product mass flow.
US08459069B2
A security device for use in association with a security pin includes a tag body, at least one sensor, a spring lock and a magnetic lock. The tag body has a body aperture formed therein adapted to receive the security pin. The spring lock and magnetic lock are situated within the tag body. The spring lock has a spring lock aperture formed therein and the magnetic lock has a magnetic lock aperture formed therein each in registration with the body aperture. The spring lock and the magnetic lock are each adapted to engage the security pin when in an engaged position and release the security pin when in a released position. The spring lock and the magnetic lock need to both be in the released position to successfully remove the security pin form the security device.
US08459067B2
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/or a door that opens from the face of the housing. The vertical laundry module can further have an exterior hanging element.
US08459062B2
Apparatus for producing glass ribbon includes a control device configured at least periodic thermal stress compensation of the glass ribbon by independently adjusting operation of a plurality of temperature adjustment elements based on stress characteristic information at least periodically obtained from a stress sensor apparatus. In further examples, methods of producing glass include at least periodically sensing a stress characteristic of a glass ribbon and at least periodically changing a transverse temperature profile of the glass ribbon based stress characteristic information. In further examples, methods include the step of changing a transverse temperature profile of the glass ribbon only if a measured parameter is within an operating range associated with the parameter.
US08459052B2
A refrigerant vapor compression system includes a flash tank receiver disposed in the refrigerant circuit intermediate the refrigerant cooling heat exchanger and the refrigerant heating heat exchanger. The flash tank receiver, which receives a liquid/vapor refrigerant mix, also functions as a receiver. A refrigerant charge control apparatus includes at least one sensor for sensing an operating characteristic of the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant compression device, and a controller operative to selectively adjust a secondary expansion device to increase or decrease the flow of refrigerant passing into the flash tank receiver to provide a circulating refrigerant charge consistent with maintaining a desired system operating characteristic. The sensed operating characteristic is at least one of (a) the vapor refrigerant passing through a refrigerant line from the flash tank receiver to an intermediate pressure stage of the compression device, and (b) the refrigerant discharged from the compression device.
US08459050B2
The invention relates to an injection device for injecting an injection medium into a volumetric flow of a line system. The injection device comprises a housing with at least one first compartment which is set up to receive an injection medium, and at least one second compartment which is spatially separated from the first compartment, both compartments having an injection unit.
US08459048B2
An air conditioning system is provided with mainly an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and an energy recovery device. The compressor is fluidly connected to the evaporator to compress low-pressure refrigerant exiting the evaporator to high-pressure refrigerant. The condenser is fluidly connected to the compressor to receive the high pressure refrigerant and dissipate heat therefrom. The energy recovery device is configured to extract work from refrigerant flowing therethrough. The energy recovery device includes a movable expander and a valve. The movable expander has an inlet fluidly connected to the condenser to receive high pressure refrigerant exiting the condenser, an outlet fluidly connected to the evaporator to deliver low pressure refrigerant thereto and a chamber fluidly connected between the inlet and the outlet. The valve is configured to control a flow rate of high pressure refrigerant flowing from the inlet to the chamber.
US08459044B2
A thermochemical reactor (1) for a cooling and/or heating includes at least one reagent unit (2) which, using chemical combination, can absorb a gas stream originating from a tank and which, using the reverse chemical reaction, can desorb the gas stream due to a rise in temperature. The reagent unit (2) is disposed in a container (3) that has walls, at least some of which are equipped with diffusers (7) for distributing the gas stream. In addition, the reagent unit (2), which can be heated, is of the type that can expand during absorption of the gas stream and retract during desorption of the gas stream. Moreover, at least some of the walls are mobile walls, which can accompany the longitudinal movement of the reagent unit (2), to enable successive deformation phenomena.
US08459040B2
In one exemplary embodiment, a gas turbine engine includes a turbine and a high pressure compressor. The high pressure compressor includes a last stage having a last stage compressor blade and a last stage vane. The gas turbine engine includes a first flow path through which bleed air flows to the turbine and a second flow path through which air from the last stage of the high pressure compressor flows. The bleed air in the first flow path exchanges heat with a portion of the air in the second flow path in a heat exchanger to cool the air in the second flow path. The cooled air in the second flow path is returned to the high pressure compressor to cool the high pressure compressor.
US08459022B2
A mono-block arm and plug for closing a wastegate opening includes a shaft portion and a plug portion extending from the shaft portion where the plug portion includes a feature configured to change shape responsive to application of force to close a wastegate opening to enhance sealing of the wastegate opening. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US08459020B1
Highway bridge supporting structures that stand in large bodies of water are usefully employed in a novel manner in this invention to inexpensively extract energy from the water under the bridge using new and established apparatus. Alternate energy producing systems from water waves, currents and tides suffer from cost disadvantages incurred in designing and erecting expensive structures that hold them firmly on the ground under the water against fierce wind and water forces. This invention ingeniously uses existing or new bridge structures for mounting water-borne-energy to electricity conversion systems at much reduced cost. The invention will make water energy conversion systems more affordable and will turn existing and new bridge supporting structures into dual-use systems that can not only support bridge decks above but also produce useful renewable energy from the water below; today, bridge structures are not used in this manner.
US08459018B2
A hydrodynamic torque converter with a pump, a turbine and a stator, having an increased thickness on the suction side of blade profiles of blades in the stator relative to the pressure side of the blades, in order to reduce the pump torque of the torque converter at low to medium speed ratios without influencing the other features of the characteristic diagram.
US08459014B2
A mounting structure for an NOx reduction system for a construction machine is provided for relaxing restrictions on a space for the arrangement of the NOx reduction system. The mounting structure includes a urea-water SCR catalyst for reducing and purifying nitrogen oxides emitted from an engine, a urea water spray device for spraying urea water into an exhaust passage of the engine, a urea water feeder for feeding the urea water to the urea water spray device, a first urea-water tank and second urea-water tank for storing the urea water to be guided to the urea water feeder, and a controller for controlling drive of the urea water spray device and urea water feeder. A counterweight is provided with a cavity formed therein, the urea water feeder, first urea-water tank, second urea-water tank and controller are integrally arranged as an assembly arranged in the cavity of the counterweight.
US08459008B2
An exhaust gas treatment filter removes particulate matter from exhaust gas of a diesel engine. The particulate matter which accumulates on the filter is removed by a manual regeneration system that can simply be controlled.After a manual regeneration switch 22 is shifted to an ON-position, a load control section 66 keeps at least one of the revolution speed N of an engine 1, the displacement volume q and discharge pressure P of a hydraulic pressure pump 11 at a corresponding first target value (N1, q1, or P1) or second target value (N2, q2, or P2) depending on a temperature of the cooling water in relation to a flame-out prevention temperature T1. A regeneration control section 67 starts the compulsory regeneration after the manual regeneration switch has been shifted to the ON-position and when the cooling water temperature is equal to or higher than T1.
US08459005B2
A method for diagnosing a particle filter arranged in the waste gas line of an internal combustion engine has the steps of: executing at least one fuel injection, measuring HC emission in the waste gas line in the direction of flow of the waste gas behind the particle filter, and diagnosing a defect of the particle filter based on the measured HC emission.
US08459003B2
In a method for the after-treating of an exhaust gas from a preferably direct-injection and/or spark-ignition internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas is fed through a catalytic converter system connected downstream of the internal combustion engine. The system has at least one catalyst with a noble metal depletion having at least the elements palladium and rhodium which are present in a weight ratio of >5:1, 6:1, 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, 10:1, 11:1, or 12:1. In the new European driving cycle, the catalyst exceeds a temperature TK of 300° C., 450° C., 550° C., 600° C. within a time interval of 30 s, preferably 20 s, especially preferably 10 s after starting the engine, and/or the cumulative untreated emissions of hydrocarbons not exceeding 0.05 g/km and/or of nitrogen oxides not exceeding 0.04 g/km within a time interval of 10 s, preferably 20 s, especially preferably 30 s after starting the engine, and/or the engine achieving at least the emissions limit values of EU standard 4, preferably EU standard 5.
US08458998B2
A rotary lawn mower cutting blade with reduced drag and improved cutting ability includes a central mounting section, intermediate sections, and outboard sections along a common longitudinal axis and disposed about a common center of rotation. The outboard sections includes downward and inward projecting sections. The cutting blade also preferably includes cutting edges on the full extent of the leading edge of the outboard section including the downward and inward projecting sections. Additionally, the outer section can be twisted slightly to enhance airflow upward.
US08458987B2
A studded plate (1) of layer (2) of a polymeric material where an adhesive material (3,4) in the form of a woven or non-woven material is attached on each side of the layer (2).
US08458985B2
Fastener-receiving components are disclosed for use in a structure fabricated from a curable material (e.g. concrete, other cementitious materials or other curable materials). The fastener-receiving component comprises: one or more fastener-receiving channels, each fastener-receiving channel defined by a pair of longitudinally and inwardly extending sidewalls and comprising one or more break-through elements which extend longitudinally and transversely between the sidewalls for receiving fasteners that penetrate therethrough; and one or more anchor features that define one or more corresponding concavities shaped to receive liquid material when the structure is formed and to prevent outward movement of the fastener-receiving component when the liquid material cures. Kits and methods are provided for using the fastener-receiving components.
US08458979B2
An attachment system for coupling together two airplane sections includes an attachment section securing one of the airplane sections and a mount section affixed to the other section. The attachment section includes a top, a bottom, a first end, and a second end. Coupled to the top are two clamp sections, whereby at least one of the clamp sections is moveable. Coupled to the bottom is a pair of buttons. The mount section includes a top and a bottom, such that the mount bottom couples to the second airplane section. The mount section further includes a track coupled to the mount top, wherein the track includes an open end having outwardly tapered edges and a closed end. The one of the buttons slides into the track for coupling the attachment section to the mount section.
US08458972B1
A method and apparatus for securing non-load bearing interior walls in a wood frame structure in a manner that allows for vertical deflection of the frame includes a plurality of sleeved fastener assemblies, each having a threaded fastener extending through a shorter outer sleeve with an enlarged diameter head. The fasteners hold interior non-load bearing walls in place through a predrilled hole in the top plates of the walls, while being capable of accommodating limited vertical movement caused by vertical deflection of the building frame during construction and beyond.
US08458970B2
Disclosed are apparatus and corresponding methodology for providing a base support, such as including concrete, and used such as for a wind-driven generator. Precast concrete cylinders are stacked in place upon a platform that may be partially precast and partially cast in place during assembly and supported, in certain embodiments, by plural concrete legs, the other ends of which are supported on a unitary or subdivided concrete foundation. In other embodiments, the platform may be supported by ribbed concrete panels. The concrete cylinders are glued together using an epoxy and then secured by an internal vertical post tension system extending from the platform to the upper most cylinder. Different types of concrete are used between upper and lower sections of the stacked cylinders. The lower section uses reinforced concrete while the upper section used ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete.
US08458967B2
The present invention relates generally to roofing or siding products. The present invention relates more particularly to roofing or siding products for use with photovoltaic elements, and to photovoltaic systems that include one or more photovoltaic elements joined to a roofing or siding substrate. In one embodiment, a roofing product includes a rigid roofing or siding substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more receptor zones thereon, each receptor zone being adapted to receive one or more photovoltaic elements, each receptor zone having a different surfacing than the area of the top surface adjacent to it.
US08458963B2
A device for a diagonal strut connection between a pipe (12) and an adjacent structure (14) including at least two diagonal struts (16), in which horizontal and vertical forces in the pipe are transmitted to the diagonal strut by means of a first set of shear forces along the attachment of the diagonal strut (16) to the pipe (12) and via a second set of shear forces along the attachment of the diagonal strut to an annular plate (18) surrounding and projecting radially from the pipe (12), the central axis of the diagonal strut (16) extending through or close to the intersection of the resultants of the first and the second sets of shear forces.
US08458962B2
A modular patient room includes a plurality of modular wall panels or units having various configurations. Some wall units have a wall panel structure with a horizontally extending service cavity. A service structure is coupled to the wall panel structure for rotation about a horizontally extending first axis between a first position within the service cavity and a second position extending outwardly from the service cavity. A plurality of service outlets are carried by the service structure.
US08458960B2
Head curtains for dock shelters or dock seals are disclosed. An example dock apparatus disclosed herein includes a first weather barrier and a second weather barrier. The first and second weather barriers are positioned laterally of a doorway of a loading dock and compressible by a vehicle. The lateral weather barriers include inner surfaces that are to bulge toward each other in response to the vehicle compressing the lateral weather barriers. A head curtain is at least partially positioned between the lateral weather barriers and being engagable by the vehicle, the head curtain having a lateral stiffness such that in response to the vehicle engaging the head curtain and compressing the lateral weather barriers, the head curtain becomes pinched between the bulging inner surfaces to restrict a vertical movement of the curtain.
US08458946B1
An adapter for connecting a bipod to a Picatinny rail of a firearm may include a base having upper and lower portions. The upper portion may include a generally planar surface with longitudinal edges. The lower portion may include a cylinder having a through bore. First and second support members may be disposed along the longitudinal edges. The first support member may define a female mating configuration of one side of the Picatinny rail. A locking bar may be detachably connected to the upper portion of the base. The locking bar may have an interior surface. A leaf spring may be fixed to an underside of the upper portion of the base. The interior surface of the locking bar and the second support member may define a female mating configuration of another side of the Picatinny rail.
US08458943B2
A picture frame having an adjustable back assembly enabling vertical, horizontal and rotary adjustment of the frame position on a wall is described. The frame back is sized to fit into a recess in the picture frame back, and includes an inner plate, an outer plate having an opening, an intermediate plate frictionally held between said inner and outer plates and slidable therebetween. The intermediate plate has an outer face and is smaller than the outer plate and larger than the outer plate opening. A first hanger member is secured to the outer face of the intermediate plate and extends outwardly through the opening. A second hanger member is attachable to a wall and can be joined to the first hanger member to mount the picture frame on the wall. The picture frame can be pushed up or down or rotated to adjust the picture frame position.
US08458941B2
Shipment labels and related methods are described. An example method includes printing a return address on a first label layer of the label and printing a delivery address on a second label layer of the label adjacent the first label layer. The example method also includes coupling the first label layer and the second label layer on at least a portion of a container. The second label layer releasably covers at least a portion of the first label layer so that the return address is not fully visible when the second label layer is releasably coupled to the container.
US08458940B2
A garment tag is provided that includes a band having a first opening for attaching to a first fastener of a garment and a second opening for attaching to a second fastener of the garment, the band having a first display portion that displays printed information regarding the garment at a fold in the garment when the garment is in a folded state. The first and second fasteners may be buttons and the first and second openings may be slots. The first display portion may be defined by two creases in the band, the creases being spaced apart by the approximate width of the garment fold. The band may also be pre-folded at the creases.
US08458938B2
A bus stop sign and notification device is powered by an electric circuit that includes a solar panel and battery mounted in a battery box on a bus shelter or vertical support pole. The vertical support secures first and second signs and first and second illuminators for information dissemination and visual attraction. Long lasting light-emitting diodes in various colors are mounted on an adjustable or swivel hood that is used to aim the lights. The lights can include a flashing strobe light for attracting the attention of a bus driver at a distance. A reflector shield on the pole can protect wires and reflect different color light when the sign is illuminated and attract attention to the sign at night. The illuminators are activated by a button switch by bus passengers for reading the signs and notifying a driver to stop for passengers.
US08458937B2
A banner stand having an upright display mode and a collapsed transport mode, the banner stand comprising a banner presenting graphics thereon, a base and a post extending upwardly from the base, a support member selectively operably coupleable with the post to support the banner in an upright display mode, feet selectively changeable from a transport position to a operative position have an exposed alignment surface that cooperates with another such alignment surface on an adjacent banner stand to angularly and positionally control the respective banner stands to position as desired the respective banners. Tops of the banner stands may be coupled, such as by magnets, to further support and control the spacing and positioning of the banners.
US08458932B2
An apparatus for creating a visual display. The apparatus includes a mirror element and a framing element. The mirror element has a curved reflective surface and a printed primary image contacting the reflective surface. The framing element is spaced apart from the mirror element and includes a background image element positioned to face toward the reflective surface. The framing element also includes a transparent view port that is positioned opposite the primary image so as to provide a line of sight through the framing element to the reflective surface and the primary image. The apparatus further includes a lens sandwiched between the mirror and framing elements, such as a lens with a cylindrical body, formed of a transparent or translucent plastic, ceramic, glass, or other material. The apparatus may include a light source that transmits light into the lens or onto the primary image or the background images.
US08458926B2
A rowing shoe (1) of adjustable length has a shell (2) divided into heel- and toe-sections (4, 9) carried by parts (6, 7) of an elongate chassis (5). The chassis-part (7) carrying the toe-section (9) slides on a head (21) of chassis-part 6 which is fixed to the foot-stretcher of the boat. A lever (30) pivoted on the chassis-part (7) projects forwardly from the toe-section (9) and has a slotted projection (29) engaged with one of a series of teeth (31) of the head (21) to restrain sliding of chassis-part (7). Depression of lever (30) releases the restraint by lifting projection (29) clear of the teeth (31), so allowing length-adjustment of the shoe (1) to a size indicated through a window (3) on an extension (24) of a plate (23) carried with the chassis-part (7). Release of the lever (30) allows the projection (29) to engage a tooth (31) and hold the adjusted size, urged by pressure of the rower's foot. A wide strap (11) which extends over the instep of the shoe is secured on the outside flank by fabric-fastening (15). The strap (11) covers any gap between heel- and toe-sections (4, 9), and a flap (16) of the heel-section (4) extends under this with its free end towards the inside flank of the shoe to assist along with the strap (11) in lifting the heel-section (4) with the rower's heel during rowing.
US08458921B2
An insulation work tool is disclosed that is marked for measurement and comparison with charts thereon for different ratios and grades of pipes, clamps, and insulation as used in the insulation industry, and includes other devices for determination of the proper relationships of dimensions of the insulation, pipes, clamps, and sheet metal, as well as other functions.
US08458917B1
A multi-axis level is disclosed having a body member with two side members forming a right angle therebetween. The body has a length extending in a longitudinal direction. The multi-axis level also includes a bubble housing coupled to the body member. One or more bull's eye bubble levels are coupled to the bubble housing, which is oriented in a plane normal to the longitudinal direction. Additionally, a tubular bubble level is coupled to the bubble housing. A tube of the tubular bubble level has a length that is oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction.
US08458911B2
An electric shaver includes a rod-shaped body part, a head part, and a link mechanism. The head part projects from one end portion of the body part and is swingably attached to the body part with a support base between the body part and the head part. The head part includes a shaving portion and a drive mechanism. The shaving portion is elongated in a direction orthogonal to a projecting direction of the head part and has paired blades configured to operate relative to each other. The drive mechanism is configured to drive at least one of the paired blades. The link mechanism includes two link arms each connected to the support base and the head part respectively at connecting axes parallel to a longitudinal direction of the shaving portion. The link mechanism is configured to support the head part on the support base swingably.
US08458909B2
A hair removal device is provided, comprising a handle and a collapsible reservoir suitable for containing a fluid to be dispensed during use of the hair removal device, the hair removal device additionally comprising a container enclosing the collapsible reservoir, a fluid outlet adapted to allow fluid to exit both the collapsible reservoir and the container, an orifice adapted to allow air to flow in or out of the container, and a suction device, adapted to suck fluid out of the collapsible reservoir through fluid outlet. The container can be rigid, deformably rigid, or a combination of both.
US08458903B2
A method for producing an elastic plate for a liquid jet head, which includes etching a rolled metal plate based on a rolling direction of the rolled metal plate, to form an etched portion and a non-etched portion on the rolled metal plate. The thickness of the etched portion is thinner than the thickness of the non-etched portion and the rolling direction is substantially perpendicular to a long side of the rolled metal plate.
US08458900B2
A method of making a wiring substrate having at least one interconnection layer includes forming a first metal layer on a surface of a support member having at least one columnar through hole that exposes the surface of the support member, forming a columnar metal layer that fills the columnar through hole, forming an insulating layer on the columnar metal layer and on the first metal layer, forming an interconnection layer on a first surface of the insulating layer electrically connected to the columnar metal layer through the insulating layer, and forming, by removing at least an entirety of the support member and an entirety of the first metal layer, a protruding part including at least part of the columnar metal layer protruding from a second surface of the insulating layer opposite the first surface, and serving as at least part of a connection terminal of the wiring substrate.
US08458897B2
A vehicle assembly line includes a plurality of carriers that support respective vehicle bodies to which vehicle underbody parts, which are parts that are fitted to the vehicle bodies from below the vehicle bodies, are fitted, and convey the vehicle bodies along the vehicle assembly line. The carriers support the vehicle bodies in such a manner that the longitudinal direction of each of the vehicle bodies is perpendicular to the conveyance direction in which the vehicle bodies are conveyed.
US08458895B2
An assembly for positioning a retaining ring includes a mandrel having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of a rotor. The assembly also includes a seal assembly for sealing a circumferential retaining ring around the mandrel or the rotor, the seal assembly comprising a pair of seal plates situated around opposing ends of the retaining ring. Further, the assembly includes a hydraulic expansion device for providing a fluid pressure for hydraulically expanding the retaining ring until an inner diameter of the retaining ring is greater than the outer diameter of the rotor. Furthermore, the assembly includes a displacement device for providing axial movement of the seal assembly and the retaining ring.
US08458893B2
Generally, methods and processes for assembling magnetic components are presented herein. More specifically, conductors are wound around a substantially hollow bobbin. Portions of the conductors may be temporarily positioned outside the bobbin through slots in the flanges of the bobbin during the assembly process. Insulating layers may be wrapped around the conductors. The center legs of a pair of magnetic core halves may be inserted into the bobbin. The base of the magnetic core halves may have a passage to allow a conductor to pass therethrough at a height less than the height of the base.
US08458887B2
A method of casting a metal ingot with a microstructure that facilitates further working, such as hot and cold rolling. The metal is cast in a direct chill casting mold, or the equivalent, that directs a spray of coolant liquid onto the outer surface of the ingot to achieve rapid cooling. The coolant is removed from the surface at a location where the emerging embryonic ingot is still not completely solid, such that the latent heat of solidification and the sensible heat of the molten core raises the temperature of the adjacent solid shell to a convergence temperature that is above a transition temperature for in-situ homogenization of the metal. A further conventional homogenization step is then not required. The invention also relates to the heat-treatment of such ingots prior to hot working.
US08458884B2
An apparatus for forming a duct includes a bending apparatus and a support apparatus. The bending apparatus includes a table, a cut off beam, and a leaf hinged to a forward edge of the table. The cut off beam is movable toward and away from the table to clamp or release a metal web being fed forward across the table and the leaf. The cut off beam repeatedly clamps the metal web to the table while the leaf pivots toward the cut off beam to form a duct section. The support apparatus includes a cross rod movable along pivoting support arms. As the metal web is bent to form the duct section, the support arms and the cross rod are moved to internally support the duct section.
US08458883B2
A tool for grinding an inner diameter even when holders having grindstones are axially connected. A gap enclosed by the inner peripheral surface of a divided tool holder, a draw bar and O-rings is formed in a state in which the draw bar is inserted into a tool holder in which a plurality of divided tool holders are connected in series. A filler is filled into the gap to fix a support bush to the divided tool holder. An adjustment screw of each arm held circumferentially away from each other on the divided tool holder is turned to adjust a distance between a pin and the arm, and the radial projecting amount of each of grindstones is adjusted. The projecting amount is adjusted such that the plurality of grindstones rotate along the same rotational trajectory and the center of the rotational trajectory corresponds to the axis of the draw bar.
US08458882B2
A method of assembling a tampon applicator includes providing a barrel with internal ridges that define a guide channel having an effective diameter. The method includes providing a plunger that has a finger flare with a circular shape and a flare diameter that is at least 15% larger than the effective diameter of the guide channel. The method includes assembling the plunger and the barrel by pushing the finger flare into the guide channel and deforming the finger flare into a non-circular shape while moving the finger flare through the guide channel. The method includes moving the finger flare out of the plunger end of the barrel and reestablishing the circular shape of the finger flare.
US08458870B2
A needle (15) for a textile machine, in particular a felting needle or fork needle. A working section (17) extends along a longitudinal axis (16) and has a needle point (18). Adjoining the working section (17) are a lower shank section (20) and an upper shank section (25), both said shank sections extending coaxially with respect to each other along the longitudinal axis (16). Adjoining the upper shank section (25), there is provided a needle foot (30) that has a holding means (32) extending in a straight line in a transverse direction (31) transversely to the longitudinal axis (16). The diameter (E) of the upper shank section (25) is both greater than the diameter (D) of the lower shank section (20) and greater than the mean width of the holding means (32).
US08458858B2
A hinge plate had a part that can be attached to a frame or a door panel. The part has two hinge rollers that are spaced apart from one another. Sleeves are disposed in the hinge rollers so as not to rotate. A pin that is inserted into the sleeves bridges the distance between the hinge rollers. The pin has a pin head as well as a connector end for attachment of a pin screw. The pin head and the head of the pin screw attached to the pin are disposed countersunk within the hinge rollers. The pin screw has a collar that is fitted into the sleeve with a wedge fit.
US08458857B1
A device includes a base attachable to a first side of a door; a swing arm coupled to the base, the swing arm including a bracket flange configured to extend across an edge of the door between the first side of the door and a second side of the door opposite the first side of the door; and a biasing member coupled between the swing arm and the base and configured to urge the swing arm from a retracted position in which the bracket flange is adjacent the edge to an extended position in which the bracket flange is apart from the edge.
US08458853B2
A steam cleaner that includes a cleaning tool having a first cleaning surface configured to contact the surface being cleaned and a second cleaning surface configured to contact the surface being cleaned. The steam cleaner further includes a coupling operable to removably couple the cleaning tool and a conduit. The coupling includes a locking member movable from an engaged position to a disengaged position. The cleaning tool is coupled to the conduit for movement with the conduit when the locking member is in the engaged position and the cleaning tool is removable from the conduit when the locking member is in the disengaged position. The coupling further includes an actuator manually movable from a locked position to an unlocked position to move the locking member from the engaged position to the disengaged position, and a biasing member that biases the actuator toward the locked position.
US08458847B2
A device comprising a cleaning device operably attached to a mounting device, wherein the mounting device is configured to engage a footwear, wherein the cleaning device facilitates the cleaning of equipment, such as a golf club. Furthermore, a method of cleaning a golf club comprising providing a cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device has a first end and a second end, coupling the first end of the cleaning device and the attachment device, wherein the attachment device and a mounting plate form a mounting device, and wherein the mounting device is configured to engage a footwear is also provided.
US08458846B2
The invention relates to a device for dental and/or oral care, especially a tooth brush, comprising a preferably rod-shaped tool support to which a cleaning tool, especially a bristle field, can be fastened. The tool support is configured as a composite body that comprises an enveloping body from a first material, preferably plastic material, and a functional body from a second material, preferably metal, which is embedded in the enveloping body. The dental and/or oral care device is characterized in that the functional body is configured in at least some sections thereof as a trelliswork girder frame that has longitudinal girders substantially extending in the longitudinal direction of the tool support and a plurality of cross-girders. The enveloping body is especially transparent so that the functional body is visible through the enveloping body.
US08458844B2
Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for the cleaning of an endotracheal tube while a patient is being supported by a ventilator connected to the endotracheal tube for the purpose of increasing the available space for airflow or to prevent the build up of materials that may constrict airflow or be a potential nidus for infection. In one embodiment, a mechanically-actuated endotracheal tube cleaning device is configured to removably receive a visualization member to provide cleaning of the endotracheal tube under direct visualization.
US08458841B2
The invention relates to a brush head for a toothbrush. The brush head has a brush disc (3) mounted in a rotatable fashion on a brush body (2) and a channel (7) with an opening for the application of a cleaning product and a composite part (6) that serves as a valve (12) for opening the channel (7) and as a rotational bearing for the brush disc (3). The composite part (6) comprises a tube (8) made of hard material on the one end thereof and is connected to the channel (7) there. The valve (12), which is made of an elastic material, is disposed on the other end of the composite part (6). The tube (8) of the compound part (6) is connected to the brush body (2) in a stationary fashion, for example, pressed into the brush body (2). The brush disc (3) is mounted in a rotatable fashion on the tube (8). The valve (12) is preferably designed as a slotted valve with a slot (13).
US08458839B2
A method and apparatus for replacing a bridge using pre-cast materials, including steel piles, steel reinforced concrete caps, and metallic male and female connectors. The pre-cast materials can be formed to precise standards in a controlled factory environment before being brought to the worksite for the bridge replacement project. Further, the male and female connectors provide for a quick and robust way to connect the caps to the piles without the use of welding between the piles and the caps.
US08458836B2
A method of integrating a pillow, including stuffing, within an encapsulated mattress having a core and covering surrounding the core is disclosed. A mattress for use in institutions, such as correctional facilities, detention centers, rehabilitation centers, hospitals and the like, includes a core formed of a padding material, a pillow adjoining the core, the pillow containing stuffing, and a covering surrounding the core and the pillow. Also disclosed is a mattress including a core formed of a padding material, a pillow adjoining the core using a sleeve, the pillow containing stuffing, the sleeve retaining the pillow to the core, and a covering surrounding the core and the pillow.
US08458833B2
A patient support apparatus comprises a lower frame, a lift mechanism, a drive mechanism, and an upper frame. The lower frame includes a lift drive configured to at least one of expand and contract the lift mechanism. The lift mechanism is pivotably coupled with the lower frame to rotate about a rotational axis. A drive mechanism is coupled between the lift mechanism and the lower frame. The drive mechanism is configured to rotate the lift mechanism about the rotational axis. The upper frame is supported on the lift mechanism and responsive to the rotation of the lift mechanism to rotate a patient about the rotational axis.
US08458830B1
A body enveloping sleeping device has a generally pear shaped body member that has a mat, cushioned or uncushioned, that is encompassed by a cushion about the mat's outer periphery with a pocket formed between the mat and the cushion on an interior area of the device. A scalloped pillow is located atop the cushion at the cushion's wide end. At least one side opening is located in the body member for allowing the user's arms to pass therethrough. A blanket is attached, fixedly or removably, to the body member.
US08458815B1
An improved sports glove, of the type that includes a membrane that is generally configured to be worn on a wearer's hand so that the interior surface of the membrane comes in contact with the glove wearer's hand, has the improvements of a plurality of sensitizing elements that are attached to the membrane's interior surface for sensitizing the portion of the glove wearer's hand that adjoins these elements so as to enhance the wearer's ability to handle a piece of sports equipment.
US08464361B2
An apparatus for right management of digital contents that includes a digital right manager that creates a usage right of digital contents on the basis of received right information; and a contents manager that provides the digital contents in accordance with the created usage right. The contents manager includes a contents packing unit that receives the usage right created from the digital right manager, and extracts and packages components of the digital contents in accordance with the usage right, and a contents providing unit that receives packaged digital contents created from the contents packaging unit and provides the digital contents to a contents using device.
US08464360B2
There is described an information processing apparatus, which makes it possible to prevent a third party from stealing and using data owned by the correctly access-authorized person, so as to securely control the data concerned. The information processing apparatus includes: a data storage section to store data; an acquiring section to acquire positional information of an access-authorized person and a control section to determine whether or not an accessing operation for accessing to the data stored in the data storage section should be allowed, based on a determined result thereof. When the external terminal device tries to access into the data stored in the data storage section or the storing area of the data, the control section transmits a request of inputting authentication information to the external terminal device, in order to determine whether or not the accessing operation to be conducted by the external terminal device should be allowed.
US08464357B2
The present invention provides methods and systems for fingerprint-based copyright protection of real-time content. A first fingerprint is provided for content from a fingerprint ingesting device to a central server. The first fingerprint is associated with one or more business rules for the content at the central server. At least one of (a) a second fingerprint is provided for the content from a broadcast device to the central server, and (b) a third fingerprint is provided for the content from a receiving device to the central server. The first fingerprint is then compared with the at least one of the second and third fingerprints at the central server. One or more corresponding business rules may then be determined for the content based on the comparing.
US08464348B2
A computer is adapted for pay-for-use operation by adding a isolated computing environment to a standard computer. The isolated computing environment may include a trusted non-volatile memory, a digital signature verification capability, a clock or timer and a logic circuit for triggering execution of a validation program responsive to the clock or timer. The isolated computing environment may be protected from tampering by physical or cryptographic mechanisms, or both. The validation program measures or monitors for non-compliant states of the computer and may enforce sanctions when non-compliant states of the computer are detected.
US08464344B2
A device and method for receiving messages each having an order number includes a storage to store a plurality of prior-reception statuses, a mechanism to modify the status associated with an order number on receipt of a message having the order number, and a mechanism to process the message as a function of the status associated with its order number. An aircraft can be equipped with such a device.
US08464339B2
A method and system is provided to authorize a user to access in a service of higher trust level. The method includes the steps of defining first password, assigning a second password to a user, generating a value for each constituent of second password on operating an exclusivity relationship, calculating the score for the second password on summing the generating value, combining trust levels of multiple users to attain a higher trust level in aggregate, and obtaining access in a service if the aggregated trust level of users are equal to or more than the predetermined trust level of the service. The present technique provides flexibility of authenticating and authorizing a user to access in a service to perform desirable functions thereon. The present technique eliminates the requirement of tokens, pins, dongles etc. while attaining a higher trust level to perform a task which belongs to a higher trust level.
US08464325B2
Aspects include a mechanism of entitling users to transacted-for digital content access, indicating download authorization with discrete authentication URLs, and validating download attempts using each such URL. The authentication mechanism comprises producing an encrypted string included in a URL provided to a user. The encrypted string comprises transaction identifier information, and information about the transacted-for entitlement. When a user wishes to exercise the transacted-for entitlement, the user activates the URL, which is resolved to a location that has/can obtain access to the key(s) used in producing the encrypted string, decrypt the string, and use the information in it to validate the URL and the entitlement. The validation can use data retrieved from a database, using the transaction identifier as a key. The entitlement information included in the now-decrypted string can be compared with the prior download information. A byte range of requested by a browser using the URL can be used in validation, as well as how a particular authorization/validation should count for entitlement fulfillment.
US08464324B2
A system to verify user identity on a computer uses a server with a set of stored or created images. An image is selected and transmitted over a computer network to the computer whose user identity is to be verified. The user captures the image on a mobile communication device using, by way of example, a built-in camera. The captured image is transmitted via a public mobile network back to the server where the captured image is compared with the stored image. If the images match, the user identity is verified. In another embodiment, multiple images may be displayed and user-selectable options are selected by capturing one of the multiple images.
US08464316B2
Exemplary systems and methods for network authentication are provided. Exemplary systems include an application program interface configured for receiving a request for an authentication code, a code generator in communication with the application program interface, the code generator configured to generate the authentication code, and the application program interface further configured to receive the generated authentication code and allow an application to communicate digital data with a web-based social network. Further systems include the generated authentication code being received from a network device without an Internet browser and the received generated authentication code allowing an application to communicate digital data with a web-based social network for an extended period of time. Exemplary methods include receiving a request for an authentication code, generating the authentication code, receiving the generated authentication code, and allowing an application to communicate digital data with a web-based social network.
US08464315B2
Method and arrangement for enabling communications between an entity operating a network including a first user, and a second user includes sending a message from the first user to the entity informing the entity of identification information of the second user interested in joining the network, sending from the entity to the first user a key to allow the second user to communicate with the entity, providing a message from the first user directly to the second user containing the key, sending a message from the second user to the entity using the key, determining whether the key sent by the second user corresponds to the key provided by the entity to the first user, and if so enabling communications between the second user and the entity. The ability of the first user to obtain a key to enable the second user to join the network is time-limited.
US08464313B2
In one embodiment, a method includes defining a request for confidential information from a domain of confidential information based on an input from a relying entity. The domain of confidential information can be associated with a subject entity. A response to the request can be defined at an information provider. The method can also include sending the response to the relying entity when the response has been approved by the subject entity.
US08464306B2
A transport stream processing apparatus includes a demodulation module, a transport stream storage module, a multiplexer, and a conditional access system interface. The demodulation module is for demodulating an input signal to generate a first transport stream. The transport stream storage module is for storing a second transport stream. The multiplexer has an output port, a first input port for receiving the first transport stream, and a second input port for receiving the second transport stream. The multiplexer selectively couples the first input port or the second input port to the output port. The conditional access system interface is coupled to the output port of the multiplexer for coupling a conditional access module. The conditional access system interface transmits a transport stream outputted from the output port of the multiplexer to the conditional access module for signal processing when the conditional access module is coupled to the conditional access system interface.
US08464301B2
An upstream bandwidth conditioning premise device for use as part of a CATV system and for placement on or near a user's premise to reduce noise created on the user's premise that would otherwise be injected into upstream transmission channels and passed into an RF main signal distribution system of the CATV system. The device includes a variable attenuation device, a signal measurement circuit, a memory circuit and an electronic circuit, which is configured to iteratively determine (i) whether an incremental amount of additional attenuation is to be applied and (ii) whether at least a portion of a previously applied incremental amount of attenuation is to be removed. The electronic circuit includes a counting circuit, a threshold comparison circuit configured to compare a peak signal strength to a predetermined threshold, and a peak comparison circuit configured to compare a contemporary peak signal strength to a previous peak signal strength.
US08464299B1
The present invention controls delivery of television content to conserve network resources based on whether the television content is being viewed on a television monitor. A television gateway may monitor a viewer's interactions with the television gateway to determine whether the television content is being viewed at the associated television monitor, or detect whether the television monitor is on or off. Upon determining that the viewer is not viewing the television content, various actions can be taken to conserve network resources.
US08464293B2
A method and system of selecting assets for display in an interactive media guidance application includes receiving a user input indicating interest in a media item; generating a list of media assets related to the media item, selecting, based on priority rules, a subset of the media assets to display in an interactive media guidance application, and displaying an identifier for each of the subset of media assets in the interactive media guidance application screen. The priority rules may assign a first priority to one type of media asset and a second priority to a second type of media asset, and may be based on: whether the media asset has been viewed, and a respective time associated with the media asset.
US08464292B2
A system is configured to: receive identification information from a client device; identify a corresponding profile based on the identification information, where the corresponding profile is one of user profiles, device profiles, or generic profiles; generate a personalized television guide based on the corresponding profile, and transmit the personalized television guide to the client device.
US08464291B2
A content searching/providing system searching a record content from a randomly accessible memory storing contents and providing the record content to a user is provided. The system comprises: a content classification unit classifying the record contents of the memory in accordance with a predetermined rule; a channel assignment unit assigning a virtual channel to each classification; a content arrangement unit arranging the record contents classified into the same classification on the corresponding virtual channels; a user operation receiving unit receiving a user operation for commanding channel selection and content search on a channel; and a content providing unit acquiring a record content from a selected virtual channel in response to the user operation received via the user operation receiving unit and providing the record content.
US08464284B2
A disk rotation device is provided, the device including: a bearing assembly including a bearing formed with a rotation shaft hole and a bearing housing that accommodates the bearing; a stator including a core secured at a periphery of the bearing housing and a coil wound on the core; a rotation shaft coupled to the rotation shaft hole; a rotor including a yoke secured at the rotation shaft and a magnet arranged at an inner lateral surface of the yoke facing a distal end of the core; and a turn table including a turn table body coupled to the rotation shaft, balls accommodated inside a circular trench of the turn table body and a cover member that blocks the trench, wherein a curve that line-contacts the balls is formed at an area where an inner lateral surface of the trench and a floor surface connected to the inner lateral surface of the trench meets.
US08464270B2
A dependency is identified between a first component of a distributed computing system and a second component of the distributed computing system if the first component invokes the second component. A dependency map of the distributed computing system that includes the dependency between the first component and the second component is built.
US08464269B2
Techniques are described for managing states of an object using a finite-state machine. The states may be used to indicate whether an object has been added, removed, requested or updated. Embodiments of the invention generally include dividing a process into at least two threads where a first thread changes the state of the object while the second thread performs the processing of the data found in the object. While the second thread is processing the data, the first thread may receive additional updates and change the states of the objects to inform the second thread that it should process the additional updates when the second thread becomes idle.
US08464265B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to an efficient and flexible method and system for managing a pool of computational resources that can be allocated from a resource pool, used for varying periods of time, and eventually returned to the resource pool. Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for efficiently managing ephemeral ports used for short-duration communications connections. In one embodiment of the present invention, an array of port tables is employed to store and manage a large space of ephemeral protocol ports. Each port table is a circular buffer, each entry of which includes a port number that uniquely identifies a communications port, a sequence number that allows the port to be immediately reallocated, and any other additional protocol-specific information that may be associated with the port. A non-local-port-number portion of a connection address, comprising a remote IP address, a remote port number, and a local IP address, may be hashed to generate a numerical reference to a particular port table within the array, or list, of port tables, and ephemeral ports for the non-local-port-number portion of a connection address are allocated from, and deallocated and returned to, the numerically identified port table.
US08464262B2
This disclosure provides a system and method for summarizing jobs for a user group. In one embodiment, a job manager is operable to identify a state of a first job, the first job associated with a first job scheduler. A state of a second job is identified. The second job is associated with a second job scheduler. The first job scheduler and the second job scheduler are heterogeneous. A summary of information associated with at least the first job scheduler and the second job scheduler is determined using, at least in part, the first job state and the second job state. The summary is presented to a user though a dashboard.
US08464252B2
A system and method for isolating processes executing within a computing device. A process is loaded into a virtual machine operating under the control of a hypervisor communicatively interfaced with an operating system kernel. A subset of an application programming interface (API) is exposed to the virtual machine enabling the process to interface with the operating system kernel via the subset of the API. The process is then executed in the virtual machine.
US08464251B2
A virtual machine monitor; and an executive virtual machine to manage page tables in place of the virtual machine monitor are described. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08464248B2
Embodiments of methods and systems of providing contextual discovery of value-added components or add-ins of an application are disclosed. In conjunction with a startup of the application, indicators for each available value-added component for the application may be contextually displayed on a user interface of a first computing device, where the indicators are undifferentiated based on installation status of the value-added components. Upon a user selection of a particular value-added component that is not currently installed, the value-added component may be obtained from a second computing device and may be installed. The end-user is thus provided with an integrated seamless, contextual discovery and installation of desired value-added components on an as-needed basis. The methods and systems may be based on varying levels of permission, and may be performed for sub-components of value-added components.
US08464244B2
Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed for configuration of an application program using a set of pre-configuration data and a questionnaire. In one embodiment, a method for delivering configuration information for an application, can comprise saving a set of configuration information related to the application. A set of one or more questions related to configuration of the application can be defined and saved. In some cases, at least one of the set of one or more questions related to configuration of the application can relate to at least a subset of the set of configuration information. The set of configuration information and the set of one or more questions can be delivered for use in configuring an installation of the application.
US08464235B2
A system for providing an assembler for a microprocessor has a file which contains data describing the instruction set of the microprocessor. A translation device for translating into machine language accesses the instruction set descriptors to constrain the machine code output of the assembler to conform to the architecture of the instruction set.
US08464229B2
A method of creating a form-based web application using a computing device having at least a processor, a memory, a display device and an input device. The method includes retrieving from the memory and providing on the display device a number of form icons, each form icon representing a form to be displayed to a user of the application. The method further includes retrieving from said memory and providing on the display device a number of service icons, each service icon representing a service which may be called in response to actions of the user. The method further includes allowing a developer of the application to use the input device to select one or more of the form icons and one or more of the service icons and to arrange the selected icons on the display device. The method also includes allowing the developer to use the input device to arrange links between the selected icons, wherein the links together with the selected icons form an Application Diagram which represents the navigation of a user of the application between the forms and services represented by the selected form and service icons respectively. The method further includes compiling, at the processor, the application on the basis of the Application Diagram.
US08464227B2
A supervisory process control and manufacturing information application development and execution system is disclosed that supports the execution of application object scripts derived from multiple different scripting languages. In particular, the system includes a script editor interface that enables submission/specification of scripts for application objects. The script editor interface supports multiple distinct user-side script languages (e.g., user-supplied script text). A script translation component that receives the user-side script includes routines for rendering execution-side script (executable by a script engine) from source script rendered by the script editor and written according to any of a set of user-side script languages supported by the script translation component. The translator supports at least a first scripting language and a second scripting language. Finally, an execution portion of the system includes an engine for processing the commands within the translated output execution-side script generated by the script translation component.
US08464224B2
Implementations of the present disclosure provide for testing an application, and include loading a testing tool by a client that is in communication with an application server that executes the application, introducing probe code into a routine by a first component of the testing tool, the routine being called during execution of the application, and transmitting a request to the application using a second component of the testing tool. An elapsed time of an execution of the routine is determined based on the probe code, and a response is generated from the application server based on the request. A response time is determined based on the request and the response, and performance statistics are calculated based on the elapsed time and the response time.
US08464223B2
A method of detecting a datarace between memory accesses within a program includes determining whether a datarace exists between a first access event in a first statement and a second access event in a second statement. It is then determined whether a third statement is more weakly protected than one of the first statement and the second statement.
US08464222B2
A method, apparatus and software is disclosed for identifying dependencies between components for a given build of a componentised product in which the results of testing of combinations of existing and new components that comprise the product are used to identify dependencies between new components.
US08464219B1
Various example embodiments are directed to systems and methods for managing a plurality of distributed test engines to test at least one device under analysis (DUA). A controller and a control database may be used to manage the plurality of test engines. The control database may have stored thereon a plurality of configuration documents, a plurality of instruction documents, and at least one statistics document. Each configuration document may be associated with at least one of the plurality of test engines and may indicate an execution group of the associated at least one test engine. Each instruction document may be associated with an execution group and may comprise an indication of a testing task to be performed by the execution group associated with the instruction document. The controller may be configured to write to the plurality of configuration documents to assign each of the plurality of test engines to an execution group; write to the plurality of instruction documents to provide, for each execution group, a testing task to be performed by test engines of the execution group on the at least one DUA. The control database may configured to receive from at least a portion of a plurality of test engines an update to the at least one statistics document.
US08464212B2
An application registers a first component used by the application with a customizing mechanism, and a component setting unit notifies the customizing mechanism of a second component corresponding to the first component. In accordance with changeover of the second component corresponding to the first component by the component setting unit, the first component executes process using the second unit after the second unit has been changed over.
US08464211B2
A method and system for automatically converting forms generated using a desktop forms development tool to be compatible with mobile devices, for deploying the converted forms to the mobile devices, and for running converted forms on the mobile devices is provided. A forms system provides a conversion component, a deployment component, and a device component. A forms file is generated to be processed by a forms display program on a variety of devices. The forms system transforms the forms file to a target form file designed for execution by a target forms display program on a device of the target device type.
US08464209B2
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that provide and interact with a collaborative development information store in a team software development environment. A submission service updates an active meta-model of an application in a central information store that is used by multiple users. A notification service operating in a particular software development environment receives notice that changes have been made to the active meta-model. Information received from the notification service is then used to update a display in the particular software development environment. On the database server, a reception service is provided that receives active meta-model information of the application being developed by the multiple users as the information changes. A storage service is provided to store the received active meta-model information in a specific relational database structure that is operable to allow artifacts to be added without alteration to the specific relational database structure.
US08464207B2
A system and method may be used to track software changes by analyzing intermediate language level representations of the software. For example, software changes may be tracked by analyzing object-oriented program code that includes one or more non-native binary executables based on an intermediate language. The program code may be associated with metadata describing content of the non-native binary executables. An object tree, which includes a plurality of nodes, may be constructed to represent the non-native binary executables and the metadata describing the content of the non-native binary executables. One or more of the plurality of nodes may be hashed to associate respective digest values with the hashed nodes, such that changes in the received program code can be tracked using the digest values associated with the hashed nodes.
US08464205B2
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for managing a work packet's life cycle, wherein the work packet is assembled in a software factory that creates custom software in a standardized manner, are presented. In a preferred embodiment, the computer-implemented method comprises the steps of: defining a work packet to perform a sub-function of a custom software, wherein the work packet is a pre-stored, reusable, self-contained, discrete unit of software code; assembling the work packet; archiving the work packet in an asset repository; retrieving the work packet from the asset repository; and sending the work packet to an assembly line for consolidation with other work packets to create a custom software.
US08464202B2
A parameterizable design system is for use with semiconductor analog circuits and includes an interface unit connected to provide access to the system, a database unit connected to supply a library of parameterizable analog building blocks for a design entity, and a parameterization unit connected to select a parameter for one of the library of parameterizable analog building blocks to meet a design specification of the design entity. Additionally, the parameterizable design system may also include a simulation unit connected to simulate an operation of the design entity employing the parameter, and an analyzer unit connected to analyze a sensitivity of the parameter for the design entity based on the design specification. A method of designing a semiconductor analog circuit is also included.
US08464194B1
A method, system, and computer program product for machine learning approach for detecting and correcting lithographic hot-spots in an integrated circuit (IC) design are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A layout corresponding to the IC design is received at a machine learning model (ML model). At the ML model using a hardware component, a set of input objects is identified corresponding to a target shape in the layout. A retargeting value is predicted for the target shape using the set of input objects, such that applying the retargeting value to the target shape in the layout causes the target shape to be modified into a modified target shape, wherein printing the modified target shape instead of the target shape eliminates a lithographic hot-spot that would otherwise occur from printing the target shape in a printed circuit corresponding to the IC design.
US08464192B2
The present invention provides a lithography verification apparatus which executes high-precision lithography verification in consideration of the effects of individual errors integrated. Various information (simulation result, error standard, etc.) are input. A variation distribution value is calculated. The variation distribution value and a variation distribution error standard are compared to determine whether the variation distribution value is smaller than the error standard. The variation distribution error standard is a standard for a value or the like related to a standard deviation or the like for a dimensional displacement. When it is determined that the variation distribution value is smaller than the error standard, an error is determined not to exist, and the processing is ended. When it is determined that the variation distribution value is not smaller than the error standard, an error is determined to exist, and an error list and a variation distribution value are outputted.
US08464187B1
In accordance with the present method and system for improving integrated circuit layout, a local process modification is calculated from simulated process response variables at a set of control points. Said modification values are incorporated into the layout constraints imposed by design rules and design intent to account for manufacturing friendliness. Solving the updated constraint equation with user specified objective function produces a new layout with increased manufacturability. The new layout may further contain data tags that enable optimal process correction to be performed on selected locations, leading to reduction in data size and mask complexity. Also in accordance with this invention, physical design tools are enhanced to read and process anisotropic design rules.
US08464184B1
A method for gesture-based distribution of files may include 1) receiving, at a first computing device, input that identifies a file for gesture-based distribution to one or more other computing devices; 2) detecting a plurality of additional computing devices in physical proximity of the first computing device; 3) for each computing device in the plurality of additional computing devices, determining a physical location of the additional computing device; 4) detecting, on the first computing device, a gesture of a user of the first computing device; 5) determining, based on one or more of the physical locations of the additional computing devices, that the gesture of the user was directed toward one or more of the additional computing devices; 6) distributing the file to the one or more additional computing devices toward which the user gestured. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08464183B2
A method and system of distinguishing multimodal HCI from ambient human interactions using wake up commands is disclosed. In one embodiment, in a method of distinguishing multimodal HCI from ambient human interactions, a wake up command is detected by a computing system. The computing system is then woken up to receive a valid user command from a user upon detecting the wake up command. A countdown timer is substantially simultaneously turned on upon waking up the computing system to receive valid user commands. The countdown timer is set based on application usage parameters such as semantics of the valid user command and context of an application associated with the valid user command.
US08464177B2
Replacing display content in a window of a graphical user interface includes displaying a window in a graphical user interface, and displaying first display content in the window. A request initiated by a user to change a size of the window is received. Second display content is accessed based on the request. The second display content is different from the first display content. In response to the request, the window is resized and the second display content is substituted for the first display content in the resized window.
US08464175B2
A graphical user interface for use with a computer system including a display and a user selection device for selecting audio files, video files, and image files. A layout engine responds to a format file referenced to the selected audio files, the selected video files and the selected image files. A rendering engine generates journal display data defining a 3D journal image in accordance with the format file, the journal display data being provided to the display and corresponding to a 3D model. A bookshelf engine manages multiple 3D journal images.
US08464172B2
A user-activatable dashboard (also referred to as a unified interest layer) contains any number of user interface elements, referred to herein as “widgets,” for quick access by a user. In response to a command from a user, the dashboard is invoked and the widgets are shown on the screen. The user can activate the dashboard at any time, causing the dashboard to temporarily replace the existing user interface display on the user's screen. Once the dashboard has been activated, the user can interact with any or all of the widgets, and can configure the dashboard by adding, deleting, moving, or configuring individual widgets as desired. When the user wishes to return to the normal user interface he or she was working with, the user issues a command causing the dashboard to be dismissed. Once the dashboard has been dismissed, the previous user interface state is restored, allowing the user to resume normal interactions with the operating system.
US08464171B2
A device for the dimensionally variable display of a function chart on a display (10) of a laboratory apparatus, including a processing unit (14) that accesses data storage means (16, 18, 20) for digital laboratory data to be displayed as a function chart, prepares the digital laboratory data for depiction on the display, and can be manually operated via mechanically actuated keys and/or switching means (24), wherein the processing unit for performing the dimensional change of the depicted two-dimensional function chart is designed in such a way that a predetermined dimensional change in the abscissa toward a target range is performed as a reaction to actuating the first key and/or switch (28, 30) and shown on the display in such a way that the target range occupies a predetermined region of the abscissa, and the function chart is displayed along the ordinate in such a way that a predetermined range of ordinates automatically expands the region between a function maximum or a function minimum in the target range, and a reference point in the target range.
US08464169B2
The preferred embodiments described herein provide methods for identifying cells in a path in a flowchart and for synchronizing graphical and textual views of a flowchart. In one preferred embodiment, a method for identifying cells in a path in a flowchart is provided comprising the acts of displaying a flowchart comprising a plurality of cells, selecting a cell in the flowchart, determining a path comprising the selected cell, and identifying at least some of the cells in the path. In another preferred embodiment, a method for synchronizing graphical and textual views of a flowchart is provided. This method comprises the acts of displaying a graphical view of a flowchart comprising a plurality of cells in a first display region, displaying a textual view of at least some cells in the flowchart in a second display region, and in response to input received in either the first or second display regions, applying the input to both the first and second display regions. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments can be used alone or in combination with one another.
US08464163B2
A lead user may share an on-line media content experience with one or more followers by identifying content of interest being experienced on the lead user system, identifying one or more followers with whom to share the content of interest, inviting the followers to experience the content of interest, and enabling the followers to access the content of interest.
US08464159B2
A method of a user interacting with an Internet, comprising: tracking interactions of the user with an Internet; analyzing said tracked interactions to determine at least one aspect of a user's interaction with the Internet; and modifying future interactions of said user with said Internet, responsive to said determined aspect, wherein said modified interactions comprise site-content related interactions with a plurality of unrelated sites. Preferably, the aspect is adapted in real-time to reflect changes in the tracked interactions.
US08464152B2
An apparatus and method for providing instructional help, at multiple levels of sophistication, in a learning application includes assistance in the form to at least two optional levels of sophistication. The user can select any level of sophistication according to desire or need. The levels allow for flexibility in learning relative to the person involved, the amount of previous knowledge the person has about the subject matter, the differences in how different people learn.In one embodiment, the assistance is contained in programming on a CD-ROM which is used in an interactive computerized system.
US08464143B2
An apparatus, program product, and method that run an algorithm on a hardware based processor, generate a hardware error as a result of running the algorithm, generate an algorithm output for the algorithm, compare the algorithm output to another output for the algorithm, and detect the hardware error from the comparison. The algorithm is designed to cause the hardware based processor to heat to a degree that increases the likelihood of hardware errors to manifest, and the hardware error is observable in the algorithm output. As such, electronic components may be sufficiently heated and/or sufficiently stressed to create better conditions for generating hardware errors, and the output of the algorithm may be compared at the end of the run to detect a hardware error that occurred anywhere during the run that may otherwise not be detected by traditional methodologies (e.g., due to cooling, insufficient heat and/or stress, etc.).
US08464141B2
An embodiment of the invention relates to a BCH encoder formed with linear feedback shift registers (LFSRs) to form quotients and products of input polynomials with irreducible polynomials of a generator polynomial g(x) of the BCH encoder, with and without pre-multiplication by a factor xm. The BCH encoder includes multiplexers that couple LFSR inputs and outputs to other LFSRs depending on a data input or parity generation state. The BCH encoder can correct up to a selectable maximum number of errors in the input polynomials. The BCH encoder further includes LFSR output polynomial exponentiation processes to produce partial syndromes for the input data in a syndrome generation state. In the syndrome generation state the LFSRs perform polynomial division without pre-multiplication by the factor xm. The exponentiation processes produce partial syndromes from the resulting remainder polynomials of the input data block.
US08464140B2
The apparatus for appending CRC to the data or signaling to be transmitted in the communication systems is proposed in present invention. If the length of the CRC-bit sequence is 16, one of the CRC generation polynomials listed in present invention can be adopted. If the length of the CRC bit sequence is 18, one of the CRC generation polynomials listed in present invention can be adopted. If the length of the CRC bit sequence is 20, one of the CRC generation polynomials listed in present invention can be adopted. With the optimized CRC generation polynomials proposed in present invention, mistakes in signaling detection can be effectively reduced so that system spectrum utility can be improved.
US08464134B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and devices where an erase count is maintained for at least one block of solid state memory. Errors are corrected in data read from the solid state memory in accordance with the associated erase count of the memory block. In some embodiments, one or more of the following error-correction operations may be effected according to the associated erase count of a memory block from which the data is read: (i) a decoder and/or decoder mode is selected; (ii) a decision to attempt correcting errors using a lighter-weight weight decoder (mode) and/or heavier weight decoder (mode) and/or faster decoder (mode) and/or slower decoder (mode) is made; (iii) a mode transition and/or error correction attempt resource budget is determined; (iv) a number of soft bits is determined; and (v) a decoding bus width size is selected.
US08464133B2
A method, using a dispersed storage processing module, includes receiving media content determining social media metadata regarding the media content, encoding the media content in accordance with an error coding dispersal storage function to produce a plurality of sets of encoded data slices, identifying a plurality of memories to store the plurality of sets of encoded data slices, and sending the plurality of sets of encoded data slices to the plurality of memories when the social media metadata indicates that the media content is to be available for a local social network.
US08464125B2
A method and apparatus to perform Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) operations on a data block using a plurality of different n-bit polynomials is provided. A flexible CRC instruction performs a CRC operation using a programmable n-bit polynomial. The n-bit polynomial is provided to the CRC instruction by storing the n-bit polynomial in one of two operands.
US08464121B2
The embodiments herein relate to Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes, their corresponding matrices, and with an LDPC decoder architecture used to decode those codes. Embodiments herein relate to methods to generate a set of LDPC codes (typically of different rates) that share their wires as much as possible and therefore reduce the silicon area and ease the routing.
US08464120B2
A method for data transmission in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system, the method including, receiving multiple input data streams; performing low density parity check (LDPC) encoding of the input data streams utilizing a parity check matrix, the parity check matrix including a plurality of sub-parity check matrices for encoding respective ones of the input data streams; and performing space time encoding for transmitting the LDPC encoded input data streams over a plurality of antennas.
US08464113B1
A non-fighting fully clocked scan latch is described that is dynamically configurable to support both logic data latching and scan data latching. The described scan latch circuit design reduces a load placed on a logic data latch portion of the described circuit by a scan latch portion of the described circuit, and thereby increases the speed of the described scan latch to that of an output latch without scan capability. Power required to drive the described scan latch is reduced by clocking the circuit to avoid fighting and by reducing the number of transistors included in transistor stacks internal to the scan latch. By reducing drive power requirements, eliminating internal latch fighting, and increasing latch response, a versatile scan latch is achieved that may be successfully implemented in a wide range of circuits despite the use of different supply drive voltage, threshold voltage, source-to-drain voltage, and transistor technology combinations.
US08464111B2
A system comprises a plurality of components, scan chain selection logic coupled to the components, and override selection logic coupled to the scan chain selection logic. The scan chain selection logic selects various of the components to be members of a scan chain under the direction of a host computer. The override selection logic detects a change in the scan chain and, as a result, blocks the entire scan chain from progressing.
US08464109B2
The peripheral circuitry (350, 360, ESD, BH) of an integrated circuit die on a wafer is tested without physically contacting the bond pads of the die.
US08464103B2
A functional coverage model may be generated based on a trace. The functional coverage model may comprise values of attributes. The values may be extracted from one or more entries comprised by the trace. Based upon a selection of a field of an exemplary entry, content of the corresponding fields in other entries may be extracted and utilized. In some exemplary embodiments, names of attributes may be extracted from the trace. In some exemplary embodiments, a reference trace may be utilized as a comparative baseline coverage by generating a functional coverage model based upon the reference trace and comparing coverage of a second trace in respect to the functional coverage model with the coverage of the reference trace.
US08464099B2
A forced power down signal issues from an I/O device to an information handling system through an optical interconnect if the information handling system fails to power down in response to a normal power down message. A 100% duty cycle signal issues from an optical interface at the I/O device and is detected by an optical interface of the information handling system, which issues a command to force a power down of the information handling system in response to the forced power down signal.
US08464097B1
A method of creating backup files having less redundancy. The method creates a backup file by creating an overhead segment for each file that is to be backed up and creating a data segment containing the data that is to be backed up for each file. After creating the overhead segment and the data segment, the overhead segment is placed into an overhead stream data segment is stored in memory. The overhead segment is also positioned in the overhead stream with a pointer that identifies the data segment within the memory. For backups of subsequent servers or the same server at a later time, the backup software will create a separate overhead stream. However, a plurality of overhead streams may contain pointers to the same data segments such that redundant data segments do not need to be stored in a backup server.
US08464095B1
In general, embodiments of the invention relate to storing data by receiving a request to write data, in response the request, selecting a first RAID grid location in a RAID grid to write the data, determining a first physical address in persistent storage corresponding to the first RAID grid location, generating a first page comprising the data and first out-of-band (OOB), wherein the first OOB comprises a first grid geometry for the RAID grid, and a first stripe membership for the page within the RAID grid, and writing the first page to a first physical location in persistent storage corresponding to the first physical address.
US08464094B2
A disk array system, upon detecting a failure in any data disk from among a plurality of data disks providing one or more RAID groups, conducting a correction copy to any spare disk, using one or more other data disks belonging to the same RAID group as the data disk causing the failure. When the data disk causing the failure has been replaced with a new data disk, the disk array system alters the management so that the data disk can be managed as a spare disk, and the spare disk can be managed as a data disk.
US08464080B2
Methods, system, and computer program products are provided for managing server power consumption in a data center. Embodiments include detecting, by a circuit monitoring interposer, a type of a power circuit that is currently coupled to the circuit monitoring interposer; determining a power capacity of the power circuit based on the type of the power circuit; receiving, by the circuit monitoring interposer, a power consumption server measurement from each server monitoring interposer of a plurality of server monitoring interposers, each power consumption server measurement corresponding to a server of the plurality of servers; determining a total power consumption of the power circuit in dependence upon a total of the power consumption server measurements; and determining whether the total power consumption exceeds the power capacity, and if the total power consumption of the power circuit exceeds the power capacity, instructing one or more servers to reduce their power consumption.
US08464077B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection. Electronic appliances such as computers equipped in accordance with the present invention help to ensure that information is accessed and used only in authorized ways, and maintain the integrity, availability, and/or confidentiality of the information. Such electronic appliances provide a distributed virtual distribution environment (VDE) that may enforce a secure chain of handling and control, for example, to control and/or meter or otherwise monitor use of electronically stored or disseminated information. Such a virtual distribution environment may be used to protect rights of various participants in electronic commerce and other electronic or electronic-facilitated transactions. Distributed and other operating systems, environments and architectures, such as, for example, those using tamper-resistant hardware-based processors, may establish security at each node. These techniques may be used to support an all-electronic information distribution, for example, utilizing the “electronic highway.”
US08464072B2
The present invention controls to read encrypted digital data from a detachable storage medium, in which the digital data and a decode key for decoding encryption of the digital data are stored. In reading the digital data, the decode key is read, the decode key is deleted from the storage medium, the encrypted digital data is read, and then encryption of the encrypted digital data is decoded by the read decode key.
US08464069B2
Embodiments include systems and methods for securely accessing data in the context of a data transaction. A system may include a memory block, within which a memory partition may be allocated to the data transaction. The memory partition includes a data storage block and at least one binding register. The system also includes platform entities and an access control block, which determines whether a particular platform entity may access data within the data storage block, and whether a particular platform entity may write binding information into a binding register. Access also may be granted or denied based on the current state of a state machine associated with the data transaction. The system also includes a cipher/binding function adapted to encrypt the data, using the binding information, for storage on an unsecured memory device, and to decrypting encrypted data, using the binding information, which is retrieved from the unsecured memory device.
US08464064B2
Provided are a system and method for evaluating and certifying video PAT software, including a module for embedding a related information into the video image data and detecting the embedded information. A receiving module receives video PAT software and a certificate application associated with the video PAT software. A setting module sets an evaluation environment according to use cases of the PAT software received through the receiving module. An embedding module embeds predetermined information into a test video image data using an embedder of the received video PAT software. An attack module attacks the test video image data with the embedded information through various attack tools and generating an attacked video image data. A detecting module detects the embedded information from the attacked video image data by using a detector of the received video PAT software. An evaluating module evaluates statistic information about reliability of the video PAT software from the detected information. A certificate generating module generates a certificate containing the evaluated statistic information.
US08464060B2
A method (and structure) for a party (the prover) to prove its knowledge, jointly and non-malleably, of multiple secret (fixed and/or ephemeral) Diffie-Hellman exponents (DH-exponents), corresponding to its public (fixed and/or ephemeral) DH-components and with respect to the public (fixed and/or ephemeral) challenging DH-components from another party (the verifier). The joint proof-of-knowledge (JPOK) consists of secrets made by multiplying multiple DH-secrets, which can be generated and verified by each party by its own secret DH-exponents and the public DH-components of both parties. To ensure the non-malleability of the JPOK, the method makes all these multiplied DH-secrets to be independent, and makes the session-tag committed to the multiplied DH-secrets. In addition, the invented method makes the DH-secrets to be multiplied to further satisfy at least one of the following: (1) deniability; (2) pre-computability; and (3) post-ID computability.
US08464056B2
A communication method for transmitting TT Ethernet messages is a distributed real-time system, including a plurality of node computers. Each node computer has an Ethernet controller, which by way of a data line is directly connected to a port of a TTE star coupler, said port being uniquely associated with the node computer. A plurality of TTE star couplers are connected among each other by way of one or more data lines to form a TTE network. A TTE message scheduler dynamically calculates the conflict-free schedules for a number of time-controlled messages and signs the schedule provided for each node with a secret part of a public-key signature before it transmits said schedule to the corresponding node computer. Each node computer integrates the signed periodic schedule, which is transmitted to the node computer in the form of a TTE message header of an ETE message, into each dynamically calculated TTE message. The TTE star couplers check whether each dynamically calculated TTE message contains an authentically signed schedule.
US08464055B2
Provided are a method and apparatus to ensuring communication security between a control apparatus and a controlled apparatus in a home network. The control apparatus in the home network establishes a registration Secure Authenticated Channel (SAC) with the controlled apparatus by using a Transport Layer Security Pre-Shared Key ciphersuites (TLS-PSK) protocol implemented by using a Product Identification Number (PIN) of the controlled apparatus input from a user, shares a private key with the controlled apparatus via the registration SAC, and uses services of the controlled apparatus via a service SAC established by using the TLS-PSK protocol implemented by using the shared private key to easily implement a framework ensuring communication security in the home network.
