US08642597B2
The present invention relates to novel pyrazole compounds of the formulae I and II, to their salts and their N-oxides which can be used for combating or controlling invertebrate pests, in particular arthropod pests. The invention also relates to a method for controlling invertebrate pests by using these compounds. The present invention also relates to seed and to an agricultural and veterinary composition comprising said compounds. wherein A is a pyrazole radical of the formulae A1, A2 or A3 # denotes the binding site to the remainder of formulae I or II; X1 is S, O or NR1a; X2 is OR2a, NR2bR2c, S(O)mR2d; X3 is a lone pair or oxygen; R1, R2 and R3 are, inter alia, hydrogen, and wherein R41, R42, R43, R51, R52, R53, R61, R62, R63, are as defined in claim 1.
US08642593B2
The present disclosure provides biologically active 2,4-pyrimidinediamine compounds of formulae (I)-(III): and salts thereof, compositions comprising these compounds, and methods of using these compounds in a variety of applications.
US08642588B2
The invention relates to esylate salts of the compound of formula (I): Methods of preparing the salts, and their use as medicaments, in particular for sedative or hypnotic, anxiolytic, muscle relaxant, or anticonvulsant purposes is also described.
US08642585B2
The present invention relates to compounds of general formula I, wherein the groups R1, R2 and m are defined as in claim 1, which have valuable pharmacological properties, in particular bind to the GPR40 receptor and modulate its activity. The compounds are suitable for treatment and prevention of diseases which can be influenced by this receptor, such as metabolic diseases, in particular diabetes type 2.
US08642580B2
Compounds which are α-halogenoacryloyl distamycin derivatives of formula (I) wherein R1 is a bromine or chlorine atom; R2 is a distamycin or distamycin-like framework as set forth in the specification; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; are cytotoxic agents particularly effective in the treatment of tumors over expressing GSH/GSTs system and which are poorly responsive or even resistant to conventional antitumor therapies.
US08642579B2
This invention discloses 1-desoxy-2-methylene-19-nor-vitamin D analogs, and specifically (20S)-25-hydroxy-1-desoxy-2-methylene-19-nor-vitamin D3 and pharmaceutical uses therefor. This compound exhibits relatively high binding activity and pronounced activity in arresting the proliferation of undifferentiated cells and inducing their differentiation to the monocyte thus evidencing use as an anti-cancer agent especially for the treatment or prevention of leukemia, colon cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer or prostate cancer.
US08642578B2
Dermal fibroblasts permanently loose their ability to synthesize elastin, the major component of elastic fibers, shortly after puberty. This progressive loss of elastic fibers cannot be replaced, resulting in the physical signs of aging. The present invention provides methods and compositions containing the polyphenols ellagic acid and/or tannic acid for protection against degradation of cutaneous elastic fibers by the elastolytic enzymes. The use of ellagic acid and/or tannic acid increased the overall deposition of elastic fibers in healthy and damaged skin cells. The protection of both intra-tropoelastin and extra-cellular mature elastic fibers from proteolytic enzymes by ellagic acid and tannic acid caused an increase in the net deposition of elastic fibers. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention provide methods and composition for the treatment of skin and prevention and treatment of degradation of dermal elastic fibers.
US08642573B2
The application describes treatment of hepatic encephalopathy using gastrointestinal specific antibiotics. One example of a gastrointestinal specific antibiotic is rifaximin. The instant application also provides methods for determining if a subject has a neurological condition or hepatic encephalopathy by determining the critical flicker frequency and/or the venous ammonia level of the subject at two or more time points. The invention further provides methods for treating these subjects.
US08642565B2
The present invention relates to compounds consisting of glycolipids covalently bound to an antigen or a drug via a linker. The said compounds are able to induce a stronger immune response than a composition comprising separated glycolipids and antigen. The said compounds are also able to target drug to CD1d restricted cells.
US08642554B2
The invention provides small molecule mimics of the Smac peptide that are dimer-like or trimer-like compounds having two or three amide-containing domains connected by a linker. These compounds are useful to promote apoptosis. The invention includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods to use them to treat conditions including cancer and autoimmune disorders.
US08642546B2
The invention provides nucleic acid molecules encoding FGF21 mutant fusion polypeptides comprising mutations at positions 98, 171, 179, 180 or 181, FGF21 mutant polypeptides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising FGF21 mutant polypeptides, and methods for treating metabolic disorders using such nucleic acids, polypeptides, or pharmaceutical compositions.
US08642542B2
The invention describes albumin fusion proteins comprising growth hormone and serum albumin. The invention also describes nucleic acid molecules encoding the albumin fusion proteins of the invention, as well as vectors containing these nucleic acid molecules, host cells transformed with these vectors, and methods of making the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and using these nucleic acids, vectors, and/or host cells. Additionally, the invention describes compositions comprising the albumin fusion proteins, and methods of treating patients in need of growth hormone, comprising administering the albumin fusion proteins of the invention.
US08642536B2
Described is a method of fabricating biologically active, unnatural polypeptides. The method includes the steps of selecting a biologically active polypeptide or biologically active fragment thereof having an amino acid sequence comprising α-amino acid residues, and fabricating a synthetic polypeptide that has an amino acid sequence that corresponds to the sequence of the biologically active polypeptide, but wherein about 14% to about 50% of the α-amino acid residues found in the biologically active polypeptide or fragment of step (a) are replaced with β-amino acid residues, and the α-amino acid residues are distributed in a repeating pattern.
US08642533B2
The present invention relates to methods of maintaining, and methods of restoring, a desired calcium homeostasis in a non-human terrestrial animal by administering an effective amount of one or more Calcium-Sensing Receptor modulators (CaSRs) to the animal. The invention further provides methods of reducing foot lesions in chickens. The invention also relates to food compositions useful in the methods of the invention.
US08642527B2
The invention provides an aqueous bleaching solution for substrate treatment. The aqueous bleaching solution features a source of oxidant and a plurality of optically functional nanoparticles. The optically functional nanoparticles are nanoparticles in the range of about 0.1 nanometers to about 400 nanometers in size. The aqueous bleaching solution may optionally include one or more an oxidant-stable surfactants and optionally, one or more oxidant-stable polymers, and adjuncts. The optically functional nanoparticles are extremely stable in the aqueous bleaching solution and remain substantially suspended in the aqueous bleaching solution due to their extremely small size despite having an average density greater than that of the bleaching solution. The optically functional nanoparticles provide at least one optical functional benefit to the bleaching solution owing to their uniform and stable suspension throughout the solution, including such benefits as uniform light absorption, light and radiation scattering, fluorescent emission, phosphorescent emission, coloration, and visual aesthetic benefits and the like. Further, optically functional benefits include those benefits provided to a substrate or surface treated with the aqueous bleaching solutions whereby the optically functional property is transferred either temporarily or permanently to the substrate or surface following contact with bleaching solutions containing the optically functional nanoparticles.
US08642523B2
The present invention is directed to a method for improving the fuel efficiency of engine oil compositions by reducing the traction coefficient of the oil by formulating the oil using a blend of one or more first base stock(s) selected from Group II base stock, Group III base stock and Group IV base stock and a second base stock selected from polyisobutylene (PIB) and, preferably, additized with a detergent.
US08642520B2
Compositions comprising silicone fluids are formulated to provide improved metal-to-metal lubrication. Such Lubricating compositions comprise a major amount of (1) one or more siloxane polymer (“silicone fluids”) selected from dimethyl siloxane polymers (also known as dimethyl silicone) and/or phenylmethyl dimethyl siloxane copolymers (also known as phenyl silicone), and lesser amounts of (2) synthetic and/or bio-based ester co-fluid, and (3) an alkoxylated aliphatic polyamine derivative. Unexpectedly, the compositions show a significant improvement in metal-to-metal lubrication, performing better than either the silicone fluids alone or and a combination of silicone with-ester and or silicone with-alkoxylated aliphatic polyamine combinations.
US08642509B2
The present invention provides a method of reducing phytotoxicity to crops (especially maize) caused by a herbicidal benzoylisoxazole and/or dione derivative of formula (I) or an agriculturally acceptable salt or metal complex thereof; which method comprises applying to the locus of the crop an antidotally effective amount of an antidote compound, optionally with a partner herbicide.
US08642502B2
The present invention relates biomedically useful compositions containing bioactive agents and biodegradable carbohydrate polyethers that exhibit reverse thermogelation properties in aqueous media. The microstructure structure and properties of the carbohydrate polyethers can be conveniently controlled with respect to functionality, molecular weight, polydispersity index, microstructure and tertiary structure, they can be customized for use in a variety of biomedical applications including drug delivery, cell delivery, surgical procedures and the like.
US08642495B2
Catalysts of the invention are not corroded in acidic electrolytes or at high potential and have excellent durability and high oxygen reducing ability. A catalyst includes a metal oxycarbonitride containing niobium and at least one metal M selected from the group consisting of tin, indium, platinum, tantalum, zirconium, copper, iron, tungsten, chromium, molybdenum, hafnium, titanium, vanadium, cobalt, manganese, cerium, mercury, plutonium, gold, silver, iridium, palladium, yttrium, ruthenium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium and nickel. A process for making the catalyst involves a heat treatment.
US08642493B2
[Task] To improve activity of a lower hydrocarbon aromatization catalyst and the catalyst stability.[Solving Means] In a method for producing a lower hydrocarbon aromatization catalyst to produce an aromatic compound by a catalytic reaction using a lower hydrocarbon as a raw material, the catalyst includes a metallosilicate on which molybdenum is supported, a silane in 0.75 weight % or more relative to the metallosilicate component is supported, and the catalyst is prepared by conducting a compressive shaping without adding an inorganic binder that binds particles of the catalyst. As a result, the lower hydrocarbon aromatization catalyst maintains a sufficient shape-retaining property even by a compressive shaping in a binderless manner. Stability of the catalyst and activity of the catalyst improve by subjecting the lower hydrocarbon aromatization catalyst to a compressive shaping in a binderless manner. Its advantageous effect is conspicuous when the amount of addition in terms of silicon oxide is 0.75 weight %.
US08642486B2
A control unit heats a reaction pipe to a load temperature by controlling a temperature-raising heater 16, and then makes semiconductor wafers received in the reaction pipe. Next, the control unit heats the reaction pipe in which the semiconductor wafers are received to a film formation temperature by controlling the temperature-raising heater, and then forms thin films on the semiconductor wafers by supplying a film forming gas into the reaction pipe from a process gas introducing pipe. Also, the control unit sets the load temperature to a temperature higher than the film formation temperature.
US08642485B2
A method for fabricating a patterned polyimide film, wherein the method comprises steps as follows: Firstly, a polyimide film is provided on a substrate. A wet planarization process is then performed to remove a portion of the polyimide film. Subsequently the planarized polyimide film is patterned.
US08642482B2
A plasma etching method, for plasma-etching a target substrate including at least a film to be etched, an organic film to become a mask of the to-be-etched film, and a Si-containing film which are stacked in order from bottom, includes the first organic film etching step, the treatment step and the second organic film etching step when the organic film is etched to form a mask pattern of the to-be-etched film. In the first organic film etching step, a portion of the organic film is etched. In the treatment step, the Si-containing film and the organic film are exposed to plasma of a rare gas after the first organic film etching step. In the second organic film etching step, the remaining portion of the organic film is etched after the treatment step.
US08642479B2
A method for forming an opening in a semiconductor device is provided, including: providing a semiconductor substrate with a silicon oxide layer, a polysilicon layer and a silicon nitride layer sequentially formed thereover; patterning the silicon nitride layer, forming a first opening in the silicon nitride layer, wherein the first opening exposes a top surface of the polysilicon layer; performing a first etching process, using gasous etchants including hydrogen bromide (HBr), oxygen (O2), and fluorocarbons (CxFy), forming a second opening in the polysilicon layer, wherein a sidewall of the polysilicon layer adjacent to the second opening is substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the silicon oxide layer, wherein x is between 1-5 and y is between 2-8; removing the silicon nitride layer; and performing a second etching process, forming a third opening in the silicon oxide layer exposed by the second opening.
US08642476B2
There is provided a method for manufacturing a SiC semiconductor device achieving improved performance. The method for manufacturing the SiC semiconductor device includes the following steps. That is, a SiC semiconductor is prepared which has a first surface having at least a portion into which impurities are implanted. By cleaning the first surface of the SiC semiconductor, a second surface is formed. On the second surface, a Si-containing film is formed. By oxidizing the Si-containing film, an oxide film constituting the SiC semiconductor device is formed.
US08642471B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure. The method can effectively reduce the contact resistance between source/drain regions and a contact layer by forming two contact layers of different thickness on the surfaces of the source/drain regions. Further, the present invention provides a semiconductor structure, which has reduced the contact resistance.
US08642466B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of bit line structures over a substrate, forming multiple layers of spacer layers with a capping layer interposed therebetween over the bit line structures, exposing a surface of the substrate by selectively etching the spacer layers, forming air gaps and capping spacers for covering upper portions of the air gaps by selectively etching the capping layer, and forming storage node contact plugs between the bit line structures.
US08642465B2
Reliable electrical contact is made with electronic components and effective electrical isolation is produced between the top and bottom of the electronic components. An electronic component is arranged inside a window in a first layer on a substrate. Next, a second layer is put on such that contact areas on the component and contact points on the first layer are freely accessible. Electrical contacts and electrical connecting lines are produced by electrodeposition. The second layer is used to produce bridges over an interval range between the electronic component and the first layer. The bridges have connecting lines formed on them. The second layer can be removed again. Radio-frequency modules can be produced in compact fashion and can be combined with audio-frequency components.
US08642447B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes preparing a semiconductor wafer including a silicon substrate and a laminate having a compound semiconductor layer; etching and removing a part of the laminate in a thickness direction to form trench regions in a grid, each trench region including a plurality of stripe grooves extending in parallel to each other; filling the groove with a material having a lower hardness than the compound semiconductor layer to form a buried region; and dividing the semiconductor wafer into a plurality of chips by dicing using a blade at a dicing line which is defined within the trench region and includes a plurality of the buried regions.
US08642439B2
A system and method for forming a semiconductor device is provided. An embodiment comprises forming a silicide region on a substrate along with a transition region between the silicide region and the substrate. The thickness of the silicide precursor material layer along with the annealing conditions are controlled such that there is a larger ratio of one atomic species within the transition region than another atomic species, thereby increasing the hole mobility within the transition region.
US08642428B2
A semiconductor device having a line-type active region and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes an active region configured in a successive line type, at least one active gate having a first width and crossing the active region, and an isolation gate having a second width different from the first width and being formed between the active gates. The isolation gate's width and the active gate's width are different from each other to guarantee a large storage node contact region, resulting in increased device operation characteristics (write characteristics).
US08642426B2
It is an object to allow an inverter to be made up using a single island-shaped semiconductor, so as to provide a semiconductor device comprising a highly-integrated SGT-based CMOS inverter circuit. The object is achieved by a semiconductor device which comprises an island-shaped semiconductor layer, a first gate dielectric film surrounding a periphery of the island-shaped semiconductor layer, a gate electrode surrounding a periphery of the first gate dielectric film, a second gate dielectric film surrounding a periphery of the gate electrode, a tubular semiconductor layer surrounding a periphery of the second gate dielectric film, a first first-conductive-type high-concentration semiconductor layer disposed on top of the island-shaped semiconductor layer, a second first-conductive-type high-concentration semiconductor layer disposed underneath the island-shaped semiconductor layer, a first second-conductive-type high-concentration semiconductor layer disposed on top of the tubular semiconductor layer, and a second second-conductive-type high-concentration semiconductor layer disposed underneath the tubular semiconductor layer.
US08642397B1
A wafer-level semiconductor package method comprising the step of providing a first wafer comprising a plurality of first dies each having a first, a second and a third electrodes formed on its front surface; attaching a second die having a fourth and a fifth electrodes formed on its front surface and a sixth electrode formed at its back surface onto each of the first die of the first wafer with the sixth electrode at the back surface of the second die attached and electrically connected to the second electrode at the front surface of the first die; and cutting the first wafer to singulate individual semiconductor packages.
US08642394B2
An electronic device and method of manufacturing. One embodiment includes attaching a first semiconductor chip to a first metallic clip. The first semiconductor chip is placed over a leadframe after the attachment of the first semiconductor chip to the first metallic clip.
US08642392B2
An object of the invention is to provide a method for producing a conductive member having low electrical resistance, and the conductive member is obtained using a low-cost stable conductive material composition that does not contain an adhesive. A method for producing a semiconductor device in which silver or silver oxide provided on a surface of a base and silver or silver oxide provided on a surface of a semiconductor element are bonded, includes the steps of arranging a semiconductor element on a base such that silver or silver oxide provided on a surface of the semiconductor element is in contact with silver or silver oxide provided on a surface of the base, temporarily bonding the semiconductor element and the base by applying a pressure or an ultrasonic vibration to the semiconductor element or the base, and permanently bonding the semiconductor element and the base by applying heat having a temperature of 150 to 900° C. to the semiconductor device and the base.
US08642390B2
Organic-adhesive tapes are often used to secure and protect the bumps during wafer processing after bump formation. While residual organic-adhesive tape may remain on the wafer after tape de-lamination, applying a bump template layer on the bumps before laminating the tape allows any residue to be removed afterwards and results in a residue-free wafer.
US08642384B2
A semiconductor device has a substrate and first conductive layer formed over the substrate. An insulating layer is formed over the first substrate with an opening over the first conductive layer. A second conductive layer is formed within the opening of the insulating layer. A portion of the second conductive layer is removed to expose a horizontal surface and side surfaces of the second conductive layer below a surface of the insulating layer. The second conductive layer has non-linear surfaces to extend a contact area of the second conductive layer. The horizontal surface and side surfaces can be stepped surfaces or formed as a ring. A third conductive layer is formed over the second conductive layer. A plurality of bumps is formed over the horizontal surface and side surfaces of the second conductive layer. A semiconductor die is mounted to the substrate.
US08642373B2
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a photovoltaic device that includes: providing a substrate having a first electrode formed thereon; forming a first unit cell, the first unit cell including a first conductive silicon layer, an intrinsic silicon layer and a second conductive silicon layer, which are sequentially stacked from the first electrode; exposing to the air either a portion of an intermediate reflector formed on the first unit cell or the second conductive silicon layer of the first unit cell; forming the rest of the intermediate reflector or the entire intermediate reflector on the second conductive silicon layer of the first unit cell in a second manufacturing system; and forming a second unit cell on the intermediate reflector in the second manufacturing system, the second unit cell including a first conductive silicon layer, an intrinsic silicon layer and a second conductive silicon layer, sequentially stacked.
US08642361B2
A method for large scale manufacture of photovoltaic devices includes loading a substrate into a load lock station and transferring the substrate in a controlled ambient to a first process station. The method includes using a first physical deposition process in the first process station to cause formation of a first conductor layer overlying the surface region of the substrate. The method includes transferring the substrate to a second process station, and using a second physical deposition process in the second process station to cause formation of a second layer overlying the surface region of the substrate. The method further includes repeating the transferring and processing until all thin film materials of the photovoltaic devices are formed. In an embodiment, the invention also provides a method for large scale manufacture of photovoltaic devices including feed forward control.
US08642357B2
The present invention provides methods of treating a subject diagnosed with, or at risk for developing, pathogenic fibrosis, particularly pulmonary fibrosis. The method of the invention comprises administering to the subject a compound or composition which inhibits semaphorin (SEMA) 7A, SEMA 7A receptors, or downstream effectors. A SEMA 7A inhibitor comprises an antibody, a soluble SEMA 7A receptor, an siRNA, a ribozyme, an antisense, an aptamer, a peptidomimetic, a small molecule, a soluble receptor, or any combinations thereof.
US08642356B2
The present invention relates to a cascade enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, more precisely a cascade enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using magnetic microparticles (MMPs) immobilized with the target antigen specific primary antibody and silica nanoparticles (SPs) immobilized with a cascade reaction initiator and the antigen-specific secondary antibody. When the method of the present invention is applied in the detection of an antigen in biosamples, the detection sensitivity can be significantly increased.
US08642355B2
A versatile drug testing device (a lateral flow diagnostic testing device) includes a flat transparent carrier with a top and a bottom with the carrier having a series of independent parallel grooves formed therein running from adjacent to the top to adjacent to the bottom of the carrier, each groove having a first opening and a second opening above the first opening therein adjacent to the bottom of the carrier, at least one drug test strip installed in one of said grooves with its absorbent pad contiguous to the openings and a cover layer attached to the carrier operable to sealing close each of said grooves whereby the bottom of the device can be immersed in a specimen of urine, body fluid, or other biological specimen to wet the pad of the at least one test strip though the ingress of the specimen though the associated openings and the test results on the test strip can be easily viewed through the transparent carrier. Because of the unique construction the device will give accurate reading if temporarily immersed in the specimen or left in the specimen for an extended period of time, making it very user friendly.
US08642354B2
The present teachings provide a fluid processing device adapted to produce different oligomers in a plurality of respective reaction sites. The fluid processing device can comprise a first manifold for delivering reactants to the plurality of reaction sites, and a second manifold for removing waste from, and optionally delivering wash fluid to, the plurality of reaction sites. Surface tension control valves can be disposed in fluid communication with the first manifold and can selectively allow reactants and/or fluids into the reaction sites. A method of making oligonucleotides is also provided.
US08642335B2
Compositions of purified biologically active Wnt proteins are provided. Wnt proteins are found to be hydrophobic and post-translationally modified by addition of a lipid moiety at a conserved cysteine residue. Methods for isolation of Wnt utilize detergents that maintain the solubility of the modified protein.
US08642331B2
Methods are provided for treating and/or reducing the severity of multiple sclerosis in a human, by administering autologous mesenchymal stem cell-derived neural precursors. Also described is an in vitro method for differentiating mesenchymal stem-cell derived neural precursor oligodengroglial and neuronal cell types.
US08642330B2
Antibody compositions and methods for inhibition of the effects of gonadotropin hormones are provided. Methods for treating cancer and methods for regulating fertility are provided by administration of the antibody compositions to a mammalian subject in need thereof.
US08642328B2
This present invention provides novel methods for deriving embryonic stem cells, those cells and cell lines, and the use of the cells for therapeutic and research purposes without the destruction of the embryo. It also relates to novel methods of establishing and storing an autologous stem cell line prior to implantation of an embryo, e.g., in conjunction with reproductive therapies such as IVF.
US08642317B2
The invention provides a bacterial isolate defined by accession number 180507-1 filed with the International Depository Authority of Canada. The bacteria are capable of degrading trichothecene mycotoxins. Also provided are compositions comprising the bacteria and methods of preventing or treating food, foodstuffs, crops and harvested crops that are contaminated or susceptible to contamination with trichothecene mycotoxins. Kits are also provided.
US08642315B2
Process for preserving insulin secreting cells intended to be transplanted, including the following steps: introducing an initial volume of culture medium and insulin-secreting cells into a culture container, providing a culture medium source, and replacing, at time intervals below 8 hours, the culture medium in the culture container with culture medium from the source so as to renew the culture medium contained in the container.
US08642313B2
The present invention provides methods of improving growth performance, improving the efficiency of feed utilization, increasing feed digestibility, and decreasing mortality of immature and developing animals receiving animal feed. Methods of producing a crude keratinase enzyme extract and animal feed supplements for achieving the same are also provided.
US08642305B2
A bacillus composition characterized by fast germination and outgrowth in bile salts (simulated gut environment) and by high-level secretion of phytase. The bacillus composition may be used as supplement in animal feed where it has a probiotic (health promoting) effect and increases the digestion and availability of nutrients from animal feeds.
US08642300B2
Provided is a method for production of bioethanol using watermelon seeds and, more particularly, a method for producing bioethanol with high production yield using watermelon seeds, including: sterilizing watermelon seeds, which are usually discarded as food waste from domestic houses, supermarkets, farm houses, etc., at 121° C. for 10 to 20 minutes under anaerobic conditions; finely grinding the sterilized watermelon seeds; adding glacial acetic acid to the ground seeds to remove linoleic acid therefrom; and inoculating the treated seeds free from linoleic acid with a strain for ethanol fermentation such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, followed by agitating at 25 to 35° C. and 100 to 300 rpm for 5 to 15 days, to conduct fermentation.
US08642297B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for the production of L-ribitol and other rare sugars using a mannitol-1-dehydrogenase.
US08642295B2
The present invention relates in one aspect to a method for analyzing the frequency of interaction of a target nucleotide sequence with one or more nucleotide sequences of interest (eg. one or more genomic loci) comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sample of cross-linked DNA; (b) digesting the cross-linked DNA with a primary restriction enzyme; (c) ligating the cross-linked nucleotide sequences; (d) reversing the cross linking; (e) optionally digesting the nucleotide sequences with a secondary restriction enzyme; (f) optionally ligating one or more DNA sequences of known nucleotide composition to the available secondary restriction enzyme digestion site(s) that flank the one or more nucleotide sequences of interest; (g) amplifying the one or more nucleotide sequences of interest using at least two oligonucleotide primers, wherein each primer hybridises to the DNA sequences that flank the nucleotide sequences of interest; (h) hybridising the amplified sequence(s) to an array; and (i) determining the frequency of interaction between the DNA sequences.
US08642293B2
The invention is directed to a disposable sample holding and processing device (1) dimensioned for being operated in a nucleic acid amplification apparatus for analyzing a liquid sample containing a nucleic acid by a nucleic acid amplification technique. The device (1) comprises chambers (15, 16) and channels (44) designed to perform the steps of capturing, amplification and detection of the nucleic acid within the device (1), and optionally also a lysis chamber (3). The binding chamber (15) contains a solid phase (14) for immobilization of a component of the sample to be analyzed, and the amplification chamber (16) is connected to the binding chamber (15) by a fluid channel (44). The device (1) comprises a rigid body (42) and at least one channel (44), the binding chamber (15) and the amplification chamber (16) are situated on side-surfaces (50) of the body (42), each of those side-surfaces (50), on which a channel (44), the binding chamber (15) or the amplification chamber (16) is situated, is covered by at least one wall (41) and these side-surfaces (50) are substantially vertical planes when the device (1) is operated in the nucleic acid amplification apparatus.
US08642280B2
The present invention relates to a method for treating cancer, for instance brain tumors, in a subject by inhibiting a teneurin by administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a modulator of said teneurin, for example a specific antibody or a siRNA. The present invention also encompasses methods of diagnosing cancer by measuring levels of teneurin.
US08642279B2
The invention encompasses methods and compositions for predicting the risk of metastasis. In particular, the invention encompasses a method for correlating the the level of expression of one or more nucleic acid sequences with a risk of metastasis.
US08642274B2
The present invention provides a method of monitoring the efficacy of an immunotherapy in a mammalian subject, wherein the subject has been administered an immunotherapy, wherein the immunotherapy comprises a viral vector containing a polynucleotide encoding an antigen, wherein the viral vector is capable of transducing cells in the mammalian subject to cause the cells to express the antigen; the method comprising: (b) measuring, from a biological sample isolated from the subject, an immune response of the subject to the antigen and comparing the immune response of the subject to the antigen to a reference measurement of immune response to the antigen; (c) measuring, from a biological sample isolated from the subject, an immune response of the subject to the viral vector and comparing the immune response of the subject to the viral vector to a reference measurement of immune response to the viral vector; and (d) determining efficacy based on the comparisons of (b) and (c), wherein an elevated immune response to the antigen and a reduced immune response to the viral vector are indicative of an effective immunotherapy.
US08642271B2
This application describes methods and compositions for detecting and treating C6Orf150-associated neoplasia. Differential methylation of the C6Orf150 nucleotide sequences has been observed in C6Orf150-associated neoplasia such as colon neoplasia.
US08642266B2
The present invention is directed to a method for performing an RT-PCR for amplifying a target RNA comprising the steps of a) lysis of a cellular sample which is supposed to contain the target RNA with a lysis buffer comprising between 0.2 M and 1 M guanidine thiocyanate, b) diluting the sample to an extend such that guanidine thiocyanate is present in a concentration of about 30 to 50 mM, c) reverse transcribing in the presence of a mixture of first strand cDNA synthesis primers, the mixture consisting of oligo dT primers and random primers, and d) subjecting the sample to multiple cycles of a thermocycling protocol and monitoring amplification of the first strand cDNA in real time.
US08642258B2
The present invention relates to a product named “immunogenical complex”, which comprises an adjuvant characterized by solid particles of highly ordinated nanostructured mesoporous silica, preferably, SBA-15 Silica, and vaccinal antigens of several natures, encapsulated in the referred to adjuvants. The immunogenical complex of the present invention allows the presentation of the antigens that compose it to lymphocytes, in a safe, gradual and extended way, which leads to a more efficient immunological memory, increases the immunogenicity of the antigen and improves the production of antibodies. This ensures an efficient immunological protection with fewer amounts of antigens and/or less repetitions of vaccinal doses. In addition, the characteristics of the immunogenical complex of the present invention promotes effective immunity induction, homogeneous in “god and bad respondent” individuals.
US08642250B2
A resin composition for an optical waveguide is provided, which has excellent adhesiveness to a cladding layer of the optical waveguide and excellent patternability for formation of a core portion of the optical waveguide and reduces the optical waveguide loss. An optical waveguide produced by using the resin composition is also provided. The resin composition comprises: (A) a multifunctional partially-acrylated epoxy resin, as a major component, having an epoxy group and a (meth)acrylate group in the same main chain thereof; and (B) a photopolymerization initiator as a curing component. The optical waveguide includes: a substrate; a cladding layer provided on the substrate; and a core portion provided on the cladding layer for transmission of an optical signal; wherein the core portion is formed from the resin composition.
US08642246B2
Compositions for use in tri-layer applications are described herein, wherein the composition has a matrix and includes: a formulated polymer comprising at least one type of silicon-based moiety forming the matrix of the polymer, a plurality of vinyl groups coupled to the matrix of the polymer, and a plurality of phenyl groups coupled to the matrix of the polymer, at least one condensation catalyst, and at least one solvent. Tri-layer structures are also contemplated herein that comprise an organic underlayer (first layer), antireflective compositions and/or films contemplated herein (second layer) and a photoresist material (third layer) that are coupled to one another. Methods of producing a composition for tri-layer patterning applications includes: providing a formulated polymer comprising at least one type of silicon-based moiety forming the matrix of the polymer, a plurality of vinyl groups coupled to the matrix of the polymer, and a plurality of phenyl groups coupled to the matrix of the polymer, providing at least one condensation catalyst, providing at least one solvent, providing at least one pH modifier, blending the formulated polymer and part of the at least one solvent in a reaction vessel to form a reactive mixture; and incorporating the at least one pH modifier, the at least one condensation catalyst and the remaining at least one solvent into the reactive mixture to form the composition.
US08642233B2
A method of a color filter substrate for a semitransmissive type liquid crystal display device, including: forming a photosensitive coloring composition layer containing a photo-polymerizable monomer, a resinous binder, a polymerization initiator, a coloring agent and a solvent on a surface of a transparent substrate, the surface being partitioned into a large number of pixel regions; exposing the photosensitive coloring composition layer to light; and developing the photosensitive coloring composition layer to form a transmissive portion and a reflective portion, the transmissive portion being assigned to colorize a transmitted light from a light source arranged on a rear surface side of a liquid crystal display device, the reflective portion being assigned to colorize a reflected light to be derived from reflection of an external light entering from the observer's side and having a through-hole with a diameter of 10 μm or less.
US08642229B2
The present invention is an electrochemical reactor unit in which a plurality of electrochemical reactor cells constituted by a tube are housed in a porous material body having a heat releasing function and a current collecting function, these are electrically connected in series, and a fuel manifold is mounted to the connected electrochemical reactor cells; an electrochemical reactor module that comprises a plurality of the units which are arranged in fuel supply holes, and a structure supplying air directly to the entire electrochemical reactor module; and an electrochemical reaction system in which such an electrochemical reactor module is utilized.
US08642213B2
A lithium-ion secondary battery comprises a negative electrode active material, a positive electrode active material, and an electrolytic solution. The negative electrode active material contains elemental silicon or a silicon-containing alloy. The electrolytic solution has a lithium salt and a solvent. The solvent contains a cyclic carbonate, a chain carbonate, fluoroethylene carbonate represented by the formula (1), and 1,3-propane sultone. In the electrolytic solution, fluoroethylene carbonate has a mass concentration Cf of 0.1 to 3 mass %, 1,3-propane sultone has a mass concentration Cp of 0.1 to 3 mass %, and Cf>Cp.
US08642211B2
A pre-charged material including silicon-comprising fibers characterized in that two or more of the fibers are bonded together to create both a bonded felt anode structure, with or without a current collector, and a composite anode structure with a current collector and an electrode structure. The structure overcomes problems associated with charge/discharge capacity loss.
US08642205B2
A battery pack with reduced magnetic field emissions includes a plurality of cells (1301,1302) coupled electrically together by a first electrical conductor (1307) and a second electrical conductor (1308). The first electrical conductor (1307) couples positive terminals (1305,1306) to a terminal block (1311), while the second electrical conductor (1308) couples the negative terminals (1303,1304) to the terminal block (1311). Each cell (1301,1302) contains an asymmetrical internal electrode construction (1313,1314) having electrical tabs (502,503) coupled to a cathode and anode. The cells (1301,1302) can be arranged with their corresponding asymmetrical internal electrode constructions (1313,1314) oriented in different directions to reduce magnetic field emissions. The first electrical conductor (1307) and second electrical conductor (1308) can be routed such that magnetic fields generated by discharge currents tend to reduce other magnetic fields produced by other components within the battery pack.
US08642204B2
A high-reliability battery pack is described. A battery pack has a battery module unit that is formed from a plurality of arranged battery modules, each of which has a plurality of cells in a case, a cooling air flow passage where a cooling air flow flows, and a gas exhaust duct which forms a gas exhaust passage. The gas exhaust duct extends in an arrangement direction S of the plurality of the battery modules while being contiguous to the battery module unit, and takes in the gas released in the case from the cell, then exhausts the gas from the battery module. The gas exhaust duct is provided with a gas inlet for taking in the gas, which communicates with a gas emission hole formed on a surface of the case, and an air intake that serves to take in the cooling air flow.
US08642196B2
A rechargeable battery according to an exemplary embodiment includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a case in which the electrode assembly is installed, a cap plate coupled with the case, a short-circuit member provided in a short-circuit hole formed in the cap plate and deformed to electrically connect the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a valve member provided under the short-circuit hole and controlling connection between an internal space of the case and the short-circuit hole.
US08642195B2
A modular current interrupt device includes an electrically-conductive rupture disc, an electrically-conductive pressure disc attached to the rupture disc to form an electrical pathway. An electrically-insulating ring partitions a perimeter of the rupture disc from a perimeter of the pressure disc, and a seating element secures the electrically-insulated ring to the pressure disc. At least one of the rupture disc and electrically-insulating ring defines a conduit, whereby exposure of one side of the pressure disc to sufficient force through the conduit causes the pressure disc to separate from the rupture disc to thereby sever the electrical pathway. A low pressure current interrupt device (CID) activates at a minimal threshold internal gauge pressure in a range of, for example, between about 4 kg/cm2 and about 9 kg/cm2. Preferably, the CID includes a pressure disc that includes a frustum having a first end and a second end, a base extending radially from a perimeter of the first end of the frustum, and an essentially planar cap sealing the second end of the frustum. The first end has a broader diameter than the second end, with a cross-section of at least one of the first and second end being non-circular.
US08642192B2
A secondary battery includes a bare cell comprising an electrode assembly; a protection circuit module electrically coupled to the bare cell; an upper case including a first case and a second case opposite to the first case joined together, the upper case generally encompassing the protection circuit module; and at least one support rib on at least one of the first case and the second case supporting the protection circuit module.
US08642184B2
Fire-resistant OSB (oriented strand board) material consisting of a middle layer and two outer layers, wherein the layers primarily consist of bonded wood flakes. There are one or more fire-retardant agents in the middle layer and one or both outer layers, and the nature and/or the concentrations of them in the middle layer are different from the nature and/or the concentrations of them in one or both outer layers.
US08642182B2
This invention is directed to a paper coating or binding formulation, comprising an aqueous emulsion which comprises a copolymer derived from one or more monomers, and an ultra fine kaolin pigment. In certain embodiments, this invention is directed to a blend of high T9 latex (substantially non-film forming) and ultrafine kaolin. This invention is also directed to a paper comprising a fiber matrix and a coating or binding composition comprising an aqueous emulsion which comprises a copolymer deviced from one or more monomers, and an ultrafine kaolin pigment.
US08642177B2
A method to provide acid etch resistance to contacting a calcareous substrate with a copolymer prepared from fluorinated methacrylate, short chain branched (meth)acrylate, and (meth)acrylic acid salt and a treated substrate.
US08642175B2
A glass substrate chemically strengthened, includes a primary surface that has a compressive stress layer formed in an uppermost surface layer thereof. The compressive stress layer is configured to enhance strength of the glass substrate due to a compressive stress generated in the compressive stress layer. The compressive layer consists of a layer of a potassium ion concentration equal to or less than 5000 parts per million (ppm).
US08642168B2
A polymer-based composite sandwich includes a reinforced core bonded between a pair of composite facesheets. The core includes a truss formed by groups of composite pins held in place by a layer of structural foam. The pins in the groups are radially arranged around nodes. The ends of the pins are splayed and sandwiched between the foam layer and the facesheets.
US08642159B2
Provided is a film having high crystallinity, transparency, and surface smoothness, a lamination of the film, a sheet of the film, and a laminated body. A film contains vinylidene fluoride-based resin (A) and acrylic-based resin (B). The film has at least one surface with arithmetic mean roughness of 0.1 to 20 nm. The at least one surface has crystal fusion heat of 18 to 40 J/g and a haze value of 3.5 or less, the crystal fusion heat being measured using a differential scanning calorimeter.
US08642158B2
A composite component includes a honeycomb, a skin bonded to the honeycomb, a repair section bonded adjacent to the skin, and at least one cover secured on at least a portion of the repair section to resist peeling of the repair section.
US08642154B2
A silicon carbide crystal ingot having a surface greater than or equal to 4 inches, having an n-type dopant concentration greater than or equal to 1×1015 atoms/cm3 and less than or equal to 1×1020 atoms/cm3, a metal atom concentration greater than or equal to 1×1014 atoms/cm3 and less than or equal to 1×1018 atoms/cm3, and not exceeding the n-type dopant concentration, and a metal atom concentration gradient less than or equal to 1×1017 atoms/(cm3·mm), a silicon carbide single crystal wafer produced using the ingot, and a method for fabricating the silicon carbide crystal ingot.
US08642149B2
A hose for transporting refrigerant of the present technology includes an inner tube layer having a gas barrier layer and a rubber layer adjacent to an outer surface of the gas barrier layer. The gas barrier layer includes a polyamide resin composition obtained by blending from 0.5 to 20 parts by mass of a hydrotalcite per 100 parts by mass of a modified polyamide obtained by blending a polyamide and a carboxyl group-containing modified polyolefin. The rubber layer includes a rubber composition obtained by compounding from 1 to 15 parts by mass of an alkylphenol-formaldehyde resin per 100 parts by mass of a raw rubber. The raw rubber is at least one selected from the group consisting of a BIMS and a butyl rubber and/or a halogenated butyl rubber, which is a copolymer rubber.
US08642147B2
A process that is faster than conventional processes for manufacturing a film tube from a polymer and/or metal film material includes moving the film tube in relation to the joining tools during the joining process. Before the joining process of the film tube, the metal film material exists in the form of at least one film web. The edges of this film web are joined to one another in a joining process forming at least one longitudinal joint seam. During the joining process the film tube is moved in relation to the joining tools.
US08642143B2
Transparent ink-jet recording films, compositions, and methods are disclosed. Such films exhibit superior resistance to ink-transfer when printed to high optical densities, which is desirable for medical imaging applications.
US08642137B2
A method for producing a ceramic honeycomb structure comprising a ceramic honeycomb body comprising large numbers of axially extending cells defined by cell walls, and an outer peripheral wall formed on an outer peripheral surface of the ceramic honeycomb body, comprising the steps of applying a coating material comprising elongated colloidal silica particles to the outer peripheral surface, and drying the coating material to form the outer peripheral wall.
US08642135B2
Systems and methods for plasma doping microfeature workpieces are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of implanting boron ions into a region of a workpiece includes generating a plasma in a chamber, selectively applying a pulsed electrical potential to the workpiece with a duty cycle of between approximately 20 percent and approximately 50 percent, and implanting an ion specie into the region of the workpiece.
US08642133B2
The present invention fabricates a hydrophobic and oleophobic polymer fabric through two stages of modification using atmospheric plasmas. The modified fabric has a rough surface and a fluorocarbon functional group having the lowest surface free energy. The fabric has a grafted fluorocarbon monomer layer to enhance the graft efficiency of the fluorocarbon functional groups and its wash fastness. The atmospheric plasmas can be mass produced and less expensively. Hence, the present invention can rapidly modify surfaces of polymeric materials with low cost and good environment protection.
US08642132B2
A method of depositing a carbon particle-containing film that contains carbon particles includes: manufacturing film deposition slurry by mixing liquid into film deposition powder that contains carbon powder formed of the carbon particles; and depositing the carbon particle-containing film by spraying the film deposition slurry to a surface of a base material so that the liquid is vaporized.
US08642130B2
Methods for inhibiting oxidation and photooxidation in polyurethane foams are disclosed. The method involves spraying onto the surface of a polyurethane foam one of the following compositions: a solvent-based composition comprising: an organic solvent; an ultraviolet (UV) light inhibiting compound; and an antioxidant; or an emulsion comprising: water; an emulsifier; an ultraviolet (UV) light inhibiting compound; and an antioxidant.
US08642128B2
Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for substrate processing includes a process chamber having a chamber body defining an inner volume; and a silicon containing coating disposed on an interior surface of the chamber body, wherein an outer surface of the silicon containing coating is at least 35 percent silicon (Si) by atom. In some embodiments, a method for forming a silicon containing coating in a process chamber includes providing a first process gas comprising a silicon containing gas to an inner volume of the process chamber; and forming a silicon containing coating on an interior surface of the process chamber, wherein an outer surface of the silicon containing coating is at least 35 percent silicon.
US08642126B2
A carbon nanotube device has a substrate (1), a layer (3) having a space (5) which penetrates in the vertical direction of the substrate (1), and carbon nanotubes (7) formed on the surface of the substrate facing the space (5) in such a manner as to have number density distributions successively changed according to the distances from the center of the space (5), the supply amount of catalyst substances is diluted by supplying the catalyst substances through an opening of a coating film (4) opposite to the substrate (1) and the hole (5), a catalyst having a nominal thickness distribution according to the way how the space (5) appears is formed on the substrate (1) facing the space (5), and a carbon source is supplied, thereby forming carbon nanotubes having the number density distribution are formed on the substrate (1).
US08642125B2
A method and apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate includes introducing a material and a carrier gas into a heated chamber. The material may be a semiconductor material, such as a cadmium chalcogenide. A resulting mixture of vapor and carrier gas containing no unvaporized material is provided. The mixture of vapor and carrier gas are remixed to achieve a uniform vapor/carrier gas composition, which is directed toward a surface of a substrate, such as a glass substrate, where the vapor is deposited as a uniform film.
US08642121B2
A method for making a thermal interface material includes following steps. A substrate having a plurality of CNT arrays arranged thereon and a number of first interspaces defined between the CNT arrays is provided. A container is provided and the substrate with the CNT arrays is disposed into the container. A number of low melting point metallic nanoparticles is provided and filled in the first interspaces. The low melting point metallic nanoparticles in the container is heated into a liquid state, and the low melting point metal nanoparticles in liquid state is combined with the CNT arrays to form a composite material on the substrate. The composite material is peeled off from the substrate, and a thermal interface material is obtained.
US08642120B2
A coating process for coating a surface of a glass substrate in normal air pressure, in which coating process at least one liquid starting material is atomized into droplets and the formed droplets are guided towards the surface to be coated. The formed droplets are vaporized substantially close to the surface to be coated before the droplets contact the surface to be coated by bringing to the coating process the thermal energy needed for vaporizing the droplets with the glass substrate.
US08642119B2
The present disclosure is directed to a camera module that includes at least a semiconducting die, an image-sensing circuit, a lens, a lens aperture, and a coating that adheres to an exterior surface of the camera module. The coating is opaque to light and prevents light from accessing the camera other than through the lens aperture. The opaque coating is applied as a fluid and is cured. In one embodiment, a mask material is selectively applied to exterior surfaces of the semiconducting die, electrical interconnect layers, glass layers, the lens body, or the lens aperture. After applying the opaque coating, the selectively applied mask material is removed. Methods of selectively applying a mask material include applying a conformable and peelably releasable dope-like material, placing an array of joined, selectively shaped rigid masks over an array of assemblies, and applying a conformable mask material that is heat-expandable.
US08642114B2
A system for coating printing materials with coating fluids and a method for operating the system include, in a first step, coating printing material with a first coating fluid using a coating device of the system and keeping a first feed device of the system connected to the coating device for feeding the first coating fluid to the coating device using the first feed device. In a second step following the first step, printing material is coated with a second coating fluid using the coating device and a second feed device of the system is kept connected to the coating device for feeding the second coating fluid to the coating device using the second feed device. In a third step carried out after the first step and, at least to some extent, during the second step, the first feed device is flushed through with a cleaning fluid.
US08642112B2
A prosthetic implant having a thermally treated ceramic coating and a method of producing a coated prosthetic implant. The ceramic coating is deposited onto the prosthetic implant such as by a plasma spray coating process. The prosthetic implant is thermally treated in a low oxygen environment to increase the hardness and wear-resistance of the ceramic coating for improved articulation of the prosthetic implant.
US08642110B2
A sterilized food product containing starch, the starch having: (a) an amylose content of at least 60 wt. %; (b) a median particle size of between 1 and 15 &mgr; m, at least 90 wt. % of the starch particles having a particle diameter of less than 50 &mgr; m; and (c) a non-digestible starch content of less than 50 wt. %; and (d) a slowly digestible starch content of 15-75 wt. %. The product is obtained by heating and rapidly cooling the starch product and has a high slowly digestible starch content. It is suitable for use in the treatment of diabetes, obesitas, insulin resistance, or for postprandial glucose response.
US08642091B2
A method of producing solid composite lipid/drug nanoparticles that includes the steps of: (1) dissolving a lipid and a drug in a suitable organic solvent to form a solution; (2) emulsifying the solution in a liquid to form an emulsion having a discontinuous phase of micelles comprising the organic solvent, the drug and the lipid, and a continuous phase comprising the liquid; and (3) contacting the emulsion with a supercritical fluid under conditions suitable to keep the supercritical fluid in a supercritical state, whereby the supercritical fluid extracts the organic solvent from the micelles, causing them to precipitate as organic-solvent free solid composite lipid/drug nanoparticles suspended or dispersed in the liquid.
US08642090B2
A process is described for producing adsorbates suitable for human or animal nutrition and also cosmetics applications in which a component (A) to be adsorbed is applied to a carrier (C) using at least one stabilizer (B), the mean particle size of the carrier (C) being at least 80 μm, with the proviso that, if the component (A) to be adsorbed is vitamin E, the mixture of (A) and (B) has an HLB value less than 7, and also with the proviso that if the component (A) to be adsorbed is an oil-soluble vitamin and the stabilizer (B) is a glyceride, the freezing point of the mixture of (A) and (B) is below or equal to 80° C. A description is also given of the use of the adsorbates which are thus obtainable.
US08642086B2
A composition of matter comprises a cationic polymer comprising a polycarbonate chain fragment, the polycarbonate chain fragment comprising a repeat unit comprising a side chain moiety containing a quaternary amine group; and a non-charged polymer comprising a polyester chain segment and a poly(alkylene oxide) chain segment; wherein i) the cationic polymer and the non-charged polymer are amphiphilic and biocompatible, ii) the cationic polymer and the non-charged polymer form a mixed complex by non-covalent interactions in water, and iii) the mixed complex is a more effective antimicrobial agent against at least a Gram-negative microbe compared to the cationic polymer and the non-charged polymer alone when tested using otherwise identical conditions.
US08642085B2
A blended electrophilic material with a first component having a functionality of at least three and a second component having a functionality of two is mixed with a nucleophilic material. The blended electrophilic material cross-links with the nucleophilic material to form a non-liquid, three dimensional structure which can applied, e.g., as an adhesion barrier.
US08642083B2
Disclosed herein is a lag time delayed-release combination pharmaceutical composition comprising of an angiotensin-II-receptor blocker and an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, as well as a preparation method thereof. The composition is designed based on chronotherapy in which active ingredients are administered to have different onset times, such that the release of each active ingredient of the composition in body can be lag time delayed to a specific rate. Also, the composition is very effective for the treatment of hypertension and the prevention of complications in patients having metabolic syndromes which show diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery diseases and the like. More specifically, the composition is a drug delivery system designed such that the release of each drug is controlled to a specific rate, and it can show the most ideal effect, when it is absorbed in body.
US08642078B2
A sustained release pharmaceutical composition comprising coating comprising at least one water-insoluble permeable polymer and at least one water soluble polymer and homogenous cores containing only tolterodine or a salt thereof and microcrystalline cellulose is described.
US08642061B2
In one embodiment, the method comprises providing tissue, preparing the tissue, and treating the tissue to improve remodeling characteristics of the tissue. The tissue may be, for example, cortical bone. Treating the tissue to improve remodeling characteristics may comprise heating the tissue, treating the tissue with a chemical, or other. Heating the tissue may be done in the absence of oxygen and may comprise heating the tissue in a vacuum, heating the tissue in an inert atmosphere, heating the tissue in a reducing atmosphere, coating the tissue with a protective coating and heating the tissue, or other. Further embodiments comprise treating the tissue in supercritical fluids, for example, to dry or virally inactivate the tissue.
US08642057B2
Antimicrobial solutions and delivery systems for them use liquid antimicrobial solutions with: at least 80% of total weight of a carrier liquid comprising water, alcohol or a mixture of water and alcohol; at least 0.0001% by weight of the solution of I2; at least 0.0001% by weight of CuSO4; and sufficient acid in the solution top provide a pH of less than 7.0. A buffering system is also preferable in the solution, and the solution may be provided directly as a liquid, as a spray, as a gel, imbibed and carried in a wipe, encapsulated solution, segregated droplets of solution (in carrying layers of particles, dispersed in a solid of gel carrier) and the like.
US08642051B2
Liquid activated infusion packet(s)/system, promoting hydration, containing active and/or inactive ingredients and/or a support member(s). Infusion Packet(s)/System is one or more individual compartments, and/or group(s), whereby the enveloping material(s) may be totally or partially dissolvable, edible, transparent, opaque, decorated, etc. Further, including of one or more: color(s), flavor(s), aroma(s), pharmaceutical(s), nutraceutical(s), dietary supplement(s), enzyme(s), pre/pro-biotic(s), amino-acid(s), soluble-fiber(s), diagnostic agent(s) etc. regardless of form, +/−effervescence, +/−uniform/controlled-release encapsulations into liquid for humans and/or animals. Enveloping material may be in whole and/or in combination; non-synthetic/porous, and/or synthetic porous/non-porous with deliberate perforations. Infusion Packet(s)/System+/−tag, support member for assistance, consumer compliance: promotion, advertising: education, entertainment, (toy/game), etc. Manual and/or power operated parts, lights, noise, etc. Additionally incorporated; unique business modalities with test market opportunities and/or the ability to provide income and/or esteem for the health challenged.
US08642044B2
The invention provides improved agents and methods for treatment of diseases associated with amyloid deposits of Aβ in the brain of a patient. Such methods entail administering agents that induce a beneficial immunogenic response against the amyloid deposit. The methods are useful for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Preferred agents including N-terminal fragments of Aβ and antibodies binding to the same.
US08642038B2
A method for separating proteins and fats from an egg mixture is disclosed herein. The method includes a step of microfiltration of the egg mixture, wherein microfiltration includes pumping across a filter an egg mixture containing egg yolk and egg whites (albumen). An egg powder obtained from egg and a high gel strength egg powder are also disclosed.
US08642037B2
The present invention relates to antibodies and antigen-binding portions thereof that specifically bind to insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR), which is preferably human IGF-IR. The invention also relates to human anti-IGF-IR antibodies, including chimeric, bispecific, derivatized, single chain antibodies or portions of fusion proteins. The invention also relates to isolated heavy and light chain immunoglobulin molecules derived from anti-IGF-IR antibodies and nucleic acid molecules encoding such molecules. The present invention also relates to methods of making anti-IGF-IR antibodies, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these antibodies and methods of using the antibodies and compositions thereof for diagnosis and treatment. The invention also provides gene therapy methods using nucleic acid molecules encoding the heavy and/or light immunoglobulin molecules that comprise the human anti-IGF-IR antibodies. The invention also relates to gene therapy methods and transgenic animals comprising nucleic acid molecules of the present invention.
US08642022B2
The present invention provides for a personal care composition suitable for treating hair comprising a composition comprising the reaction product of a) an oxirane or oxetane compound comprising at least two oxirane or oxetane groups; and b) an amino silane having the formula: N(H)(R1)R2Si(OR3)3-a-b-c(OR4)a(R5Si(OR6)d(R7)c)bR8c with R1 is chosen from the group consisting of H or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical containing one to 20 carbon atoms; R2 is selected from a group consisting of a divalent linear or branched hydrocarbon radical consisting of 1-60 carbons; R4 is a hydrocarbon radical that contains 3 to 200 carbon atoms; R5 is selected from a group consisting of oxygen or a divalent linear or branched hydrocarbon radical consisting of 1-60 carbons; R3, R6, R7, and R8 and are each independently selected from the group of monovalent linear or branched hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 200 carbon atoms; the subscript b is zero or a positive number and has a value ranging from 0 to 3; the subscripts a is zero or appositive number less than 3, the subscripts b and c are zero or positive and have a value ranging from 0 to 3 subject to the limitation that (a+b+c)<3; the subscripts d and e are zero or positive and have a value ranging from 0 to 3 subject to the limitation that (d+e)=3, wherein when hair is treated with said personal care composition said hair has a hydrophobic response to water.
US08642002B2
Disclosed are a hydrogen energy production system utilizing silicon wastewater and a method for production of hydrogen energy using the same. More particularly, the disclosed system includes: a UF treatment bath wherein the silicon wastewater is treated through UF film filtration to separate UF treated water and a concentrated silicon waste solution therefrom; a line mixer connected to the UF treatment bath in order to admix the separated silicon waste solution with an alkaline material fed from the outside; and a hydrogen production bath connected to the line mixer, wherein the concentrated silicon waste solution in the mixture reacts with the alkaline material, in order to produce hydrogen gas. Additionally, a hydrogen energy production method using the foregoing system is also disclosed.
US08641998B2
A method for manufacturing graphene oxide nanoplatelets and derivative products and the graphene oxide nanoplatelets obtained, comprising two distinct phases, a first phase for obtaining an intermediate material consisting of carbon nanofilaments, each one having a structure comprising continuous ribbon of graphitic material with a small number of stacked monoatomic graphene layers and spirally rolled around and along the main axis of said nanofilaments, and a second phase wherein said carbon nanofilaments are subjected to a high-temperature treatment in order to clean said filaments and increase their degree of crystallinity. Once these nanofilaments are treated, a chemical etching is performed on them comprising an oxidation that causes the fragmentation of the carbon nanofilaments and starts a cleaving method that is completed by physical means in order to obtain graphene oxide nanoplatelets.
US08641978B2
A transformer-less power supply is provided for ozone generation. The power supply advantageously reduces costs and increases reliability of ozone generators. The power supply provides a first AC voltage from a power source to a resonant circuit and the resonant circuit provides a second AC voltage to the ozone generating unit, the second AC voltage being greater than the first AC voltage. A controller for the power supply that adapts to the resonance of the circuit to provide control with a wide tolerance for the high Q circuit component values of the circuit.
US08641977B2
An apparatus for generating ozone inside packaged articles comprises an electrode assembly in which coplanar electrodes are supported along a contact surface. The electrodes are solid state conductive electrodes. These electrodes may be interdigitated and/or arranged with uniform spacing therebetween along a portion of their length. Where the electrodes are straight they may be parallel, but other shapes can also be evenly spaced. In some examples the electrodes are partially insulated and partially exposed. In some examples the electrodes are embedded/potted in an insulator to exclude air spaces from around the electrodes.
US08641976B2
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for synthesizing nano particles. The apparatus for synthesizing nano particles is configured to include: a plasma generator that generates plasma; a recovery device that recovers the synthesized nano particles; and a cooler that is disposed between the plasma generator and the recovery device and includes a cooling path where the nano particles are synthesized, while material supplied from the plasma generator is cooled, wherein the cooling path is set to have lower cooling temperatures for each section as going to the moving direction of the nano particles.
US08641972B2
The present invention provides a method for measuring a substrate concentration by accumulating an energy resulting from a reaction between a biocatalyst and a substrate recognized by the biocatalyst to a certain level; and using a dependency of an accumulation rate on the substrate concentration as an index; and a apparatus therefor. In particular, the present invention provides a method in which the measurement of the accumulation rate is carried out by measuring a frequency of an energy release in a certain amount of time when the energy accumulated in the capacitor reaches the certain level and is then released.
US08641963B2
The present disclosure relates to an improved low-cost metallic coating to be deposited on gas turbine engine components. The metallic coating consists of 1.0 to 18 wt % cobalt, 3.0 to 18 wt % chromium, 5.0 to 15 wt % aluminum, 0.01 to wt % yttrium, 0.01 to 0.6 wt % hafnium, 0.0 to 0.3 wt % silicon, 0.0 to 1.0 wt % zirconium, 0.0 to 10 wt % tantalum, 0.0 to 9.0 wt % tungsten, 0.0 to 10 wt % molybdenum, 0.0 to 43.0 wt % platinum, and the balance nickel.
US08641962B2
A highly stiff and highly damping cast iron containing C and Si in an amount of 3.30 to 3.95% in terms of carbon equivalent shown in the following equation (1), Mn: 0.25 to 1.0%, P: 0.04% or less, S: 0.03% or less, Al: 3 to 7%, and Sn: 0.03 to 0.20%, balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities: Carbon equivalent (%)=C(%)+(1/3)×Si(%) (1).
US08641959B2
Methods provide a non-eluting antioxidant doped UHMWPE in the form of an implant bearing component. The process includes the steps of: (a) providing a preform; (b) irradiating the preform with γ-irradiation to crosslink the UHMWPE; (c) doping the crosslinked preform by exposing it to an antioxidant composition at a temperature below the melting point of the UHMWPE; (d) removing the doped material from contact with the antioxidant composition; and then (e) annealing by heating the doped material at a temperature above 30° C. and below the melting point of the UHMWPE; followed by (f) making an implant bearing component from the doped material, wherein at least 1 mm but no more than about 15 mm of material are removed to make the component.
US08641949B2
This invention provides a family of functionalized polymers capable of forming membranes having exceptional OH− ionic conductivity as well as advantageous mechanical properties. The invention also provides membranes including the provided polymers and AEMFC/HEMFC fuel cells including such membranes. In a preferred embodiment, preferred function groups include a quaternary phosphonium, and in a more preferred embodiment the provided polymer is (tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl) phosphine)3 functionalized phosphonium polysulfone hydroxide.
US08641925B2
The subject of the present invention is the use of at least one element chosen from among yttrium, zirconium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium and neodymium, in the form of oxides or salts, as reinforcing agent for the anticorrosion properties of an anticorrosion coating composition containing a particulate metal, in aqueous or organic phase, for metal parts.
US08641912B2
A patterning method for the creation of two-dimensional nanowire structures. Nanowire patterning methods are used with lithographical patterning approaches to form patterns in a layer of epoxy and resist material. These patterns are then transferred to an underlying thin film to produce a two-dimensional structure with desired characteristics.
US08641906B2
The invention concerns a device for distributing fluids which are to supply a multi-stage column having a succession of plates, each plate supporting a bed of granular solid (2) and being provided with a network for distributing said fluids constituted by substantially horizontal lines (6) having a plurality of degrees of branching from 1 to rank N, the ensemble of lines from rank P to rank N being adherent to the base plane of the plate under consideration, and the lines of the last degree of branching N communicating with mixing chambers (8) disposed immediately below said base plane.
US08641902B2
The invention relates to a method for wastewater treatment utilizing an anaerobic treatment of primary sludge (PS) in a septic tank (5), and a separate treatment of excess sludge (ÜS). The excess sludge (ÜS) is separated from the primary sludge (PS) before the anaerobic treatment, solubilized in a hydrolysis treatment and liquefied, and subjected to a separate anaerobic treatment independently of the primary sludge (PS).
US08641899B2
An improved method and apparatus for removing metal cuttings from an oil well drilling mud stream provides a magnetic body or “ditch magnet” having end plates that extend radially and circumferentially from the magnetic body, the plates being positioned at end portions of the magnetic body. A third plate in the form of a wiper is used to dislodge metal cuttings and other metallic material from the magnetic body after the magnetic body has accumulated such metallic parts. One of the end plates can be removable to facilitate a complete scraping or wiping of the metallic parts from the metallic body by the wiper plate.
US08641889B2
Described herein is a hydrocracking and/or hydrotreatment process which uses a catalyst comprising an active phase containing at least one hydrogenating/dehydrogenating component, and a support comprising at least one dealuminated zeolite Y having an overall initial atomic ratio of silicon to aluminum between 2.5 and 20, an initial weight fraction of extra-lattice aluminum atoms greater than 10%, an initial mesopore volume greater than 0.07 ml.g−1, and an initial crystal lattice parameter a0 between 24.38 Å and 24.30 Å. The zeolite Y is modified by a basic treatment stage, and at least one thermal treatment stage.
US08641884B2
A method of fabricating a motheye mold according to the present invention includes the steps of: (a) anodizing a surface of an aluminum film (10a) via an electrode (32a) that is in contact with the surface, thereby forming a porous alumina layer which has a plurality of very small recessed portions; (b) after step (a), allowing the porous alumina layer to be in contact with an etchant, thereby enlarging the very small recessed portions of the porous alumina layer; and (c) after step (b), further anodizing the surface to grow the plurality of very small recessed portions. The aluminum film is made of aluminum with a purity of 99.99 mass % or higher. The electrode includes a first electrode portion (32a1) which is made of aluminum with a purity of 99.50 mass % or lower and a second electrode portion (32a2) which is made of aluminum with a higher purity than the aluminum of the first electrode portion and which is interposed between the surface and the first electrode portion. Step (a) and step (c) are performed with the second electrode portion being in contact with the surface in an electrolytic solution. According to the present invention, a method of efficiently anodizing an aluminum film formed over a large surface substrate and an electrode structure for use in the method.
US08641872B2
The disclosure herein describes a method for producing ammonia by introducing N2, CO and water into a non-thermal plasma in the presence of a catalyst, the catalyst being effective to promote the disassociation of N2, CO and water to form reactants that in turn react to produce NH3 and CH4.This disclosure also describes producing a reactive hydrogen ion or free radical by the method comprising passing water through a non-thermal plasma in the presence of a catalyst, the catalyst being effective to promote the dissociation of water.
US08641871B2
Processes for pyrolyzing hydrocarbonaceous material are provided. A process for pyrolyzing hydrocarbonaceous material includes charging a reactor with a feed material comprising hydrocarbonaceous material, heating the feed material, and collecting liquid product from the reactor which is anaerobic in operation. At least 5% of the organic carbon atoms which are not present in an aromatic ring of a compound of the feed material are present in an aromatic ring of a compound in a liquid portion of the product.
US08641866B2
A screen structure which is unusually effective at removing stickies from recyclable fiber but is tolerant of substantial swings in throughput which result in variations in the flow velocity through the screen—slot velocity. One example of the screen structure is created by forming a very large number of similarly shaped vanes then locking them into a ring structure to form a cylindrical screen basket but equivalent surface configurations can also be formed into sheet stock.
US08641865B2
A method to cook thin chips in a continuous digester vessel including: introducing thin chips having a thickness of no more than 6 mm, into a chip bin; adding white (cooking) liquor to the chip bin or to a chip transport passage extending from the chip bin to an upper inlet of the continuous digester vessel; injecting medium pressure steam or another heated fluid to an upper region of the digester vessel to elevate a cooking temperature of the chips in the vessel to at least 130 degrees Celsius; cooking the chips in the vessel as the chips flow downward through the vessel without substantial extraction or introduction of liquor in the cooking section of the vessel; injecting wash liquid to a lower region of the vessel; extracting at least wash liquid through a wash liquid extraction screen in the lower region of the vessel and above the injection of the wash liquid, and discharging the cooked thin chips from the lower region of the vessel.
US08641859B2
The invention relates to a method for bonding a first surface (1a) and a second surface (7a) by means of an interlayer (3), comprising the steps: a) providing a first item (1) which has the first surface (1a), b) providing flowable, solidifiable material for the interlayer (3), c) providing a second item (7) which has the second surface (7a), d) applying the material for the interlayer onto the first surface (1a) so that a bulge (3a) encircling the surface is produced, e) applying a vacuum around the first item (1) and the second item (2), f) bringing the second surface (7a) of the second item (7) into contact with the circumferential bulge so that a sealed-off cavity (5) is produced, g) increasing the ambient pressure so that the cavity (5) is eliminated without resulting in a stream of gas flowing into the cavity and h) increasing the viscosity of the material for the interlayer.
US08641855B2
A method of spacing a plurality of electrical conductors for carrying electrical current in an electrical machine may include positioning between the electrical conductors an uncured spacer body. The uncured spacer body may include a curable material, and an activatable heat generating material mixed with the curable material. The method may further include activating the activatable heat generating material to heat the curable material to form a cured spacer to thereby space the electrical conductors in the electrical machine.
US08641848B2
A method and apparatus for combining elongated strips is provided. The strips are wrapped with a flexible material that may include a reinforcement layer and other layers such as adhesives whereby the strips can be bonded to one another. Additionally, layers of e.g., a stabilizing material may be added to one or both sides of the intermediate formed by the elongated strips and flexible material. The stabilizing material can be e.g., layers of a scrim and/or one or more layers of material that are impregnated with a resin to add strength to the intermediate.
US08641846B2
Seal a fenestration opening that contains a gap having a width of greater than 1.6 millimeters by providing a dispersion having the following components dispersed in an aqueous phase: (i) a film-forming polymer binder having a glass transition temperature in a range of −100 degrees Celsius to −20 degrees Celsius; (ii) a shear thinning rheology modifier at a concentration sufficient to cause the dispersion to have a Brookfield viscosity greater than 300,000 centiPoise as measured using spindle #3 at 0.3 revolutions per minute; and (iii) optionally, a filler; and then spraying the dispersion directly onto the building elements within the fenestration opening so as to form a continuous coating over the building elements and gap within the fenestration opening; wherein there is an absence of reinforcement or sealing material filling or spanning the gap prior to spraying the dispersion over the gap.
US08641835B2
An iron alloy according to the present invention comprises: Al in an amount of from 3 to 5.5%; Mn in an amount from 0.2 to 6%; and the balance being iron (Fe), and inevitable impurities and/or a modifying element; when the entirety is taken as 100%. Since a high damping factor is obtainable at a low-strain amplitude, this iron alloy demonstrates a stable damping property even in a high-temperature region. Moreover, since the alloying elements are Al and Mn alone, and since their contents are less, the iron alloy according to the present invention is low in cost.
US08641833B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an R—Fe—B based sintered magnet having on a surface thereof a chemical conversion film with higher corrosion resistance than a conventional chemical conversion film such as a phosphate film, and a method for producing the same. The corrosion-resistant magnet of the present invention as a means for achieving the object is characterized by comprising a chemical conversion film containing at least Zr, Nd, fluorine, and oxygen as constituent elements and not containing phosphorus directly on a surface of an R—Fe—B based sintered magnet, wherein R is a rare-earth element including at least Nd.
US08641827B2
A cleaning composition includes water, glycerine, at least one alkyl polyglycoside and a surface modification polymer. The surface modification polymer acts to provides for initial cleaning or pretreatment of the hard surface and provides a hydrophilic coating or barrier layer on the surface which provides residual cleaning to the hard surface for an extended number of cleanings. The composition has an alkaline pH of from about 8 to 10.
US08641817B2
The present invention relates to a paint with metallic microwires, to the process for integrating metallic microwires to obtain such paint, and to a process for applying said paint on metallic surfaces (1).The process for applying paint is performed in several steps: applying a first coat (2) of primer on the metallic surface; applying on the first coat (2) a second coat (3, 3′) of paint; applying on said second coat (3) an active third coat (4) of a paint containing microwires; and sanding said active third coat (4) with fine grain sandpaper to remove the microwires oriented perpendicular to the plane of the metallic surface; the maximum attenuation frequency of the reflectivity of said electromagnetic radiation being determined within of the range of maximum attenuation frequencies given by the composition of the paint with microwires, and by the thicknesses and dielectric constants of the different coats.
US08641814B2
Natural oil based marking compositions and their methods of making are provided. The compositions comprise a lipid-based wax having approximately 0-90 percent by weight triacylglycerides and approximately 10-99 percent by weight monoacylglycerides and diacylglycerides combined. The compositions also comprise approximately 1-40 percent by weight of a structuring agent. The methods comprise blending the composition by heating the lipid-based wax and structuring agent at a sufficiently high temperature to destroy substantially all crystal structure within the lipid-based wax. The methods further comprise pouring the composition into a mold having a surface and a core, wherein the pouring is conducted at a temperature at least 5° C. greater than the congeal point of the lipid-based wax. The methods further comprise cooling the lipid-based wax under conditions sufficient to cool the core to at least 5° C. below the congeal point of the lipid-based wax in approximately 30-90 minutes.
US08641810B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for loading and/or unloading a substance into or from a sorption media. A substance is presented at an edge of the sorption media, which comprises parallel layers of a sorption material. To load (i.e., via absorption and/or adsorption) the substance into the sorption media, heat is transferred away from the sorption media, a loading voltage is applied to the sorption media, and/or a pressure is increased relative to the sorption media. To unload the substance from the sorption media, heat is transferred into the sorption media, a voltage of an opposite polarity from the loading voltage is applied to the sorption media, and/or a pressure is decreased relative to the sorption media. In some embodiments, the sorption media includes surface structures that may load molecules of the substance.
US08641806B2
Systems and methods are provided for dehumidifying air by establishing a humidity gradient across a water selective permeable membrane in a dehumidification unit. Water vapor from relatively humid atmospheric air entering the dehumidification unit is extracted by the dehumidification unit without substantial condensation into a low pressure water vapor chamber operating at a partial pressure of water vapor lower than the partial pressure of water vapor in the relatively humid atmospheric air. For example, water vapor is extracted through a water permeable membrane of the dehumidification unit into the low pressure water vapor chamber. As such, the air exiting the dehumidification unit is less humid than the air entering the dehumidification unit. The low pressure water vapor extracted from the air is subsequently condensed and removed from the system at ambient conditions.
US08641801B2
An aluminum dross cooling head cooperates with a material container to encapsulate dross and reduce thermiting of the dross. In one embodiment, the cooling head also serves as a compression head when forced into the dross by a cooperating dross press assembly.
US08641800B2
A method of alloying an iron majority compound with an oxide is provided. The method may include: heating the iron majority compound to a molten state; adding an oxide containing manganese to the molten iron majority compound; adding slag forming materials and reducers to the molten iron majority compound; controlling the iron majority compound to achieve a desired temperature environment for a desired period of time; and removing slag from the iron majority compound.
US08641795B2
Air cleaner and preferred components for an air cleaner are provided. In certain arrangements, a band is permanently mounted to the media pack, surrounding the media. Also, the cartridge is non-circular and includes a radial seal thereon.
US08641791B2
The invention concerns a method for supplying iron, via the fuel, to the particulate trap of a diesel engine exhaust in a form suitable for promoting trap regeneration. The method involves the addition to the fuel of a defined colloid of iron oxide. Combustion of this colloid produces iron-containing compounds, especially iron oxides, which collect in association with carbonaceous particulate matter in the particulate trap, and function to promote the combustion of this matter.The colloid in particular shows a lower level of associated deposit formation on the fuel injectors than the iron additives of the prior art. The method is thus particularly suitable for modern engines showing increased susceptibility to fuel injector deposits. The colloid also shows a balance of properties providing excellent suitability for use as an additive in fuels, and especially in diesel engine on-board dosing devices.
US08641790B2
A method of increasing the hydrogen/carbon monoxide (H2/CO) ratio in a syngas stream derived from a carbonaceous fuel including coal, brown coal, peat, and heavy residual oil fractions, preferably coal. The fuel-derived syngas stream is divided into at least two sub-streams, one of which undergoes a catalytic water shift conversion reaction. The so-obtained converted sub-stream is combined with the non-converted sub-stream(s) to form a second syngas stream with an increased H2/CO ratio. The method of the present invention can provide a syngas with a H2/CO ratio more suitable for efficient hydrocarbon synthesis carried out on a given catalyst, such as in one or more Fischer-Tropsch reactors, as well as being able to accommodate variation in the H2/CO ratio of syngas formed from different qualities of feedstock fuels.
US08641780B2
An hydraulic heel-height adjustment device for a lower limb prosthesis has a foot-mounting component (18) for detachably mounting a prosthetic foot and a shin component pivotally connected to the foot-mounting component allowing angular adjustment of the foot-mounting component relative to the shin component about a heel-height adjustment axis. The relative angular position is set by an hydraulic piston (42) and cylinder assembly which has a chamber (40) in the shin component containing a piston (42) arranged to execute a translational movement in the chamber when adjustment is required. A bypass passage interconnects parts of the chamber on opposite sides of the piston, this passage containing a manually operable valve which is spring-biased towards a closed position. The piston has a piston rod pivotally connected to the foot-mounting component by a pivot joint defining a medial-lateral axis parallel to and spaced from the heel-height adjustment axis.
US08641776B2
This invention relates in one aspect to the treatment of a vascular vessel with a biomaterial. The biomaterial can be a remodelable material that strengthens and/or supports the vessel walls. Additionally the biomaterial can include a variety of naturally occurring or added bioactive agents and/or viable cellular populations.
US08641773B2
An intramedullary implant for mounting within an intramedullary canal of a bone is disclosed. The intramedullary implant includes a lower stem portion, an upper stem portion, and a modular sleeve body. The modular sleeve body is connected to one of the lower stem portion or the upper stem portion. The sleeve body includes an inner portion that covers at least a segment of the upper stem portion and has one or more longitudinally extending bone engagement members for engagement with the bone.
US08641764B2
A spinal implant include a top, wherein at least a portion of the top is configured to contact a first vertebra, a bottom, wherein at least a portion of the bottom is configured to contact a second vertebra, a side having a releasable attachment to receive an insertion device and a cam surface to engage a cam on the insertion device.
US08641763B2
A spinal fusion apparatus includes a cage body configured to be inserted between two vertebral bodies and which has internal sidewalls that define a cavity which extends vertically through the cage body, and an internal compression member which includes a movable sidewall which defines at least one side of the cavity, and which is movable in a lateral direction from a first position located in the cavity to a second position located in the cavity such that a space within the cavity is reduced when the movable sidewall is at the second position. The internal compression member includes a compression mechanism coupled to the moveable sidewall, and moves the movable sidewall from the first position to the second position. Fusion material is disposed in the cavity is compressed and compacted by the movable sidewall as the moveable sidewall moves from the first position to the second position.
US08641762B2
An implant system for implantation between adjacent spinous processes for the relief of pain associated with the spine. The implant has a series of spacers which may be inserted over a shaft located between adjacent spinous processes thus allowing the implant to be assembled in situ. The spacers may rotate on the shaft relative to the wings. To minimize trauma to the patient, each spacer has a tapered tissue expander to distract the opening between the spinous processes during assembly. The shaft is connected to a wing, and a second wing or deployable wing may be inserted over the shaft and locked into place.
US08641757B2
A quick-connect heart valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The heart valve includes a substantially non-expandable, non-compressible prosthetic valve and a plastically-expandable frame, thereby enabling attachment to the annulus without sutures. A small number of guide sutures may be provided for aortic valve orientation. The prosthetic valve may be a commercially available valve with a sewing ring with the frame attached thereto. The frame may expand from a conical deployment shape to a conical expanded shape, and may include web-like struts connected between axially-extending posts. A system and method for deployment includes an integrated handle shaft and balloon catheter. A valve holder is stored with the heart valve and the handle shaft easily attaches thereto to improve valve preparation steps.
US08641756B2
A stent includes a stent body of a cylindrical configuration having outer and inner surfaces, a first coated layer coating at least the outer surface, and a second coated layer coating substantially completely over the first coated layer. The first coated layer is prepared of a first composition comprising a polymer and a vascular intimal hyperplasia inhibitor (preferably argatroban) of a kind, which does not inhibit proliferation of endothelial cells, the weight compositional ratio of the polymer to the inhibitor being within the range of 8:2 to 3:7. On the other hand, the second coated layer is prepared of a polymer alone or a second composition comprising a polymer and a drug, the weight compositional ratio of the drug to 80% by weight of the polymer being less than 20% by weight.
US08641754B2
An endoluminal stent composed of a plurality of first structural elements arrayed to form the circumference of the stent and extending along the longitudinal axis of the stent, and a plurality of second structural elements that interconnect adjacent pairs of first structural elements. The plurality of first structural elements have either a linear shape or a generally sinusoidal configuration with either a regular or irregular periodicity or regions of regular and regions of irregular periodicity between the peaks and troughs of the pattern, with the peaks and troughs projecting from the first structural elements in the circumferential axis. The plurality of second structural elements are generally linear or sinusoidal-shaped members which interconnect an apex of a peak of one of the plurality of first structural elements with an apex of a valley of a second and adjacent one of the plurality of first structural elements. Each of the plurality of second structural elements are generally oriented parallel to the circumferential axis of the stent.
US08641747B2
Devices are disclosed for the formation of arterio-venous fistula creation. Embodiments include a femoral access approach to the creation of an Aorta-caval fistula at the bifurcation of the Aorta and the Inferior Vena Cava; an apparatus for the creation, modification and maintenance of a fistula; and a method of supplying oxygenated blood to the venous circulation of a patient. The devices, systems and methods can be used to treat patients with one or more numerous ailments including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, hypotension, respiratory failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension, lung fibrosis and adult respiratory distress syndrome.
US08641742B2
A method for correcting an angular deformity in a bone includes positioning a link across a physis of the bone, the link having a first portion with a first opening, a second portion with a second opening, and a central portion extending between the first portion and the second portion, the central portion being more flexible than the first portion or the second portion. A first bone engager and second bone engager are advanced through the first opening and the second opening, respectively, and into the bone on opposing sides of the physis. The physis is allowed to generate more physeal tissue on a side of the bone opposite the link so as to reduce the angular deformity.
US08641737B2
A bone anchoring device includes a bone anchoring element having a shaft to be anchored in the bone and a head, a receiving part for receiving a rod to be connected to the bone anchoring element, and a pressure member acting onto the head to lock the position of the head relative to the receiving part, the receiving part is formed in one piece and includes an open first bore with a first bore axis, a recess shaped and sized to receive a rod having a longitudinal axis, and a second bore having a second bore axis. The second bore is in communication with the first bore and is sized to receive the head with a part of the shaft extending through the second bore. The second bore axis includes an angle of approximately 90° with a plane defined by the first bore axis and the longitudinal axis of the rod.
US08641735B2
Elongated members for use in orthopedic procedures for supporting or correcting tissue are disclosed. Embodiments include several sections, some of which are of differing diameters than others, and such sections may be generally rod-shaped or plate-shaped.
US08641734B2
A Posterior Dynamic Stabilization (PDS) device that regulates physiologic spinal elongation and compression. Regulation of elongation and compression are critical requirements of Posterior Dynamic Stabilization devices. Elongation and compression of the device allow the pedicles to travel naturally as the spine flexes and extends. This interpedicular travel preserves a more natural center of rotation unlike some conventional PDS devices that simply allow bending. The device incorporates two components: 1) a spring that allows elongation/compression, and 2) a polymer core component that serves to increase the stiffness of the device in shear, bending, and tension, and also prevents soft tissue ingrowth.
US08641732B1
A self-retaining suture comprises a variable-dimension filament which varies in size and/or shape along the length of the filament. The variation in size and/or shape results in a variation in the distribution of filament material from one region of the filament to the next. The filament has retainers formed in the surface such that the filament can engage and retain tissue. The retainers are formed in a manner that makes use of regions of the filament where additional material is distributed. The resulting self-retaining suture has a greater minimum cross-section than would be created using an equivalent uniform filament. The resulting self-retaining suture consequently has a greater tensile strength. Methods for manufacturing the filament and retainers are also described.
US08641727B2
Devices and methods provide enhanced treatment of a cardiac valve annulus. Methods generally involve contacting an anchor delivery device with the valve annulus and releasing a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus. Anchors, which in some embodiments are super-elastic or shape memory self-securing anchors, are then drawn together to tighten the annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having a housing at or near the distal end for releasably housing a plurality of coupled anchors. The housing may be flexible, may conform to a valve annulus, and in some embodiments may be coupled with an expandable member to enhance contact of the housing with annular tissue. In one embodiment, self-securing anchors lie approximately flat within the delivery device housing, allowing anchors with relatively large deployed shapes to be housed in and deployed from a relatively narrow delivery device.
US08641721B2
Customized patient-specific orthopaedic surgical instruments are disclosed. Methods for fabricating and using such instruments are also disclosed.
US08641718B2
A method for treating a cartilage defect can include identifying an area of excessive boney growth on at least one of a femoral head and a femoral neck of a patient where the excessive boney growth area is covered with articular cartilage. A portion of the articular cartilage can be harvested from the identified area of excessive boney growth and an area of cartilage damage in an acetabulum of the patient can be identified. The harvested portion of the articular cartilage can be implanted into the identified area of cartilage damage in the acetabulum.
US08641717B2
Various methods and devices for inserting a guidewire into the body are provided. In one embodiment, a guidewire insertion device is provided and includes and outer sheath having an outer surface and an inner lumen extending therethrough, and a dilator having an inner lumen extending therethrough and having a length greater than a length of the outer sheath. A guidewire can be configured to extend through the inner lumen of the dilator such that the guidewire is removably and replaceably disposable within the dilator and coupled thereto. A locking mechanism can be effective to selectively configure the guidewire between a locked position in which the guidewire is stationary relative to the dilator and an unlocked position in which the guidewire is movable relative to the dilator.
US08641701B2
There is provided a probe type living body tissue removing device comprising a probe unit having a probe formed in a capillary tube shape and an opening hole portion for internally aspirating a living body tissue, and also having a dissection device arranged within the probe and dissecting the living body tissue aspirated into the probe from the opening hole portion of the probe; wherein an aspiration force supplying device for supplying aspiration force to the probe unit, and a dissection driving source supplying device for supplying power or energy for fulfilling a function of the dissection device to the probe unit are connected to the probe unit; and the probe type living body tissue removing device dissects, and aspirates and removes the living body tissue by the dissecting means while the probe is inserted into the living body tissue and the living body tissue is aspirated through the opening hole portion; and a plurality of the opening hole portions of the probe are arranged.
US08641694B2
A fluid containment pouch is provided that includes a first layer of material having a first thermal characteristic and a second layer of material having a second thermal characteristic. The first layer of material is thermally compatible with a patient covering upon which it is to be thermally bonded. Thermal bonds between the fluid containment pouch and the patient covering form fluid containment channels that retain expelled body fluids during a patient's operation to help maintain a sterile operating environment.
US08641692B2
A manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure apparatus for use with a reduced-pressure system for treating tissue at a tissue site includes a flexible, collapsible member that is operable to move between a compressed position and an extended position. The collapsible member may be disposed between a carrier member and a slider member that move between a compressed position and an extended position. The carrier member and slider member are urged away from each other by a constant-force biasing member, e.g., a constant force coil spring. As the apparatus moves from the compressed position to the extended position, a constant reduced-pressure is generated and delivered to a reduced-pressure port. Systems, methods of manufacturing a manually-actuated, constant reduced-pressure apparatus, and methods of treating a tissue site are also provided.
US08641691B2
A portable system for subatmospheric pressure therapy in connection with healing a surgical wound, includes a wound dressing dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed of a subject, a portable subatmospheric pressure mechanism dimensioned to be carried or worn by the subject and a container for collecting exudates from the wound bed removed under the subatmospheric pressure supplied by the subatmospheric pressure mechanism. The portable subatmospheric pressure mechanism includes a housing, a subatmospheric pressure source disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the wound dressing to supply subatmospheric pressure to the wound dressing and a power source mounted to or within the housing for supplying power to actuate the subatmospheric pressure source.
US08641689B2
A transdermal permeant delivery system for delivery of at least one permeant composition into a tissue membrane of a subject including a disposable substrate having at least a portion of a bottom surface of a first release liner connected to an upper surface of the substrate and a patch having a backing layer and a reservoir that is selectively removable from the top surface of the first release liner. In a connected position, a first portion of the backing layer of the patch is releaseably mounted to a top surface of the first release liner in spaced registration with a poration area of the substrate.
US08641682B2
An applicator, for example an injector (100), includes a flow control means including a first member (2) and a second member (6) for controlling flow from an inlet (4) to an outlet (5). A hinged linkage (17) is provided having a first end (18) rotatably engaged with the first member and a second end (19) rotatably engaged with the second member. The linkage (17) is moveable between a collapsed position and an over-center locked position which prevents relative movement of the first member (2) towards the second member (6). Linkage unlocking means (28) are provided which move the hinge (22) away from the over-center locked position so that the first and second members can be moved together.A similar linkage (10) prevents unwanted movement of a needle shroud (8).A needle shroud (8) which can be used to remove the needle (7) from the injector (100) is also described.
US08641669B2
An injection apparatus (2) has a carrier housing (4), into which an injection device (8) having at least one injection fluid container (10) that can be pressed out can be inserted, and an actuating apparatus (12) which can be driven along an injection direction (R) in order to activate the injection device (8) and which can be acted on for performing at least one pricking stroke and one injection stroke by a mechanical energy storage unit (20) and an electrical transport unit (26). The invention provides for the actuating apparatus (12) to be driven in the injection direction (R) by the driving force of a mechanical energy storage unit (20) and for the electrical transport unit (26) to form a speed limiter which acts counter to the driving force during an injection, in order to limit a stroke speed attained via the energy storage unit.
US08641657B2
In a blood transfer chamber, a filter (4) is arranged at an outlet located on a bottom of the chamber. The filter is truncoconical with a vertically-disposed axis. The filter has a plurality of openings (13, 14) for fluid passage, a size of which openings increases gradually in an upwards direction going from bottom to top of the chamber. The filter is used in a venous air-blood separation chamber of a dialysis set. The invention enables a reduction of a risk of hemolysis during treatment as well as a reduction of the risk of formation of air bubble retention in the filter during a priming stage.
US08641654B2
A hinged ankle brace having a semi-rigid ankle cuff and a semi-rigid foot bed rotatably connected by a medial hinge and a lateral hinge provides enhanced stability and support to a wearer's ankle. The medial hinge of the ankle brace may be higher than the lateral hinge to accurately replicate the bending motion of an ankle. The ankle brace also includes ratchetably interconnected semi-rigid straps. These semi-rigid straps provide a semi-rigid structure encircling the ankle of a wearer for enhanced support. The ratchet mechanism may include a curved window that enables angular adjustment of the ratcheting straps. The ankle brace may also include a soft inner liner and a soft outer sleeve. The outer sleeve is configured to provide compression to the semi-rigid shell, which in turn provides additional compression to the ankle. The semi-rigid foot bed may include posterior extensions that cup and support the wearer's heel, and a posterior cut-out portion that receives the wearer's heel.
US08641646B2
A seizure detection device includes a coordinate data interface configured to receive coordinate data for a human, a memory to store coordinate data for a defined location of the human, and a seizure detector configured to identify a seizure event responsive to the coordinate data.
US08641639B2
An intravascular sensor delivery device for measuring a physiological parameter of a patient, such as blood pressure, within a vascular structure or passage. In some embodiments, the device can be used to measure the pressure gradient across a stenotic lesion or heart valve, such as a fractional flow reserve (FFR) across a stenotic lesion. The sensor delivery device has a distal sleeve configured to pass or slide over a standard medical guidewire. The sensor delivery device can be sized to pass over different sizes of guidewires to enable usage in coronary and peripheral arteries, for example. The sensing mechanism (sensor) can be a fiber optic pressure sensor, such as a MEMS-based FabryPerot fiber optic pressure sensor, for example, or could employ some other technology, e.g., MEMS capacitive or piezoresistive sensor.
US08641620B2
An acoustic imaging arrangement is disclosed including a longitudinal axis defining an imaging path; a source transducer configured and arranged for producing a beam of acoustic energy, the source transducer comprising a piezoelectric polymer-based material, the source transducer disposed along the imaging path; and at least one sensor disposed along the imaging path, the sensor constructed and arranged to produce electrical signals in response to acoustic energy incident thereon. Related methods are also described.
US08641619B2
An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor.
US08641617B2
A system for in-place visualization of sensed data is provided. The system includes a formable sheet comprising a display and sensors embedded within the sheet underneath the display. The display will display information relating to sensed data on a portion of the display corresponding to locations of the sensors located underneath the display. As a result, the display displays the information above or directly above the sensors that output data.
US08641615B2
One of the most significant safety concerns in the automation of extracorporeal blood treatments such as dialysis is the risk of blood leakage. Extracorporeal blood treatment systems draw blood at such a high rate that a loss of integrity in the blood circuit can be serious. There are a number of mechanisms for detecting and preventing leaks, but none is perfect. This tends to limit the use of such equipment in unsupervised settings, such as the home will be limited. Some leak detection schemes can be made sensitive enough to detect the barest of leaks, but when this is done, they result in too many false positives. The invention combines information from multiple inputs to enhance sensitivity in leak detection and reduce the problem of false positives.
US08641612B2
Various methods and apparatuses for measuring a state parameter of an individual using signals based on one or more sensors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first set of signals is used in a first function to determine how a second set of signals is used in one or more second functions to predict the state parameter. In another embodiment, first and second functions are used where the state parameter or an indicator of the state parameter may be obtained from a relationship between the first function and the second function. The state parameter may, for example, include calories consumed or calories burned by the individual. Various methods for making such apparatuses are also disclosed.
US08641609B2
A method of thermally treating tissue during a surgical procedure where a surgical access device, including a body member having walls with at least one conduit therein, is inserted into the patient. A chilled fluid is circulated through the at least one conduit such that the tissue that is located proximate the body member is cooled. Alternatively, the body member may be constructed from a highly thermally conductive material such that heat energy is transmitted through the body from the tissue located proximate the body member and into a heat sink. The surgical device may include a first or second blade portions constructed from an inner and an outer shell having walls. Ribs located on the inner shell sealingly coupled to the inner wall of the outer shell to create the at least one conduit within the walls of the blade portion.
US08641602B2
A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body that allows it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through, around, and between organs within the body.
US08641601B2
A method of implanting a penile prosthetic in a man includes providing a reservoir having a first major surface separated from to a second major surface by a side wall, the first major surface and the second major surface are both concave and form opposed depressions in the reservoir when the reservoir is empty of liquid. The method additionally includes connecting the reservoir to a pump that is connected to a cylinder, implanting the pump in the scrotum, implanting the cylinder in a corpora cavernosum of the penis, and implanting the reservoir in the man.
US08641600B2
A sex stimulation aid comprises a circular ring defining a first opening sized to fit over the root of a male penis, the ring having an outside diameter, the first opening having an inside diameter and a first elongate axis. A second opening has a second inside diameter and a second elongate axis, the second axis and the first axis extending parallel to each other and offset by a first distance. A third opening has a third inside diameter and a third elongate axis, the third axis and the first axis extending in directions perpendicular to each other and offset by a second distance. A first vibration element and a second vibration element are included.
US08641576B2
In a continuously-variable-ratio-device of the type having races between which drive is transferred by rollers which are movable in accordance with changes of variator ratio, it is necessary to apply a traction load urging the rollers and races into engagement. Each rollers is also subject to a transverse reaction force by a hydraulic reaction roller actuator receiving a controlled reaction pressure. It is desirable to create a relationship between traction and reaction force, and also to provide for adjustment of this relationship. In the present invention this is achieved hydraulically. A traction pressure related to the reaction pressure is applied to an actuator which creates the traction load. The hydraulics also include a working chamber, which is selectively connectable to and disconnectable from either (or both) of (i) the reaction pressure and (ii) the traction pressure, the traction force being dependent upon pressure in the working chamber.
US08641574B2
A drive assembly for a vehicle includes a shaft supported on first and second components, a gear wheel for transmitting torque, and a bearing supporting the gear wheel on the shaft, transmitting axial force in a first axial direction between the gear wheel and the first component, and transmitting axial force in a second direction opposite the first direction between the gear wheel and the second component.
US08641572B2
Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously variable transmissions (CVT). In one embodiment, a main axle is adapted to receive a carrier assembly to facilitate the support of components in a CVT. In another embodiment, a carrier includes a stator support member and a stator interfacial member. In some embodiments, the stator interfacial member is configured to interact with planet subassemblies of a CVT. Various inventive planet subassemblies and idler assemblies can be used to facilitate shifting the ratio of a CVT. In some embodiments, the planet subassemblies include legs configured to have a sliding interface with a carrier assembly. Embodiments of a hub shell, a hub cover are adapted to house components of a CVT and, in some embodiments, to cooperate with other components of the CVT to support operation and/or functionality of the CVT. Among other things, shift control interfaces and braking features for a CVT are disclosed.
US08641570B2
Infinitely variable motion control (IVMC) provides motion control without any requirement for changing gears or use of a clutch. A spur gear transgear, defined as a system having an input, an output and a control, a variable pitch cam having an eccentric inner and outer cam assembly, a driver and a one-way clutch or ratchet bearing assembly may be used to form a cam controlled speed converter converting a given input to a variable or constant output speeds and further having direction control. All IVMC's, cam controlled IVMC, input compensated IVMC and pitch controlled IVMC may be utilized to form various embodiments of infinitely variable generators, transmissions and compressors/pumps.
US08641568B2
An electric machine arrangement for an electric axle of a motor vehicle has an electric machine. The electric machine is connected via a gearbox to at least one drive shaft which can be connected to a driven wheel of the motor vehicle. Further, the machine arrangement has a machine housing. The electric machine has a stator fixed to the housing and a rotor which is connected to an input element of the gearbox. The rotor is rotatably mounted on the machine housing by a first and a second rotor bearing section. The first rotor bearing section is connected to a machine output shaft which is connected to the input element of the gearbox. The machine output shaft is guided through the second rotor bearing section in a contactless fashion.
US08641562B1
A bottle pong table tennis system uses a plurality of sinker balls placed on bottle pong bottles in a novel variant of a table tennis game where multiple balls are in simultaneous play. The system has a regulation table tennis ball that is white in color. The system has a plurality of sinker balls that are orange in color. The system has a regulation table tennis table, a plurality of regulation table tennis rackets, and a plurality of bottle pong bottles. For use, a first bottle pong bottle is placed on a white center line about 19½ inches from a table tennis table first edge and a second bottle pong bottle is placed on the white center line about 19½ inches from a table tennis table second edge. A sinker ball is placed on each bottle top.
US08641557B2
A golf club head includes a striking face having a face center, a bottom portion, a top portion including an exterior surface, a hosel including an imaginary vertical hosel plane, a forwardmost point, and a rearwardmost point. In an imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the hosel plane and passing through the face center, the exterior surface includes a path having a first point and a second point rearward of the first point. An imaginary infinite straight line passes through the first point and the second point, but does not penetrate the exterior surface. A segment of the imaginary straight line is delimited by the first point and the second point. A maximum distance between the segment and the exterior surface of the top portion is no greater than 0.70 mm and a distance between the first point and the second point is no less than 22 mm.
US08641545B2
In one embodiment, a distributed bowling center system includes two or more computing devices associated with respective bowling center peripherals. The bowling center peripherals are any electronic or mechanical device in a bowling center capable of detecting a bowling event or receiving input. Example bowling center peripherals include a pinsetter, a monitor, a bumper, a keypad, or a touchscreen. The bowling center peripherals are configured to perform at least one bowler center function. The computing devices are configured to execute at least one process related to a bowler center function of the associated peripheral. Each computing device is located physically closer to the peripheral than the other computer device. The computing devices are in communication via a network. The computing devices are configured to access a process map defining the communication, which is responsive to the at least one bowler center function.
US08641537B2
A damper mechanism includes a first flywheel, an output plate, a first spring assembly and a second spring assembly. The first spring assembly is disposed between a first support part and a transmission part in a preliminarily compressed state. The second spring assembly is disposed between a second support part and the transmission part in a preliminarily compressed state. The stopper part is disposed for making contact with the first spring assembly and the second spring assembly in the rotational direction. Gaps are reliably produced in the rotational direction between the stopper part and both of the first spring assembly and the second spring assembly in a neutral state of applying no external force to the first flywheel and the output plate.
US08641535B2
A gaming machine includes a plurality of rails extending vertically along the front corners of the cabinet. The number of rails can be varied as required for gaming machines of different heights. Lighting units may be positioned between vertically adjacent rails. The number of rails utilized to form a gaming machine can be varied as required for gaming machines of different heights.
US08641533B2
A system and method for progressive jackpot gaming during a casino game. One or more play tables may be present, each play table comprising a dealer console and a plurality of player input devices. Each of the player input devices is arranged to receive a respective player input. The dealer console is arranged for receiving input concerning one of a plurality of phases of a progressive jackpot game, for controlling an indicator provided on each player input device to indicate to each player the current phase, and for allowing the input of a player for participating in the progressive jackpot game only in a specific subset of the game phases. The dealer console is further arranged for administrating a cashless account for each of the player input devices, and to amend the cashless account according to the received respective player inputs.
US08641529B2
Scheduled programmatic multiplayer game content in a console service is provided. A plurality of multiplayer game events is scheduled. Each event has a fixed start time and fixed end time. Requests from users to participate in event are received and a determination is made as to whether users electing to participate in the game are eligible to participate. If the user is eligible to participate in the game, instructions are provided to a console to allow the user to participate in the game. If the user is not eligible to participate in the game, instructions may be provided to a console to allow a user to view activity in the game.
US08641528B2
Systems and methods for executing multiple video games, or other sources of video, include a game execution environment in which each game application is executed on the same operating system but within a virtual I/O shell. The virtual I/O shell includes virtual video, audio and input channels that allow each game application to operate as if it had dedicated drivers. In some embodiments, the systems and methods of the invention are used to provide video streams to a plurality of clients over the internet.
US08641525B2
An improved controller (10) for a game console that is intended to be held by a user in both hands in the same manner as a conventional controller (1), which has controls on the front operable by the thumbs (2), (3), (4), (5), and has two additional controls (11) located on the back in positions to be operated by the middle fingers of a user.
US08641509B2
Methods and apparatus for providing an award based on a multiplicity of game outcomes. In one implementation the invention provides a method for providing a game. The method includes placing a bet by a player, playing of a game to produce a game outcome, evaluating a primary game outcome, paying a direct award if the primary outcome merits it, advancing a bonus accumulator if the primary outcome merits it, and if the bonus accumulator has advanced sufficiently, paying a bonus award to the player and clearing the bonus accumulator.
US08641507B2
A gaming system is disclosed that provides game play in a tournament in exchange for monetary input per game played. The gaming system includes: a game server, a plurality of game units, and a tournament administration controller. Each game unit is a game of chance or other game that does not rely primarily on the skill of the player. The casino-based game units enable the play of linked wheel games. The tournament administration controller enables an operator to designate tournament characteristics.
US08641503B2
Various embodiments concern a method for facilitating a gaming activity having specialty functionality comprising providing a grid formed by a plurality of elements and marking elements of the plurality with markings selected from a plurality of marking-types, the plurality of marking-types including a feature marking-type. A plurality of feature indicators can be positioned in the grid. Then, for each element of the plurality that is marked with the feature marking-type and positionally associated with a feature indicator of the plurality, the feature marking-type can be re-marked to a respective element of the plurality that is adjacent to the element marked with the feature marking-type and positionally associated with the feature indicator. An outcome can then be determined based on one or more combinations of the markings.
US08641498B1
A video poker style game premised on stud poker and draw poker. In one version, a video poker device utilizes a simulated standard deck of 52 playing cards to facilitate play of the game. The video poker device causes ten, five-card poker hands to be displayed on a video poker device display. Depending on wagers placed, the strength of the ten, five-card poker hands determines a player payout. Players may also select in advance less than all ten poker hands to wager on. The two remaining cards not used in any of the ten five-card poker hands may be designated as wild or used to form seven-card poker hands with each of the ten five-card poker hands or player-selected hands. Players may also select a hand to play draw poker.
US08641491B2
The invention relates to an actuating device comprising an operating control for positioning actuating elements, in particular in a heating or air conditioning unit and to a heating or air conditioning unit, in particular of a motor vehicle, comprising an actuating device.
US08641485B2
The present invention concerns a manually operable clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products. The machine comprises a first displacer unit with a first pair of upper and lower displacer elements, at least the upper displacer element is reversibly movable in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal extending plait-axis between an opened and a closed position. The machine also comprises a second displacer unit with a second pair of upper and lower displacer elements, at least the upper displacer element is reversibly movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extending plait-axis between an opened and a closed position. The second displacer unit is reversibly movable parallel to the longitudinal extending plait-axis between a narrow position where the second displacer unit is adjacent to the first displacer unit, and a spread position in which the second displacer unit is moved away from the first displacer unit.
US08641483B2
Systems with reruckers configured to automatically reruck netting in an upstream direction on a netting chute or horn proximate in time to a clipping operation to pull a clipped end portion of the netting snugly against a discharge end of the chute or horn.
US08641477B2
Stent, as well as a method and device for fabricating the stent, wherein the stent has a tubular lattice structure comprising individual struts and at least one strut of which at least one longitudinal section runs with at least one directional component in the radial circumferential direction of the stent, wherein the surface of the longitudinal section facing the outside of the stent is curved only about the longitudinal axis of the stent. According to the invention, the surface of longitudinal section of the strut, which surface faces the inside of the stent, has such a curvature that the strut cross section is fluidically optimized.
US08641471B2
A method, system and toy that provides a product that is represented on a website via a virtual replica of the product. The product has a registration code associated with it. Data associated with the product is electronically stored in the product using an electronic storage medium. A user is registered on the website by associating the user with a user ID. The user ID is associated with the virtual replica of the product by utilizing the registration code. Access is granted to one or more features on the website in connection with the virtual replica of the product subsequent to input and validation of the registration code via the user ID without requiring additional entry of the registration code.
US08641461B2
Has an object of providing a crimp terminal, a connection structural body, and a method for producing the crimp terminal, which has a conducting function with certainty, with no galvanic corrosion occurring due to an electric wire and the terminal formed of different metal materials. A crimp terminal 1 includes a box section, and a pressure-bonding section including a wire barrel section and an insulation barrel section, which are provided in this order. The crimp terminal is formed of a metal plate which is formed of a copper alloy having a higher potential than aluminum used to form core wires of an insulated wire which is to be pressure-bonded by the pressure-bonding section. The crimp terminal 1 includes, in at least a part thereof, a resin cover section for covering a surface of the metal plate with a resin.
US08641447B2
A coaxial connector includes a center contact electrically connected to a conductor of a cable. The center contact extends along a contact axis oriented generally perpendicular to an axis of the conductor of the cable. An outer contact has a cavity and the center contact is disposed in the cavity. The outer contact has a separable interface end and a terminating end. The separable interface end and terminating end are oriented generally perpendicular to one another. A dielectric insert is received in the cavity. The dielectric insert has a bore that receives and holds the center contact. The dielectric insert has structural features extending axially along an exterior of the dielectric insert, with air gaps defined between the structural features. The structural features engage the outer contact to secure the dielectric insert in the cavity.
US08641442B2
A latching mechanism for a mid-power electrical connector is compact, strong, easy to disengage, durable, and low in manufacturing cost. The basic system includes a plug housing and a receptacle housing, each molded from plastic as a single piece, and at least one simple, mainly flat, metal latching tab inserted into a side of the plug housing. During connection of the housings, the latching tabs flex inward as they enter channels in the receptacle housing, and then spring outward to engage with receptacle latching features. In embodiments, wedge-shaped inward plastic protrusions in the channels engage with holes in the latching tabs. Unlatching requires only pressing the latching tabs gently inward. In embodiments, plastic pressing tabs can be pressed inward with fingers to flex and release the latching tabs. In other embodiments, the latching tabs are inaccessible to fingers, and a tool is required to release the latching tabs.
US08641439B2
A simple structure capable of preventing a cam part of an actuator from coming out of position when the actuator is in an open position. The cam part 12a of the actuator 12 for rotating contacts 13 mounted inside an insulating housing 11 is provided with an engaging surface 12a2 which is a flat surface that faces cam lock protrusions 13a2 of second contact beams 13a when the actuator 12 is in the open position. Upon an external force or the like acting on the cam part 12a to come out of cam rotation recesses 13b3 when the actuator 12 is in the open position, the engaging surface 12a2 of the cam part 12a abuts on and makes locking engagement with the cam lock protrusions 13a2, so that the actuator 12 is prevented from coming out of position.
US08641438B2
In an electronic device, a slider is disposed in an insertion opening of a housing of a card edge connector. The slider is movable with an insertion operation of a circuit board into the insertion opening from an initial position before the circuit board is inserted to an insertion completed position where the insertion operation of the circuit board is completed by being pushed by the circuit board. When the slider is at the initial position, terminal projections are supported on a support surface of the slider in a resiliently deformed condition so that contacts are separated from an electrode-formed surface of the circuit board. When the slider is at the insertion completed position, the terminal projections are completely separated from the slider and in a state of applying a spring back force of resilient deformation to the circuit board through the contacts.
US08641436B2
An electrical connection plug for a multipolar lead of an active implantable medical device. This plug has a cylindrical outer surface including a plurality of annular electrical contact zones axially separated and formed of conductive cylindrical rings (101, 102, 103), the electrical contact zones being alternatively separated by a plurality of intercalary insulating cylindrical zones. The plug includes an insulating monobloc core (200) of a generally cylindrical shape having a plurality of cylindrical side surfaces (213a) for coaxial centering, a conductive ring being placed on at least one centering side surface. The central core also includes housings for receiving conductive pods (240) on which connection wires (21, 22) are welded, a pod being welded to a conductive ring.
US08641429B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a super cage for receiving and providing a small form factor pluggable (SFP) communication module with a functionality, the super cage comprising: a sleeve dimensioned to receive an SFP communication module and be plugged into a conventional SFP cage having a socket for receiving an SFP connector of an SFP module; functionality circuitry housed in the sleeve; a cage connector electrically connected to the functionality circuitry and configured to be inserted into the conventional cage socket; and a coupling socket housed in the sleeve that receives an SFP connector of an SFP module and electrically connects the SFP connector to the functionality circuitry.
US08641418B2
A method of forming an implant to be implanted into living bone is disclosed. The method comprises the act of roughening at least a portion of the implant surface to produce a microscale roughened surface. The method further comprises the act of immersing the microscale roughened surface into a solution containing hydrogen peroxide and a basic solution to produce a nanoscale roughened surface consisting of nanopitting superimposed on the microscale roughened surface. The nanoscale roughened surface has a property that promotes osseointegration.
US08641411B2
A method of operating an emission abatement assembly includes separating the exhaust gas flow entering through the gas inlet port of the fuel-fired burner into a combustion flow which is advanced through the combustion chamber, and a bypass flow which bypasses the combustion chamber. An emission abatement assembly is also disclosed.
US08641406B2
A device for the production of rotor blades (1) for wind power plants with a multi-part manufacturing mold (20, 21, 22) for a rotor blade (1) that along a longitudinal extension, which extends from a rotor blade root (2) substantially to a rotor blade tip (3), has at least one area in which the rotor blade (1) has an aerodynamic airfoil section (4), which has an airfoil leading edge (5) and an airfoil trailing edge (6) that are connected via a suction side (8) and a pressure side (7) of the airfoil section (4), wherein at least two partial molds (21, 22; 34, 35) are provided for at least two shell parts (23, 24; 36, 37) of a rotor blade (1), of which a first shell part (23; 36, 37) and a second shell part (24; 36, 37) substantially lying flat on each other in the area of the airfoil trailing edge (6) are to be connected together. A corresponding partial mold (21, 22; 34, 35), and a method for the production of manufacturing molds (20) for rotor blades (1) and to the production of a rotor blade (1) are also disclosed.
US08641403B2
A molding unit for producing an opening device, wherein a web having plural holes is fed to the unit, and the opening device has a spout closed by a membrane, a neck portion projecting from the spout, and a pull ring extending from the membrane inside the neck portion. The unit includes first and second mold devices cooperating with the web to define a closed cavity, and movable to be detached from the web. The unit also has a first and a second matrix which can be set to a configuration in which they are located inside the cavity to define a first and second volume. The matrices are movable relative to the web to disengage the opening device from the volumes and permit removal of the opening device by feeding forward the web. A single actuator moves one of the mold device and the matrices to/from the web.
US08641399B2
Injection molding system (20, 220, 320, 420) having hydraulic circuit (50, 250, 350, 450) for motivating hydraulic actuator (36, 38) comprising: pump motor (52); and digital displacement pump (54, 354A, 354B, 454A, 454B) having: piston assemblies (102A, 102B, 102C, 102D) actuatable by pump motor (52), piston assembly including: pair of inlet and outlets operable to be individually opened and closed at selective rate independently of actuation of each piston assembly; at least one hydraulic actuator (36, 38) operably coupled on each of rod side (64, 66) and cylinder side (58, 74) to first subset of the plurality of piston assemblies (102B, 102D) and second subset of the plurality of piston assemblies (102A, 102C), respectively.
US08641398B2
An automated method and system for making painted vehicle body panel skins and vehicle body panels, such as instrument panels, are provided wherein throughput and equipment utilization are greatly improved at a relatively low cost. The method includes transferring a mold having a mold surface from an entrance station to a paint station within a dispensing area. The method further includes applying paint on the mold surface to form a layer of paint on the mold surface at the paint station. The method still further includes spraying curable polyurethane elastomer on the painted surface at a spray station within the dispensing area. The paint and spray stations may be coincident. The method still further includes, after the step of spraying and while the polyurethane elastomer is uncured, transferring the mold with the paint and the uncured polyurethane elastomer from the spray station to at least one accumulator station in a curing area to allow the polyurethane elastomer to completely cure in the mold and form the skin.
US08641394B2
A compressor is configured to compress a refrigerant and use a lubricating oil. The compressor includes a compression mechanism configured to compress the refrigerant, a driving shaft configured to rotate about a rotation axis in order to drive the compression mechanism, a slide bearing slidably supporting the driving shaft, a first surface fixed to the driving shaft and intersecting with a line arranged in parallel to the rotation axis, a second surface facially abutted to the first surface, and a recovery space formed in the compressor. The recovery space is configured and arranged to recover the lubricating oil leaking out of bottom ends of sliding surfaces of the slide bearing and the driving shaft. The first surface and the second surface respectively continue to surfaces forming the recovery space.
US08641382B2
A turbocharger includes a plurality of blades (7; 7′) which are arranged in a turbine casing (2). Each blade has the following: a profile underside (8; 8′) and a profile top side (9; 9′) which determine the blade thickness, a blade leading edge (10; 10′) at a first intersection of the blade underside (8; 8′) and the blade top side (9; 9′), a blade trailing edge (11; 11′) at a second intersection of the blade underside (8; 8′) and the blade top side (9; 9′), a profile center line (12; 12′) which is defined by the blade underside (8; 8′) and the blade top side (9; 9′) and runs between them from the blade leading edge (10; 11′) to the blade trailing edge (11; 11′), and in which the profile center line (12; 12′) runs in a wave-like manner.
US08641374B2
A maintenance apparatus is provided for use with a wind turbine that has a tower, a hub supported by the tower, and a plurality of blades extending outwardly from the hub. The maintenance apparatus has a mounting element that is configured to be secured to the tower and to be selectively movable along the length thereof. A robotic arm is coupled to the mounting element, and a blade-engaging device is coupled to the robotic arm and is configured to engage one of the blades to effect a maintenance task thereon.
US08641363B2
A turbocharger having a turbine with a wastegate, and a compressor including a compressor housing, a compressor wheel, and a wastegate actuator. The turbine wheel includes blades defining an inlet. The compressor housing has an inlet wall leading to the inlet, and a shroud wall surrounding the blades. The actuator includes a base that is integral with the inlet wall, and an electric motor that is attached to the base. The shroud wall forms a first port that is in direct fluid communication with the actuator chamber, and the inlet wall forms a second port that is in direct fluid communication with the actuator chamber. Air from the first port to passes through the actuator housing and out the second port. This airflow convectively cools the working components of the actuator, while the connection of the motor to the inlet wall conductively cools the motor.
US08641360B2
The invention relates to a method for braking a rotor of a turbine engine, comprising a turning gear, with a drive supplied from an energy source, having an input shaft to which the rotor may be coupled, whereby, during a cooling phase for the turbine, the rotor may be driven by the drive using the coupled input shaft. According to the invention, a method for braking a rotor of a turbine engine can be achieved, in which the rotation of a rotor, caused by the airflow through the turbine, is slowed until the rotor stops, whereby after the end of the cooling phase, the drive drives the rotor in the reverse sense by means of the input shaft in order to brake the same.
US08641355B2
An apparatus for removing and installing a truck cap, the apparatus is formed by a box member having an opening, the box member being adapted at one end to a truck hitch and the other to a sleeve. A mast is rotatably disposed in the sleeve. A boom having a first end and a second end is fixedly attached at a right angle at the first end to the mast. A first slideable member is slideably coupled to the boom at the second end of the boom. A spread arm is fixedly attached at a right angle to the first slideable member. At least two bumpers are disposed on the spread arm and one bumper on the boom. In use, the rod of a jack disposed within the box member engages the mast through the opening of the box member to raise or lower the mast.
US08641343B2
Threaded connectors for securing a structure such as a post or pole to a support are disclosed. In one embodiment, an anchor has a passageway that is threaded for at least a portion of its length. An elongate connecting member has a relatively wide central section and threaded first and second sections extending from opposite sides of the central section. The first section is threadable into the passageway to secure the connecting member to the anchor. The connecting member is formed with a turning formation at its outer end so that it can be engaged with a turning tool in order to thread the connecting member into or out of the passageway. A nut is part of the connector and can be threaded onto the second section in order to secure the structure. Another version of the connector has a flanged nut having a flange spaced from the outer end of the nut, which is threadable onto a threaded connecting member. The nut is formed with a turning formation for engagement with a tool so that the nut can be turned to adjust the nut's position.
US08641333B2
A cabinet assembly bore indexing tool and method provides facilitated bore indexing and guided drilling, while an assembly method helps to make the tool almost foolproof while reducing overall cabinet construction time and raising cabinet quality. The tool uses approximate or nominal material thickness blocks referred to as drill bushing blocks and adjustable axial length spacer sleeves in a floating spacer assembly to locate the drilled bores at the nominal center of the horizontal members and correspondingly in the reciprocal location on the internal surface near the edge of the vertical members so that when assembled they go together in perfect alignment. The cabinet assembly bore indexing tool indexes from an edge or surface to ensure front exterior matching upon assembly of a resulting rectangular annular shaped member as the basic unit upon which cabinet construction is based.
US08641325B2
A clamp assembly, for a laying tower for laying continuous, elongated members in a body of water, has a supporting frame; and three clamping units arranged in series to simultaneously clamp and release a continuous, elongated member extending along a given axis, and each having at least two opposite jaws, and self-adjusting mechanisms, each of which is interposed between a respective jaw and the supporting frame, has a spring, and allows an adjustment movement of the respective jaw with respect to the supporting frame in a direction parallel to the axis, under the weight of the continuous, elongated member, and in opposition to the spring, when the continuous, elongated member is gripped simultaneously by the clamping units.
US08641322B1
A system and process for disposal of dry fly ash that effectively confines and damps fugitive dust during the collection, sorting, transporting, storage and treatment of fly ash at a landfill. The system and process for disposal of dry fly ash utilizing an enlarged, oversized hopper positioned at the top of a hill and an elongate channel that runs between the enlarged hopper and the landfill. A bulk transport truck hauling a belly dump trailer dumps dry fly ash through an elevated platform having a centrally aligned orifice into the oversized hopper having a slurry rack and a large hopper grate. The dry fly ash is mixed with water in the enlarged hopper at a ratio of approximately 1:1, after which it flows downstream into the elongate channel and ultimately to the landfill. When the transport truck is positioned above the enlarged hopper, the doors of the belly dump trailer open and contact a substantially upright skirt surrounding the periphery of the orifice. The ramps and raised platform of the enlarged hopper allow the belly dump trailer compartments to be closer to the orifice and the hopper grate in order to minimize fugitive ash during the disposal process. A fan located within the elongate channel creates a partial vacuum forcing the dry fly ash from the belly dump trailer into the enlarged hopper, which is mixed with water from the slurry rack and allowed to flow downstream where it is further mixed within the elongate channel.
US08641320B2
A road paver for laying road construction material comprises a tamping beam, a bunker for receiving road construction material, a wheeled chassis with a rear axle and a steerable front axle, and a hydraulic arrangement for permanent or optionally selectable drive of hydraulic motors which are coupled to the front wheels. A method for tractive power control and for drive slip limitation of the front drive of a road paver is also disclosed.
US08641319B2
An apparatus and method compressibly secure together a plurality of components, wherein some of the components may include plastic or other materials susceptible to creep. The apparatus includes a plurality of stackable compression limiters configured to engage axially end to end in tandem and in some aspects to lockably engage. Each stackable compression limiter includes an elongated sleeve member configured to limit the maximum compressive force applied to its associated component, where different components in the stacked assembly may be configured for different maximum compressive forces.
US08641317B2
A bushing includes a base portion having a central axis, a substantially circular aperture extending through the base portion along the central axis, and a plurality of tapered fingers integral with and protruding from the base portion. Each of the tapered fingers are configured to deflect from a first position in which a bolt or similar fastener may pass through the bushing to a second position in which the bushing constricts or clamps down around the bolt. A coupling system and method for rigidly securing two or more components together using one or more bushings is also provided.
US08641305B2
A print control apparatus having a decision unit, a print control unit, and a determination unit. The decision unit decides a print order for duplex printing on a continuous sheet. The print control unit causes the print unit to execute a continuous print of first face images on a first face and second face images on a second face after completion of the print on the first face in accordance with the decided print order. In a case where the determination unit determines that an interruption factor occurs before the completion of the print on the first face, the print control unit performs switches to a print on the second face and to cause the print unit to execute a print of any second face image that is predetermined to be arranged on the second face relative to any first face image already printed on the first face.
US08641297B2
A receptacle structure for optical sub-assembly for transceivers includes: a receiving tube; a base seat coaxially disposed in the receiving tube, the base seat having a first fiber stub receiving hole and a second fiber stub oblique receiving hole; a sleeve coaxially disposed in the base seat and the receiving tube; a first fiber stub coaxially disposed in the first fiber stub receiving hole of the base seat and the receiving tube; a second fiber stub connected in the second fiber stub oblique receiving hole of the base seat; and an optical fiber installed between the first and second fiber stubs. The second fiber stub is disposed in the base seat in an inclined state, whereby the coupling loss is reduced and the optical coupling efficiency is increased.
US08641295B2
An optical fiber connector includes a ferrule, an inserted optical fiber, an external optical fiber, and a pair of reinforcing members that pinches and reinforces a fusion-spliced portion of the other end portion of the inserted optical fiber and the front end portion of the external optical fiber. The reinforcing members include adhesion layer on the inner surface thereof which comes in contact with the other end portion of the inserted optical fiber and the front end portion of the external optical fiber. The adhesion layer is depressed at the position where the inserted optical fiber and the external optical fiber come in contact with each other so as to closely adhere to the outer circumferential surfaces of the optical fibers in the fusion-spliced portion.
US08641287B2
A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a rotational speed detecting apparatus has an outer member, an inner member and double row rolling elements contained between inner and outer raceway surfaces of the inner and outer members. A pulser ring is fit onto the outer circumference of the inner ring. A cylindrical sensor cap is fit into the inner circumference of the inner-side end of the outer member. A mounting portion axially projects from a radially outer portion of the sensor cap. An inserting bore is formed in the mounting portion so that it axially extends at a position corresponding to the pulser ring. A sensor unit is mounted in the inserting bore. A rotational speed sensor is embedded in the sensor unit to oppose the pulser ring, via a predetermined axial air gap. The position of a gate of a mold is set on the mounting portion of the sensor cap.
US08641280B2
Lubrication for rolling elements is carried out in a turnaround passage in an end cap. An applicator nose to come into touch with the rolling elements has a molding density greater than in a lubricant reservoir plate to ensure proper and steady lubrication, with accompanying sustainable maintenance-free condition for lubrication. The lubricant reservoir plate impregnated with lubricant fits into a concavity inside the end cap. The applicator nose is integral with the lubricant reservoir plate and extends through a hole cut in the end cap to reach a turnaround passage to be exposed at a leading edge thereof to the rolling element to resupply the lubricant around the rolling elements.
US08641278B2
An automatic gripping closure device comprising a first element with hooks comprising a first base band and at least two first hooks originating from the first band and placed in at least one row of first hooks (9), each first hook being delimited by two faces (11, 12) that are mutually opposed and transverse to the direction of the at least one row of first hooks and at least one coupling portion (13, 14) protruding laterally from the stem, preferably at the top of the latter, while extending in a direction transverse to the direction of the row, and a second element with hooks comprising a second base band and at least two second hooks originating from the second band and placed in at least one row.
US08641271B2
A method for testing heat pipes includes the following steps. A plurality of bar-shaped heat pipes having the same size is provided, and the heat pipes are deformed. The deformed heat pipes are placed in a temperature regulator, such that a temperature of the heat pipes is periodically changed between a first temperature and a second temperature. The heat pipes are then taken out of the temperature regulator. One end of each heat pipe is maintained at a third temperature by a thermostatic device, and a heat pipe temperature difference of two opposite ends of the heat pipe is measured. The heat pipes having the heat pipe temperature difference greater than a standard temperature difference in the heat pipes are marked.
US08641266B2
A novel apparatus is disclosed which comprises: (a) pumping means for injecting a fluid through a conduit means into an inlet pipe of a fluid mixing tank, (b) said fluid mixing tank comprising a plurality of compartments connected in series and in fluid communication with adjacent compartments in the series, and designed to provide for a horizontal flow of fluids from the first compartment to the last compartment in the series, (c) at least one compartment being equipped with one or more radial-flow impellers connected to a vertical shaft, and means for rotating such impellers at a rate designed to stir the contents of the compartment radially with high shear and prevent fluid stagnation, (d) at least one compartment being equipped with one or more axial flow impellers connected to a vertical shaft, and means for rotating such impellers at a rate designed to circulate the contents of the compartment vertically, (e) the inlet pipe being designed to introduce fluids into the first compartment, and (f) a means for withdrawing fluid from the apparatus through a discharge opening in the last compartment in the series. The new apparatus is particularly useful as a horizontal flow hydration tank to prepare aqueous viscous fluids for use as well treatment fluids. Hydratable polymers can be hydrated rapidly and consistently in real time. The apparatus is less complex mechanically and operationally than the compartmentalized vertical-flow tanks of the prior art, and it can be constructed as a mobile unit.
US08641261B2
A backlight module is disclosed. The backlight module includes a light guide plate, a backlight source, an optical plate, and an optical coating layer. The light guide plate has a light emitting surface and a light incident end. The light incident end is located at an adjacent side of the light emitting surface. The backlight source is disposed corresponding to the light incident end and generates lights emitting to the light incident end. The optical plate is disposed above the light emitting surface. The optical plate includes an extension portion extending disposed above the backlight source. The optical coating layer is formed on a surface of the extension portion.
US08641259B2
An optical substrate having a structured light output surface that comprises rows of laterally arranged snaking, wavy or meandering longitudinal prism structures. The prism structures at the light output surface may be viewed as comprising rows of laterally meandering longitudinal prisms and/or sections of curved segments coupled end-to-end to form the overall meandering longitudinal prism structures. The laterally meandering rows of longitudinal prism structures are arranged in parallel laterally (side-by-side), defining parallel peaks and valleys (a facet is defined between each adjacent peak and valley). In one embodiment, the lateral waviness is regular with a constant or variable wavelength and/or wave amplitude (or extent of lateral deformation). The lateral waviness may generally follow a sinusoidal profile, or other curved profile. The structured light output surface may further include varying peak heights along each wavy prism structure and/or pre-defined structural irregularities such as non-facet flat section distributed in the structure surface.
US08641252B2
A planar light-emitting device includes a light source element and a light guide plate. The light source element is configured to emit light. The light guide plate has a housing hole, a light-emitting face and a light reflecting face. The housing hole houses the light source element. The light reflecting face is formed along a side end portion of the light guide plate. The light reflecting face has an inclined portion that is located next to the housing hole in a first direction of the light guide plate and a flat portion that is located next to the inclined portion in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The inclined portion has an inclination angle with respect to the flat portion such that the light reflected on the inclined portion is prevented from returning the housing hole.
US08641239B2
A lighting assembly utilizing a reflective body for use with a light source to uniformly disperse the light from the light source. The reflective body includes a lower array of first reflectors arranged about a central axis. Each of the first reflectors form an obtuse angle with the next adjacent first reflector. The reflective body also includes an upper array of second reflectors arranged about the central axis. Each of said second reflectors include a left face and a right face. The upper array defines obtuse angles between next adjacent second reflectors. Additionally, reflex angles are defined between the left and right faces of the second reflectors. The combination of angles evenly disperse the light supplied from the light source to provide a pleasant glow for illuminating an area below the lighting assembly without causing hot spots.
US08641238B2
A light source module includes a circuit board, a light-emitting diode, a lens, and a lamp screen. An upper surface of the lens has a first recessed portion including a flat surface and a curved side surface. The flat surface is at the center of the upper surface. The curved side surface surrounds the flat surface and stretches to the flat surface from a side surface of the lens to form the first recessed portion. A lower surface of the lens has a second recessed portion defining a recessed space and includes a curved surface and a sidewall portion. The curved surface is a convex surface and opposite to the flat surface. The sidewall portion surrounds the recessed space. An inner surface of the sidewall portion is concaved. The light-emitting diode is disposed in the recessed space. The lamp screen is used to diffuse the light passing through the lens.
US08641237B2
An LED light bulb includes a lamp shell, a light emitting assembly and a power receiving base. The lamp shell includes a light transmissive portion and a holding portion. The light emitting assembly includes a light source baseboard located in the light transmissive portion and a circuit board connecting to the light source baseboard. The circuit board is surrounded by a heat sink. The heat sink includes a heat collecting section and a holding section extended from the heat collecting section into the power receiving base such that the power receiving base fully encases the heat sink without exposing. The inner surface of the power receiving base connects to the outer surface of the holding section so that heat generated by the light source baseboard is absorbed by the heat collecting section and transmitted via the holding section to the power receiving base for dissipating.
US08641232B2
According to one embodiment, a light emitting device includes: a substrate a back face side of which is disposed on a mounting member; a plurality of light emitting elements mounted on a surface side of the substrate; and a power supply terminal provided on the surface side of the substrate and electrically connected to the light emitting elements. The power supply terminal is connected to electrical connecting units by elastic pressing force directed from the surface side of the substrate to the mounting member side. A mechanical fixing unit has a pressing portion brought into contact with the surface side of the substrate. The mechanical fixing units fix the substrate to the mounting member with use of elastic pressing force of the pressing portions directed from the surface side of the substrate to the mounting member side.
US08641226B2
A flashlight lamp rotation structure capable of rotating the direction of a lamp to meet the need for a flashlight illumination direction includes the lamp equipped with an illumination light source and movably pivotally coupled to the upper end of a flashlight body. The illumination light source in the lamp coupled to the upper end of the flashlight body can undergo a preset change of the color of lamp light, or the lamp can rotate in a preset direction, so as to provide illumination flexibly.
US08641224B1
A low profile table lamp having a replaceable power supply and circuitry to power at least one light is provided. A bottom housing has a central cylinder with threads internally and an exterior mounting surface for a ring of lights. The bottom housing contains the battery, circuitry, light element and a switch. Included is a top cover having a post with threads externally to mate with the central cylinder inclined ridges and a top crown. Attached to the top cover is a light diffusion dish having a central orifice with a diameter greater than the outside diameter of the central cylinder for receiving the post. The crown has a surface of a greater size than the light diffusion dish covering the central orifice. The post is removably joined from above to the central cylinder for accessing the battery.
US08641219B1
The present invention is directed to a display assembly. The display assembly includes a display panel and a backlight module. The backlight module may be operationally coupled to the display panel and may include a light source and light guide. The light guide may be operationally coupled to the light source. The light guide may include a top surface (oriented towards the display panel) and a bottom surface (oriented towards the light source). The light source may provide a plurality of light rays to the light guide via the bottom surface of the light guide, thereby providing a rear lit wave guide (ex.—a rear lit light guide). Further, the light guide may receive the plurality of light rays and direct them, via the top surface of the light guide, to the display panel for illuminating the display panel.
US08641213B2
There is provided a high-performance mirror which is capable of being varied between a plane mirror and a concave mirror. The mirror comprises a base (1), a mirror holder (2), a mirror surface sheet (12) and a back sheet (13) both capable of varying their curvature and retained in a spaced-apart relation by the mirror holder (2) to define an air-tight space between the sheets, the back sheet (13) being deformed from its center to reduce the pressure in the space, the mirror surface sheet being deformed into a concave spherical surface by a difference between the reduced pressure and the atmospheric pressure thereby to vary the curvature thereof.
US08641207B2
A projection-type image display device includes an image light generator configured to generate image light, a projection optics configured to project the image light onto a screen. The projection optics includes a reflection mirror configured to reflect the image light toward the screen, the image light outputted from the image light generator. A projection-type image display device includes a protective cover provided on an optical path of the image light reflected by the reflection mirror. The protective cover has a transmissive region transmitting the image light reflected by the reflection mirror.
US08641206B2
A projector includes a light source device which emits an illumination light; an aperture disposed with a tilt with respect to a plane perpendicular to a center axis of the illumination light, provided with an opening section which transmits a part of the illumination light, and block a rest of the illumination light; a pair of first and second lens arrays which divides the illumination light from the light source device into a plurality of partial light; and an overlapping lens which overlaps the illumination light transmitted through the first and second lens arrays, wherein the aperture is disposed on a light path between the light source device and the overlapping lens.
US08641205B2
A light source device includes a first light source configured to emit light within a first wavelength band, a second light source configured to emit light within a second wavelength band, and a light source control section configured to control drive timing of the first light source with a first drive pattern, and to control drive timing of the second light source with a second drive pattern which is an inverted pattern of the first drive pattern of the first light source, such that a light emission period for light-source light using light emitted by the second light source is positioned between light emission periods for the light-source light emitted by the first light source, and such that a frequency of the light-source light using light emitted by the second light source is higher than a frequency of light emitted by the first light source.
US08641199B2
A projector includes an outer housing having an exhaust port, a louver board configured to rotate to an open position in which the louver board opens the exhaust port or to a close position in which the louver board closes the exhaust port, and a drive mechanism configured to rotate the louver board and includes a moving member that rotates the louver board to the open position or the close position by moving rectilinearly. The louver board includes a projecting section configured to engage the moving member. The positions of the projecting section in the open position and in the close position are set so as to be located on opposite sides of a virtual plane which includes a rotation axis of the louver board and is perpendicular to a direction in which the moving member moves.
US08641197B2
An acoustical receiver for detecting an acoustical signal characterized by a wavelength and a pen transcription system utilizing the same are disclosed. The receiver includes a detector that generates an electrical signal in response to acoustical signals in a predetermined frequency range including that wavelength, a housing surrounding the detector, and a receiving horn. The housing has a housing aperture having a maximum dimension less than the acoustical signal wavelength. The receiving horn has a first opening that is adjacent to the housing aperture and a second aperture having a dimension that is greater than the acoustical signal wavelength.
US08641193B2
A system for analyzing and detecting early stage damage to the retina related to glaucoma. The reflectance of different wavelengths of light by the retinal nerve fiber layer are compared. Changes in relative reflectance values indicate damage to the retinal nerve fibers and indicate early glaucomatous optical neuropathy.
US08641187B2
A pair of rotary glasses comprising a lens, a glasses leg, and a pivot element. The support portion includes a second pivot portion corresponding to the first pivotal transverse through hole. The pivot element is passed through the first pivotal transverse through hole and the second pivot portion to pivotally couple each glasses leg. With this structural design, a user can longitudinally rotate the support portion by using the pivot element as an axis towards or away from the upper edge of the lens or the glasses frame so that the folding portion of the glasses leg and the lens or the glasses frame can support the rotary glasses on a disposing surface securely. Therefore, the rotary glasses will not lose balance or topple over by a slight external force so as to prevent the lens or the glasses frame from damage.
US08641185B2
To prevent conveyance defects due to kicking, a printing device includes a conveyance roller for conveying a medium in a conveyance direction; a guide for supporting the medium on a top surface of the guide on an upstream side in the conveyance direction from the conveyance roller; and a head for ejecting ink and printing on the medium on a downstream side in the conveyance direction from the conveyance roller; wherein the top surface of the guide is positioned higher than a line tangent to the conveyance roller at a position of contact between the conveyance roller and the medium; and an end part of the guide on the downstream side in the conveyance direction has a smaller thickness in the direction in which the medium is supported than on the upstream side of the end part in the conveyance direction.
US08641181B2
Provided is an image forming method including applying an ink that forms an image by inkjetting an ink composition containing coloring particles, a water-soluble polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator and water onto a recording medium in which a base paper, a first layer containing a binder, and a second layer containing a white pigment are layered in this order, and a Cobb water absorption degree on a surface of the first layer placed on the base paper is 5.0 g/m2 or less as measured by a water absorption degree test according to JIS P8140 with a contact time of 15 seconds, and a water absorption amount on a surface of the second layer is 2 mL/m2 to 8 mL/m2 as measured by a Bristow method with a contact time of 0.5 seconds.
US08641175B2
A liquid jet includes a fundamental period of jet break off. A print period is defined as N times the fundamental period of jet break off where N is an integer greater than 1. Input image data is provided having M levels per input image pixel including a non-print level where M is an integer and 2
US08641173B2
A piezoelectric film of the present invention has a surface roughness value P-V of not more than 170.0 nm, which is defined by a difference between a maximum height (peak value P) and a minimum height (valley value V) on a film surface, a piezoelectric constant d31 greater than 150 pC/N and a breakdown voltage of 80 V or more, which is defined by an applied voltage that results in a current value of 1 μA or more.
US08641171B2
Fluid ejection nozzles having a tapered section leading to a straight walled bore are described. Both the tapered section of the nozzle and the straight walled bore are formed from a single side of semiconductor layer so that the tapered section and the bore are aligned with one another, even when an array of nozzles are formed across a die and multiple dies are formed on a semiconductor substrate.
US08641160B2
A method of printing includes ejecting ink drops onto a bottom portion of a print media from ink orifices of a first portion of a printhead; after ejecting ink drops from the first portion of the printhead, advancing the print media; and after advancing the print media, ejecting ink drops onto the bottom portion of the print media from ink orifices of a second portion of the printhead. The second portion of the printhead is smaller than the first portion of the printhead and excludes ink orifices toward an end of the printhead opposite a direction of the advancing of the print media.
US08641146B2
A vehicle seat reclining apparatus comprises a base member to be connected to one of a seat cushion and a seat back, a rotation member which is to be connected to the other of the seat cushion and seat back, which is arranged to rotate relative to the base member and which includes an internal gear, a regulating member to regulate axial movement of the rotation member relative to the base member, and a locking setup which includes an external gear and which is arranged to move between a lock position to engage the external gear with the internal gear and an unlock position for disengagement. The base member includes an outer circumferential portion defining a circular recess, the rotation member includes an outer circumferential portion including a cylindrical portion fit rotatably in the outer circumferential portion of the base member. The outer circumferential portion of the rotation member further includes a flange portion which projects radially outwards from the cylindrical portion, which is placed axially between the regulating member and the outer circumferential portion of the base member and which includes a side surface facing away from the base member and servings as a sliding regulation surface set in sliding contact with the regulating member.
US08641141B2
A vehicle seat (1), in particular commercial vehicle seat, is provided with a framework, in particular scissors-type framework (3), a seat frame (10) which is articulated thereon via a pivot axis (B), and a backrest (20) which is attached to the seat frame (10) and by means of which a torque acts about the pivot axis (B) on the seat frame (10) in the event of a crash or misuse. The framework (3) has a first catch element (31) and the seat frame (10) has a second catch element (32) which normally do not interact. In the event of a crash or misuse, the catch elements approach each other and then interact creating a further path for the force flux.
US08641139B2
A flexible flat structure has a flexible, flat resistance heating element that is connected to electrodes that are spaced apart from one another for supplying electrical current that is pressed on to the resistance heating element by staples or clamps in a force-fit manner and/or a form-fit manner and provides a more flexible connection.
US08641135B2
A sill panel made of plastic extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is connected to the vehicle body. The sill panel is of an arched configuration and has an upper, upright fastening flange, which is connected to the vehicle body by fastening devices. Vertically oriented, upwardly open slots are provided in the fastening flange, between the fastening devices.
US08641123B1
A system for covering a vehicle platform defining opposed ends. End elements are mountable to the vehicle platform adjacent its ends and a tarpaulin attachment element extends therebetween. A tarpaulin defines a tarpaulin movable end and a tarpaulin fixed portion extending in a parallel and spaced apart relationship relative to each other, the tarpaulin fixed portion being secured to the tarpaulin attachment element. An end rod is mounted to the tarpaulin adjacent the tarpaulin movable end and a support member is mounted to the tarpaulin a location intermediate the tarpaulin fixed portion and movable end. An actuator moves the tarpaulin between tarpaulin retracted and extended configurations. In the tarpaulin retracted configuration, at least part of the tarpaulin is wound around the end rod. In the tarpaulin extended configuration, the tarpaulin is unwound from the end rod and extends along the end elements, the support member abutting against the end elements.
US08641121B2
An improved mounting mechanism for mounting and holding electronic and other devices in vehicles which increases safety in a vehicular and improves the ability of an operator to incorporate the captured device in their instrument scan. In one embodiment, the improved mounting mechanism captures a device and holds it in a housing using mounting holes located or attached to a panel while allowing for easy removal of the portable device, efficient cable capture, and proper viewing angles. Another embodiment provides an alternate mounting scheme for attaching to an instrument panel.
US08641120B2
A vehicle storage compartment assembly includes a housing, a lid, a trim member and a plurality of ribs. The housing defines a storage compartment area with a first access opening. A wall within the storage compartment area includes a ledge spaced apart from the first access opening. A first end of the lid is pivotally coupled to the housing to move between an open position in which a second end is spaced apart from the ledge and a closed position in which the second end is located adjacent to the ledge. A flange of the trim member at least partially surrounds a second access opening of the trim member, with the flange extending into the first access opening. A recess is defined by the wall between the flange and the ledge. The plurality of ribs extend from the ledge of the wall toward the flange within the recess.
US08641114B2
A robot hand which can be formed in the shape of a human hand and improves maintenance performance, and generates fingertip force is provided. A robot hand (1) of the present invention is provided with a hand section (3) and an arm section (5). The hand section (3) corresponds to the portion of a human hand which is forward from the wrist thereof. The arm section (5) is provided with a drive device (d5) including a plurality of motors and generates driving torque for driving each movable section of the hand section (3). The hand section (3) and the arm section (5) are configured in such a manner that a group (g36) of wrist-mounted pulleys which are first driving torque transmitting members coaxially arranged and a group (r5) of arm pulleys which are second driving torque transmitting members coaxially arranged transmit driving torque generated by the drive device (d5) to each movable section of the hand section (3) via gears meshing with each other.
US08641113B1
A selectably operable passive gripping device for gripping tubular materials has an elastomeric element which is provided with integrally bonded segmented end rings to prevent the extrusion of the elastomer when it is subjected to high compressive loads. The elastomeric element is molded so that its as-molded gripping surface interferes with the surface of tubular objects to be gripped. The elastomeric gripping element is mounted and supported by a structural element or housing and allows axial flow communication through the gripped tubular objects. The gripping device is used to lift tubular objects such as a tubular string used in oil field applications.
US08641109B2
A pet shovel has an elongated handle, a shovel head and a bag mounting frame disposed between the shovel head and a distal end of the elongated handle. The frame forms an opening between the shovel head and the distal end of the elongated handle. The bag mounting frame is adapted to retain a mouth of a bag open disposed between the shovel head and the distal end of the elongated handle in the opening between the shovel head and the distal end of the elongated handle. A bag body support extends from a bottom of the elongated handle to receive a body of the bag mounted on the bag mounting frame to form a sump in an end of the bag, distal from the shovel head and the mouth of the bag.
US08641100B2
A threaded tubular connection that is leak-proof for internal and external successive pressure loads including a male element and a female element. At least one of the male or female elements includes a lip between the threading and the free end of the element. The lip includes a first zone with a peripheral surface turned towards the other element on which a first metallic sealing surface is disposed that can be radially interference fitted against a corresponding second metallic sealing surface disposed on the other element. The lip includes a second zone located axially between the first zone and the corresponding threading. The radial stiffness of the second zone is less than that of the first zone and that of a third zone adjacent to the second zone in the direction of the threading, and the second zone can be radially deformed by a pressure exerted thereon.
US08641094B2
A steering column assembly includes a rake bracket and a lower jacket secured to the rake bracket. An upper jacket is slidably disposed in the lower jacket and a locking bolt is rotatably located at the lower jacket configured to allow the upper jacket allow the translate along a steering column axis relative to the lower jacket when the locking bolt is in an unlocked position. A bolt driver is located at the locking bolt and is configured to interrupt a load path through a column retainer between the lower jacket and the rake bracket when the locking bolt is in an unlocked position.
US08641093B1
A retractable limb guard assembly for a tractor with a pair of opposed loader brackets and a hydraulic system. The assembly includes a pair of opposed removable brackets connected to the pair of loader brackets. One pair of rocker arms is pivotally connected to each one of the pair of removable brackets. A limb shield is pivotally connected to each of the two pairs of the rocker arms. The pair of hydraulic cylinders is actuated by the tractor hydraulic system wherein each of the hydraulic cylinders extends between one of the removable brackets and one of the rocker arms in order to move the limb shield between a retracted position to an angled protection position.
US08641091B2
The present invention discloses a hybrid inflator of an airbag. The hybrid inflator of the airbag includes a main casing, a central channel, a vent tube, a rupture disc, an inner cover group, an igniter group, a first buffering pad, a second buffering pad and a diffuser. The main casing includes a bottom housing and an upper housing. The central channel is fixed with the bottom housing and passed through the upper housing. A convective hole is disposed on the central channel. The vent tube is covered onto the external central channel and has a throttle bore thereon. The first buffering pad is disposed on a bottom of the inter air chamber. The second buffering pad is disposed in the inner air chamber to separate a space for propellant. The diffuser is correspondingly covered and fixed on the main casing.
US08641088B2
A side curtain air bag module for a motor vehicle includes an inflatable cushion, an inflator, and a tether. The inflatable cushion includes an inlet and an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion including an inboard layer and an outboard layer. The inflator is in fluidic communication with the inlet and is configured to inflate the inflatable cushion. The tether includes a first end coupled to the inflatable cushion at a first coupling location on an inboard side of the inflatable cushion. During inflation, the tether is configured to be in tension prior to an upper portion of the inboard layer being in tension, the upper portion of the inboard layer extending generally upward from the first coupling location.
US08641077B2
A baby stroller for receiving car seats is disclosed. The stroller has a frame structure including two car seat receiving frames spaced apart in a longitudinal direction. The two frames are located at different heights, allowing the two car seats placed thereon to overlap each in the longitudinal direction. On each car seat receiving frame, one or more support straps are attached to a front bar and a rear bar of the frame and located below the frame. The support straps are adjustable in length. When a car seat is rested on a car seat receiving frame, the bottom of the car seat is supported by the support straps. A safety strap is provided to secure each car seat to the frame structure. The stroller does not have a seat for seating a child.
US08641075B1
An anti-sway hitch having a ball mount housing which defines a channel and a trunnion pivotally positioned within the channel. The hitch also has a spring, a first engagement member, and a second engagement member with the spring mounted on the first member within the ball mount housing and the first member engaging the second member. The hitch further includes a post positioned within the ball mount housing and the engagement members positioned on the post wherein rotation of the trunnion causes corresponding rotation of the post and the first member. A method of towing a trailer with an anti-sway hitch is also provided.
US08641071B2
A bicycle frame that supports a front wheel and a rear wheel defining a central plane. The bicycle frame includes a head tube, a bottom bracket configured to support a crank assembly, and a bicycle frame portion. The bicycle frame portion includes a leading edge and a trailing edge oriented such that a chord line between the leading edge and the trailing edge defines an angle of incidence greater than zero degrees relative to the central plane.
US08641055B2
A ski for a snowmobile is provided with a pair of lateral wings and a central channel for increasing the flow of snow under a gliding surface at the bottom of the ski. The increased flow of snow enhances flotation of the ski. The channel may be formed by two downwardly extending keels. The wings are defined between the keels and outer edges of the ski. The keels may be asymmetric with a shorter keel being positioned toward an outer edge of the snowmobile to improve handling characteristics of a snowmobile.
US08641052B2
A suspension device (S) as a solution for the problem of the present invention includes: an active suspension unit (U) equipped with a linear actuator (A) and a first fluid pressure damper (D1) connected to the actuator (A) to extend and retract in the same direction; and a second fluid pressure damper (D2) arranged in parallel with the active suspension unit (U).
US08641051B2
A vehicle suspension system and a method of control. The system may include an air cylinder, an air spring piston, and an air spring. The air spring piston may be positioned with respect to the air spring with the air cylinder.
US08641047B2
A fluororubber-metal laminate gasket material, which comprises a metallic steel sheet, a zirconium element-, phosphorus element-, and aluminum element-containing surface-treating agent layer, a silica-containing thermosetting phenol resin-based vulcanizing adhesive layer, and a fluororubber layer, as successively laid upon one another on the metallic steel sheet, where the silica-containing thermosetting phenol-based vulcanizing adhesive is a thermosetting phenol resin-based vulcanizing adhesive comprising silica and cresol novolak-type epoxy resin or phenol novolak-type epoxy resin, and further containing 11-80 parts by weight of an aliphatic amine-based compound or a mixture thereof with an imidazole-based compound as a curing accelerator on the basis of 100 parts by weight of the thermosetting phenol resin, where the aliphatic amine-based compound and the imidazol-based compound are in a proportion of the former to the latter of 100-10 wt. % to 0-90 wt. %.
US08641045B2
A hybrid seal for sealing the circumferential gap between a first machine component and a second machine component comprises at least one shoe extending along one of the machine components in a position to create a non-contact seal, at least one spring element connected between one of the machine components and the shoe(s) and a stack of sealing elements located within a slot formed in the shoe(s), wherein a primary seal and secondary seal of the circumferential gap is created by the shoe(s) in cooperation with the spring element(s) and sealing elements, respectively.
US08641044B2
Slot machines utilize one or more pay lines on which a combination of symbols are lined up to determine whether a particular pay line wagered is a winner according to a pay table that shows winning combinations with associated pays. Players are able to place wagers or bets of varying amounts on the pay lines and the machine pays out based on the amount wagered and the number of winning pay line combinations displayed. The present invention enhances game play by offering players the opportunity to choose whether to wager on a pay line that runs right-to-left or left-to-right without changing the probabilities of winning. Or, alternatively, of offering the player the option to wager on pay lines that run in both directions with a weighting of the win probabilities.
US08641041B2
A printing medium supplying apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, and a printing medium aligning unit which is disposed on the apparatus main body to move between an aligning position at which the printing medium aligning unit aligns a printing medium and a distanced position at which the printing medium aligning unit is distanced from the aligning position.
US08641040B2
An image forming device includes an image formation path extending from an entrance end adjacent to a source of supply of media sheets, past an image forming station, to an exit end adjacent to a top collection site adapted to receive media sheets, a duplex path extending from an inlet end adjacent the top collection site to an outlet end adjacent a lower front opening in the device, a media sheet directing mechanism disposed between the exit end of the image formation path, top collection site and inlet end of the duplex path and selectively operable to deliver printed media sheets to the top collection site or the inlet end of the duplex path, and a deflector mechanism between the lower front opening and the outlet end of the duplex path and operable to divert printed media sheets from the duplex path through the lower front opening to exterior of the device.
US08641038B2
An image recording device includes a tray configured to hold a first recording medium, an insertion guide configured to move between a guide position for guiding a second recording medium into a common path and a non-guide position, a conveyor configured to convey the tray along the common path in a first direction and to convey the second recording medium along the common path in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a recording unit configured to record an image selectively on the first recording medium and the second recording medium, a stopper disposed along the common path, and a moving unit configured to move the stopper between a retracted position and a protruding position in response to movement of the insertion guide between the non-guide position and the guide position. The stopper in the protruding position protrudes into the common path to stop the tray.
US08641037B2
A sheet feeding device for use in an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus may include a sheet holder configured to be removed from and attached to the apparatus body and to hold a stack of sheets therein; an actuator including a base portion pivotally attached to the apparatus body via a first shaft and a movable portion pivotally attached to the base portion via a second shaft and extending toward the sheet holder; and a detector configured to detect a position of the base portion. The actuator may be configured such that the base portion and the movable portion pivot in response to the detector detecting the position of the base portion. The movable portion may be configured to pivot in a removal direction in which the sheet holder is removed from the apparatus body.
US08641033B2
A sheet feeding unit to be inserted between a printer main unit and a sorting unit having a plurality of discharge trays. The sheet feeding unit includes a casing in which a sheet is housed and through which a feed path and a discharge conveyance path extend horizontally. The casing has on a face thereof adjacent to the printer main unit an exit of the feed path and an entrance of the discharge conveyance path, and on a face thereof adjacent to the sorting unit an entrance of the feed path and an exit of the discharge conveyance path. The positions of the exit and entrance of the feed path coincide with each other when seen in a conveyance direction, and the positions of the entrance and exit of the discharge conveyance path coincide with each other when seen in the conveyance direction.
US08641019B2
A diversion station is provided. The diversion station makes it possible to particularly effectively cool diverted water vapor by mixing it with water. The diversion station includes a mixing device, which comprises a so-called static mixer that is substantially made of a wire mesh. The wire mesh is produced by at least one wire that is substantially interlaced into loops. In the intended installation situation, the mixer is installed upstream of a water injection with regard to a flow direction specified by the water vapor such that the mixture of water and water vapor flows through the loops.
US08641016B2
The carbonation device includes a cap system selectively mounted to the mouth of a liquid container. The cap system includes a cap, a syringe piston reciprocable within the cap, an actuating mechanism for reciprocating the syringe piston, and a reaction vessel selectively attached to the bottom of the cap. The syringe piston includes a storage area to be filled with water by repeated activation of the actuating mechanism. The water from the charged syringe piston discharges into the reaction vessel that has been filled with a preselected amount of reactants to initiate the carbonation reaction. In an alternative embodiment, the carbonation device includes a rotatable control ring to selectively puncture a CO2 cartridge inside the reaction vessel or introduce water into the reaction vessel to initiate carbonation reaction. In both embodiments, the CO2 flows from the reaction vessel into the container to carbonate the beverage contained therein.
US08641015B2
A carburettor including a primary air passage, an adjustable throttle valve situated within the primary air passage, a fuel supply nozzle communicating with the primary air passage and connected to a fuel metering valve for varying the amount of fuel discharged through the nozzle and a rotary input shaft adapted to be connected to an engine speed control member and which is connected to the throttle valve to move the throttle valve between open and closed positions. The rotary input shaft is also connected to a carriage to move the carriage, the carriage carrying at least one elongate inclined ramp which extends in the direction of movement of the carriage and which is engaged by a follower connected to the valve member. Rotation of the input shaft results in movement of the throttle valve and in movement of the carriage and thus of the elongate ramp, wherein the follower is moved transverse to the length of the ramp and the valve member of the fuel metering valve is thus also moved.
US08641003B2
According to various aspects of the present disclosure, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems and methods for supporting hang rods and shelves from support surfaces, such as the walls of a closet or cabinet. In an exemplary embodiment, a system generally includes a pair of end brackets and a plurality of different pairs of interchangeable pieces configured to be selectively coupled to the pair of end brackets. Each pair of interchangeable pieces when selectively coupled to the end brackets, respectively, is operable for supporting a different hang rod from the support surface when the end brackets are coupled to the support surface.
US08641002B2
A tower mounting apparatus consists of tower mounting brackets, track members, a roller assembly, platform mounting brackets, and platform members. The tower mounting brackets are attached to a tower at a first interface, and are attached to the track members at a second interface. The roller assemblies are attached to the platform mounting brackets at a first interface, while the platform members are attached to the platform mounting brackets at a second interface. The roller assemblies are designed to rotate freely over the track members. One or more devices—such as a wind turbine, a cellular communication system, a transmitter/receiver for radio or television signals, or solar arrays—may be mounted onto the platform. The apparatus may further comprise a slip-ring assembly that provides a continuous electrical connection to such devices. The platform mounting apparatus may be installed on a variety of different towers.
US08641001B2
A wall hanging system is provided for mounting of heavy, high cantilever load objects to an upright wall, such as a big game trophy comprising a backer board with a central opening. The system includes a bracket secured to the rear face of backer board and having a forwardly extending housing. The housing includes an arcuate, inclined, hanging wall section defining a mounting recess. The system also has a hanger including an inclined, arcuate, upper, support surface, which is received within the recess such that the hanging and support surfaces are disposed in mating engagement throughout a fore-and-aft depth of at least about one-quarter inch, and through an arc of at least about 120°.
US08640994B1
A system, method, and apparatus are disclosed for agile dedicated spacecrafts for spinning microwave imagers and sounders. In one or more embodiments, the system, method, and apparatus involve an agile, zero net-momentum, spinning space vehicle, which includes a body and an instrument package. In one or more embodiments, the instrument package is mounted directly onto the body such that the space vehicle can point the instrument package not only along the space vehicle's orbital velocity vector, but in any direction within the space vehicle's field of regard. The space vehicle's spin axis is aligned with the instrument package's scan axis. The space vehicle experiences zero net-momentum on orbit by including a counter-rotating momentum storage device. In one or more embodiments, the instrument package is a scanning microwave imaging/sounding instrument, which is utilized as an Earth climate and weather sensor.
US08640976B2
The present technique provides a system and method for improving atomization in a spray coating device by internally mixing and breaking up a desired coating fluid prior to atomization. In one embodiment, a flow barrier is disposed in the spray coating device downstream of an internal fluid valve and upstream of a fluid exit. The flow barrier may have a plurality of passages configured to direct fluid streams to create a fluid swirling and rotating motion around a central axis of a central flow path to facilitate fluid mixing and breakup. The plurality of passages may direct the fluid streams toward a surface, and may be angled substantially toward one another or diverging from one another. Embodiments of the spray coating device may further include an atomization mechanism adapted to facilitate formation of a spray of the fluid flowing from the fluid exit. The resulting spray coating has refined characteristics, such as reduced mottling.
US08640961B2
In various embodiments, a transponder inlay for a document for personal identification may include a cover; an adhesive layer arranged on the cover; a chip arranged on the adhesive layer; an antenna connected to the chip; and a top layer on the adhesive layer, wherein the top layer has a top and a bottom and wherein the bottom of the top layer is connected to the cover by means of the adhesive layer and wherein the antenna is arranged on the top of the top layer such that the antenna is at least to some extent physically separated from the adhesive layer by the top layer.
US08640960B2
Methods for using an optical indicia reading terminal including a housing, a multiple pixel image sensor disposed within the housing, an imaging lens assembly configured to focus an image of decodable indicia on the image sensor, an optical bandpass filter disposed in an optical path of light incident on the image sensor, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter configured to convert an analog signal read out of the image sensor into a digital signal representative of the analog signal, and processor configured to output a decoded message data corresponding to the decodable indicia by processing the digital signal.
US08640958B2
Embodiments of the present invention comprise an indicia reading terminal that is operatively configured to decode visible and non-visible decodable indicia. The terminal can comprise an excitation illumination module for illuminating the decodable indicia with light that has a wavelength selected so as to permit the decodable indicia to emit light. The terminal can also comprise a filter module with an optical filter that has filter regions configured to pass certain wavelengths of light. The terminal can also comprise an image sensor module with an image sensor located so as to receive light emitted from the decodable indicia from the filter region.
US08640957B2
A method for identifying a QR code in an image includes inputting an image, and using one or more computer processor to identify edges in the image; create an edge count image; label connected regions in the edge count image; create a candidate region list; for each individual candidate in the candidate region list: find regions that overlap with the region in the individual candidate; group regions that overlap into a group of overlapped regions; for each group: merge the overlapped regions into a merged region; add each merged region to the candidate region list to form a new candidate region list; and perform decoding of a QR code in each region in the new candidate region list.
US08640947B1
A banking system machine is controlled responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader, a keypad, a cash dispenser, a cash outlet, a deposit accepting opening, and other transaction locations that may be susceptible to the installation of fraudulent devices adjacent thereto. Such unauthorized devices may include for example, a fraudulent card reading device, a fraudulent keypad input intercepting device, a cash outlet trap device, a deposit input diversion device, or other illegitimate devices. The machine includes an anti-fraud arrangement that is operative to deter the attachment of unauthorized devices to the machine. The arrangement can sense and/or dislodge an unauthorized device attached to the machine. The arrangement also allows for the machine's card slot bezel to be frequently exchanged for a differently contoured card slot bezel.
US08640935B2
A bicycle includes a frame with at the front end a head tube, a fork having at its upper end a steering tube extending upwardly through the head tube, and a stem attached to the handlebars. The stem has a clamp portion clamped around the steering tube. One or more spacer rings or bushings are arranged around the steering tube between the upper end of the head tube and the stem clamp portion. A mounting assembly for mounting a child seat on the bicycle is mounted around the steering tube. The mounting assembly includes a support body and a clamping element to attach the support body to the steering tube. The clamping element is coupled to the support body and is clamped around the steering tube and arranged between two of said spacer rings or between the head tube and a spacer ring.
US08640932B2
The present system provides a detachable cup or receptacle for receiving the butt stock of a weapon so that a greater portion of the surface area of the butt stock is stabilized when aiming and firing a weapon. The system provides fastening means for removably fastening the cup to the uniform of a shooter when wearing body armor. For ease of use, the system includes a graduated positioning system that can receive the butt stock and allow it to slide into place where, in one embodiment, it slips into a recessed area that matches the dimension of the butt stock for greater security of the positioning of the weapon. The weapon can be easily removed from the cup so that the shooter's mobility and the ability of the shooter to move the weapon back and forth from a shooting position is not compromised.
US08640930B2
A venting apparatus for a liquid dispensing container adapted to hold a quantity of liquid having a liquid level within the liquid dispensing container. The venting apparatus includes a vent that has an aperture through which gas can exit the liquid dispensing container, a float, a liquid barrier carried by the float, and a flexible tube connecting the vent and the float. The flexible tube establishes fluid communication for gas through the vent and the liquid barrier between an interior space within the liquid dispensing container located above the liquid level and an exterior of the liquid dispensing container.
US08640928B2
A closure assembly for a container includes a closure cap having an open ended body with a peripheral wall and a top wall provided with a dispensing passage which is defined by a collar arranged to the top wall. A self closing valve is arranged in the closure cap. The valve includes a slit central portion and a skirt extending downwardly from the central portion, which has an outwardly extending flange. The skirt is arranged in the collar and the flange is located below the collar and extends radially outwardly beyond it. On a lower surface of the top wall, a plurality of lips is formed outward from the collar. The lips are folded over the flange such that the latter is partly enveloped between the lips and the top wall so as to secure the valve in the closure cap.
US08640919B2
Devices and methods are disclosed for extracting fluids from within a container sealed by a cork or septum without removal of the cork or septum or the contamination of the fluid within the container by reactive gases or liquids. Embodiments of the device can include a needle connected to a valve which is in turn connected to a source of pressurized gas for displacing the fluid. Further embodiments of the device can comprise additional components that act to force the needle to be inserted through the cork or septum along a linear path, to aid in preventing buckling of the needle, to clamp the device to the container, to prevent expulsion of the cork or septum from the container, and to guide the needle through a specified region of the cork or septum. Various valves, pressure regulators, pressure ranges, needle geometries, gas selections are also presented. This device is particularly suited for the dispensing and preservation of wine.
US08640915B2
A gumball machine has a gumball container that holds a plurality of gumballs, a neck portion coupled to the gumball container and having an actuator and a gumball dispensing assembly that is coupled to the actuator for simultaneously releasing a plurality of gumballs from the gumball container when the actuator is actuated. The gumball machine also has a plurality of cylindrical supports, each having an upper end coupled to the neck portion, and a lower end having a side opening. A base is coupled to the lower end of each cylindrical support and has a bottom portion that is seated on a surface. Each side opening of each cylindrical support is positioned adjacent a ramp such that a gumball travelling through the cylindrical support is dispensed via the side opening to the ramp.
US08640909B2
Food serving pans made from heat conductive materials include a gasket positioned over a flange to protect fingers from heat or cold, improve gripping ability, seal against countertops of food serving tables, and/or protect paint or non stick coating from chipping off the flange. The food pan is made from aluminum or other highly heat conductive material. The gasket comprises silicone or other heat resistant and insulating elastomer. A food serving system includes one or more food pans and a food serving table. The food pans maintain food at a desired temperature by efficiently transferring heat or cold from the serving table while the gasket seals against a countertop of the serving table. The gasket can be provided in a kit of differently sized and/or shaped gaskets so as to fit over differently sized and/or shaped pan flanges. A user can install and replace the gasket as needed.
US08640903B2
An oil tank floating roof device, includes a plurality of connecting bars and a plurality of floating units, which are respectively secured to the plurality of connecting bars by means a plurality of longitudinal and crosswise holding spaces collectively encircling the floating units. A plurality of locking members are fitted on the peripheries of the floating units, and two sides of the connecting bars respectively form at least one joining groove. The joining grooves respectively enable each of the floating units to longitudinally or crosswisely insert therein. The top portions of the connecting bars form at least one pressure resistant reinforcing plate, and the pressure resistant reinforcing plate is fitted with a plurality of locking portions. Bolts are used to respectively correspondingly pass through the locking portions and bolt into the locking members on the longitudinal or crosswise sides of the base of the floating units.
US08640902B2
The present invention relates to a drinking apparatus including a vent system that removably connects to a drinking container. The vent system is used to form a variety of leak free and essentially vacuum-free drinking containers. The vent system, includes a closure member and a valve, and may be used with an anti-bubble tube. The closure member may be a single member or may be formed of two portions. The valve may be coupled thereto or integrally formed therewith. The anti-bubble tube and valve function as a diving bell to generally prevent liquid from entering the anti-bubble tube.
US08640901B2
A water containment apparatus includes a straight strut arrangement comprising a plurality of straight strut assemblies forming an alternating v-shape and inverted v-shape pattern; and a curved strut arrangement comprising a plurality of corner strut assemblies forming a desired curvature and connecting two straight strut arrangements to form a closed loop water containment system.
US08640900B2
A plastic container includes a shoulder portion having an annular rib defined therein and a generally cylindrical main body portion having a longitudinal axis. At least one gripping recess is defined in the main body portion that has an oblong shape when viewed in front elevation and that is defined in part by a curved concave inner surface when viewed in side elevation. The gripping recess includes a plurality of horizontal indentations, each of which is sized to receive a finger of a consumer when the plastic container is being gripped by the consumer.
US08640899B2
A vial is closed by a stopper. The stopper is provided with arrangements allowing, in a first position, the filling of the vial with a liquid through an opening and, in a second position, the sealed and definitive closure of said opening.
US08640890B2
A bag rack system adapted to hang a bag by its handles in the open position. The bag rack system includes a pair of spaced mounts or brackets. Each bracket includes an arm releasably secured to a base. The base can be attached to a top, bottom, or vertical surface of an object while the arms are repositionable relative to the base to maintain a horizontal position. Each arm includes a cleating structure to maintain the bag in the open position.
US08640887B2
Zirconium phosphate particles are synthesized by providing a solution of zirconium oxychloride in an aqueous solvent, adding at least one low molecular weight, oxygen containing, monofunctional, organic additive to the solution, and combining this solution with heated phosphoric acid or a phosphoric acid salt to obtain zirconium phosphate particles by sol gel precipitation.
US08640886B2
Composite membranes including a coating of polyalkylene oxide and triazine compounds along with various methods for making and using the same. In one embodiment, the composite membrane comprises a thin film polyamide layer including a coating of a reaction product of a polyalkylene oxide compound and a triazine compound.
US08640885B2
Fluid treatment arrangements having at least first and second radially displaced sets (12,13) of fluid treatment elements and methods for making and using them are disclosed: A ribbon including a permeable fluid treatment medium may be spirally wound in a plurality of windings to form a fluid treatment element of either set. At least two and as many as fifty or more fluid treatment elements (14′, 14″) may be positioned along a hollow core assembly (11) in each set. Fluid may be directed to or from the interior of the core assembly through a fluid treatment element of the first set and a fluid treatment element of the second set. In each fluid treatment element, fluid flows generally edgewise through the permeable fluid treatment medium.
US08640877B1
Marijuana and other raw plant material such as corn is processed via a water and ice agitation method. Small diameter mixtures of plant pollen and plant debris are filtered from eight various micron filters, the filters used are 220, 190, 160, 120, 90, 73, 45 and 25 micron.The agitator tub agitates screen bags holding raw plant material and ice, to break down various parts of the plant into a process water solution. This solution is pumped back and forth between two process reservoirs, each supports two strainer columns. Each strainer column has a pair of buckets. Each bucket has a different micron filter bag supported in it. An operator can recycle the solution any number of times to achieve a desired harvest of eight (or more or less) varying diameter pollen and debris product, using one agitator drain pump and three reservoir pumps.
US08640875B2
A tray holder tag support for attachment of signage to an edge of a tray. The tray is characterized as having a base and upstanding sides emanating therefrom, at least one of the sides terminating in a lip, the lip having a width. The tray holder tag support includes a planar region which when applied to the tray extends proximate one of the side walls. A clip or pair of clips are provided each having a first segment appended to and extending from the planar region, the first segment(s) being of a length greater than the width of said lip. Second segment(s) extend substantially downwardly from the first segment(s) and third segment(s) extend from the second segment(s) and are sized to extend under the lip when the tray holder tag support is appended to the tray.
US08640857B2
An adjustable loading/unloading mouth, including: a first tubular element (2), provided with a longitudinal axis (x); a second tubular element (3), provided with a longitudinal axis (y); connecting elements (4, 5, 6) between the first and the second tubular element (2, 3) which connecting elements (4, 5, 6) define a spherical surface (S), provided with a center (O), and which enable the first and the second tubular element (2, 3) to rotate with respect to one another about the center (O); wherein the connecting elements (4, 5, 6) include at least a first connecting element (4) and at least a second connecting element (5) which are reciprocally connectable at a joining plane (P) passing through the center (O) of the spherical surface (S) on which the first connecting element (4) and the second connecting element (5) can rotate with respect to one another about the center (O).
US08640853B2
An article alignment device aligns articles having first end portions and second end portions that have a shape different from the shape of the first end portions. The article alignment device includes a first conveyance device, a second conveyance device, and a control device. The first conveyance device has conveyance units that carry and convey the articles. The first conveyance device conveys the articles in a first orientation. In the first orientation the first end portions are positioned on a downstream side with respect to a first conveyance direction of the articles. The second conveyance device is placed downstream of the first conveyance device. The control device controls the first and second conveyance devices such that the orientation of first articles conveyed by the second conveyance device are changed to a second orientation where the second end portions are positioned on the downstream side.
US08640850B2
A device for the acceptance of coins which allows the acceptance of individual coins as well as the acceptance of various coins for further processing of the coins, whereby the device includes a laterally moveable holding fixture. The holding fixture has a side with a coin insertion slot, and a receptacle area for the reception of a plurality of coins.
US08640843B2
In a first hydraulic clutch device 36 provided with a first clutch inner 84, a pressure bearing plate portion 84D disposed on the first clutch inner 84 opposing driving and driven friction plates 85 and 86, a clutch piston 91 that is consecutively disposed to a pressurizing plate portion 91D and moves to the side to pressurize the driving and driven friction plates 85 and 86 in accordance with an increase in a hydraulic pressure in a control hydraulic chamber 96, a piston guide 92 that forms a control hydraulic chamber 96 between itself and the clutch piston 91, and a canceller plate 93 that forms a hydraulic canceller chamber 97 on the side opposite to the control hydraulic pressure chamber 96, a projection portion 133 of the canceller plate 93 and a notch portion 122 disposed in the piston guide 92 and engaged with the projection portion 133 are engaged with each other and assembled, and a clip 135 that is engaged with an engagement groove 123 of the notch portion 122 and regulates axial movement of the canceller plate 93 is disposed.
US08640840B2
In a torque converter for performing torque transmission by circulating a working fluid between a pump impeller and a turbine runner, the working fluid is a magnetic viscous fluid; and in a torque converter housing, outside a circulation path of the working fluid, a yoke member connected to the pump impeller and provided with a coil and a magnetic member connected to the turbine runner are concentrically arranged with a predetermined space therebetween; and a magnetic circuit is established between the yoke member and the magnetic member upon energization of the coil.
US08640838B2
A system and method of compensating for torque converter slip in a motor vehicle include measuring rotational speeds of an engine crankshaft and mainshaft, as well as measuring operating temperatures of a fluid associated with the motor vehicle. Engine output torque is adjusted as required by controlling some combination of ignition timing, intake air flow, fuel injection, and accessory load.
US08640837B2
Damper, in particular for washing machines with a spin cycle, with a housing having a central longitudinal axis and at least partially encompassing a housing interior by housing walls, a plunger displaceable in the housing along the central longitudinal axis, guided out of the housing and having at least one friction lining recess, fastening elements, arranged on open ends of the housing and the plunger, and at least one friction lining, arranged in the at least one friction lining recess and in frictional contact with opposite housing walls.
US08640834B2
A connecting rod utilized to operate brake levers and brake beams in brake riggings of railway cars including a hollow steel pipe having a first and a second open end and linking element inserted at each open end of the hollow steel pipe and joined thereof by a pressure fit joint without the need of adding further materials or welding both elements and without the need of casting a single piece which is very common in the art.
US08640831B2
The object of the invention is a method and an arrangement for modernizing an elevator group, in which method the elevators of the elevator group are modernized in turn such that both modernized elevators and unmodernized elevators can be simultaneously in use in the elevator group, of which elevators the modernized elevators are each provided with individualized identification marks while the old unmodernized elevators in use in the elevator group are each provided with a similar identification mark to each other.
US08640828B2
A supporting belt for a transport device, such as an elevator system, includes at least one stranded wire made of an electrically conducting material for absorbing the forces absorbed by the supporting belt and an electrically insulating jacket that encloses the wire. In order to determine the state of the wire, the wire can be contacted by a contact element securely and reliably and in an exact manner. To achieve this, the jacket is at least partially removed in the area of an opening of the supporting belt and the wire is at least partially exposed in the area of the opening. The wire thus does not include a jacket substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis formed by a center point of a cross-section of the wire. The wire can be contacted by a contact element without the jacket being pierced.
US08640823B2
In the field of aviation, a device for limiting aerodynamic noise from a deployed aircraft undercarriage during landing and/or takeoff. The device comprises two end plates (4a, 4b) for closing respective ends (2a, 2b) of a hollow pin (1) of the undercarriage, such as a hinge pin between two rods of the undercarriage, together with at least one tie (6) for engaging inside the hollow pin (1) to connect the two end plates (4a, 4b) together so as to hold them pressed against the ends (2a, 2b) of the pin (1).
US08640815B2
A boot assembly includes a boot and a retention band. The retention band includes a ring, a lever attached to the ring and a clasp associated with the ring and configured for selective engagement with the lever. The boot includes an annular wall defining a hollow interior configured to receive a portion of a drive assembly of a vehicle. The boot further includes a rib, the rib being integral with the annular wall and extending radially outwardly from the annular wall. The rib and the annular wall cooperate to define an annular channel that is configured to receive the retention band. The rib extends radially outwardly beyond the ring, the lever and the clasp of the retention band when the retention band is seated within the annular channel.
US08640812B2
The present disclosure provides a front axle of a vehicle including a motor disposed near the center of the axle and a shaft coupled at one end thereof to the motor, where the shaft defines a first axis. A first gear is coupled to a second gear, the first gear being coupled to the shaft at an end opposite the motor and being disposed along the first axis. The second gear is disposed along a second axis, where the first axis and second axis are substantially parallel to but spaced from one another. A steering pivot defines a steering axis about which a final drive assembly pivots and a wheel lean pivot defines a lean axis about which the final drive pivots. The lean axis is substantially perpendicular to the steering axis. A constant-velocity joint is disposed at the intersection of the steering axis and lean axis.
US08640809B2
A vehicle includes a frame, an engine, a steering assembly, a steerable wheel, a brake system, a flywheel assembly, and a controller. The frame defines a roll axis. The engine is supported by the frame. The steering assembly is pivotally coupled with the frame and is pivotable about a steering axis. The steerable wheel is rotatably coupled with the steering assembly. The flywheel assembly comprises at least one inertial mass and is coupled with the frame. A controller is coupled with the flywheel assembly and is configured to facilitate rotation of said at least one inertial mass.
US08640808B2
A motorcycle (10) has a foot-operated accelerator pedal (32) for operating the throttle (58) of the engine (12). The pedal (32) and an adjacent brake pedal (34) have shapes correlated to not interfere with each other when they are depressed. The pedals may be provided as original equipment, or retrofitted to an existing motorcycle that has a hand-operated throttle controller.
US08640805B2
A bicycle includes an auxiliary power unit for regenerating electric energy even with no braking operations. A power-assisted bicycle includes a controller for detecting a torque value of a pedaling torque applied to a crankshaft for controlling an output of a brushless motor according to the torque value detected. A power transmitting member outputs the pedaling torque applied to the crankshaft to a rear wheel with a clutch unit for permitting an output of a driving force of the brushless motor to the rear wheel, but not an output of power from the rear wheel to the brushless motor. A selector selects whether or not to permit transmission of power from the rear wheel to the brushless motor. The clutch unit includes a lock-up ratchet for selectively permitting an output of power from the rear wheel WR to the brushless motor according to an operation of the selector.
US08640798B2
A lightweight motorized and tracked sled for attachment to a variety of stair chairs is described. A power supply or power source provides power to a motor driving a track configured to engage a set of stairs. The motor and track can lift and support the stair chair and a patient thereon up or down one or more flights of stairs. The track driven by the motor has a length sufficient to simultaneously engage the lips or edges of a pair of sequential steps, but may be otherwise limited in length to reduce the weight of the track. To ensure that the sled and attached stair chair are stably supported while ascending or descending stairs, the sled may have rails, skis, or passive tracks having a length sufficient to ensure that the rails, skis, or passive tracks are always over the edge or lip of no fewer than two steps.
US08640793B2
A dynamic steering tool for use with a horizontal directional drilling machine. The tool comprises and inner member, an outer member, a steering member, a drill stem, and a drill bit. The drill stem extends from within a borehole to the surface while the outer member only extends the length of the inner member within the borehole. The outer member is powered via the use of a progressive cavity motor. In operation, the drill stem, inner member, and drill bit rotate in a clockwise position while the outer member rotates in a counterclockwise direction. Rotating the outer member opposite the inner member allows the outer member to remain stationary and cause the tool to steer while the inner member continues to rotate.
US08640792B2
A bottom hole assembly to directionally drill a subterranean formation includes a drill bit, a stabilizer assembly located proximate to and behind the drill bit, a drilling assembly comprising a drive mechanism and a directional mechanism, and a flex housing integral with the drilling assembly.
US08640790B2
An apparatus, a system and a method for motion compensation use wired drill pipe to transmit downhole measurements from downhole tools to the surface. The wired drill pipe may transmit control signals from a terminal located at the surface to the downhole tools. In response to the control signals, a motion compensation component may enable the drill string to compensate for motion, such as, for example, heave. The motion compensation component may change a length of the drill string. A downhole tool having arms may be connected to the drill string and the wired drill pipe. The control signals may direct the downhole tool to move between an extended position and a retracted position.
US08640787B2
An improved valve for a portable post driver. The post driver has an inner hollow cylinder open at both ends and adapted to receive a post through a lock clamp located at its lower end. An outer hollow cylinder having a closed upper end, and slightly larger in diameter than the inner cylinder, is located in sliding engagement over the inner cylinder. First and second power cylinders are attached to upper and lower surfaces of the outer cylinder in alignment with each other. A common piston rod connects the pistons of the power cylinders. A stationary fastening pin attached to the piston rod extends through a slot in the wall of the outer cylinder and is attached to the wall of the inner cylinder. The valve has a reciprocating valve piston which alternately communicates the two power cylinders to a source of fluid under pressure.
US08640781B2
A method and device for deploying a cable and an apparatus in a ground formation having a motherbore, wherein the method comprises positioning a non-rotating drill pipe, a cable and an apparatus in a motherbore tubular; and drilling a lateral opening relatively the motherbore by displacing the drill pipe into the formation with the cable and apparatus attached.
US08640776B2
The present invention regards a device designed for injection of fluids in a well bore, typically an offshore well bore for petroleum production and gas injection/gas lift system for fluid injection. The device comprises a outer hollow housing (1) with an internal body (2) moveable within the outer housing (1) with an internal bore (3) which in a first closed position is closed with a metal to metal seal system between the outer housing (1) and the internal body (2), which internal body (2) is operated by pressure differential across the internal body (2), where the internal body (2) is designed with slots (4) forming outlets of the internal bore (3) which in an open position of the device is positioned outside of the outer housing (1).
US08640775B2
Methods for deploying a subsea blowout preventer stack system comprising a lower marine riser package, a blowout preventer stack with a first ram blowout preventer, and an additional blowout preventer package releasably coupled to the blowout preventer stack and comprising a second ram blowout preventer. The subsea blowout preventer stack assembly can be deployed by coupling a drilling riser to the lower marine riser package that is releasably connected to the blowout preventer stack. The lower marine riser package and blowout preventer stack are then toward a subsea wellhead and then landed on the additional blowout preventer package that is coupled to the subsea wellhead.
US08640769B2
Concentric control lines have an outer line disposed about one or more inner lines. Encapsulated together, the lines only require one penetration through the wellhead to extend downhole. At the wellhead, the lines communicate with an operating system, which can provide hydraulics, electric power, signals, or the like for downhole components. Beyond the wellhead, the concentric lines extend along the tubing to a manifold. The outer line sealably terminates at the manifold's inlet, while the inner conduit passes out an outlet with a sealed fitting to connect to a downhole component. A downhole line couples to an outlet of the manifold and communicates internally with the outer conduit terminated at the manifold's inlet. This downhole line can then extend to the same downhole component or some different component.
US08640765B2
The present invention relates to a conduit for use in a geothermal heating and cooling system wherein said conduit comprises 2 or more pipes, wherein said 2 or more pipes are twisted together, wherein further that said 2 or more twisted pipes are twisted around a central pipe, further provided that the functions of said central pipe include, but are not limited to, serving as a conduit for a tremie pipe, serving as a support pipe, serving as an insulating pipe or serving as a tremie pipe.
US08640761B2
A method and system for a barrier system configured to controllably block egress from and ingress to a predetermined area is provided. The barrier system includes a barrier panel that is removable from the barrier system and replaceable with another different barrier panel selectable by a user.
US08640759B2
The present invention discloses a mobile phone film positioner, comprising a housing, on which a recess for accommodating a mobile phone and mobile phone film is provided, the recess is provided with positioning grooves on two ends thereof, the positioning grooves have projections on the bottoms thereof for positioning the mobile phone film; the present invention further discloses a mobile phone film with positioning structure, to be used with the mobile phone positioner described above, the protective layer of the film is provided with lugs in the corresponding positions thereof, the lugs are provided with positioning holes corresponding to the projections. The positioner and film disclosed in the present invention simplifies the positioning process between the film and screen, making the whole manipulation of film application become simple and time-saving, even the common users could finish the job easily.
US08640755B2
Disclosed are various features associated with a securing mechanism for a wafer bonder. In certain situations, operation of securing mechanisms can generate undesirable particles and debris, and some them can be introduced to a wafer being bonded. In certain implementations, a securing mechanism can be configured to reduce the likelihood of such particles and debris being introduced to the wafer.
US08640742B2
A dispensing apparatus for delivering fluid or liquid to a container (e.g. a bottle), has a container holding device and a fluid delivery system delivering fluid to a dispensing outlet under control of an actuation member, which causes the fluid delivery system to deliver fluid in response to movement of the actuation member from its start position. A dispensing lock has a first position in which it blocks movement of the actuation member from its start position, and a second position in which it permits movement of the actuation member. A release member that releases the dispensing lock includes a movable release member which is moved by the container, during its insertion into the refill position, so as to release the dispensing lock by bringing the dispensing lock to said second position, thus enabling fluid to be delivered.
US08640735B2
A waste water lifting installation has a collection container and a pump assembly. The pump assembly is fastened on a flange plate which closes an opening on the upper side of the collection container. The flange plate, on a first side edge which faces the middle region of the waste water lifting installation, is releasably fixed on the collection container with a single locking element.
US08640732B1
A two-stage regulator having a piston situated in a first stage for substantially reducing high pressures introduced into the regulator. The reduced pressure is exerted against the second stage that includes a plunger-actuated diaphragm that urges an actuator to open a ball valve at a selected pressure to allow fluid to flow out of the regulator at a desired reduced pressure.
US08640730B2
A fluid controller apparatus controls fluid flow, such as a solvent gradient flow, in a chromatography system. An apparatus includes a fluid-gradient controller having a fluid reservoir for containing a pump fluid and a pumping device connected to the fluid reservoir for receiving the pump fluid. The pumping device is in fluid communication with parallel-configured first and second solvent lines. The first and second solvent lines each contain a restrictor element and a solvent reservoir. During operation, the pumping device causes the pump fluid to flow through the first and second solvent lines in relation to their respective restriction devices. The pump fluid displaces solvent within the solvent reservoirs. The displaced solvent is mixed to form a solvent gradient.
US08640727B2
The present invention relates to a dopant gas generating device for supplying the dopant gas to the ion mobility spectrometry instrument, comprising: a doping container; an air inlet having an inlet end connecting with an upstream side of a carrier gas passage and an outlet end connecting with the doping container; an air outlet having an entrance end connecting with the doping container and an exit end connecting with an downstream side of the carrier gas passage; a dopant gas generating unit for releasing the dopant gas, wherein the dopant gas generating unit is disposed within the doping container. Through disposing the dopant gas generating unit, which is used for releasing the dopant gas, within the doping container, the dopant gas in the present invention is applicable with not only a solid state dopant, but also a liquid state dopant.
US08640724B2
A valve control system includes general-purpose valves arranged in a pipe that allows the flow of fluid, first and second sensors, and a safety controller. The general-purpose valves are valves that can be opened and closed according to electric signals, and may be, e.g., solenoid valves, respectively. The first and second sensors are sensors that detect a state of fluid flowing from the corresponding valves, and are formed of, e.g., pressure switches, respectively. The safety controller may satisfy safety standards, and outputs signals for controlling the valves based on signals provided from the first and second sensors, respectively.
US08640714B2
An oral chewable tobacco product includes a gum composition in an amount of about 30% to about 70% by weight based on the weight of the oral chewable tobacco product and tobacco powder in an amount of about 30% to about 70% by weight based on the weight of the oral chewable tobacco product. The gum composition includes at least one environmentally biodegradable polymer in an amount of about 20% to about 95% by weight based on the weight of the gum composition and at least one softener in an amount of about 5% to about 80% by weight based on the weight of the gum composition.
US08640712B2
A bolus for monitoring the parameters of an animal. The bolus will sense selective parameters and will send signals representative of those parameters to a receiver. The bolus includes sensors for sensing a number of parameters such as temperature, pH and movement. The power of the signal inside the animal is greater than that outside the animal since the signal is attenuated by the structure of the animal.
US08640711B2
A method for treating the lung during an acute episode of reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease such as an asthma attack. The method comprises transferring energy to an airway wall of an airway such that a diameter of the airway is increased. The energy may be transferred to the airway wall prior to, during or after an asthma attack. The energy may be transferred in an amount sufficient to temporarily or permanently increase the diameter of the airway. The method may be performed while the airway is open, closed or partially closed.
US08640708B2
The present invention is a restraining glove that includes a base glove with a mitt portion and a bottom portion, a hook and loop strap with a hook portion and a loop portion and a belt loop disposed on the bottom portion of the base glove. The restraining glove also includes a crease disposed on the hook and loop strap, the crease is accommodated and received by the belt loop when the hook and loop strap is wrapped around the belt strap and a mesh portion that covers the top of the mitt portion of the base glove, the mesh portion provides a high degree of comfort to the user.
US08640705B2
An intraoral anti-snoring device, for shifting the lower jaw forward in relation to the upper jaw, with an upper jaw bar and a lower jaw bar that are both U-shaped and are connected to each other in a hinge joint at their outer flanks facing away from each other via protrusion ties by means of fixing buttons. At each of the two end sections of the protrusion tie, a round hole is provided for accepting the fixing button. The invention proposes a curved design for the protrusion tie, specifically an S-shaped design, with the center section having a cross-sectional contour—at least in part—that permits a temporary change of the distance of the round holes relative to each other by means of an elastic deformation of the protrusion tie in the longitudinal and in transverse direction. Preferably, the center section has an elongated hole that extends from one round hole to the other round hole and has a width that is smaller than or equal to the diameter of the round hole. Due to the resulting longitudinal edge strips that are capable of spring action, the fixing button is able to avoid excessive pressure by moving into the elongated hole.
US08640703B2
A flexible patient cassette that can be optimized for different types of breathing circuits, different drive circuits and different patient categories has a first inlet arranged to be connected to a drive circuit, and at least a second inlet arranged to be connected to a patient connector, the first and second inlets being pneumatically connected with each other through a gas conducting passage constituting a patient circuit having a certain volume. The patient cassette has a volume-varying arrangement for varying the patient circuit volume to allow that volume to be varied in dependence of at least one of the type of breathing circuit in which the patient cassette is used; the type of drive circuit to which the patient cassette is connected; the tidal volume of a patient connected to the patient connector.
US08640701B2
A system and method of providing bi-level CPAP therapy is provided that incorporates an infrared carbon-dioxide sensor to determine whether a patient is inhaling or exhaling. Patient exhalation causes the infrared light to be absorbed, while patient inhalation reduces the presence of carbon-dioxide causes little or no absorption of carbon-dioxide. The level of carbon-dioxide in an associated patient breathing interface is monitored for thresholds that trigger higher CPAP pressure upon inhalation and lower CPAP pressure upon exhalation.
US08640700B2
The disclosure provides a method for controlling the delivery of a breathing gas to a patient. The method may include regulating the delivery of the breathing gas delivered to the patient, determining a value for a first ventilation parameter, comparing the determined value of the first ventilation parameter to a pre-determined target value for the first ventilation parameter, automatically adjusting the breathing gas delivered to the patient in response to the comparison between the determined value of the first ventilation parameter and the pre-determined target value for the first ventilation parameter, and automatically determining a new target value for the first ventilation parameter based at least in part on the determined value of the first ventilation parameter.
US08640698B2
According to certain example embodiments of this invention, there is provided an apparatus for treatment of a patient with both sleep-disordered breathing and diabetes. A PAP device may be configured to provide a supply of pressurized breathable gas. At least one glycemia sensor also may be provided. A controller may be operable to receive a signal from the at least one glycemia detector and may be further operable to analyze the signal for an indication of a glycemia abnormality (e.g., hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, diabetic coma, etc.). Optionally, when the signal indicates that the patient is experiencing a diabetic event, an alert may be generated and/or a drug delivery unit may administer an appropriate treatment to the patient.
US08640680B2
An engine with an efficient selectively operable vacuum source is disclosed. In one example, an electric vacuum pump with oil wetted seals provides vacuum to a vehicle vacuum reservoir while exhausting air to an interior region of the engine, such as the crankcase. The approach may provide for improved efficiency when generating vacuum.
US08640668B2
An oil pump unit comprises a pump shaft and a pump housing which stores the pump shaft. A balancer unit comprises a pair of balancer shafts and a balancer housing which stores the balancer shafts. The pump housing and the balancer housing are coupled to each other at least in the vicinity of a periphery of the pump shaft, and at a coupling portion in the vicinity of the periphery of a power transmission shaft is formed a connection groove which connects the inside to the inside of the coupling portion. Accordingly, it can be retrained that the reliability of journal portions of the balancer shaft of the balancer unit and the like is deteriorated by dusts and the like contained in high-pressure oil from the oil pump unit in a balancer device of an engine.
US08640657B2
An oil supply system for an internal combustion engine includes an oil pump, a heat exchanger, an oil feed line and two oil outlet lines, for conveying the oil from the oil pump through the oil feed line to the heat exchanger and from the latter through the two oil outlet lines. In a system of this type, there is provision for the internal combustion engine to be configured as a piston engine and for the heat exchanger to be configured as a water/oil heat exchanger, and for one oil outlet line to be connected to oil spray nozzles of the piston engine and for the other oil outlet line to be connected to a main oil line of the piston engine. An oil supply system of this type is distinguished by its simple design and functionality, and permits optimum cooling and lubrication of the relevant components of the engine.
US08640654B2
An attachment and method for a fence system to prevent a pet from escaping a fenced comprising at least one first support member adapted to be attached substantially horizontally to at least a portion of the fence system, a plurality of second support members adapted to be attached substantially vertically to the at least one first support member, and a plurality of inserts adapted to be received within the plurality of second support members. Each of the plurality of inserts is capable of extending out of a lower portion of the each of the plurality of second support members upon digging the fenced area by the pet animal such that the extended plurality of inserts block the dug area to prevent the pet animal from escaping the fenced area.
US08640650B2
Cysts, in particular Artemia cysts, are incubated the in a hatching medium so that a portion of the cysts hatch and release free swimming live food organisms. The free swimming live food organisms have subsequently to be separated from the cysts which have not hatched. Before incubating the cysts, magnetic particles are applied onto the cysts so that these cysts can be attracted magnetically, in particular in the liquid hatching medium. This enables to separate the unhatched cysts and the empty cyst shells, coated with the magnetic particles, effectively from the free swimming live food organisms which do not have magnetic particles applied onto their outer surface. The invention also relates to the coated cysts.
US08640649B2
An animal litter box system that can be used for a long time about 3 to 10 days and can prevent the occurrence of undesirable odors is to be provided, particularly to provide a liquid-absorbing sheet used for the animal litter box system. A liquid-absorbing sheet used for an animal litter box is characterized by comprising an antimicrobial and bacteriostatic part having both an antimicrobial property and a bacteriostatic property; or both of an antimicrobial part having an antimicrobial property and a bacteriostatic part having a bacteriostatic property.
US08640637B2
There is provided a sewing-machine bobbin thread tension controller capable of elaborately, accurately controlling bobbin thread tension without depending on frictional force. A bobbin thread tension controller includes an outer shuttle, a middle shuttle presser, a middle shuttle, a bobbin thread tension control mechanism, a shuttle actuation unit, and a bobbin. The middle shuttle has a magnet. A magnet is disposed, in close proximity to the magnet, on an arm attached to a rotary shaft of a shuttle actuation motor provided in the shuttle actuation unit. The middle shuttle is rotated by rotating the magnet by means of the motor. Further, a rotary disc is provided, in close proximity to the middle shuttle, on a rotary shaft of a bobbin thread tension control motor of the bobbin thread tension control mechanism and is provided with a magnet. A magnet is disposed on a part of the bobbin facing the rotary disc.
US08640628B2
The invention relates to a linear permanent magnet driving system and a permanent magnet driving maglev train rail system, the linear permanent magnet driving system comprises spiral rotors and stators, wherein at least one of the spiral rotor and the stator adopts the structure having a permanent magnet while the other one adopts the structure having the permanent magnet or a magnetizer; when the spiral rotors are driven by an engine to rotate, linear motion of the spiral rotors is achieved by means of the magnetic force between both, and speed of the linear motion of the spiral rotors can reach supersonic speed at most. By applying the linear permanent magnet driving system to the permanent magnet driving maglev train rail system, the entire rail can avoid the use of both permanent magnet and driving coil, and the construction cost of maglev train rail is equivalent to that of the current high-speed wheel/rail.
US08640627B1
A ramp system for bridging a flexible cable to a rigid rail to improve the movement of a trolley along a low tension fixed aerial cableway. The ramp system has an inverted U-shaped elongated channel having a contact surface, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is disposed atop and contacts a portion of the cableway and an anchor configured to pivotably support the proximal end of the channel at a second point at a second level. The second level is disposed higher than the first level, wherein the distal end of the channel is slideably but positively secured to the portion of the cable and the first point, second point and distal end cooperate to form a triangular relationship, thereby reducing bending in the cable, reducing the approach angle and fatigue exerted on the channel and cable.
US08640613B1
The present invention is directed to an improved trash compactor using an automatic drain operation associated with the unloading placement of the compactor on the support pad. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a pad is provided with a pad stop. The waste compactor is fitted with an extending arm that operates through a mechanical connection to open a waste gate valve when the extending arm is pushed against the pad stop during placement of the compactor on the pad. The arm is spring loaded so that the valve is automatically closed when the compactor is removed from the pad and the arm is separated from contact with the pad stop.
US08640611B2
Recyclable waste byproducts are efficiently collected for recycling at stores or other locations by compacting the recyclable waste as layers in a composite bale. The composite bales can be formed using existing cardboard balers that retailers or other stores typically already have for baling recyclable cardboard. In one embodiment, the composite bales are formed by binding together a layer of one type of recyclable waste and a layer of recyclable waste that includes one or more types of recyclable waste byproducts. The layered structure can be modified to omit one of the layers or to add additional waste byproduct layers.
US08640608B2
A toaster with an housing containing at least one toasting chamber accessible from the top, the housing having a side wall that includes a door mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis relative to the rest of the housing, the axis being in a lower part of the housing, the toaster further including at least one bread carriage spaced from the axis so that in the open position of the door, a portion of bread on the carriage projects out of the housing.
US08640600B2
A hydraulic cylinder cushion device installed in a hydraulic cylinder provided, in which a rod performs reciprocating movement in a cylinder tube, and which discharges high-pressure hydraulic fluid that is formed in pressure chambers between a piston and a head cover and between the piston and a cover end during a stroke-end operation. The hydraulic cylinder cushion device includes a check ring which is installed in a groove provided on an inner surface of the head cover or the cover end, and moves to one side in the groove so as to close a flow path during rushing into a stroke end while it moves to the other side in the groove so as to open the flow path during an initial operation in the stroke end.
US08640599B2
A brake booster includes an atmosphere chamber, a working chamber, a valve assembly, and an air passageway. The atmosphere chamber includes an air inlet, and the working chamber is in fluid communication with the atmosphere chamber. The valve assembly is positioned between the atmosphere chamber and the working chamber, and the valve assembly includes a plunger configured to cooperate with a valve seat to selectively enable or prevent fluid flow from the atmosphere chamber to the working chamber. The air passageway is defined within the atmosphere chamber between the air inlet and the valve assembly. The air passageway is void of any springs.
US08640596B1
A retrofit kit for exhausting gases is provided for removing combustion products from a gun turret. In some embodiments, the combustion products are toxic gases that include ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and carbon monoxide. The retrofit kit includes a fan and an EMI filter. The fan and the EMI filter are attached to the gun turret with one or more seals that provide both environmental and EMI/RFI protection. In operation, the fan is activated in response to the firing of the gun, and is powered using the power supply provided to the gun turret. In some embodiments, the fan operates for a predetermined time interval after the last operation of the gun.
US08640585B2
An apparatus for producing multiple images of a specimen, having a sliding microtome, is disclosed. The specimen is secured in a specimen holder, movably in a plane. A knife having a cutting edge is arranged above the specimen that is movable along a cutting direction. Provided on the side opposite the cutting edge of the knife is a microscope having a camera for acquiring a respective image of the just-produced cut surface of the specimen.
US08640583B2
A detection system for detecting a dangerous condition for an operator using a power tool of the type which has an exposed blade relative to a work surface and a protection system for minimizing, if not eliminating the possibility of a user being injured by contacting the blade. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a proximity detection system is capable of detecting the presence of a user near the blade of a table saw and a protection system that can either retract the blade below the work surface of the table saw or terminate the drive torque to the blade which can result in rapid stopping of the saw blade by a work piece that is being cut.
US08640568B2
A bicycle shift control device is provided with a shifter housing, a gear shifting mechanism, a shift operating member, and a shift switching arrangement. The gear shifting mechanism is disposed in the shifter housing with the gear shifting mechanism having a plurality of operating positions. The shift operating member is movable with respect to the shifter housing to operate the gear shifting mechanism. The shift switching arrangement includes a restricting member movably mounted with respect to the shifter housing between a non-shift restricting position and a shift restricting position. The gear shifting mechanism moves in a first set of the operating positions when the restricting member is in the non-shift restricting position, and moves in a second set of the operating positions that are different from the first set of the operating positions when the restricting member is in the shift restricting position.
US08640565B2
A controller of the present invention is provided for valve to be connected thereto. The controller is used for executing rotation and movement motion so as to operate the stem of the valve and to control connection conditions of the valve. As such, the valve assembled with the controller can be controlled and switched automatically. Cost of management of factories is minimized.
US08640561B2
A door driving apparatus having a motor, a sleeve formed at a drive end of a rotor of the motor, a pinion integrally fixed to a rotation shaft integrated with a spline shaft detachably fitted to the sleeve, and left and right racks disposed opposite to each other with respect to the pinion and engaged with the pinion so that the left and right racks can move in directions substantially parallel and opposite to each other. When the motor is individually removed from a rack and pinion casing, the pinion is left in the pinion and rack casing while upper and lower sides of the pinion are engaged with the right and left racks, respectively. Accordingly, the relative positions of the left and right racks are unchanged.
US08640558B2
A method of inspecting a structure comprises providing an inspection apparatus, engaging the inspection apparatus with an access system coupled to a structure, inspecting the access system using the inspection apparatus, and inspecting a portion of the structure using the inspection apparatus.
US08640557B2
The present invention relates to a solids dosing device for finely divided solids, comprising sampling means for withdrawing a sample from a sampling jar and dosing means for inserting a prescribed amount of finely divided solid material into a testing jar, a dosing accuracy of at least 0.1 g being achieved with the solids dosing device and characteristics of the dosed amount substantially corresponding to those of the sample in the sampling jar. The invention also relates to an automated analyzer for determining properties of finely divided solids, comprising a depot for sampling jars and testing jars, analysis devices for the analysis of samples, manipulators for the movement and positioning of sampling jars, solids dosing devices and dosing devices for liquids. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the automatic analysis of finely divided solids.
US08640550B2
A shear force detection device for detecting a shear force includes: a support body including an opening defined by a pair of straight parts perpendicular to a detection direction of the shear force and parallel to each other; a support film on the support body and closing the opening, the support film having flexibility; a piezoelectric part on the support film and extending astride an inside and outside of the opening and along at least one of the pair of straight parts of the opening when viewed in a plane in which the support body is seen in a substrate thickness direction, the piezoelectric part being bendable to output an electric signal; and an elastic layer covering the piezoelectric part and the support film.
US08640548B2
The invention relates to an apparatus, a device and a method for determining local alignment errors which have occurred due to strain and/or distortion of a first substrate relative to a second substrate when the first substrate is joined to the second substrate and for alignment of two wafers by means of position maps, strain maps and/or stress maps of wafers which are recorded during and/or after alignment of the wafers, especially through at least one transparent region of at least one of the wafers, optionally the relative position of the two wafers to one another being corrected especially in-situ.
US08640538B2
Technique of suppressing performance variations for each flow sensor is provided. In a flow sensor FS1 of the present invention, a part of a semiconductor chip CHP1 is configured to be covered with resin (MR) in a state in which a flow sensing unit (FDU) formed on a semiconductor chip CHP1 is exposed. Since an upper surface SUR(MR) of the resin (MR) is higher than an upper surface SUR(CHP) of the semiconductor chip (CHP1) by sealing the resin (MR) on a part of the upper surface SUR(CHP) of the semiconductor chip CHP1 in a direction parallel to an air flow direction, the air flow around the flow sensing unit (FDU) can be stabilized. Further, interface peeling between the semiconductor chip (CHP1) and the resin (MR) can be prevented by an increase of contact area between the semiconductor chip (CHP1) and the resin (MR).
US08640537B2
A fiber sample conditioning system having a comb for engaging and retaining fibers to form a beard, and at least two rotating brushes for brushing the fibers simultaneously from opposite sides of the beard in a direction along the fibers away from the comb.
US08640527B2
A leakage-sensing device for installation adjacent to a pipeline configured for conveying liquid or gaseous chemical materials. The leakage-sensing device comprises a length of cable configured to transmit and back-reflect signals. The cable is communicable with a signal-measuring device. The entire length of cable is encompassed by a torsioned and tensioned coiled biasing means. The cable and the torsioned and tensioned coiled biasing means are embedded in a chemically frangible casing material. The chemically frangible material is selected for its structural instability when contacted with the selected chemical material to be conveyed within the pipeline thereby releasing the torsioned and tensioned biasing means which subsequently imparts bending and/or twisting and/or elongating and/or contracting forces to the cable thereby causing the cable to physically interfere with and/or deform and/or break the transmission and back-reflection of signals along the cable.
US08640525B2
Methods and systems for analyzing soybeans and, more particularly, for analyzing soybeans at the point of delivery such as a grain elevator or processing plant for a characteristic of the soybeans such as the β-conglycinin protein content or the intensity of flavor of the soybeans.
US08640522B2
Systems and methods for the remote testing of a paddle-type flow detector, such as are common in fire protection systems. Specifically, the systems and methods provide for mechanical movement of the vane to test activation of the flow detector under a flow condition, and which measure the amount of time the vane takes to return to the ready position to verify the presence of a paddle on the vane.
US08640491B2
A vapor compression system (10), also known as a chiller, includes a refrigeration loop and a lubrication loop. The lubrication loop includes a lubrication reclamation system that further includes a still (42) and an ejector (44) to reduce a pressure in the still (42). The ejector (44) includes an input portion (46), an output portion 54 and a vent portion (50). The input portion (46), the output portion (54) and the vent portion (50) are in fluid communication with one another. The vent portion (50) of the ejector (44) is positioned in a vent line (48) associated with the still (42). The still (42) primarily contains a mixture of liquid refrigerant and lubricant. The input portion (46) of the ejector receives liquid or gas at a high pressure and expels the liquid or gas through the output portion (54) at an intermediate pressure. As the input fluid at a high pressure flows through the ejector (44), a low pressure is created at the vent portion (50). The reduction in pressure in the vent portion (50) causes a suction pressure within the vent portion (50) associated with the still (44), resulting in a portion of the liquid refrigerant vaporizing, leaving a higher viscosity lubricant.
US08640485B2
A refrigerator dispenser includes an ice dispensing actuator, an ice dispensing chute, an ice dispensing housing positioned within a refrigerator door cavity and configured to define an ice dispensing cavity through which ice dispensed by the ice dispensing chute passes, a liquid dispensing chute positioned closer to a front surface of a refrigerator door than the ice dispensing housing, and a liquid dispensing actuator positioned on the ice dispensing housing and configured to receive input to inspire dispensing of liquid through the liquid dispensing chute.
US08640483B2
An appliance dispenser includes a housing defining a recess. The housing includes a receptacle support member and a fixed funnel. An ice dispensing passage extends through the fixed funnel and operably connected with an ice bin. A variable funnel includes a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is adjacent the fixed funnel. The distal end is movable between a retracted position and an extended position.
US08640474B2
A solar collector assembly comprises a plurality of heater collection tubes. A thermal enhancement manifold assembly is integrated into the solar collector assembly to enhance thermal efficiency. The enhancement manifold assembly includes a supply manifold subassembly which selectively distributes a refrigerant between at least two supply manifolds and a return manifold subassembly which distributes the refrigerant between at least two return manifolds. A thermal enhancing tube provides fluid communication between each supply manifold and respective return manifold. The thermal enhancing tubes are assembled within an interior volume of the solar heater collection tubes. Each manifold pairing is operatively governed by a respective fluid control valve. The manifold pairings alternate between an active state and an inactive state, optimizing thermal transfer between the collection tube and a refrigerant. The refrigerant is retained within an inactive tube set of thermal enhancing tubes and flows therethrough in an active tube set.
US08640473B2
A refrigeration apparatus includes a condensing unit, a flow distributor, and an evaporator connected to the condensing unit via the flow distributor. A pressure detector is configured to detect condensation pressure of the refrigerant. A calculation unit is configured to calculate a target condensation pressure of refrigerant necessary for the refrigerant to be an evaporation temperature in the evaporator. A controller is configured to control the condensing unit so that the condensation pressure of the refrigerant becomes equal to or more than the target condensation pressure.
US08640466B2
In certain embodiments, a thermoelectric heat pump includes a heat transfer region having an array of thermoelectric modules, a waste channel in substantial thermal communication with a high temperature portion of the heat transfer region, and a main channel in substantial thermal communication with a low temperature portion of the heat transfer region. An enclosure wall provides a barrier between fluid in the waste channel and fluid in the main channel throughout the interior of the thermoelectric heat pump. In some embodiments, the waste fluid channel and the main fluid channel are positioned and shaped such that differences in temperature between fluids disposed near opposite sides of the enclosure wall are substantially decreased or minimized at corresponding positions along the channels.
US08640463B2
A swirler for fuel injection in a gas turbine engine includes a frustoconical swirler body. A first and a second air flow path direct air in generally opposed circumferential directions into the swirler. These air paths intermix and create turbulence. As this turbulence encounters fuel droplets, the fuel is atomized, and uniformly distributed within the air flow. A shear layer is created adjacent an inner surface of the swirler body. In a separate feature, a third air flow path is directed into the air.
US08640454B1
A Stirling Cycle device including a plurality of Stirling Cycle machines, each operating out of phase with the other Stirling Cycle machines and sharing at least one heat exchanger flow path.
US08640450B2
A compressed fluid motor has a plurality of cylinders with a piston and a piston rod. A main bearing is concentric with a crankpin and coupled to a shaft. Compressed fluid on the piston pushes on the main bearing via its corresponding piston rod. Bearing guide plates hold the one or more piston rod in place on the main bearing. A timing and control mechanism controls flow of compressible fluid to press on the piston and turn the shaft to perform work.
US08640448B2
A system includes an internal combustion engine, an exhaust conduit fluidly coupled to the internal combustion engine and an SCR catalyst, and a reductant doser operationally coupled to the exhaust conduit at a position upstream of the SCR catalyst. The reductant doser is responsive to a reductant doser command. The system includes a controller having a number of modules functionally structured to execute operations to compensate for transient operation of the system. An NH3 target module interprets a reductant amount target that is a target amount of reductant in the exhaust conduit at a position upstream of the SCR catalyst. A transient adjustment module detects a transient event in the SCR catalyst and provides an adjusted reductant amount target in response to the transient event and the reductant amount target. A dosing control module provides the reductant doser command in response to the adjusted reductant amount target.
US08640446B2
An exhaust gas purification device may deactivate at least one of cylinders to supply a gasoline particulate filter with sufficient air according to a driving condition of a gasoline engine, and a control method thereof and a control method thereof may include comparing a pressure difference of the gasoline particulate filter with a predetermined value, determining a cylinder that may be to be deactivated when the pressure difference may be larger than the predetermined value, regenerating the gasoline particulate filter by supplying it with air through the deactivated cylinder, determining whether the engine may be in an over-run condition during the regeneration process, and returning to a general driving condition in a case that the engine may be in the over-run condition.
US08640443B2
An exhaust gas after treatment system includes a diesel particulate filter unit arranged downstream of a diesel engine, a NO2 reduction catalyst arranged downstream of said diesel particulate filter, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) arrangement arranged downstream of said NO2 reduction catalyst, a first injector for feeding reducing agent into the exhaust gas arranged downstream said particulate filter and upstream said NO2 reduction catalyst, a second injector for feeding reducing agent into the exhaust gas arranged downstream said NO2 reduction catalyst and upstream said selective catalytic reduction (SCR) arrangement. An exhaust gas after treatment method is also provided.
US08640437B1
A mini combined cycle power plant with a mini gas turbine engine that operates at around 20,000 to 30,000 rpm and is connected to an electric generator through a speed reduction gear box, a low pressure steam turbine connected directly to the gas turbine engine, a high pressure steam turbine connected to the low pressure steam turbine through a smaller gear box so that the high pressure steam turbine can operate at around 70,000 to 100,000 rpm, and a heat recovery steam generator to use the turbine exhaust to produce high pressure steam for the two steam turbines. Leftover heat from the HRSG is used to heat homes or buildings in the local area to the power plant to improve the overall efficiency of the plant.
US08640434B2
A removable divider for a row unit of an agricultural header. The divider is configured to be detachably retained by mounting portions of a frame of the row unit. The divider is retained by the mounting portions of the frame when the divider is in a first position relative the row unit for harvesting crop and is removable from the mounting portions when the divider is in a second position relative the row unit. Outward and parallel extending portions abut the frame of the row unit when the divider is in the first position but then allow the divider to be removed from the row unit when the divider is moved into the second position.
US08640429B1
Building components having a reduced thermal bridge relative to traditional building components. In embodiments, a beam comprises at least two flanges and a web connecting the flanges and maintaining the flanges in a roughly parallel configuration to each other. In embodiments, the web comprises multiple web pieces having reduced cross sections. In alternative embodiments, the web comprises a single continuous web piece with a reduced cross section. In alternative embodiments, the web comprises one or more foam or honeycomb pieces.
US08640428B2
Insert assemblies of high specific strengths to reduce stress concentration at locations where Multidirectional stresses act on sandwich structures have been designed based on mapping stress distribution and failure initiation. The insert assembly comprises of insert (10, 20, 30), potting material (14, 24, 34), core (17, 27, 37), lower face plate (16, 26, 36), Upper face-plate (15, 25, 35) and attachment (13, 23, 33). The insert materials are selected from 2D woven composites, 3D thermoelastic isotropic woven composites, 3D woven composites, 3D woven composites with multiple inserts and 3D functionally gradient woven composites. Specific strengths of inserts (10, 20, 30) of present invention are higher than the inserts of prior art.
US08640424B2
Floor panels with a flexible tongue in an insertion groove, the flexible tongue is designed to cooperate, in a connected state with a tongue groove of another panel, the panels are adapted to be locked together by vertical folding, the flexible tongue has a projection portion which, in a connected state projects outside the insertion groove and cooperates with the tongue groove, said projecting portion has a beveled and/or rounded sliding surface and the panels have a sliding surface adapted to cooperate therewith during vertical folding, the flexible tongue during the vertical folding is displaced twice in the horizontal direction, a first displacement is effected by the vertical folding of the fold panel whereby at least a part of the flexible tongue is bent, a second displacement of the flexible tongue towards its initial position is accomplished substantially by a spring effect caused by said bending of said flexible tongue.
US08640423B2
An apparatus for retaining a photovoltaic panel on a rooftop includes a vessel having a first side, second side, front, bottom, and top panels, wherein the panels are attached to define a void within the vessel. A fill port is disposed on the vessel. A first hole is adapted to receive a screw on the top panel, wherein the first hole is aligned with a second hole disposed on the bottom panel, wherein the first and second holes are adapted to be aligned with a third hole on a first mounting cross arm. The top panel is inclined at an angle relative to the bottom panel.
US08640421B2
Method for creating a liquid barrier on building sheathing, provides a polymer mixture with beads of uniform diameter, affixes mesh across joints in the sheathing and trowels the mixture onto the sheathing using a straight edge. The straight edge rolls over the beads and leaves the mixture between the beads for creating a layer have a uniform thickness. Before the layer sets, peaks of an inner corrugated surface of an insulation board are pressed into the layer for adhering the board to the sheathing, the inner surface having valleys between the peaks at a distance greater then twice the diameter of the beads. The layer sets to create the liquid barrier and for fixing the board to the sheathing with spaces left between the barrier and the valleys for water runoff across the sheathing.
US08640420B1
A pergola system includes a frame having a plurality of generally vertically-oriented, spaced-apart posts aligned in rows. A generally horizontally-oriented, spaced-apart frame member is attached to each row of posts. A plurality of rails and outer rails extend across the frame members and are oriented generally orthogonally to the frame members, the rails being attached to the frame members. A plurality of purlins extend across the rails outer rails, and are oriented generally orthogonally to the rails and outer rails, the purlins being attached to the rails and outer rails. The pergola system is freestanding.
US08640415B2
The present application is directed toward fire-rated wall construction components and wall systems for use in building construction. Embodiments can include tracks for holding studs which incorporate various geometries capable of receiving fire-retardant material, including but not limited to intumescent material. The fire-retardant material can be attached to the tracks such that the fire-retardant material expands and seals gaps and/or areas between the tracks and wall components such as ceilings, floors, and drywall.
US08640411B1
A cap block has opposed top and bottom major faces bounded by two opposed side faces and two opposed end faces. The bottom face has two grooves that extend lengthwise in a side-to-side direction of the cap block from one side face to the other side face. The two grooves are spaced apart from one another in an end-to-end direction of the cap block so that the cap block can be positioned atop and cap two back-to-back walls of wall blocks with each groove receiving therein protuberances that protrude upwardly from top faces of uppermost wall blocks of respective ones of the two walls. The cap block is manufactured by molding a dry-cast concrete mixture in a mold cavity having the shape of the cap block with a base of the mold cavity corresponding to one side face of the cap block.
US08640410B2
A load bearing wall system which is made from a plurality of interlocking panels. Each panel includes a hollow panel body having a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity. A male coupling is positioned at the first end and a female coupling is positioned at the second end. The female coupling is capable of interlocking with the male coupling of another of the plurality of interlocking panels. The male coupling houses a structural stud that extends for the entire vertical height of the hollow panel body. The interior cavity of the hollow panel body is filled with insulation. Interlocking panels intended for straight sections have the female coupling opposed to the male coupling in a linear alignment. Interlocking panels intended for a corner or change in direction have the hollow panel body bent so that the female coupling is angularly offset from the male coupling.
US08640396B1
A wind resistant modular ISO building includes a first cargo container, a second cargo container, and a mounting system. The first and second cargo containers are joined to each other by attaching adjacent lengthwise frame rails. Most of an inner lengthwise side wall of the first and second cargo containers is removed. The first and second cargo containers are also joined to each other by attaching a plurality of vertical channels of upper portions of the lengthwise side walls. A plurality of horizontal channels are attached to the plurality of vertical channels. At least two moment frames are attached to an inside of the first and second cargo containers. The end door of the first and second cargo containers are replaced with an end panel. Preferably, at least one door entrance and window system is formed in at least one of the lengthwise side walls.
US08640395B2
A portable passive anti-corrosion vehicle enclosure comprising a support frame system and a flexible enclosure. The support frame system is disposed within the flexible enclosure. The flexible enclosure comprises a floor sheet, a side sheet and a ceiling sheet, where the side and ceiling sheets are supported by the support frame system. The flexible enclosure further comprises a closure means configured for enabling entry and exit of a vehicle and/or a driver. When the vehicle enclosure is erected and sealed, the volume defined by the support frame system is substantially isolated from its surrounding environment. A non-powered passive corrosion protection means is provided within the volume to eliminate or reduce corrosion of exposed vehicle metal components within the volume.
US08640394B2
The invention is an assembly of elements to collect solar energy and rain water. Solar energy is converted to electricity by either photovoltaic film or laminate panels or sheets mounted atop arcuate, curved canopy structures that are formed and positioned like “wings”. Rainwater is collected by the low-incidence arcuate curved wings and directed to a central trough along the wings' structural spine, which conducts it through a support column to a water container or vessel. In a preferred embodiment the vessel is an underground container extending parallel to and as long as the above-ground structural spine of the assembly.
US08640390B2
A decorative strip (10; 40; 60; 80; 100; 120; 150; 180; 230; 260; 290) for ceramic, natural stone or synthetic coverings or coatings, in particular for the formation of walk-in showers with a sloped floor, comprising a decorative strip profile (12; 42; 62; 82; 102; 122; 152; 182; 232; 262; 292) having a visible decorative surface (16; 50; 70; 92; 142; 164; 196; 236; 274; 302), characterized in that the decorative strip (10; 40; 60; 80; 100; 120; 150; 180; 230; 260; 290) has a holding profile (14; 44; 64; 84; 104; 124; 154; 184; 234; 264; 294) in which the decorative strip profile (12; 42; 62; 82; 102; 122; 152; 182; 232; 262; 292) is retained height-adjustably so as to vary the height of its visible decorative surface (16; 50; 70; 92; 142; 164; 196; 236; 274; 302).
US08640380B2
There is provided a deterrent device 10 having an elongate body 11 formed from an extrudable insulating material. The device has at least one elongate knitted/braided metallic conductor 19 on an upward facing surface of the body 11, the material of the body penetrating into the lower margins of the or each conductor thereby securing the or each conductor to the body with the upward facing surface of the or each conductor being exposed. This construction enables the conductors to be co-extruded with the body thereby avoiding the need for further fastening devices and enables manufacture in a single operation.
US08640379B2
A mole trap includes a molded housing with first and second portions. One of the portions includes two molded posts. A trigger and release plate are each pivotally mounted on one of the two posts, and are substantially encased within the housing. The trap may include a first shaft connected to a trigger pad, and a spring loaded second shaft. The first shaft is slideable with respect to the second shaft, which is connected to a plurality of tines. A release is operative to hold a trigger in a set position, and thereby hold the spring loaded second shaft in the set position. The first shaft is operable to displace the release in response to an upward force applied to the trigger pad, wherein the release is operable to release the trigger in response to the displacement, wherein the trigger is operable to release the spring loaded outer shaft.
US08640373B2
A new sling mount for firearms is disclosed. The sling mount in particular also serves as a recoil lug for the firearm. At least one loop extends outward from the sling mount for use in attaching a sling. This passage may require a hole to be cut into the casing of the firearm for accommodation. The shape, size, contours and location of the sling mount will be dependent upon the intended weapon platform. In any event, the at least one loop provides attachment for a sling while also avoiding entanglement of the sling with a folding stock.
US08640369B2
A portable digital display assembly is disclosed. The portable digital display device is configured to be operated by a wired or wireless device. The portable digital display is battery powered and has arrays of LED's configured to creating a display.The portable digital display is configured for rapid assembly and disassembly. The operating system is contained within a frame system of the portable digital display. The portable digital display is preferably comprised with no metal in its infrastructure.
US08640368B2
A light source device is equipped with a highly directional point light source, a light source installation part having a prescribed area where the point light source is installed, and a lateral reflection part that is vertically arranged to a prescribed height from the periphery of the light source installation part. The lateral reflection part is formed with a light-transmitting reflector plate that has a reflection/transmission pattern and is provided with multiple reflection/transmission parts for reflecting and at least partially transmitting light. In the reflection/transmission pattern, multiple virtual radial lines are drawn from the light source to the light-transmitting reflector plate surface at prescribed angles, and for reflection/transmission parts (Di,j) present on the radial lines that are at the same distance from the point light source, the reflectivity and transmissivity are denoted as Re1 and Tr1 when the reflection/transmission part is on a radial line at a narrow viewing angle to the point light source, and when the reflection/transmission part is on a radial line at a wide viewing angle to the point light source, the reflectivity and transmissivity are denoted as Re2 and Tr2. The relationship therebetween is set as follows: Re1>Re2 and Tr1.
US08640352B2
A superior measuring system comprises three sidewinders and a cobra measure which allows the users to take inside measurement with the assistance for one else. Sidewinders are use to measure distance between 2′ to 23′ and comprise a casing, an upper blade, and a bottom blade. The cobra measure comprises a main body, a single blade and a hood. The sidewinders have three extending blades which extend from the front and the back sides. The both blades can be locked from a locking mechanism so the blades do not move freely. The cobra measure comprises an angle control which control the angle that the single blade so accurate measurements. The single blade in the cobra measure is a curved shaped blade which provides better stability when measurements are taken.
US08640337B2
A pipe expansion method capable of reducing an inspection range (area) of a heat-transfer pipe secured to a pipe plate and capable of shortening the time required for inspection is provided. In a pipe expansion method for securing a heat-transfer pipe inserted in a pipe hole of a pipe plate by expanding the pipe, after tightly fitting an outer circumferential surface of the heat-transfer pipe to an inner circumferential surface of the pipe hole from a primary-side end face to a secondary-side end face of the pipe plate, surface pressure between the heat-transfer pipe and the pipe plate is further increased in a predetermined range from the secondary-side end face, or close to the secondary-side end face, towards the primary-side end face.
US08640336B2
An exemplary turbine engine assembly includes a first shaft that is rotatably driven by a second shaft of a gas turbine engine and a compressor hub driven by the first shaft. The compressor hub is within a compressor section of the gas turbine engine. An epicyclic gear train is driven by the first shaft. A common attachment point secures the first shaft and the compressor hub to the second shaft.
US08640334B2
A method of setting lash in a cam phaser includes rotating a stator having a lobe in a first direction so that the lobe contacts a motion limiter pin disposed within a first hole in a rotor, causing the compression of a spring until a motion limiter lock pin enters a groove on the motion limiter pin and contacts a wall at one end of the groove. The rotor is then rotated in conjunction with the stator in the first direction until a rotor locking pin that is disposed within a second hole in the rotor engages a lock pin seat on a cover at one end of the seat. The rotor is then held in place while rotating the stator in a second direction so that there is a gap between the wall at one end of the groove and the motion limiter locking pin.
US08640332B2
The invention relates to a method of aligning a flexible foil sheet having a general first foil sheet length direction to form stacked foil sheet layers on a reel having a reel diameter. The method comprises providing multiple alignment markers in the foil sheet, distanced conform the reel diameter and each having an mark length direction transverse to the first foil sheet length direction, to form protrusions and corresponding recesses on opposite faces of the foil sheet; winding the foil sheet on the reel in the first foil sheet length direction of the foil sheet; and co-aligning the alignment markers to have protrusions of one mark matching with a recess of another mark, so as to block relative movement of the stacked foil sheet layers in the first foil sheet length direction. Preferably, the foil sheet layers are provided with device functionality to form a stacked foil sheet layered device.
US08640328B1
A system for fastening a head stack to a hard drive base assembly (HDBA) comprises a threaded head stack pivot (THSP) having a socket defined therein. The socket comprises a proximal portion defined by inner walls arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of the socket and a distal portion having a width less than a width of the proximal portion and forming a ledge adjacent to the proximal portion. The system also comprises a bit for driving the THSP into an HDBA. The bit comprises a head comprising contact surfaces arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bit and tapered surfaces extending from respective contact surfaces to a distal end of the bit. The bit is configured to engage the ledge at seams formed between adjacent tapered surfaces and to engage the inner walls with respective contact surfaces when driving the THSP into the HDBA.
US08640325B2
Electronic components each having a chip module with module contacts and an antenna having antenna contacts is made by securing a plurality of the chip modules the inner face of a module film strip having an outer periphery projecting past the chip module with the chip modules spaced from one another at a uniform predetermined module spacing. A plurality of the antennas are secured to an inner face of an elongated antenna strip with the antennas spaced from one another by a predetermined antenna spacing. The module strip is longitudinally subdivided into sections each of which is of a length equal to the predetermined module spacing and each of which carries a respective chip module. The module-strip sections are pressed against the antenna strip such that the module contacts of each of the chip modules engage and bear on the antenna contacts of a respective antenna.
US08640323B2
An apparatus for connecting bars includes a clip string, a barrel having a clip receiving cavity, with a terminal clip of the clip string received in the clip receiving cavity. A drive is received in the barrel and extends proximally from the barrel. The drive includes a hammer received in the barrel. The hammer reciprocates longitudinally within the barrel for contacting and expelling the terminal clip from the barrel. A cam guide is connected to the drive. A cam plate having a cam track is pivotally connected to the barrel. The cam guide engages the cam track such that the cam plate pivots back and forth as the drive is moved distally and proximally relative to the barrel. At least one finger is connected to the cam plate such that the finger engages and advances the clip string end of the clip receiving cavity as the cam plate pivots back.
US08640316B2
A brake piston compressor is provided. The brake piston compressor includes: two blocks; a forcing screw configured to engage the blocks to selectively bring the blocks closer together or farther apart from each other depending upon which way the forcing screw is turned; two pads each pad configured to be slidably engaged with at least one block; and a locking mechanism configured to engage and disengage to lock one of the pads to one of the blocks when the locking mechanism is engaged. A method of operating a brake piston compressor is provided. The method includes: sliding a pad into a channel in a block; locking the pad to the block; and turning a forcing screw to move the pad and block with respect to a second pad and block.
US08640315B1
A rotating adapter for joining an offset, right angle, or other pulling head to a pulling tool. The adapter allows one-handed positioning of a pulling head that is offset, oriented at an angle relative to the tool, or designed to fit into a relatively tight space. The pulling head can be rotated and/or repositioned repeatedly without changing the stroke length of the pulling tool.
US08640311B2
A method is used to prepare a body for burial. The method includes placing the body inside a vessel. The body includes bones and tissue. The method further includes subjecting the body to a flow of steam until the bones are free of tissue. In one implementation, the flow of steam has a temperature of about 212 degrees Fahrenheit and a mass flow rate of at least 1000 pounds per hour. The method may further include removing the bones from the vessel.
US08640309B2
A device attaches a flexible clothing in the form of a clothing strip to a card flat bar of a revolving card flat. The card flat bar has a card flat foot with a clothing take-up surface and a web lying above the card flat foot. At least two clips are provided on the clothing strip. The device includes means to accommodate and hold the card flat bar and the clothing strip. The device furthermore includes press rams, which are guided in a moveable manner transversely to the longitudinal direction of the card flat bar and from both sides parallel to the clothing take-up surface of the card flat bar. By means of the movement of the press rams, an integral formation of the clips on the card flat foot is caused. The press rams have a drive with compression hoses.
US08640304B2
The surface cleaning apparatus includes a cyclone positioned in am air flow passage. The cyclone has a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet, a dirt outlet spaced from the cyclone air inlet, a cyclone chamber wall and a longitudinal axis. The surface cleaning apparatus also includes a dirt collection chamber in communication with the dirt outlet. The dirt collection chamber has an openable wall mounted to the surface cleaning apparatus by a hinge and a centrally positioned longitudinal axis, the openable wall has a center and a hinge side. The surface cleaning apparatus also includes a plate positioned at an interface of the dirt collection chamber and the cyclone. The plate is moveably mounted to the openable wall. The surface cleaning apparatus also includes a biasing member biasing the plate towards the hinge side of the openable wall a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage.
US08640299B2
An indoor/outdoor cleaning system includes a portable pressurized housing for containing cleaning fluids (water, chemicals, and mixtures thereof). Multiple hoses connect the interior of the housing with a cleaning wand. The wand includes a handle, a hollow trunk portion and a cleaning head. The multiple hoses have outlets adjacent the cleaning head for feeding water, cleaning chemicals, or surface treating fluids thereto. The outlets open adjacent a cleaning pad, which pad, which pad is attached to the cleaning head via a mechanism that allows the pad to move either in a linear or sinusoidal (rocking) motion or the combination of both motions thereof. A variety of cleaning pad accessories (brush, sponge, sanding pad, buffing pad, etc.) can be optionally attached to the cleaning pad based on the type of surface to be cleaned or treated. A suction conduit, disposed in the cleaning head, functions to draw used fluids away from the surface for safe disposal thereof.
US08640295B2
A paint brush has a handle and a paint brush head. The paint brush head is detachable from the paint brush handle. The paint brush head may be rotatable to a number of positions relative to the paint brush handle.
US08640289B2
An infant head cradle assembly including a bed rest that includes a groove in a bottom surface of the bed rest, a head rest that includes a housing component extending from a bottom of the head rest, and a receptacle at a center of the housing component, a base extending from the bed rest to provide support to the head rest. The base includes a receptacle that includes a hole, and a bed rest attachment adjacent to the receptacle. The assembly further includes a bearing retainer assembly that includes a plurality of ball bearings that facilitate a rotational movement of the head rest while the head rest is seated on the bearing retainer assembly. The housing component restricts movement of the head rest from extending further than a range of approximately 20 degrees from front to back and approximately 40 degrees from left to right.
US08640287B2
A patient-support apparatus includes a patient-support deck movable from a use position to a stowed position. The patient-support deck is configured to engage receivers of the patient-support apparatus to support the deck in a cantilevered configuration. The patient-support deck may be secured to the patient-support apparatus by a locking mechanism. A storage structure is configured to support the patient-support deck in a stowed position. The storage structure is configured to deflect under load to prevent damage to the storage structure or patient-support deck.
US08640285B2
A hospital bed includes a base, an upper frame supported above the base, and a deck supported on the upper frame. The deck has head, seat, thigh, and foot sections. The deck is movable between a horizontal position to support a patient in a supine position and a chair egress position to support the patient in a sitting position. The hospital bed further has a seat section actuator to articulate the seat section relative to the upper frame about an axis located adjacent a foot end of the seat section such that a head end of the seat section lifts upwardly relative to the upper frame to facilitate egress of the patient from the deck when the deck is in the chair egress position.
US08640274B2
A toilet device includes a seat (2) with a pair of side walls (14 & 16) pivotally connected thereto. The side walls are capable of three configurations with respect to the seat portion (2). In a first folded configuration they extend towards one another for compact storage of the device. In a second configuration they extend downwardly in right angles to the seat for use as a chamber pot when supplied with a suitable liner. In a third configuration the side walls extend outwardly away from one another so that the device can be placed on a conventional toilet seat and adapt that seat to the user of the device. Locking and locating means are provided for locking and/or locating the device in the three configurations.
US08640273B1
A coupling component has upper and lower surfaces. A nipple extends downwardly for securement to a clean out line. A passageway extends centrally through the coupling component and nipple. A lid is movable between a closed orientation positioning the lid upon the upper surface of the coupling component and an open orientation positioning the lid at an angle with respect to the upper surface of the coupling component. A pedal operatively couples the lid with respect to the coupling component. A spring has a first end operatively coupled with respect to the pedal and a second end operatively coupled with respect to the coupling component. When a user steps on the pedal, the lid will rotate upwardly to the open orientation. When a user removes a foot from the pedal, the spring will rotate the lid to the closed orientation.
US08640271B2
A cartridge unit for use with a urinal is disclosed that does not need water to work nor does it use a body of oily liquid sealant as an odor barrier. The odor trap cartridge unit used in this urinal has a spring locking mechanism that works as a valve. It is opened by liquid weight when the urinal is used and lets urine or any other liquid pass downwardly through it and prevents odors from flowing back up towards the room. The cartridge unit has a few disks, two main cylindrical devices, a spring, a fastener, an o-ring, and a coupling; these all operate to open and close a spring sealed trap. These are all placed within a unique three-sized shell that supports the entire cartridge and is fitted into a urinal opening. An umbrella shaped part completes the cartridge by protecting its components from violent fluid flow.
US08640269B2
An installation for the intermediate holding and storage of sewage and effluent, said installation comprising a sealable housing 9 having an inlet 1 for receiving said effluent and an outlet for discharging said effluent, a holding reservoir 2 pivotally mounted and positioned within said housing to receive and temporarily store a quantity of said effluent, wherein said holding reservoir is an asymmetrically shaped open bucket adapted to automatically move about said pivot from a first position adapted for receiving and storing said effluent to a second invented position where stored effluent is emptied into said housing under the influence of gravity once the accumulated effluent reaches a sufficient mass wherein said housing includes an effluent race 11 incorporated into the floor of said housing to divert said effluent directly to said outlet.
US08640266B2
Magnetic securing device assemblies and methods for securing a garment away from a breast. The magnetic securing device assembly includes a first and second magnetic element. At least one of the first and second magnetic elements is attached to a cord which is used to carry the magnetic securing device assembly as an ornamental piece of jewelry. In use, the magnetic securing device assembly is positioned around a lifted garment of the wearer. The first magnetic element is separated from the second magnetic element attached to the cord. The first magnetic element is then positioned on an opposite side of the garment, and in alignment with the position of the second magnetic element. The first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are then magnetically fastened to each other so that the garment is securely held away from the breast.
US08646107B1
Methods and apparatus are provided for implementing a system such as a programmable chip system having hardware and software usage limitations and restrictions. Usage limitation circuitry is integrated onto a device. A usage limitation function is integrated into software, such as an operating system for the device. The usage limitation function can be configured to interact with the usage limitation circuitry. The usage limitation circuitry and the usage limitation function are operable to disable the device and the associated software.
US08646104B2
A broadcast stateless protocol by which a client broadcasts a request to a server group is described. In one embodiment, the client broadcasts the request to a server group. A tamper-evident challenge including the request is received from any one server of the server group. A response to the tamper-evident challenge is broadcast to any one server of the server group, the response including the request. A result to the request is received upon any one server of the server group verifying the response being valid and the request being unmodified.
US08646098B2
A method and system implementing software licensing management under machine virtualization are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a system comprises a virtual platform running on a physical machine; a binding agent running on a host operating system of the virtual platform; a license enforcement module running on a virtual machine instance of the virtual platform. The license enforcement module is in communication with the binding agent. The binding agent enforces a mutex lock to ensure that only a specified number of license enforcement modules are running on the physical machine.
US08646096B2
Various embodiments utilize hardware-enforced boundaries to provide various aspects of digital rights management or DRM in an open computing environment. Against the backdrop of these hardware-enforced boundaries, DRM provisioning techniques are employed to provision such things as keys and DRM software code in a secure and robust way. Further, at least some embodiments utilize secure time provisioning techniques to provision time to the computing environment, as well as techniques that provide for robustly secure storage.
US08646095B2
A request, from a requester, is received to view user information on a user's personal site associated with a user. A relationship is determined between the requester and the user. User information is provided to the requester based on the requester's relationship to the user.
US08646094B2
A communications device for ensuring secure data transfer provided having an interface device for controlling data transfer, an integrated circuit coupled to the interface device and having a processor, a non-volatile memory for storing at least program code for the processor, a volatile memory, an input pin and an output pin; and an electrical conductor which electrically connects the input pin and the output pin. The electrical conductor passes through an external portion of the enclosure, e.g., a slot, which allows a user to easily sever the electrical conductor. In operation, a portion of the program code detects when the electrical conductor is severed and causes the program code in the non-volatile memory to be erased, data transfer via the interface device to be disabled, and power to the integrated circuit cut off to ensure that all information in volatile memory is erased.
US08646092B2
The invention concerns a method for protecting the data of an application compiled in intermediate for execution executed on a digital apparatus equipped with a virtual machine managing the execution of the code via a execution stack defining at least one stack frame corresponding to a method called during the execution of the code. A secured execution mode of the code involves the determination of at least one global checksum associated with each stack frame and, each time that a datum of the code is manipulated, the calculation of a local checksum associated with that datum. The calculation is on one hand, on the global checksum associated with the stack frame corresponding to the manipulated datum and, on the other hand, on at least one part of the other data constituting the stack frame.
US08646089B2
A method is provided in one example embodiment that includes receiving a signal to enable a whitelist mode on a host in a network, terminating a process executing on the host if the process is not verified, and blocking execution of software objects on the host if the software objects are not represented on the whitelist. In more particular embodiments, the method also includes identifying the process on a process list that enumerates one or more processes executing on the host. Yet further embodiments include quarantining the host if a second process on the process list is a critical process and if the second process is not verified. More specific embodiments include identifying and restarting another process on the process list if process memory was modified.
US08646081B1
An ingress point receives a packet flow from a first communication device. The ingress point copies the packet flow, transmits the packet flow to an egress point over a network path, and processes the copy to determine if the packet flow represents a security event. If the packet flow represents a security event, the ingress point transmits a blocking instruction to the egress point over an alarm link and the egress point blocks the packet flow representing the security event. If the packet flow does not represent a security event, the egress point transmits the packet flow to a second communication device.
US08646077B1
A computer implemented method for detecting and preventing spam account generation is disclosed. Upon receiving an account creation request from a client, the server analyzes various types of data including past and current account creation information and data associated with the account creation request such as IP address, username, password, cookie, and response time. Based on the analysis result, the server assigns a spam score to the account creation request and compares the spam score with certain predefined thresholds. If the spam score is above a first threshold, the server may refuse the account creation request. If the spam score is within a certain range, the server may limit the access to the account associated with the account creation request. If the spam score is below a second threshold, the server may put no limit on access to (i.e., enable normal use of) the account.
US08646076B1
An apparatus for detecting malicious shell codes using a debugging event includes an alert setting unit configured to set a mother program to run a non-executable file to trigger the debugging event when a mother process created by the mother program tries to execute a code with no execution attribute; and an information storage unit configured to store information on an address range in which modules to be used by the mother process are loaded in a memory. Further, the apparatus includes a malicious code determination unit configured to determine whether the non-executable file is malicious using the information on the address range when there occurs the debugging event.
US08646074B1
The instant disclosure describe various exemplary methods for enabling otherwise unprotected computing devices to assess the reputations of wireless access points. In one example, a computer-implemented method for performing such a task may include (1) identifying, at a computing device that is otherwise unable to assess the reputations of wireless access points, at least one wireless access point that is available to the computing device, (2) obtaining, from a reputation service, reputation information for the wireless access point that identifies the reputation of the wireless access point, wherein the reputation information is based at least in part on prior interactions with the wireless access point by at least one additional computing device, and then (3) presenting the reputation information to a user of the computing device to help the user determine whether to connect to the wireless access point. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08646071B2
A method, and associated system and computer program product, of validating site data. The method includes the steps of, in a processing system 200, receiving 100 an indication of site data, performing a comparison 110 of the indication to site data criteria, and validating or invalidating 120 the indication based on a result of the comparison. The indication of site data could be at least part of a webpage, a link to a webpage, a Uniform Resource Locator, an IP address, at least part of an AJAX page, and/or at least part of a document.
US08646063B2
A mechanism is provided for providing temporary generated codes by a server. Responsive to triplet authentication of a device to service provider network, a server receives an initial code from the device to request a temporary generated code. The server verifies the triplet authentication of device. The server determines whether there is a user account match to the initial code. The server determines a corresponding application server based on the initial code and the user account match. The server generates a temporary generated code to access the application server. The temporary generated code is transmitted to both the application server and the communication device, is set to expire at a preset time, is generated to allow the user access to a single session on the application server, and is generated to expire after the temporary generated code is input to access the single session on application server.
US08646060B1
A method for facilitating login using adaptive authentication. The method uses different authentication methods and different data protection methods depending on the user location, availability of network, importance of the data.
US08646053B2
The present invention provides a security module for Web application, especially a portal application, using a rewriter proxy. The security module ensures that the rewritten URIs are appended by an authentication identifier for determining whether the rewritten URI has not been changed. Preferably, the authentication identifier can be generated by applying a secure hash algorithm and/or secret key to the original URIs of the remote resource or the entire rewritten URIs. When a client activates those URIs, a request is sent to the rewriter proxy. Before a connection to the access protected remote resource is established, the security module validates whether the URIs contained in the user client request have been changed by the user.
US08646047B2
An approach is presented for authenticating access by a service. The server receives a request, from a service, for the server, wherein the request includes, at least in part, a service-specific secret or a derivation of the service-specific secret. Further, the server determines to generate a server-computed secret. Then, the server determines to authenticate the request based, at least in part, on a comparison of the service-specific secret or the derivation of the service-specific secret against the server-computed secret or a derivation of the server-computed secret.The service receives credentials from a credential manager. The secret is part of the credentials. The credential manager and the server share some secret pre-configured data like key tables. The generation of the service specific secrets is based on the shared data.
US08646045B1
Authentication mechanisms are disclosed herein that authenticate user access to enterprises. For example, either an enterprise associated number or a social security number (SSN) can be provided to the enterprise to enter a first level. Then, any one of a ZIP code number, a device calling/contacting number, a date of birth, and a portion of the SSN can be provided to access applications in the first level. Lastly, a PIN can be provided to enter a second level of the enterprise. Additionally, these authentication mechanisms can be added and/or changed. In the former case, if a user used a SSN to enter the mentioned first level of the enterprise, then a date of birth can be used to update an authentication mechanism. Alternatively, if a user used an enterprise number to gain such access, then part of the SSN can be used for the update. If the user wants to change the authentication mechanism, the date of birth can be used for the update.
US08646040B2
A method, system and computer-usable medium for providing secure access to an application over an unsecure network. A transparent identification member can be physically placed by a user against a login interface, the transparent identification member possessing a filter for filtering and displaying a pattern unique to the login interface. Thereafter, the user can be automatically permitted to authenticate an unsecure network and securely access an application over the unsecure network, in response to placing the transparent identification member against the login interface and providing a user input at a physical location on the login interface corresponding to the pattern unique to the login interface, thereby providing a secure authentication for the user to perform secure transactions over the unsecure network and preventing phishing by others with respect to the user and the unsecure network.
US08646028B2
The methods and systems provide for allocating a universal serial bus (USB) device to one of a trusted virtual machine and a non-trusted virtual machine. A control program receives data indicating a USB port on the computing machine received a USB device and identifies at least one attribute of the USB device. The control program selects, based on application of a policy to the identified at least one device attribute, one of a trusted virtual machine and a non-trusted virtual machine executing. The control program grants, to the virtual machine selected by the control program, access to the USB device.
US08646027B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for workflow based authorization for content access. A workflow can be triggered when a protection policy does not fully express an intended recipient's rights in protected content. A workflow processes relevant inputs to more fully express the intended recipient's rights in protected content. Workflows can provide policy item updates and authorizations decisions with respect to protected content. Through the use of workflows to make an authorization decision, access to information can become more flexible, allowing it to follow the desired flow of information throughout its lifecycle. This flexibility allows organizations to protect their information without worrying about the protection stopping the natural flow of business.
US08646024B2
A method and system for dynamic channel management of a television based on media center set-top box tuner availability. The method includes determining a last channel a television was tuned to prior to being turned off. Then it is determined whether the last channel is a radio frequency remodulated (RF-remodulated) channel. If the last channel is a RF-remodulated channel, then sending a signal to indicate that the television is on line with the RF-remodulated channel. If a tuner is not available for the television, then receiving an indication of a cable channel that was last RF-remodulated to the RF-remodulated channel for the television. Finally, changing the television to the cable channel.
US08646019B2
Systems and methods for providing and promoting television programming, advertisements, and other content to selected viewers. A display is provided on a remote control device, prompts are provided on the display, and viewer responses to those prompts are monitored, stored in memory, and thereafter processed to reward viewers for responding properly to the prompts. Various methods for promoting such programs are also described.
US08646018B2
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a resonance restricting material in communication with a bypass line of a cable television tap. The bypass line generates resonances at a defined frequency in response to RF parameters in the tap and the resonances increase insertion losses at the defined frequency and precludes bandwidth of the tap being increased above the defined frequency. The resonance restricting material may attenuate the resonances generated by the bypass line at the defined frequency (e.g., approximately 1.2 GHz) and reduce insertion losses at the defined frequency and enable the bandwidth of the tap to be increased (e.g., from 1.0 GHz to 1.5 GHz).
US08646015B2
An Internet gateway video server transmits selection information to a set top box connected to a television. The set top box displays the selection information on the television. A user views the selection information, and inputs user selection requests to the set top box. The Internet gateway video server receives user the requests for information and retrieves the information. The server then converts the network information from a network format to a television format. The conversion includes scanning the network information for selection elements, and adding selection elements for transmission in the television format. The converted network information is then transmitted to the set top box for display on the television. The user may then make further selections based on the displayed network information.
US08646002B2
A system for realistically reproducing multimedia content includes a realistic multimedia content producer for providing the multimedia content; a device metadata server for providing device metadata for realistically reproducing the multimedia content; and a realistic multimedia reproducing apparatus for downloading the device metadata for the multimedia content from the device metadata server, and applying device metadata selected by a user to thereby reproduce the multimedia content. Further, a method for realistically reproducing multimedia content includes downloading multimedia content to be reproduced realistically; checking if the multimedia content includes device metadata for realistic reproduction; downloading a plurality of device metadata for realistic reproduction of the multimedia content if the multimedia content does not include the device metadata; and reproducing realistically the multimedia content by controlling a reproducing device to which metadata selected by a user from the plurality of device metadata are applied.
US08646001B1
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.
US08645982B2
A spindle motor is disclosed, the spindle motor including a case including a lateral wall unit formed with a hollow hole, and a support unit extended to an inner side of a distal end of the lateral wall unit, a clamper arranged inside the lateral wall unit and supported by the support unit for clamping an upper surface of the optical disc, a cover plate covering the clamper, and an elastic member interposed between the clamper and the cover plate to apply a pressure to the clamper to a direction facing the upper surface of the optical disc.
US08645978B2
A method for data storage implemented in a data storage system is disclosed. Data storage nodes may be interconnected by means of a communications network. The method may include sending a request for a first data item to a plurality of storage nodes. The first data item may include a reference to a second data item stored in the storage system. The method may include receiving the first data item from at least one storage node, and sending a request for the second data item to the plurality of storage nodes based on the reference included in the first data item.
US08645977B2
An extensible virtualization system provides an object model and manages a virtual application lifecycle in a way that allows new virtualization subsystems to be added to extend a virtualization product without reworking the product itself. Virtualizing an application generally involves three steps: metadata extraction, metadata storage and reconstitution, and runtime management of requests. The extensible virtualization system receives notification of an application preparation session and allows virtualization subsystems to monitor the session to collect configuration information specific to each subsystem that the application uses to run on a client. Each subsystem provides collected information to the extensible virtualization system, which stores the collected information until the application to be virtualized is deployed. When the application is deployed, the system invokes the same virtualization subsystem and provides the subsystem with the stored information.
US08645970B1
A method for looking up routing information for a person or program assigned to respond to an incident messages is explained herein. The method includes recognizing a routing code that was appended to either the object name or description. The routing code is recognized by a program that looks up the responders contact information in a table that correlates routing codes with designated responder information.
US08645969B2
The various aspects include methods and apparatus that enable processors within a multi-processor computing device to automatically discover each other and to configure themselves to interoperate utilizing at least two agents in a scalable inter-processor communication protocol. A dynamic method of advertising capabilities of processors uses a scalable communication format that can be discover and linked to each processor to enable sharing of processing resources. To enable processor-discovery, each processor may be configured with a foreign agent, a local agent and a service daemon software program that facilitates processor auto-discovery and auto-configuration. Advertising and capabilities messages between processors in the same device may use the QMI protocol format. The advertised capabilities may include information regarding processor identification, transport type, port, technology, services and resources. The method may enable processors to automatically configuring themselves to work with or utilize the capabilities of the other discovered peer processors.
US08645962B2
An instruction generating apparatus includes a receiving section and a generating section. The receiving section receives job information including a plurality of jobs determined in a given order. Each job includes a process of a document by a processing device. The generating section generates instruction information based on the job information received by the receiving section. The instruction information includes, in the given order, a plurality of sets of (i) document corresponding to each job and (ii) detailed process of the document so as to instruct the processing device to perform each document process.
US08645959B2
A technique for performing barrier synchronization among a plurality of program threads. More particularly, at least one embodiment of the invention keeps track of completed tasks associated with a number of program threads using bits within a barrier register that can be updated and reassigned without incurring the amount of bus traffic as in the prior art.
US08645952B2
A method for providing location independent dynamic port mirroring on distributed virtual switches is disclosed. A controller is provided to configure one or more virtual switches within a group of physical machines to appear as a set of distributed virtual switches. In response to the receipt of a data packet at a port of a physical machine, a determination is made whether or not the port has a monitor port located on the physical machine. If the port has a monitor port located on the same physical machine, a copy of the data packet is sent to the monitor port of the physical machine. If the port has a monitor port located on a different physical machine, a copy of the data packet along with an identification (ID) of the port and an ID of the monitor port are encapsulated, and the encapsulated information are sent to a controller.
US08645941B2
A method for attributing revenue for embedded software. The method includes the first step of determining the presence of more than one type of embedded software on a given client site. Then, the process assigns priority based on the length of time each type has resided on the client system and the source of each type, followed by classifying each software type, based on the history of present and predecessor copies of the software. A distribution factor is applied to each software type, based on priority and classification, partner revenue is distributed based on the distribution factor applied to each software type.
US08645935B2
Binary rewriters that do not require relocation information and automatic parallelizers within binary rewriters are provided, as well as methods for performing binary rewriting and automatic parallelization. The method, in certain embodiments. includes disassembling a binary file and determining functions in the disassembled binary file. The method can further include rewriting the binary file without relying on relocation information or object files. Optionally, the method can further include performing automatic parallelization of the binary before rewriting the binary file.
US08645922B2
In one embodiment the present invention includes a computer-implemented method of measuring bottlenecks in a computer program implemented in a hardware client-server environment. The method includes defining an execution parameter to measure of the hardware client-server environment. The method further includes modifying code blocks to include instrumentation code. The instrumentation code relates to the execution parameter. The method further includes executing, in the hardware client-server environment, the code blocks having been modified. The method further includes generating instrumentation data, related to the execution parameter, that result from executing the code blocks. The method further includes outputting the instrumentation data having been generated. In this manner, the bottlenecks may be measured; the measured bottlenecks may be sorted; noteworthy bottlenecks may be identified; and the aspects of the hardware client-server environment may be adjusted to address the bottlenecks. Sorting is helpful because thousands of synchronization points may be detected and measured, but many of them do not represent a problem that requires correction.
US08645918B2
An adjustment device for adjusting at least one control device with at least one control device microcontroller and with at least one control device debug interface, where the adjustment device comprises at least one programmable unit, at least one data transmission interface for connecting the adjustment device to an operating unit, and at least one adjustment device debug interface for connecting the adjustment device to the control device debug interface of the control device. The adjustment device according to the invention accomplishes the objective of reducing the load on the control device due to control device application by at least one address list and at least one data list, which are provided in a memory of the adjustment device.
US08645917B2
A programming language support for debugging heap related errors includes one or more queries for determining one or more global properties associated with use of the area by the program. The one or more queries may be executed in parallel or concurrently and dynamically utilize available number of cores.
US08645906B2
A set of tools and other mechanisms automatically enforce software development change policies by providing a way to map physical source control system codelines to projects and by providing a way to maintain current project and codeline state information. The set of tools and other mechanisms also provide ways to define change management rules and policies, as well as, ways to evaluate and allow or deny each proposed change against the defined change policy.
US08645897B1
An integrated circuit (IC) design verification system includes a memory for storing an IC design and a processor in communication with the memory. The IC design includes multiple IP cores and the design verification apparatus includes multiple verification modules. The processor configures a first set of connections between the IP cores and the verification modules based on a first connection database and verifies each IP core independently using the first set of connections. Thereafter, the processor configures a second set of connections between the IP cores and the verification modules based on a second connection database generated based on the first connection database, and verifies the multiple IP cores together using the second set of connections.
US08645885B1
A method of configuring a programmable integrated circuit device with a user logic design includes accepting a first user input defining the user logic design, accepting a second user input defining multithreading characteristics of at least a portion the user logic design, determining a configuration of the programmable integrated circuit device having the user logic design, multithreading the at least a portion of the configuration based on the second user input, and retiming the multithreaded configuration.
US08645874B2
For a user interface, sorts are performed not just on the items currently visible, but across multiple pages or parts of pages some of which may not be currently visible. In one exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation, all pages are virtually joined in the same data storage “bucket.” Sorts performed by the computer may thus be applied across multiple pages some of which are currently visible and some of which may not be. By sorting displayed information, the sort criteria can be applied across and maintained across multiple other pages. In this way, the user sees expected functionality on the page she is currently viewing, and the computer works behind the scenes to consistently sort other items currently hidden from view so that when the user selects those pages they will already have been similarly sorted in a coherent manner.
