US08709763B2
A process for production of fermentable sugars from biomass using multi-enzyme multi-step system is provided herein. The process disclosed in the present invention provides high yielded sugars in less time period. The multi-enzyme system disclosed in the present invention converts celluloses, hemicelluloses and/or mixture thereof to fermentable sugar with higher efficiency and better economics than the process known in the prior art. Cellulose and hemicelluloses fractions derived from natural sources such as any lignocellulosic biomass are saccharified in a shortened time with higher conversion rates of intermediates with modified enzymatic compositions/groups of the Multi-enzyme system to enhance the rate thus providing an economical cellulose and hemicellulose saccharification process.
US08709762B2
System, including methods, apparatus, compositions, and kits, for making and using compound droplets of a multiple emulsion to supply an amplification reagent, such as a heat-stable DNA polymerase or DNA ligase, to an aqueous phase in which the compound droplets are disposed. The compound droplets may be induced to supply the amplification reagent by heating the multiple emulsion, to achieve hot-start amplification.
US08709751B2
The present invention relates to the preparation of isomerically pure substituted cyclohexanols starting from a mixture of cis/trans substituted cyclohexanols which comprises reacting the cis/trans mixture of a substituted cyclohexanol with a dicarboxylic acid anhydride in the presence of a lipase, to give the trans semi-ester which is separated off from the unreacted substituted cyclohexanol cis isomer.
US08709750B2
A device and method for processing an algae medium containing algae microorganisms to produce algal oil and by-products thereof. The method comprises pumping the algae medium through a flow-through hydrodynamic cavitation device, generating localized zones of reduced fluid pressure, creating cavitational features in the algae medium, collapsing those cavitation features, and disintegrating cell walls and intracellular organelles to produce algal oil and by-products.
US08709743B2
The invention relates in part to compounds that act as highly nitric oxide (NO)-specific turn-on fluorescent probes. The present invention also relates to the use of these fluorescein-based sensors to screen selectively for inhibitors of bacterial nitric oxide synthase (bNOS). Compounds of the present invention readily detect nitric oxide produced in vivo. Therefore they can be used in an assay that measures NO production by bNOS. Using a sensor of the invention one can screen libraries of small molecules for inhibitors of bNOS.
US08709735B2
The present invention provides β2 microglobulin as a biomarker for qualifying or assessing peripheral artery disease in a subject.
US08709732B2
A set of biomarkers indicative of early gastric cancer and method of diagnosing gastric cancer at an early stage by directing the these biomarkers in a blood sample. Detection of over-expression of one or more protein biomarks in the group consisting albumin, T-kininogen I, α-2-HS glycoprotein, α-1-antitrypsin, afamin and γ-actin and/or detection of under-expression of one or more protein biomarks in the group consisting stress 70 protein, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein A-IV, transthyretin and murinoglobulin is indicative of the presence of gastric cancer.
US08709719B2
The present invention relates to methods for determining the prognosis of a cancer. The methods involve determining the level of expression of the ZNF217 gene in a cancer cell sample or in a tumor sample wherein over-expression of ZNF217 is correlated with likelihood of metastasis and with likelihood of relapse/recurrence of the cancer.
US08709710B2
The invention relates to the use of notch regulators for modulating IL-22 production in T-cells, by influencing the activity or activation of the notch signal path. The invention further relates to the use of modulating the immune response, primarily in case of infection reactions. The invention in particular relates to the use for treating illnesses associated with infections. The invention further relates to the use for reducing IL-22 production in T-cells.
US08709689B2
The invention can provide an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a photosensitive layer containing a specific charge transport material and a specific copolymerized polycarbonate resin, and an image-forming apparatus and an electrophotographic cartridge which use the electrophotographic photoreceptor.
US08709685B2
A reflective mask blank and a reflective mask that can improve the contrast for EUV exposure light in use of the mask and further can improve the pattern resolution at a pattern edge portion of the mask, thereby enabling high-resolution pattern transfer. The reflective mask blank has a substrate and, further, a multilayer reflective film adapted to reflect the EUV exposure light and an absorber film adapted to absorb the EUV exposure light, which are formed in this order over the substrate. The absorber film is made of a material containing Ta and has a film density of 6.0 to 16.0 g/cm3. A reflective mask is obtained by forming a transfer pattern in the absorber film of the reflective mask blank.
US08709677B2
A proton conducting polymer electrolyte comprising a proton conducting ionomer cross-linked with an amount of a copolymer additive comprising cross-linking functional groups and other functional groups (e.g. proton carriers, chelating agents, radical scavengers) shows improved durability over the ionomer alone and provides for more stable inclusion of these other functional groups. The copolymer additive comprises at least two types of metal oxide monomers, one having cross-linking functional groups and the other having the other functional groups.
US08709675B2
The fuel cell base module stacking structure has large compactness, very litte ohmic losses and ease as for implementing the seal of the assembly.It consists of a concentric stack of several fuel cell base cells each consisting on either side of an interconnector (24) sandwiching an anode (21), an electrolyte (22) and a cathode (23), each cell being thereby placed upon each other. The module is completed with two cases for distributing combustible gases.Application to gas fuel cells of the SOFC type.
US08709673B2
A solid oxide fuel cell comprises a porous anode electrode, a dense non-porous electrolyte and a porous cathode electrode. The anode electrode comprises a plurality of parallel plate members and the cathode electrode comprises a plurality of parallel plate members. The plate members of the cathode electrode inter-digitate with the plate members of the anode electrode. The electrolyte comprises at least one electrolyte member, which fills at least one space between the parallel plate members of the anode electrode and the parallel plate members of the cathode electrode. At least one non-ionically conducting member fills at least one space between the parallel plate members of the anode electrode and the parallel plate members of the cathode electrode and the at least one electrolyte member and the at least one non-ionically conducting member are arranged alternately.
US08709670B2
A fuel cell system may include a cathode loop having an operating pressure during fuel cell system operation. The cathode loop may include a normally open mechanical check valve disposed at a water pooling location within the loop and having a cracking pressure approximately equal to the operating pressure.
US08709662B2
The method for producing a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery is characterized by including (1) a forming step of forming a sheet-form compact containing, as raw substances, a lithium compound serving as a first ingredient, a compound of a transition metal other than lithium serving as a second ingredient, and at least one of boron oxide and vanadium oxide serving as a third ingredient; and (2) a firing step of firing the compact at 700 to 1,300° C.
US08709661B2
Provided is a secondary battery capable of improving charge-discharge characteristics. A positive electrode active material layer of a positive electrode has a positive electrode active material and a positive electrode conductive agent. The positive electrode active material is a high-voltage operating positive electrode material whose operating voltage is equal to or more than 4.5 V on a lithium metal basis. The positive electrode conductive agent contains an amorphous carbon material and a crystalline carbon material, and an interplanar spacing for lattice plane (002), a specific surface area, and a content in the positive electrode active material layer, thereof are so normalized as to be in predetermined ranges, respectively.
US08709644B2
A battery cell separator includes rib supports and ribs connected between the rib supports. The rib supports and the ribs form a cartridge pocket configured to receive a battery cell with the rib supports and the ribs each forming a respective side of the cartridge pocket. In another battery module, the rib supports and the ribs form respective pockets fore and aft of the ribs with each pocket being configured to receive a battery cell.
US08709639B2
A rechargeable battery that includes: an electrode assembly generating a current; a case accommodating the electrode assembly therein; and a cap assembly coupled to the case so as to be electrically connected with the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode, a separator, and a second electrode that are sequentially stacked, and the separator includes a main body part disposed between the first and second electrodes and protrusions formed that protrude from the main body part to the side of at least one of an end portion of the first electrode and an end portion of the second electrode.
US08709633B2
In a battery loading and unloading mechanism, a battery formed in a flat rectangular parallelepiped and having an almost square main surface is loaded and unloaded to and from a device. The battery is formed with projecting portions at longitudinal both ends of a back surface thereof and along the back surface, whereby the battery can be prevented from being erroneously inserted into the device. The projecting portion has an inclined surface acutely inclined with respect to the back surface, and when the battery is unloaded from the device, unloading of the battery from the device is accelerated by the inclined surface undergoing contact pressure of the retaining means. The device is formed with a notched portion which is adapted to expose the other projecting portion of the battery when the battery is loaded, therebyfacilitating unloading of the battery.
US08709628B2
A battery pack for an electric or hybrid vehicle having battery connectors for connecting batteries in series and a battery connector are disclosed that reduces the risks of potential electric shocks during assembly, servicing and in emergency situation. The battery connector includes an interrupter having disconnect capabilities in the event of the vehicle being involved in a collision.
US08709625B2
A cylindrical lithium secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly with a center pin at a center of the electrode assembly; a can accommodating the electrode assembly; and a cap assembly coupled to a top of the can, wherein at least one end of the center pin is contoured to deform during collision between the center pin and a bottom surface of the can or the cap assembly and to absorb the impact so as to prevent the center pin from escaping the cylindrical lithium secondary battery.
US08709624B2
An energy storage device package is provided. The energy storage device package includes a bottom cover and a top cover connected to form a hollow chamber to accumulate an electrolyte, a first electrode and a second electrode formed on the top cover and which stretch from the top cover to the hollow chamber to contact the electrolyte, and a safety valve. The first electrode includes an opening and an exhaust channel that extends between the hollow chamber and the opening. When a gas pressure in the hollow chamber is smaller than or equal to a threshold value, the safety valve in the first electrode blocks the exhaust channel. When the gas pressure is larger than the threshold value, the gas pushes to open the safety valve and flows out from the hollow chamber through the exhaust channel and the opening.
US08709612B2
A laminated ceramic capacitor includes a rectangular solid-shaped electronic component element. External electrodes of terminal electrodes are disposed at one end surface and the other end surface of the electronic component element. First plated films including a Ni plating are disposed on the surfaces of external electrodes. On the surfaces of the first plated films, second plated films containing Sn are disposed as Sn-plated films defining outermost layers of the external electrodes. The second plated films have a polycrystalline structure, and flake-shaped Sn—Ni alloy grains are located at a Sn crystal grain boundary and within a Sn crystal grain, respectively.
US08709611B2
Disclosed is a multilayer film. The multilayer film has the general structure of A/B/A/C or B/A/B/C, wherein A is a nucleated high density polyethylene (HDPE) layer, B is a single or multilayer structure, and C is a seal layer. Adding a nucleating agent to HDPE improves the water vapor barrier property of the HDPE layer and the multilayer film, but it also causes the multilayer film to curl in the conventional multilayer film structures. The invention provides a multilayer film, which includes at least one layer of nucleated HDPE, with reduced or eliminated curling while retaining high water vapor barrier.
US08709610B2
Multilayer thermoplastic film structures are described which comprise at least two layers. One layer comprises a homopolymer polypropylene and a second layer, which is at least 3 microns thick, comprises a polyolefin material with a melting point of from 90° C. to 105° C. The film structures are particularly suited for lamination onto substrates such as paper or paper board.
US08709606B2
A temperature-resistant glass or glass-ceramic pane is provided. The pane includes a substrate and a tin-oxide layer comprising antimony deposited on the substrate.
US08709603B2
Article based on an elastomeric composition (C) comprising a crosslinked blend (B) of at least: (1) one substantially saturated synthetic elastomer; and (2) a copolymer containing repeating units derived from at least one conjugated diene and at least one α,β-unsaturated nitrile, the article having been subjected to a surface halogenation treatment.
US08709586B2
An acid-modified polyolefin-based resin for glass fiber treatment having: (1) an amount of components extractable with boiling methyl ethyl ketone of 8 mass % or less; (2) a number average molecular weight (Mn), measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), of 6,000 to 48,000; and (3) an amount of an acid which has been added, measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, of 0.1 to 12 mass %.
US08709580B2
The present invention encompasses a carrier strip (1) adapted with an edge-related thickened portion (2) to be able to cooperate with a carrier device, formed with a slit, in order to fixedly retain a bag, adapted for one or more piece goods. The carrier strip (1) otherwise has the form of a plastic film (3). To said plastic film (3) said thickened portion (2) is applied as a plastic strand and that the plastic film (3) and the thickened portion (2) are, such as via a melting, integrated formed with one another.
US08709578B2
A bamboo scrimber includes a plurality of pressure-pressed bamboo strips impregnated with an adhesive and modified through heat-treatment. Each of the bamboo strips is formed with a plurality of slots penetrating through the bamboo strip substantially in a direction of thickness defined by the bamboo strip. A substantially longitudinal direction defined by the slots is substantially consistent with a substantially longitudinal direction defined by fibers of the bamboo strip.
US08709577B2
High porosity ceramic honeycomb article containing rare earth oxide and method of manufacturing same
The present invention describes a high porosity (% P≧45%), refractory, ceramic article comprising a cordierite ceramic phase and at least about 0.1 wt. % of a rare earth oxide, such as yttrium oxide or lanthanum oxide. When compared to typical high-porosity cordierite articles, the articles of the present invention may exhibit relatively high strength, relatively low microcracking, relatively high strain tolerance (MOR/E), and/or relatively high thermal shock resistance (TSP).
US08709576B2
The disclosed embodiments concern a curved structural part composed of a composite material with reinforced, continuous fibers whose cross section includes at least two wings, with said fibers extending from one wing to the other, with said structural part having a variation in the width of its section parallel to the local radius of curvature. The structural element that results from assembling the parts in the disclosed embodiments therefore has local widening of the section at the connections between the parts constituting a structural element, such as an aircraft fuselage frame, and widening at the connection with the floor profiles, if such a profile is used to make an aircraft fuselage structure. The disclosed embodiments also concern a process for manufacturing such a part, as well as a device for advantageously implementing such a process.
US08709567B2
A method of producing a roll of a continuous web of an optical film laminate, usable in a process of laminating an optical film sheet including a polarizing film and formed to a size corresponding to that an optical panel to a surface of the optical panel being fed to a lamination position, is disclosed. The polarizing film is prepared by subjecting a laminate including a thermoplastic resin substrate and a PVA type resin layer formed on the substrate, to uniaxial 2-stage stretching to reduce a thickness of the PVA type resin layer to 10 μm or less, and causing a dichroic material to be absorbed in the PVA type resin layer. A carrier film is releasably attached to the continuous web of optical film laminate including the polarizing film, through an adhesive layer. A defect inspection is performed for the optical film laminate and the adhesive layer.
US08709559B2
The invention relates to a packaging article for use in form-fill-seal, flow wrap and lidding. In particular, the invention concerns such an article sealed with a biodegradable film having a peel sealable coating thereon, and coated filmic lids for sealing polylactic acid (PLA) trays and specifically PLA trays used for packaging.
US08709558B2
The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a multilayer coextruded sterilizable film that can be used for aseptic packaging applications. The film comprises an outer layer comprising a blend of a cyclic olefin copolymer with a glass transition temperature of at least 80° C. and an olefinic copolymer with a melting point of at least 125° C. The film has a storage modulus of at least 109 dynes/cm2 at temperatures of up to 140° C. An aseptic package and a method of making an aseptic package are also disclosed.
US08709551B2
Methods and hardware for depositing ultra-smooth silicon-containing films and film stacks are described. In one example, an embodiment of a method for forming a silicon-containing film on a substrate in a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition apparatus is disclosed, the method including supplying a silicon-containing reactant to the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition apparatus; supplying a co-reactant to the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition apparatus; supplying a capacitively-coupled plasma to a process station of the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition apparatus, the plasma including silicon radicals generated from the silicon-containing reactant and co-reactant radicals generated from the co-reactant; and depositing the silicon-containing film on the substrate, the silicon-containing film having a refractive index of between 1.4 and 2.1, the silicon-containing film further having an absolute roughness of less than or equal to 4.5 Å as measured on a silicon substrate.
US08709532B2
In a magnetic disk having a magnetic layer, a protection layer, and a lubrication layer formed on a substrate in this order, a surface free energy γS of a surface of the magnetic disk derived by an extended Fowkes equation is greater than 0 and no greater than 24 mN/m. γSd (dispersion force component of surface free energy) forming the surface free energy γS is greater than 0 and no greater than 17 mN/m, γSp (dipole component of surface free energy) forming the surface free energy γS is greater than 0 and no greater than 1 mN/m, and γSh (hydrogen bonding force component of surface free energy) forming the surface free energy γS is greater than 0 and no greater than 6 mN/m.
US08709530B2
A pattern forming method using printing device and method of manufacturing LCD device using the same is disclosed, which uses a cleaning dry film to remove a pattern material from a printing plate, the printing device comprising a printing roller coated with a pattern material; a printing plate including embossing and depressed patterns for patterning the pattern material of the printing roller; a substrate to which the pattern material on the embossing patterns of the printing roller is transcribed; and a cleaning unit, for removing the pattern material from the printing plate, provided with a film-supplying roller, a cleaning roller and a film-collecting roller combined with one another by one cleaning dry film.
US08709526B2
A novel method for improving the meat quality of an animal is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises feeding the animal a diet supplemented with oleic acid and tocols and subsequently formulating the meat with a non-tocol antioxidant such as rosemary extract. The source of the oleic acid and/or tocols may be transgenic corn that employs the FAD-2 gene as a silencing agent for a high-oleic phenotype and/or expresses the HGGT gene for a high-tocotrienol phenotype. The method improves the quality of meat from both non-ruminants and ruminants.
US08709521B2
The present invention relates generally to improving the taste of sweetener compositions having enhanced sweetness. In particular, the present invention relates to compositions that can improve the tastes of sweetness enhanced sweetener compositions including at least one sweetness enhancer and at least one sweetener by imparting a more sugar-like taste or characteristic. In particular, the compositions and methods provide at least one sweetness enhancer, at least one sweetener comprising a carbohydrate sweetener, a natural-high-potency sweetener, a synthetic high-potency sweetener, or a combination thereof, and at least one sweet taste improving composition.
US08709520B2
A flexible, strip-shaped food product is made by comminuting substantially frozen meat, such as chicken, and heating the comminuted meat to at least partially denature the meat proteins and cooling the cooked meat. About 4% by weight to about 45% by weight of wheat flour is admixed with the cooked meat, with other ingredients, such as an alginate gum, to form a dough. The wheat flour unexpectedly increases tensile strength of the dough and products baked from the dough, and maintains flexibility of the strip-shaped food products over an extended period of time. Cooking of the meat in the presence of salt unexpectedly increases water activity of the pieces, resulting in a product that has a skin and moist middle, while maintaining tensile strength. The dough is rotary-molded into strip-shaped pieces. The rotary mold may have angled die cups. The strip-shaped dough pieces are then baked and dried.
US08709515B1
The method comprises steps of: providing a nutraceutical including, in combination, 1.13 to 3 mg lutein and 18.8 to 51.2 mg omega fatty acids and 1.9 to 5.2 mg grape seed extract and 1.9 to 5.2 mg alpha lipoic acid; determining the weight of each dose of the components in the combination based upon an amount per kg body weight of the animal patients; and administering 1 dose of nutraceutical per day to animals suffering from ocular health issues including any degenerative retinal disease and diabetic cataracts and prior to and following cataract surgery for the diminishment and prevention of secondary cataracts.
US08709511B2
Provided are a use of a ginseng flower extract and a use of a ginseng seed extract. The ginseng seed extract includes ginseng seed oil or a ginseng seed residue extract. The uses include skin protection, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, improvement of skin elasticity, skin whitening, skin moisturizing, prevention and improvement of skin dryness diseases such as atopy, removal of the horny layer, sebum control, anti-inflammation, prevention or improvement of skin troubles such as acne, improvement of skin complexion, prevention of hair loss, anti-dandruff, improvement of gloss and softness of hair, improvement of volume and elasticity of face or body, and improvement of facial or body line.
US08709500B2
A drug delivery system for the controlled release of a pharmaceutically-active compound by oral route comprises an intercalate of a layered double hydroxide having, before intercalation, layers of metal hydroxides, and having intercalated therein a pharmaceutically-active compound having at least one anionic group. A preferred layered double hydroxide is one that has layers which comprise [LiAl2(OH)6]+. The drug delivery system has use in the delivery of drugs such as 4-biphenylacetic acid, Diclofenac, Gemfibrozil, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, 2-Propylpentanoic acid and Tolfenamic acid.
US08709498B2
A method of stimulating tissue healing in humans or animals includes administering to a human or animal suffering from lesions and infections linked to chronic and/or acute periodontitis a pharmaceutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition including (i) at least one sodium halopohalite, and (ii) at least one N-halogenated taurine, wherein halogens from the (i) at least one sodium halopohalite and from the (ii) at least one N-haloamine taurine, which may be the same or different, are selected from the group consisting of fluorine, iodine, bromine and chlorine.
US08709494B2
A method for preparing placenta membrane tissue grafts for medical use, includes obtaining a placenta from a subject, cleaning the placenta, separating the chorion tissue from the amniotic membrane, mounting a selected layer of either the chorion tissue or the amniotic membrane onto a drying fixture, dehydrating the selected layer on the drying fixture, and cutting the selected layer into a plurality of tissue grafts. Preferably, the drying fixture includes grooves or raised edges that define the outer contours of each desired tissue graft, after they are cut, and further includes raised or indented logos that emboss the middle area of the tissue grafts during dehydration and that enables an end user to distinguish the top from the bottom side of the graft. The grafts are comprised of single layers of amnion or chorion, multiple layers of amnion or chorion, or multiple layers of a combination of amnion and chorion.
US08709486B2
The present invention relates to a composition suitable for administration to a subject, the composition comprising pharmacologically acceptable particulate material dispersed throughout a pharmacologically acceptable liquid carrier, the particulate material being maintained in the dispersed state by a steric stabilizer, wherein the steric stabilizer is a polymeric material comprising a steric stabilizing polymeric segment and an anchoring polymeric segment, one or both of which are derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers that have been polymerized by a living polymerization technique, wherein the steric stabilizing polymeric segment is different from the anchoring polymeric segment, and wherein the anchoring polymeric segment has an affinity toward the surface of the particulate material and secures the stabilizer to the particulate material.
US08709469B2
Drug-delivery systems such as drug-delivery stents having an anti-proliferative agent such as everolimus and an anti-flammatory agent such as clobetasol are provided. Also disclosed are methods of treating a vascular impairment such as restenosis or vulnerable plaque.
US08709466B2
A cationic star polymer is disclosed of the general formula (1): I′P′]w′ (1), wherein w′ is a positive number greater than or equal to 3, I′ is a dendritic polyester core covalently linked to w′ independent peripheral linear cationic polymer chains P′. Each of the chains P′ comprises a cationic repeat unit comprising i) a backbone functional group selected from the group consisting of aliphatic carbonates, aliphatic esters, aliphatic carbamates, aliphatic ureas, aliphatic thiocarbamates, aliphatic dithiocarbonates, and combinations thereof, and ii) a side chain comprising a quaternary amine group. The quaternary amine group comprises a divalent methylene group directly covalently linked to i) a positive charged nitrogen and ii) an aromatic ring.
US08709461B2
Anti-spoilage inserts and methods are provided for inhibiting the spoilage of liquid foods.
US08709454B2
At least one phytosphingosine salicylate derivative and at least one lysate of at least one microorganism of the genus Bifidobacterium. Composition, combination. Use, including cosmetic use for reinforcing the repair and regeneration capacity of an epithelium, especially an epidermis, in particular an aged epidermis.
US08709448B2
The present invention is concerned with novel immunostimulant microparticle compositions and their use as anti-infective agents in the treatment of bacterial and viral infections.
US08709446B2
The invention features HYR1 as a vaccine target and as a prophylactic strategy for combating disseminated candidiasis.
US08709445B2
This invention provides compositions for inducing an immune response in a vertebrate host against a protozoan parasite. In certain embodiments the composition comprises a protozoan parasite comprising a psoralen-modified DNA, whereby said protozoan parasite is killed but metabolically active (KBMA); and optionally a Toll-like receptor agonist.
US08709443B2
Methods for treating proliferative disorders, by administering reovirus to a Ras-mediated proliferative disorder, are disclosed. The reovirus is administered so that it ultimately directly contacts ras-mediated proliferating cells. Proliferative disorders include but are not limited to neoplasms. Human reovirus, non-human mammalian reovirus, and/or avian reovirus can be used. If the reovirus is human reovirus, serotype 1 (e.g., strain Lang), serotype 2 (e.g., strain Jones), serotype 3 (e.g., strain Dearing or strain Abney), as well as other serotypes or strains of reovirus can be used. Combinations of more than one type and/or strain of reovirus can be used, as can reovirus from different species of animal. Either solid neoplasms or hematopoietic neoplasms can be treated.
US08709441B2
The present disclosure provides TC-83 VEE-derived replicons, alphaviral replicon particles and immunogenic compositions containing TC-83 alphaviral replicon particles which direct the expression of at least one antigen when introduced into a suitable host cell. The TC-83 VEE-derived ARPs described herein are improved in that they are subject to a lower vector-specific immune response than prior art ARPs.
US08709429B2
Markers of acute myeloid leukemia stem cells (AMLSC) are identified. The markers are differentially expressed in comparison with normal counterpart cells, and are useful as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
US08709427B2
The invention concerns a method for early detection of a flavivirus-induced infection, comprising the detection of the flavivirus non-structural glycoprotein NS1 in a biological sample during the clinical phase of the infection, by an immunological method using at least two identical or different antibodies, the first antibody consisting of polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies pre-selected for their high affinity for said NS1 protein hexameric in shape.
US08709418B2
According to the present invention, a cancer antigen protein to be specifically expressed on the surfaces of cancer cells is identified and thus the use of an antibody targeting the cancer antigen protein as an agent for treating and/or preventing a cancer is provided. Specifically, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for treating and/or preventing a cancer, which comprises an antibody comprising a heavy chain variable region that comprises SEQ ID NOS: 39, 40, and 41 and a light chain variable region that comprises SEQ ID NOS: 43, 44, and 45 or a fragment thereof as an active ingredient and having immunological reactivity with a CAPRIN-1 protein.
US08709415B2
This application provides methods and compositions for modulating and/or depleting CD200 positive cells.
US08709414B2
The present invention relates to one or more nucleic acid(s) encoding a binding molecule specifically binding to a human CD28 molecule, comprising (a) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a VH region and a nucleic acid sequence encoding a VL region comprising CDRs in a human immunoglobulin framework, wherein (i) the CDRs of the VH region (CDR-H) comprise the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2 or 18 (CDR-H3), 4 or 20 (CDR-H2) and 6 or 22 (CDR-H1) or are encoded by the nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 17 (CDR-H3), 3 or 19 (CDR-H2) and 5 or 21 (CDR-H1); and (ii) the CDRs of the VL region (CDR-L) comprise the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 8 or 24 (CDR-L3), 10 or 26 (CDR-L2) and 12 or 28 (CDR-L1) or are encoded by the nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 7 or 23 (CDR-L3), 9 or 25 (CDR-L2) and 11 or 27 (CDR-L1); and (b) a nucleic acid sequence encoding the constant region of a human IgG1 or IgG4 antibody.
US08709413B2
A process is provided for inhibiting symptoms of food allergy or food intolerance in a subject that includes the oral administration to the subject suffering from food allergy or food intolerance an IgA or an IgM. When administered in a therapeutic quantity based on the subject characteristics and the type of IgA or IgM, symptoms of food allergy or food intolerance in that subject are inhibited. Even non-secretory forms of IgA and IgM are effective when administered orally.
US08709411B2
The function of natural killer (NK) cells is regulated by inhibitory and activating signals delivered by cell surface receptors, 1-7F9 is a fully human monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against KIR2DL1 and KIR2DL2/3 receptors that block its interaction with its HLA-C ligands breaking NK cell tolerance to autologous tumor cells. Lenalidomide has been shown to increase NK cell cytotoxicity in vitro. The combination of lenalidomide and 1-7F9 enhanced NK cell mediated cytotoxicity against U266 cells beyond that observed with each agent alone. Lenalidomide also increased the expression of NKG2D, DNAM-I and TRAIL ligands including: MICA, ULB P2, CD1 12 and DR 4 on U266 cells. In in vitro cytotoxicity assays, lenalidomide enhanced the susceptibility of myeloma cell lines to NK cell. The NK cell signaling pathways was also explored after lenalidomide treatment and the results show that lenalidomide may upregulate the phospho-SHIP1 (Tyr1020) and has no effect on phosphop44/42 (ERK 1/2) (Thr202/Tyr204) in NK cells. These results provide pre-clinical rationale for clinical investigation of 1-7F9 anti-KIR mAb and lenalidomide in MM.
US08709409B2
A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of interleukin-6 (IL-6) related diseases, comprising an interleukin-6 antagonist (IL-6 antagonist) and immunosuppressants. The IL-6 antagonist is preferably an antibody to an interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R).
US08709385B2
Pharmaceutical or cosmetic compositions and methods for their use are provided comprising water and a surfactant polymer system comprising a Poloxamer at a concentration of about 0.1% to about 15% by weight; wherein when the Poloxamer is between about 0.1% to about 5% Poloxamer. The composition can further comprise a supporting agent comprising a non-ionic surface active agent or a supporting agent comprising a non surfactant polymer or polysaccharide and an active agent, where the Poloxamer is capable of fixing the composition on delivery to a body surface. There are further provided therapeutic cell compositions and their uses.
US08709383B2
The invention relates to using persistent luminescence nanoparticles, functionalised if necessary, in the form of an diagnosis agent for an in vivo optical imaging. Said nanoparticles are preferably consist of a compound selected from a group comprising (1) silicates, aluminates, aluminosilicates, germanates, titanates, oxysulphides, phosphates and vanadates, wherein said compounds contain at least one type of metal oxide, (2) the sulphides comprise at least one metal ion selected from zinc, strontium and calcium, and (3) metal oxides, wherein said compounds is doped with at least one rare earth ion, and possibly with at least one transition metal ion. In a preferred embodiment, the diagnosis agent is used for an organism vascularization imaging. A method and kit for detecting or quantifying in vitro a substance of biological or chemical interest in a sample by using said pre-functionalised nanoparticles are also disclosed.
US08709380B1
Targeting agents are provided that have an affinity for aberrant cells and tissues. These agents are comprised of chelates, ligands, and/or particles combined with high atomic weight elements so that treatment with ionizing electromagnetic radiation (X-rays, or Gamma rays) results in a higher dose to aberrant cells and tissues than other cells and tissues of a host. The invention further provide methods to enhance the tumor to normal tissue damage ratio by concentrating agents with high atomic number elements to the site of the tumor prior to administering radiotherapy. The result is greater therapeutic efficacy with fewer side effects. These compounds also permit diagnostic uses in combination with the therapeutic use.
US08709377B2
The present invention relates to a process for reversible hydrogen storage, to a material for reversible hydrogen storage and to the use of the material for reversible hydrogen storage.
US08709375B2
A method for preparing an oil extractor is provided. The method includes dissolving 0.1˜30% by weight of a potassium sulfate, 0.1˜30% by weight of a potassium persulfate, and 0.1˜30% by weight of a manganese sulfate in a solvent to form a solution; heating the solution to synthesize a compound by a microwave; cooling a temperature of the compound to a room temperature; and removing the solvent from the compound. An extractor prepared from the method is also provided.
US08709371B2
A method of growing high-quality, group-III nitride, bulk single crystals. The group III-nitride bulk crystal is grown in an autoclave in supercritical ammonia using a source material or nutrient that is a group III-nitride polycrystals or group-III metal having a grain size of at least 10 microns or more and a seed crystal that is a group-III nitride single crystal. The group III-nitride polycrystals may be recycled from previous ammonothermal process after annealing in reducing gas at more then 600° C. The autoclave may include an internal chamber that is filled with ammonia, wherein the ammonia is released from the internal chamber into the autoclave when the ammonia attains a supercritical state after the heating of the autoclave, such that convection of the supercritical ammonia transfers source materials and deposits the transferred source materials onto seed crystals, but undissolved particles of the source materials are prevented from being transferred and deposited on the seed crystals.
US08709369B2
The invention relates to a method for producing higher hydridosilane wherein at least one lower hydridosilane and at least one heterogeneous catalyst are brought to reaction, wherein the at least one catalyst comprises Cu, Ni, Cr and/or Co applied to a carrier and/or oxide of Cu, Ni, Cr and/or Co applied to a carrier, the hydridosilane that can be produced according to said method and use thereof.
US08709366B2
Sulfur oxides are removed from an oxygen-containing acid gas in configurations and methods in which oxygen is catalytically removed using hydrogen sulfide, and in which the sulfur oxides react with the hydrogen sulfide to form elemental sulfur. A first portion of the remaining sulfurous compounds is reduced to form the hydrogen sulfide for oxygen removal, while a second portion of the sulfurous compounds is further converted to elemental sulfur using a Claus reaction or catalytic direct reduction reaction.
US08709365B2
The invention relates to a catalytically active particulate filter which, in addition to the properties typical of particulate filters, has hydrogen sulphide block function, and to a process for removing nitrogen oxides and particulates from the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines operated predominantly under lean conditions (so-called “lean-burn engines”) using the inventive catalytically active particulate filter. This particulate filter comprises a filter body, a copper compound and an oxidation-catalytic active coating which comprises at least one catalytically active platinum group metal. The copper compound is in a second coating applied to the filter body. The two functional coatings may be applied to the filter body consecutive in the direction of flow, i.e. zoned, or layered one on top of the other.
US08709362B2
Laboratory spatula having stalk regions with a hollow first end and a hollow second end and at manipulating regions may be used for collecting, transporting or storing a material. A manipulating region may be configured as a shovel region, a scoop region, a whisk region, a punch region, a sieve region, a loop region, a cutting edge, a spreading region, a grinding region, a hook region, a scraper region, a tweezer region, a grasper region, or a pick region. The spatula may be lightweight and disposable, and may be any appropriate size including micro size, a regular size, or a macro size. The spatula may also have an anti-stick surface. The spatula may be calibrated, and may include calibration marks or additional features.
US08709350B2
An ion source includes a conductive substrate, the substrate including a plurality of conductive nanostructures with free-standing tips formed on the substrate. A conductive catalytic coating is formed on the nanostructures and substrate for dissociation of a molecular species into an atomic species, the molecular species being brought in contact with the catalytic coating. A target electrode placed apart from the substrate, the target electrode being biased relative to the substrate with a first bias voltage to ionize the atomic species in proximity to the free-standing tips and attract the ionized atomic species from the substrate in the direction of the target electrode.
US08709341B2
An air purifying system includes one or more air permeable photocatalytic elements defining a core cavity having a sealed top end and an open bottom end. A sealed air flow path ensures that air travels from an outside of the core cavity, through the one or more photocatalytic elements, into the core cavity, to be expelled through the open bottom end. A UV radiation source disposed within the core cavity irradiates air travelling along the sealed flow path and an interior of the one or more photocatalytic elements. Each photocatalytic element is manufactured using a substrate, that is conductive of and transparent to UV radiation, coated with a photocatalyst. A non-photocatalytically active material is initially coated on the substrate and is then converted to a photocatalyst by calcination.
US08709339B2
To prevent electrical charging inside a resin material as well as a surface of a resin vessel at a time of sterilizing the resin vessel by being irradiated with electron beam, a bottle support unit is mounted to a lower end portion of a cylindrical rotating shaft rotatably supported by a rotating wheel. The bottle support unit includes a pair of griper members by which a mouth portion of a bottle is gripped. A ground electrode is disposed to be capable of being inserted into the interior of the resin vessel through a mouth portion thereof, and the interior of the resin vessel is irradiated with the electron beam in a state of the ground electrode being inserted into the resin vessel.
US08709332B2
A method of manufacturing an article includes simultaneously holding, with a vacuum device, a first object and a second object that are overlapped and abutted against each other. The method also includes simultaneously transporting the first and second objects relative to a machine. Still further, the method includes attaching the first and second objects together with the machine.
US08709329B2
A capsule-type medical apparatus includes a distal-end cover which is formed in a substantially hemispherical dome shape, the distal-end cover having an open bonding end portion; a drum portion cover which is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, the drum portion cover having an open bonding end portion; a function executing unit which executes a predetermined preset function, the function executing unit being accommodated in the drum portion cover; and an electric storage unit which accumulates drive electric power for driving the function executing unit, wherein the bonding end portion of the distal-end cover and the bonding end portion of the drum portion cover are subjected to a surface treatment, the bonding end portion of the distal-end cover and the bonding end portion of the drum portion cover are bonded after the surface treatment to form an outer casing which has a capsule shape insertable into a test subject and which seals an inside in a liquid tight manner.
US08709328B2
This method for forming ventilation holes in an electrode plate includes: a roughening step of roughening a surface of an electrode plate for a plasma processing apparatus such that a center line average roughness Ra becomes in a range of 0.2 μm to 30 μm; and a ventilation hole forming step of irradiating a laser beam having a wavelength within a range of 200 nm to 600 nm on a roughened surface of the electrode plate so as to form ventilation holes in the electrode plate which pass through the electrode plate in a thickness direction, wherein in the ventilation hole forming step, a focus spot of the laser light is swirled along a planar direction of the electrode plate so as to form a circular irradiation area, and while moving the irradiation area along a planar direction of the electrode plate in a circular movement, the focus spot of the laser light is shifted in a thickness direction of the electrode plate.
US08709327B2
Preparing a flexographic member (60) includes providing a digital image and calculating a relief image based on the digital image. At least one stress-sensitive boundary region (11) adjacent to at least one image feature is identified and the relief image is created on the flexographic member. The depth (18) of at least a portion of a floor region (10) adjacent the at least one image feature is increased to provide a modified floor region.
US08709317B2
To provide a mold for nanoimprinting capable of accurately transcribing a fine concavo-convex structure, available at a low cost and having high durability, its production process, and processes for producing a molded resin having a fine concavo5 convex structure on its surface having the fine concavo-convex structure of the mold accurately transcribed, and a wire-grid polarizer, with high productivity. A mold 10 for nanoimprinting having on its mold surface a fine concavo-convex structure comprising a plurality of grooves 14 formed in parallel with one another at a constant pitch, which comprises a mold base 12 made of a resin having on its surface a 10 fine concavo-convex structure to be the base of the fine concavo-convex structure, a metal oxide layer 16 covering the surface having the fine concavo-convex structure of the mold base 12, and a release layer 18 covering the surface of the metal oxide layer 16, is used.
US08709314B2
Fabricating a blade by 3D weaving a preform that is to be impregnated with resin. The visibility of the cut ends of certain yarns of the preform, e.g. the warp yarns, is accentuated in order to cause curved lines to appear, and the configuration of these curved lines is compared with a reference configuration in order to shape the preform properly.
US08709313B2
A method and apparatus for feeding a polyurethane mixture suitable to form a thermally insulating layer inside hollow bodies, such as hollow walls of a refrigerator cabinet, freezer, display counter or insulating panel. A polyurethane mixture resulting from chemically reactive components, supplied by a high-pressure mixing device, is injected into a cavity of a hollow body extending in a horizontal plain. The mixture is injected at a first flow-rate and a first injection speed, to be poured into a first deposition zone farthest from the injection point. Subsequently, the flow-rate and the injection speed of the polyurethane mixture are gradually reduced in a controlled manner, to be poured in successive deposition zones towards the injection point of the polyurethane mixture, along a distribution strip, allowing the injected mixture to spread out throughout the cavity of the hollow body along isometric expansion lines.
US08709307B2
This invention concerns a polymer coating material composition (PCM) comprising as components a polymer matrix, carbon nanotubes (CNT) as optical power limiters (OPL), and carbon rich molecules. One aspect of the invention is where the Polymer Matrix is a hyperbranched polymer, such as a hyperbranched polycarbosiloxane polymer. Another aspect of the invention is where the CNT is a short multiwall carbon nanotube (sMWNT). A further aspect of the invention is where the carbon-rich molecules are triethoxysilyl anthracene derivatives. The composition wherein the ratio in weight percent of Polymer Matrix to CNT to carbon-rich molecule is from 94:3:3 to 99.8:0.1:0.1. The composition can further contain one or more of multi-photon absorbers (MPA) chromophores or reverse saturable absorbers (RSA) chromophores. These compositions can be used as: a) a film, b) a coating, c) a liquid, d) a solution, or e) a sandwiched film between two transparent substrates.
US08709286B2
Methods of making reduced derivatives of hydroxymethyl furfural using metal catalysts are described. The derivatives may have tetrahydrofuran or furan nucleus with alkoxymethyl ether or ester moieties on the 5′ carbon and methanol on the 2′ carbon. Suitable metal catalyst include Raney nickel, a nickel catalyst with a zirconium promoter, a chromite catalyst with a barium, a palladium catalyst, such as palladium on carbon, or a ruthenium catalyst. Also provided are a new class of compounds, which are n-alkoxy hexane diols (i.e., 1,2 or 1,5 hexane diol ethers) and methods of making the same by reduction of furan or tetrahydrofuran derivatives.
US08709283B2
A phosphor as a divalent europium-activated oxynitride green light emitting phosphor which is a β-type SiAlON substantially represented by a general formula (A): EuaSibAlcOdNe (where a, b, c, d, and e are numbers satisfying 0.005≦a≦0.4, b+c=12, and d+e=16), and having an average particle size (d1) (determined by an air permeability method) of 9 to 16 μm, a median diameter (50% D) in particle size distribution of 12.5 to 35 μm, 50% D/d1 of 1.4 to 2.2, and an absorptance at 600 nm of not more than 8.0%, and a light emitting apparatus, a BL light source apparatus, and a liquid crystal display device using the same are provided, to provide a light emitting apparatus with a high efficiency and a stable characteristic and a liquid crystal display apparatus using the same by using the β-type SiAlON having controlled dispersibility and improved transparency.
US08709280B2
Polar nematic compounds having the following structure: where is a caged boron structure. The sphere of the caged boron structure is C and each non-sphere vertex of the caged boron structure is B—H. R is H, an alkyl, a cycloalkyl, a bicycloalkyl, an alkenyl, a cycloalkenyl, a bicycloalkenyl, an alkynyl, an acyl, an aryl, an alkylaryl, a halogen, a cyano group, an isothiocyanoto group, or a group that forms an ether, a ketone, an ester, a thioester, a sulfide, or a sulfone. R′ is H, an alkyl, a cycloalkyl, a bicycloalkyl, an alkenyl, a cycloalkenyl, a bicycloalkenyl, an alkynyl, an aryl, an alkylaryl, or a halogen. The compounds may be used in liquid crystal displays, and in television sets, laptop computers, computer monitors, hand-held communication devices, gaming devices, watches, cash registers, clocks, and calculators having liquid crystal displays.
US08709270B2
A chamber for combinatorially processing a substrate is provided. The chamber includes a first mask and a second mask that share a common central axis. The first mask and the second mask are independently rotatable around the common central axis. The first mask has a first plurality of radial apertures and the second mask has a second plurality of radial apertures. An axis of the first plurality of radial apertures is offset from an axis of the second plurality of radial apertures. A substrate support that is operable to support a substrate below the first and second masks is included. The substrate support shares the common central axis.
US08709268B2
A method of etching the whole width of a substrate to expose buried features is disclosed. The method includes etching a face of a substrate across its width to achieve substantially uniform removal of material; illuminating the etched face during the etch process; applying edge detection techniques to light reflected or scattered from the face to detect the appearances of buried features; and modifying the etch in response to the detection of the buried feature. An etching apparatus for etching substrate across its width to expose buried is also disclosed.
US08709266B2
A method of manufacturing a substrate for a liquid discharge head having a supply port passing through a silicon substrate provided with an energy-generating element generating the energy used to discharge a liquid and allowing liquid to be supplied to the energy-generating element, includes preparing a silicon substrate in which a first etching mask having a first opening is provided on a first face, and a second etching mask having a second opening is provided on a second face that is the rear face of the first face; forming a first recess towards the second face from the first face within the first opening, and forming a second recess towards the first face from the second face within in the second opening; and performing crystalline anisotropic etching using the first and second etching masks as masks from both of the first and second faces, to form the supply port.
US08709259B2
The present invention is a wastewater treatment method using dried BOF slag and hydrogen peroxide, wherein hydrogen peroxide is oxidized to generate hydroxyl radicals that reacts with soluble metal contaminants in the sludge such that these contaminants can be adsorb on the catalyst particles and/or eliminated from the wastewater stream by separation techniques. The process can use catalytic oxidation for soluble metals removal. In addition, catalytic oxidation can produce a filtered water saturated with Oxygen and higher in pH resulting in enhanced precipitation of soluble metals when softening agents, such as Sodium Carbonate, are added in a subsequent processing step. Another embodiment of the present invention is a method using ferrous sulfate for removing soluble metals in wastewater, followed by Catalytic Oxidation to remove soluble Fe without addition of metal salts, and removing sulfates by adding Barium Carbonate.
US08709255B2
Described herein is a cost effective means for selenium recovery and refining relying on an impregnated substrate. The substrate is impregnated with selenium and provides a system and method for the environmentally safe discharge of previous selenium-contaminated solutions and an environmentally safe discharge of industrial waste water.
US08709249B2
A filter has a filter medium (10) during operation clears fluid, particularly in the form of hydraulic fluid. The filter medium (10) is made of a material such that the potential difference to the fluid to be cleaned is low. The parts of the filter medium (10) have different potentials with respect to each other and/or the fluid to be cleaned such that they cancel each other at least partially, specific dissipation is aspired, or a return of electric charge to the associated filter medium (10) is provided, using a charge equalization situation.
US08709248B2
A filter element including a filter media, a first end cap, and a second end cap is provided. The filter media has first and second filter ends. The first end cap is attached to the first filter end and the second end cap is attached to the second filter end. The second end cap is formed from a molded material and includes a handle structure unitarily molded therein. The handle structure includes a flange with a void formed at least partially transversely therethrough. The void is molded without a mold split such that no mold split parting line is formed on the second end cap. In one embodiment, the void is formed in the flange of the handle structure using a grommet molded therein.
US08709246B2
A filter cartridge for a filtration system including an outer shell having a first end and a second end, an inlet and an outlet located on the first end, and at least one cam track located on the outer shell. The cam track including a first opposing surface and a second opposing surface forming a channel having an entry portion and an exit portion. The first opposing surface including a locating detent. The second opposing surface including a first advancing cam positioned before an indexing stop and a second advancing cam positioned after the indexing stop in a direction of travel from the entry portion to the exit portion.
US08709245B2
Disclosed herein is an improved pool cleaning vehicle. The vehicle includes a housing, a bottom frame and a filter bag between the housing the bottom frame and attached to the bottom frame. The vehicle includes an intake system for causing water to enter the vehicle housing and to trap dirt and debris in the filter bag. The intake system includes more than one intake, which are typically mounted front and aft of the vehicle. The vehicle includes an outlet for flowing water passing through the filter bag back into the pool. Of course, both of the intake and outlet ports are in communication with the filter bag. The housing typically includes a bottom frame. Both the housing and the bottom frame have side openings defining vents, which serve as side intake ports. In an exemplary embodiment, the intake ports include a duct attached thereto. The duct has an open duct intake. In another exemplary embodiment, the front and/or aft intake port include a duct.
US08709244B2
A mobile system for generating and dispensing a chemical includes a portable platform comprising a source of a gaseous chemical, the gaseous chemical forming a solution in water, and a fluid coupling through which the gaseous chemical is delivered to a body of water.
US08709240B2
An oil filter assembly is disclosed for a machine, such as an internal combustion engine, that has an oil output port and an input port. A mounting plate is fixed with an outer enclosure. The mounting plate is further adapted to conduct oil from the machine into a peripheral portion of the outer enclosure, and then returning oil from a central portion of the outer enclosure back to the machine. Oil may pass from the peripheral portion to the central portion through a primary filter having a first porosity. A pressure-actuated valve is fixed fluidly between the portions of the outer enclosure. Oil passes through the pressure actuated valve only when an oil pressure differential between the peripheral and central portions exceeds a threshold pressure. A secondary filter has a second porosity greater than the first porosity, and is fixed between the pressure-actuated valve and the central portion.
US08709232B2
Described are methods and systems to apply a plurality of test voltages to the test strip and measure a current transient output resulting from an electrochemical reaction in a test chamber of the test strip so that highly accurate glucose concentration can be determined.
US08709227B2
A method for reducing carbon dioxide utilizes a carbon dioxide reduction device including a cathode chamber, an anode chamber, a solid electrolyte membrane, a cathode electrode and anode electrode. The cathode electrode includes copper or copper compound. The anode electrode includes a region formed of a nitride semiconductor layer where an AlxGa1-xN (0
US08709226B2
A method comprising: dispersing carbon nanotubes in a solvent; and depositing the carbon nanotubes on a porous, conductive substrate; wherein the porous, conductive substrate is capable of functioning as a filter and a working electrode. The method of claim 1 further comprising: engaging the porous, conductive substrate with deposited carbon nanotubes in an electrochemical cell; and depositing at least one metallic structure on the surface of the carbon nanotubes from an electrolyte solution to form metallized carbon nanotubes. A composite comprising: metallized carbon nanotubes generated by the method of claim 2; wherein the at least one metallic structure comprises a conductive metal atom selected from the group consisting of platinum, gold nickel, copper, iron, chromium, zinc, and combinations thereof; and a matrix material selected from the group consisting of epoxies, thermosets, thermoplastics, elastomers, metals, metal matrix composites, ceramics and combinations thereof.
US08709194B1
A method of assembling an electronic device includes providing a transparent conductive polymer layer coated over a first support followed by pattern-wise forming a transparent mask with at least one opening over the conductive polymer. The masked conductive polymer is subjected to treatment through the opening that changes conductivity of the conductive polymer by at least one order of magnitude in areas not covered by the mask to form a first electronic component. The first electronic component having the mask is secured to a second electronic component, thereby forming the electronic device.
US08709193B2
A low-temperature plasma treatment is applied to a surface of an aramid paper so as to allow the surface to have a compositional atomic ratio X (O/C) of the number of oxygen atoms (O) to the number of carbon atoms (C) ranging from 110% to 220% of a theoretical atomic ratio. The treatment is performed at an intensity ranging from 120 to 1500 W·min/m2 with a low-temperature plasma treatment apparatus of internal electrode system. The aramid paper is superposed with a nonhydrolyzable resin film and the resulting article is pressurized to give an aramid-resin film laminate. The laminate is inexpensive, has both superior electrical properties and high mechanical strength, excels in elasticity, and is useful as an insulation material.
US08709190B2
In order to form stacks, of which each forms a book block, folded sheets are provided with an adhesive application or layer of adhesive before they are placed on one another. Said adhesive application is applied to the sheets adjacent to the folded edge of said sheets and extends in the direction of said folded edge which comes to lie in the spine of the book block. The adhesive can be applied as a continuous track or as a track which is interrupted multiple times, or else in a punctiform manner. The sheets are joined to one another in the stack by means of said adhesive application, with the result that they maintain their position within the stack during further transport of the stack.
US08709188B2
The invention provides a method for producing a component (37) for aerospace, with the following method steps: supplying a lay-up arrangement (1) to be laid by means of a tape-laying machine (25), with a glass-fiber lay-up (8), which is preimpregnated with a resin matrix (10), and/or supplying a structural arrangement (12) to be laid by means of a tape-laying machine (25), with a structure (16) which is made of metal and is preimpregnated with a resin matrix (18), laying the lay-up and/or structural arrangement (1; 12) on a laminating apparatus (23) by means of a tape-laying machine (25), and curing the lay-up and/or structural arrangement (1; 12) and therefore forming the component (37).
US08709183B2
An apparatus for forming an end effector includes a welding device having a welder positioned adjacent to a base, and a die coupled to one end of the welder. The base and the welder are movable relative to each other. The welder, base or die includes a source of heat that is applied to a portion of the suture disposed between the welder and the base.
US08709181B2
The invention provides a method for manufacturing an optical display device including an optical display unit and an optical film that includes a polarizing plate and is bonded to the optical display unit. The method comprises the steps of: unwinding and feeding a long sheet material from a roll of the long sheet material, wherein the long sheet material includes the optical film, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a release film laminated in this order and has undergone a slitting process in a direction parallel or at a constant angle to an absorption axis of the polarizing plate so that it has a width corresponding to a short or long side of the optical display unit; inspecting the optical film of the fed long sheet material to detect a defect; cutting a part of the long sheet material other than the release film into a length corresponding to a long or short side of the optical display unit, while separating the detected defect; bonding a non-defective cut piece of the optical film to a surface of the optical display unit; and rejecting a defect-containing part of the optical film.
US08709178B2
The present invention provides a titanium material for hot rolling which enables reduction of defects on the surface (in the case of a flat material or strip coil, including not only the flat surfaces but also the side surfaces and edges) due to hot rolling. The titanium material for hot rolling has dimples imparted by cold plastic deformation whose mean value of the heights (Wc) of the undulation profile elements is 0.2 to 1.5 mm and mean value of the lengths (WSm) thereof is 3 to 15 mm. The invention also provides a method of producing the titanium material and a method of hot rolling the titanium material.
US08709175B2
Piston for an internal combustion engine comprising a ring carrier being formed of a cast iron alloy
An engine component such as, for example, an engine piston or a part thereof, for instance a ring carrier or piston boss bushing, consisting of a cast iron alloy that contains zirconium as an alloy constituent in an amount by weight of at least 0.01% and up to 0.1%.
US08709172B2
Washing apparatus includes a washing chamber having two lateral walls, bottom wall and upper wall, and at the front an aperture for inlet and/or outlet; a main distribution circuit to distribute treatment fluid inside the chamber; a trolley-type movement device, insertable into the chamber, including a frame to support objects to be subjected to a washing cycle in the chamber and on which treatment fluid distribution elements are mounted. The frame formed by hollow tubular elements functioning as a secondary distribution circuit of washing liquid towards the distribution elements; a connector element located on a frame upper part as a secondary distribution circuit delivery element; and a hydraulic connection pipe mounted on the upper wall, to connect hydraulically the main distribution circuit to the secondary distribution circuit connector element, selectively movable vertically between a first position connected to the connector element and a second position separate from the connector element.
US08709167B2
A method of warewashing for the removal of starch is described herein. The method includes applying an alkaline composition to a dish, then applying an acidic composition to a dish, and then applying a second alkaline composition to the dish. The method may include additional steps. Compositions for using with the method are also disclosed. Finally, dish machines that may be used in accordance with the method are disclosed.
US08709161B2
A thin film deposition apparatus and a method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display device using the thin film deposition apparatus. The thin film deposition apparatus includes a plurality of thin film deposition assemblies, each of which includes: a deposition source that discharges a deposition material; a deposition source nozzle unit that is disposed at a side of the deposition source and includes a plurality of deposition source nozzles; a patterning slit sheet that is disposed opposite to the deposition source nozzle unit and includes a plurality of patterning slits arranged in a first direction; and a barrier plate assembly that is disposed between the deposition source nozzle unit and the patterning slit sheet, in the first direction. The barrier plate assembly includes a plurality of barrier plates that partition a space between the deposition source nozzle unit and the patterning slit sheet into a plurality of sub-deposition spaces.
US08709156B2
Epitaxially coated silicon wafers are produced by placing a wafer polished on its front side on a susceptor in an epitaxy reactor, first pretreating under a hydrogen atmosphere and in a second and a third step with addition of an etching medium to the hydrogen atmosphere, and subsequently providing an epitaxial layer, wherein during the first and second steps the hydrogen flow rate is 20-100 slm, during the second and third steps the flow rate of the etching medium is 0.5-1.5 slm, during the second step the average temperature in the reactor chamber is 950-1050° C., and the power of heating elements above and below the susceptor is regulated such that there is a temperature difference of 5-30° C. between a radially symmetrical region encompassing the central axis of and a part lying outside this region; and during the third step the hydrogen flow rate is reduced to 0.5-10 slm. In a second method, during the third pretreatment step the flow rate of the etching medium is increased to 1.5-5 slm, while the hydrogen flow rate does not have to be reduced.
US08709154B2
Methods are provided for casting one or more of a semiconductor, an oxide, and an intermetallic material. With such methods, a cast body of a monocrystalline form of the one or more of a semiconductor, an oxide, and an intermetallic material may be formed that is free of, or substantially free of, radially-distributed impurities and defects and having at least two dimensions that are each at least about 35 cm.
US08709145B2
The invention relates to an aqueous coating composition containing at least one water-compatible film-forming agent and aluminum pigments that are provided with at least one inorganic anti-corrosion layer, wherein the thickness of the aluminum pigments provided with at least one inorganic anti-corrosion layer averages less than 160 nm. The invention further relates to a process for the production of such a coating composition and to the use of such a coating composition and to objects coated with said coating composition.
US08709131B2
Methods and systems for the production of direct reduced iron, including: removing a top gas from a direct reduction furnace; carbon monoxide shifting the top gas using a carbon monoxide shift reactor to form a carbon monoxide shifted top gas having a reduced carbon monoxide content; adding one of a coal gas, a synthesis gas, and an export gas to at least a portion of the carbon monoxide shifted top gas to form a combined gas; removing carbon dioxide from the combined gas using a carbon dioxide removal unit to form a carbon dioxide lean combined gas; and providing the carbon dioxide lean combined gas to the direct reduction furnace as a reducing gas for producing direct reduced iron after heating to reduction temperature. Optionally, the method includes removing carbon dioxide from the top gas using a carbon dioxide removal unit prior to carbon monoxide shifting the top gas.
US08709123B2
The invention relates to a method of fabricating a stainless martensitic steel, comprising a step of electroslag remelting of an ingot of said steel then a step of cooling said ingot. Before the electroslag remelting step, the ingot undergoes vacuum degassing for a time that is sufficient to obtain a hydrogen content in the ingot of less than 3 ppm.
US08709122B2
The invention is directed to a method for producing an oxygenated biochar material possessing a cation-exchanging property, wherein a biochar source is reacted with one or more oxygenating compounds in such a manner that the biochar source homogeneously acquires oxygen-containing cation-exchanging groups in an incomplete combustion process. The invention is also directed to oxygenated biochar compositions and soil formulations containing the oxygenated biochar material.
US08709117B2
A disclosed oil separator provided in a flow path of a refrigerant gas flowing from a compressor to a refrigerator including a filter configured to form an internal space by including a filter material filtering out oil from the refrigerant gas, an upper lid bonded to an upper portion of the filter material, and a lower lid bonded to a lower portion of the filter material; a body accommodating the filter; a gas inlet pipe introducing the refrigerant gas into the internal space; and a gas outlet pipe ejecting the refrigerant gas from which the oil is filtered out by the filter from an upper portion of the body, wherein a lower end of the gas inlet pipe is opened to the internal space at a position higher than the lower lid and lower than a substantial center between the upper lid and the lower lid.
US08709115B2
Cyclone separators and separator devices for separating gas and entrained particles from a particle-contaminated gas stream are provided. The cyclone separator comprises a cyclone body having a first end and a second end with a sidewall extending therebetween. The cyclone body defines a cyclone gas inlet for receiving the particle-contaminated gas stream. A cyclone gas outlet is for discharging the clean gas stream. A centripetal accelerator is proximate the cyclone gas inlet to induce centripetal acceleration of the particle-contaminated gas stream. The sidewall defines a discharge opening between the first end and the second end for discharging separated particles from the cyclone body. The discharge opening has a leading edge and a top edge in relation to a flow path of entrained particles within the particle-contaminated gas stream. The top edge extends at an acute angle relative to the leading edge.
US08709109B2
A process for preparing biodiesel having improved filterability characteristics including inducing transesterification of a triglyceride feedstock with cavitation to form an intermediate reaction product. Glycerol by product is separated from the intermediate reaction product before finishing the transesterification reaction in a pressurized reaction tank to yield a biodiesel reaction product. The biodiesel reaction product can be further purified by removing glycerol.
US08709104B2
The invention relates to specific dye-ascorbic acid derivatives and the use thereof as dyes for the coloring of matrices, such as, for example, skin, hair, nails or textiles, and a process for the preparation thereof, a process for the coloring of matrices, and a composition comprising these dye-ascorbic acid derivatives, and a process for the preparation of these compositions. On use of the specific dye-ascorbic acid derivatives according to the invention, a positive effect on the moisture content of the matrices arises.
US08709097B2
A system and method associated with the movement of a limb. In one example, the system, such as a prosthetic or orthotic system, includes an actuator that actively controls, or adjusts, the angle between a foot unit and a lower limb member. The actuator preferably selectively locks during a desired phase in a gait cycle and minimizes friction against a rotor of the actuator. A processing module may control movement of the actuator based on data obtained from a sensor module. For instance, data may include information relating to a user's gait and may be used to adjust the foot unit to substantially mimic the movement of a natural ankle. The system may accommodate level ground walking, traveling up/down stairs or sloped surfaces, and various other user movements. In addition, the processing module may receive user input, such as a heel height, or display output signals through an external interface.
US08709091B2
A tibial insert includes a platform defining an upper bearing surface and a bottom surface. A keel of the tibial insert is coupled to the bottom surface of the platform. A surgical method for knee anthroplasty is also disclosed.
US08709089B2
This invention is directed to orthopedic implants and systems. The invention also relates to methods of implant design, manufacture, modeling and implantation as well as to surgical tools and kits used therewith. The implants are designed by analyzing the articular surface to be corrected and creating a device with an anatomic or near anatomic fit; or selecting a pre-designed implant having characteristics that give the implant the best fit to the existing defect.
US08709087B2
Methods for correcting a deformity in the spine by forming a trans-sacral axial instrumentation/fusion axial bore through vertebral bodies in general alignment with a visualized, anterior axial instrumentation/fusion line in a minimally invasive, low trauma, manner and providing a therapy to the spine employing the axial bore. Curved or relatively straight anterior axial bores are formed from the anterior starting positions. The therapies performed through the axial bores include discoscopy, full and partial discectomy, vertebroplasty, balloon-assisted vertebroplasty, drug delivery, electrical stimulation and various forms of spinal disc cavity augmentation, spinal disc replacement, fusion of spinal motion segments and implantation of radioactive seeds. Axial spinal implants and bone growth materials can be placed into single or multiple parallel or diverging axial bores to fuse two or more vertebrae, or distract or shock absorb two or more vertebrae.
US08709086B2
The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.
US08709081B2
A cellular scaffold that is suitable for tissue regeneration, cell culture and in vitro assays. The invention relates to a layered cell scaffold that is seeded with mesenchymal and ectodermal cells. The layered cellular scaffold comprises an inoculum of mesenchymal cells and ectodermal cells positioned between two opposing scaffolds in a sandwich configuration. The layered cell scaffold provides a functional skin equivalent that is suitable for transplantation and in vitro cell-based assays.
US08709066B2
Implantable materials having defined patterns of affinity regions for binding endothelial cells and providing for directed endothelial cell migration across the surface of the material. The affinity regions include photochemically altered regions of a material surface and physical members patterned on the material surface that exhibit a greater affinity for endothelial cell binding and migration than the remaining regions of the material surface.
US08709057B2
A laser system has a laser source for generating a laser beam, a control unit, and a hand piece for manually guiding the laser beam onto a target area. A wavelength (λ) of the laser beam is in a range from above 1.9 μm to 11.0 μm inclusive. The laser system is adapted for a thermal, non ablative treatment of mucosa tissue by the laser beam such, that the laser source generates the laser beam in single pulses with a pulse duration (tp) in a range from 1.0 μs, inclusive, to 1.0 sec, inclusive, and that a fluence of each of the single pulses on the target area of the mucosa tissue is in a range from 0.2 J/cm2, inclusive, to 2.5 J/cm2, inclusive, and preferably in a range from 1.40 J/cm2, inclusive, to 1.95 J/cm2, inclusive.
US08709045B1
A surgical reamer for cutting an opening in a facet joint for placement of a dowel between the sides of the facet joint to immobilize the joint and create a fusion. The reamer is used with a set of surgical instruments to prepare facet joints for insertion of dowels. The reamer creates a bone shelf above the opening for the dowel to prevent migration of the dowel. The reamer is configured with a flat profile in one plane to allow insertion into the facet joint and the profile of the dowel in the perpendicular plane to create a shape corresponding to the dowel when rotated. The neck of the reamer is smaller in diameter at the coronal end to allow creation of a bone shelf in the facet above the opening for the dowel. The bone shelf resists migration of the dowel out of the prepared opening in the facet.
US08709043B2
Various methods and devices for replacing damaged, injured, diseased, or otherwise unhealthy posterior elements, such as the facet joints, the lamina, the posterior ligaments, and/or other features of a patient's spinal column, are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the methods and devices are effective to mimic the natural function of the spine by allowing flexion, extension, and lateral bending of the spine, while substantially restricting posterior-anterior shear and rotation of the spine.
US08709041B2
A chiropractic apparatus that is not only easily portable, but also enables even a chiropractor not having a high level skill to perform easily a safe, correct and effect adjustment of any bone of a patient without causing a pain. The chiropractic apparatus includes: a chiropractic adjuster containing a thrust member having a thrust head and a release-surface former attached to the chiropractic adjuster, the release-surface former having a preload surface for forming a release surface. When a longitudinal forward thrust is applied to the thrust member so as to give a thrust to a body surface, the release-surface former and the thrust head are subjected to relative movement with respect to each other, whereby a release surface is formed around the thrust head, the release surface having at least a part thereof placed in contact with the body surface.
US08709035B2
A surgical instrument comprising, a shaft, and an end effector comprising first and second jaw members and a reciprocating member. The end effector may additionally comprise a first push rod member having a distally directed end pivotably coupled to the first jaw member and a proximally directed end pivotably coupled to the shaft at a first pivot point as well as a first linkage member having a distally directed end pivotably coupled to the first jaw member and a proximally directed end pivotably coupled to a second pivot point. In this way, distal motion of the reciprocating member may exert a force on the first and second jaw members causing the first and second jaw members to translate towards one another in a substantially parallel motion.
US08709034B2
Methods and devices for diagnosing, monitoring, and/or treating tissue through an opening or port through an airway wall are provided herein.
US08709030B1
Systems and techniques for explanting implantable devices are described. In one aspect, a device includes an explant tool configured to explant an implantable device from a body. The explant tool includes an elongate shank comprising a forward portion defining a longitudinal passage and a front tip attached to the forward portion and defining an opening to the longitudinal passage defined by the forward portion. The front tip comprises a slanted surface that slopes in a direction so as to spread tissue during forward penetration of the front tip into the body.
US08709027B2
Medical device used to cause hemostasis of blood vessels using a clip arrangement delivered to a target region through an endoscope. Method for using the device to cause hemostasis of a blood vessel through an endoscope. Medical device including a reversibly closeable clip, a locking arrangement, a control wire, a sheath, and a handle with an actuating trigger. Through the endoscope, hemostatic clipping device that is fully reversible and lockable. Hemostatic clip that reversibly targets and clips bleeding ulcers.
US08709025B2
A sleeve type fixing method for anastomosis for tubular organs, using an anastomosis device which has an inner and an outer ring. The outer ring is made of elastic material, and the inside of the lower portion of the outer ring has an inwardly protruding ring. The protruding ring is clamped to the connecting portion of the inner ring. In operation, one intestine is sleeved and fixed on the flange of the anastomosis portion of the inner ring, and the outer ring is overturned to let the lower edge overturn. Then another intestine is sleeved and fixed on the outer ring, and both the outer ring and the intestine are overturned so that the intestine is connected in the inner edge of the outer ring. Finally the inner ring is inserted and the two intestines overlapped on the anastomosis portion of the inner and outer ring.
US08709010B2
An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator (1) including at least one source of radio frequency (RF) power, and a plurality of output connections (2, 3, 4), only one of the output connections at any one time being active in that it is able to receive radio frequency power from the source. The generator (1) includes selection means adapted to change the active output connection, and a controller adapted to control the supply of radio frequency power from the source to the active output connection. The system also includes a plurality of electrosurgical assemblies, each including an electrosurgical instrument (5, 6, 7) and a cable (8, 9, 10) connecting the electrosurgical instrument to one of the output connections (2, 3, 4). The electrosurgical instruments (5, 6, 7) each include a handswitch (17, 18, 19) adapted to send a signal to the generator (1) to change the active output connection. The selection means is such that a signal sent from the handswitch (17, 18, 19) of the active instrument (5, 6, 7) can cause the generator (1) to change the active output connection to a different output connection (2, 3, 4), but a signal sent from the handswitch of an instrument other than the active instrument does not immediately cause the selection means to change the active output connection to a different output connection.
US08709008B2
Visual electrode ablation systems are described herein which include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to a region of tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid, such as saline, can be pumped into the imaging hood until the fluid displaces any blood, thereby leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element in the deployment catheter. An electric current may be passed through the fluid such that it passes directly to the tissue region being imaged and the electrical energy is conducted through the fluid without the need for a separate ablation probe or instrument to ablate the tissue being viewed.
US08709007B2
An ablation device for ablating epicardial tissue on a heart is disclosed. The device includes an elongated probe having at least one tissue contacting surface for contacting the epicardial tissue. The device also includes a plurality of suction ports and a plurality of ablating elements aligned along at least part of the axis of the elongated probe and coupled with a tissue contacting member. The assembly may optionally include a visualization device to determine the location and depth of transmural lesions. Also disclosed are methods of locating and placing the ablation device and forming transmural lesions on a heart for treatment of cardiac arrythmias.
US08709004B2
A method and device for improved minimally invasive vascular treatments. The method comprises introducing a catheter into a vein to be treated. The catheter is adapted to introduce an energy transmitting member and a fluid into the vein to be treated. The fluid introduced via the catheter can include, but is not limited to: saline solutions, cooled saline solutions, liquids for vapor generation, vasoconstricting agents, anesthetic agents and/or a formulation containing an ingredient which can be activated by the applied energy.
US08708993B1
The disclosure is directed toward an infusion catheter epidural system comprising a portable infusion pump configured to administer a combination of anesthetics and corticosteroid at a predetermined rate over a predetermined time. A catheter is fluidly coupled to the portable infusion pump. The catheter is configured to be maneuvered into a site of inflammation of a patient to deliver the combination of anesthetics and corticosteroid. The portable pump and the catheter are configured for attachment to the patient.
US08708980B2
One applicator for use with ointment includes a housing defining a holding chamber. The holding chamber has a single entrance distinct from a single exit and is flexible such that deformation of the housing reduces capacity of the holding chamber and forces contents of the holding chamber to pass through the exit. A one-way valve is at the entrance for allowing the ointment to enter the holding chamber through the entrance and restricting the ointment from exiting the holding chamber through the entrance. A tip extends from the housing adjacent the exit. The tip has a proximal end meeting the housing and a pliant distal end spaced apart from the housing. The tip distal end is flared from the tip proximal end and has a generally planar leading surface. A channel in the tip extends from the exit to the leading surface, and is flared at the leading surface.
US08708972B2
A medical delivery system (100) having a container (102) and a dosing assembly (104), and wherein one of the container and the dosing assembly comprises a rotatable element (106) adapted to engage the other one of the container and the dosing assembly. A container suitable for use in said medical delivery system. A dosing assembly suitable for use in said medical delivery system.
US08708969B2
The present disclosure relates to a safety needle assembly that includes a syringe and a safety mechanism. The safety mechanism includes a housing defining an internal cavity, a shield member at least partially disposed within the internal cavity, and first and second locking members that are configured to selectively engage and maintain the shield member in one or more predetermined positions. The locking members are movable between a locked position, in which the locking members are in engagement with the shield member to substantially prevent axial movement thereof, and a release position, in which the locking members are disengaged from the shield member to permit axial movement thereof. The first and second locking members each include biasing members. The biasing member of the each locking member is positioned to cooperate with the other locking member to normally bias the locking members towards the locked position.
US08708967B2
A catheter securement device holds a medical article by securing an anchor member to an attachment region of a neonate. The attachment region is located on the body of the neonate. The catheter securement device defines a central channel into which at least a portion of the medical article is inserted. The catheter securement device includes at least one mounting wing and a body member. The mounting wing contacts the anchor member over the attachment region and lifts the medical article away from the neonate's skin. At least a portion of the body member is located in a distal direction from the attachment region and does not directly contact the neonate's skin. A soft material may be inserted between the distal portion of the body member and the neonate's skin to further inhibit rocking of the medical article upon the neonate.
US08708966B2
Microneedle devices are provided for transport of molecules across tissue barriers and for use as microflameholders. In a preferred embodiment for transport across tissue, the microneedles are formed of a biodegradable polymer. Methods of making these devices, which can include hollow and/or porous microneedles, are also provided. A preferred method for making a microneedle includes forming a micromold having sidewalls which define the outer surface of the microneedle, electroplating the sidewalls to form the hollow microneedle, and then removing the micromold from the microneedle. In a preferred method of use, the microneedle device is used to deliver material into or across a biological barrier from chambers in connection with at least one of the microneedles. The device preferably further includes a means for controlling the flow of material through the microneedles. Representative examples of these means include the use of permeable membranes, fracturable impermeable membranes, valves, and pumps.
US08708964B2
A needle assembly is provided with the housing, and IV cannula for accessing a blood vessel and a non-patient cannula for communication with an evacuated tube. A flashback chamber is provided in the housing at or near the distal end of the housing. A shield is hinged to a portion of the assembly proximally of the entrance to the flashback chamber. As a result, good visibility of the flashback chamber is achieved. After use, the shield can be rotated into a closed portion for surrounding the IV cannula and avoiding accidental needle sticks.
US08708963B2
A seal assembly for use with an access device during a surgical procedure includes a housing having a passageway therethrough dimensioned to permit passage of a surgical instrument and being adapted for mounting to a trocar device, and a seal comprising a gel material and being mounted to the housing across the passageway. The seal includes inner seal portions defining an access channel dimensioned to form a substantial sealing relation with an object therethrough and substantially close in the absence of the surgical instrument. The seal preferably comprises a second material having a hardness greater than a hardness of the gel material. The gel material may be selected from the group consisting of urethane gel, silicon gel.
US08708961B2
An infusion device having a housing with a reusable control portion and an expendable reservoir portion includes a precise drive for an infusion pump. The drive includes a piezoelectric bender assembly, a limiter and at least one contact stop. The piezoelectric bender assembly includes a cantilevered piezoelectric bender having an member of predetermined thickness fixed to move with the second end. A limiter of dimensionally stable material including a gap and at least a first mounting hole extending to the gap. The member of predetermined thickness extends into the gap. A first contact stop is positioned in the gap to define a critical gap distance limiting movement of the member of predetermined thickness in the gap. A base has a mounting surface, a port through the base and extending to the mounting surface. The port includes a first length having a smaller diameter at the mounting surface and a second length displaced from the mounting surface and having a larger diameter. A rigid cannula extends from the base through the port. The rigid cannula has a diameter smaller than the smaller diameter of the port, and the first length of the port has an annular open gap for lateral or pivotal movement of the rigid cannula. A mount of elastomeric material in the length having the larger diameter mounts the rigid cannula. The cannula includes hydrogel material in a desiccated state coating the surface of the cannula, including the beveled end, which rehydrates upon placement in the patient.
US08708958B2
A self-contained and hand-held power-assisted syringe is provided which is suitable for the controlled injection of fluid material during medical procedures such as coronary angiography procedures which utilize small-bore and small sized guide catheter systems. The present invention provides a greater degree of injection power on-demand than was previously possible in a portable and hand-held syringe; and it can deliver larger volumes of radiopaque contrast medium at greater pressures than was previously possible using a conventional manual syringe. The power assisted syringe, along with all components necessary for its effective use and operation, may be pre-packaged and steriled within a single container and then disposed of after use.
US08708956B2
A multilumen catheter assembly including an elongated body defining a first lumen having a sidewall extending between its proximal end and a first lumen distal end proximate the body distal end and a first distal opening disposed proximate the first lumen distal end, and a second lumen connected to the sidewall and extending between the proximal end and a second lumen distal end proximate the body distal end, the second lumen distal end distal of the first lumen distal end. The second lumen includes a second distal opening disposed distally of the first distal opening. A self-expanding protector adjoins the elongate body distally of the first distal opening and extends from an inner edge along the elongate body outwardly and proximally to a free proximal edge that extends circumferentially about the elongate body proximate the first distal opening. The protector defins through-ways that permit blood flow past the protector.
US08708955B2
Inflatable medical devices and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. The inflatable medical devices can be medical balloons. The balloons can be configured to have a through-lumen or no through-lumen and a wide variety of geometries. The device can have a high-strength, non-compliant, fiber-reinforced, multi-layered wall. The inflatable medical device can be used for angioplasty, kyphoplasty, percutaneous aortic valve replacement, or other procedures described herein.
US08708954B2
An agent delivery catheter that includes an anti-whipping feature, improved assembly of distal parts and/or accuracy/repeatability of needle delivery to a target tissue. Additional features include fitting a catheter with a pneumatic delivery device for delivery of a therapeutic agent without using a needle.
US08708945B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for suppressing surgical site infections (SSI) that have occurred at extremely high incidence rates at the time of surgical operations and particularly surgical operations on digestive system organs, and to provide a column to be used for the method. According to the present invention, a method is provided for suppressing surgical site infections, which comprises the steps of: (a) administering a chemotherapeutic drug for treating and/or preventing a surgical site infection; and (b) collecting blood from a surgical subject and removing leukocytes that comprise neutrophils from the blood during or within 24 hours after surgical operation, and then returning the blood from which the leukocytes have been removed to the surgical subject. The present invention also provides a column for blood circulation which is filled with a carrier having affinity for leukocytes comprising neutrophils, which is used for suppressing a surgical site infection during or within 24 hours after surgical operation on a digestive system organ.
US08708944B2
A system for harvesting a fibrin clot and depositing that fibrin clot into a wound site during a surgical procedure, the system comprising: (i) blood drawing apparatus for drawing blood; (ii) extraction apparatus for extracting fibrin from blood so as to form a fibrin clot; (iii) configuring apparatus for molding, cutting and shaping the fibrin clot into a desired configuration; and (iv) dispensing apparatus for reliably and controllably dispensing the fibrin clot at a selected location in the body.
US08708942B2
A custom ankle brace system is disclosed which is constructed from a low temperature non-olefinic elastomeric blend material, and methods of fabricating and fitting the same. This material can be molded directly to a custom mold made from a casting of an affected body part. The final product will be an ankle brace that is able to be heated at low temperature (150° F.-200° F.) by use of an oven or equivalent, and custom molded directly on the patient. If necessary reheated, the ankle brace may be remolded to account for a change in the patient's anatomy or for an increase in comfort.
US08708940B2
A brace device for the spinal support of a wearer. The brace device comprises a plurality of component parts operable in combination to be placed over substantially the thoracic, lumbar and/or cervical portions of the spine of the wearer, each component part being moveable relative to at least one other component part. Movement resisting means are provided on one or more of said component parts and operable upon activation to prohibit, restrict and/or resist movement of at least one component part relative to at least one other component part. One or more predetermined regions of the combination of component parts are in a substantially flexible configuration when the movement resisting means are not activated, facilitating positioning, fitment and/or adjustment of the brace device around the wearer. Upon activation of the movement resisting means the one or more predetermined regions are caused to assume a substantially rigid configuration and thereby partially or substantially support and/or immobilize of at least a portion of the spine of the wearer.
US08708933B2
The invention is directed to a guidewire having a distal section with multiple distally tapered core segments with at least two contiguous distally tapering core segments in which the most distal tapered core segment preferably has a greater degree of taper than the proximally contiguous tapered core segment. The invention is also directed to an elongated intracorporeal device, preferably a guidewire or section thereof, that has a core member or the like with a plurality of contiguous tapered segments having taper angles that are configured to produce a linear change in stiffness over a longitudinal section of the device. The device may also have a core section with a continuously changing taper angle to produce a curvilinear profile that preferably is configured to produce a linear change in stiffness of the core over a longitudinal section of the device.
US08708931B2
This treatment tool for biopsy includes a needle tube, which having a first aperture and a second aperture. The first aperture and the second aperture communicate with the tubular space. The second aperture is provided in a side surface of the needle tube at more proximal end side than the first aperture. In a cross-section of the second aperture, a distal end circular arc portion of an end surface of the second aperture has a distal end side inclined surface that is inclined so as to be positioned gradually outwards of a radial direction of the needle tube towards the distal end side, and a proximal end circular arc portion of the end surface of the second aperture has a proximal end inclined surface that is inclined so as to be positioned gradually outwards of the radial direction of the needle tube towards the proximal end side.
US08708930B2
A biopsy apparatus includes a driver assembly and a disposable biopsy probe assembly for releasable attachment to the driver assembly. The driver assembly includes a first vacuum path having a first one-way valve configured and arranged to permit a negative pressure fluid flow toward a vacuum source and to prevent a positive pressure fluid flow away from the vacuum source. The disposable biopsy probe assembly includes a second vacuum path having a second one-way valve configured and arranged to permit the negative pressure fluid flow from a sample basket and to redundantly prevent the positive pressure fluid flow toward the sample basket. A fluid management tank is fluidically interposed in the second vacuum path between the first end and the second end. The fluid management tank includes a filter arrangement to prevent a flow of residual biopsy biological material from the sample basket to the vacuum source.
US08708926B2
A double temperature sensor is provided for determining the body temperature. The sensor includes at least a first temperature sensor element for measuring a near-surface temperature of the ambient air and a second temperature sensor element for measuring a temperature of the skin surface. The first and the second temperature sensor elements are arranged in a sensor block. A holding element surrounds the sensor block at least partially. An adhesive element fixes the holding element on the skin surface. A spring element acts on the sensor block and provides a spring force directed in the direction of the skin surface.
US08708924B2
A hospitalization management system including a heart failure analyzer that receives diagnostic data including at least sensor data representative of one or more physiological signals sensed from a hospitalized patient using one or more sensors and assesses risk of rehospitalization for the patient using the diagnostic data. The outcome of the risk assessment is used during and following the patient's hospitalization for reducing the risk of rehospitalization.
US08708913B2
There is provided an ultrasonic imaging apparatus capable of optimizing parameters in frequency compound imaging. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes an optimal parameter calculation unit that calculates optimal values of processing parameters in the frequency compound imaging, and the optimal parameter calculation unit outputs a result that satisfies c1√σ1=c2√σ2= . . . cn√σn where the number of divided frequency bands is n, a bandwidth of a divided signal is σi and a signal intensity at the time of addition is ci (i=1, 2, . . . , n).
US08708909B2
Provided herein are compositions comprising a microbubble contrast agent, wherein at least 20% by volume of the microbubbles in the contrast agent has a size of less than 1 micron, wherein the contrast agent produces non-linear scattering when contacted by ultrasound at a frequency above 20 MHz. Provided herein are compositions comprising a microbubble contrast agent, wherein at least 10% by volume of the microbubbles in the contrast agent has a size of less than 500 nanometers, wherein the contrast agent produces non-linear scattering when contacted by ultrasound at a frequency above 20 MHz. Provided herein are compositions comprising a microbubble contrast agent, wherein at least 5% by volume of the microbubbles in the contrast agent has a size of less than 200 nanometers, wherein the contrast agent produces non-linear scattering when contacted by ultrasound at a frequency above 20 MHz. The disclosed contrast agents can be targeted contrast agents. Further provided are methods of using the compositions disclosed herein. Specifically provided are methods for producing an ultrasound image comprising: administering contrast agent to a laboratory animal; generating ultrasound at a frequency of at least 20 MHz; transmitting ultrasound at a frequency of at least 20 MHz into the subject; receiving non-linear ultrasound from the contrast agent in the subject; processing the received ultrasound to provide an image.
US08708907B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for in vivo measurement of blood parameters by processing analog electrical signals from a plurality of photodetectors. In some embodiments, it is possible to determine one or more blood parameters according to (i) a first electrical signal from a first detector and (ii) a second electrical signal from a second photodetector. A difference analog electrical signal is generated, indicative of a difference between the light response signal at the first location and light response signal at the second location, is generated. One or more blood parameters may be detected according to the difference analog electrical signal.
US08708905B2
A method, device, and computer program product for monitoring the physiological state of a subject is disclosed. A first plurality of physiological signals are acquired from the subject and a second plurality of signal parameters are determined based on the first plurality of physiological signals. Relevant signal information is selected from among the signal information produced and at least one screen page is displayed at a time, thereby to make at least part of the signal information visible to a user. The signal information visible to the user on the at least one screen page may then be revised based on the selection and without user interaction, thereby to accelerate clinical decision-making and to diminish the possibility of undetected changes in the state of the subject.
US08708901B2
A health monitoring system includes a waveguide that receives a wave transmitted from an external power source and that guides the wave to reach within a width of a rectenna. The waveguide may include a negative refractive index medium and/or a surface plasmon medium.
US08708894B2
A method for variably flexing and steering an insertion device that receives an instrument, which comprises providing a hollow body having tendons disposed therewithin and a distal end, changing a condition of the hollow body by selectively applying suction to create a vacuum in the hollow body to place the hollow body in a relatively stiff condition and relieving the vacuum to place the hollow body in a relatively flexible condition, maintaining the hollow body in the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions with the tendons, the vacuum created by the applied suction frictionally locking the tendons in place in the relatively stiff condition, and individually adjusting at least one of the tendons in length to steer the distal end of the hollow body.
US08708893B2
The present invention provides a structural unit, an endoscope and an adhering method that suppress deterioration in adhesive strength of an adhesive that adheres plural structural members that structure the endoscope. An imaging unit 68 side of an adhesive 88 is covered by a first moisture-proof coating 91, and an obverse side of the adhesive 88 is covered by a second moisture-proof coating 92. Due thereto, in autoclave sterilization processing or the like, even if moisture passes along a wire portion 86 and penetrates into the imaging unit 68, penetration of the moisture into the adhesive is suppressed by the first moisture-proof coating 91. Due thereto, deterioration in adhesive strength of the adhesive, that adheres plural structural members of the imaging unit 68, can be suppressed.
US08708888B2
A body implantable fabric includes an organ support device separated from a knit material and has a filament forming a chain of loops that extend along a length of the knit material. The chain of loops are coupled together by having each loop suspended by a neighboring loop, and at least one loop in the chain of loops having the filament tied around that one loop to form a closed loop.
US08708881B2
A Surface-adhesive-rule counter die that comprises a base associated to a flexible-counter film. Wherein the flexible-counter film may comprise one or more types of polymers and has resilience attribute. Wherein the SAR counter die acts as a counter die for pre-treating a plurality of cardboard.
US08708879B2
A trifold side seamed film produce bag includes a front wall and a back wall, first and second side edges sealed together and a seamless bag bottom. The bag is joined at the side edges to additional bags by a perforation. The bag is corona treated on at least one wall and promotional material is printed on the treated surface. The bags are folded to one third of their height to fit compact bag roll dispensers. The bags are folded in a Z-fold or C-fold configuration. The method includes manufacturing the bags and winding them onto cores or forming the bags into coreless rolls. An apparatus for forming the side seamed bags includes an extruder, a tubing flattener, a perforator, a sealer, a corona treater, a printer and a slitter. The treated, printed bags may be stored on rolls for later slitting into two bag streams and folding into thirds.
US08708878B2
Conventional art has a structure consisting of a roll axis incorporating a structure of fine pores, and a roll unit provided around the outer circumference of a roll axis, wherein internal pressure of the roll axis is dispersed to the roll unit to make a fluid (gas-liquid) suction action, thus reducing the pressure loss and obtaining even distribution of the fluid (gas-liquid). As such, instead of a tubular roll axis, the structure of a roll axis is made fin-shaped or groove-shaped to maximize the action surface area that works on the inner pressure of the roll axis of the roll unit. However, other problems such as inefficiency of the fluid (gas-liquid) suction action and lack of mechanical strength of the roll axis remains. To solve these problems, this invention provides a functional roll incorporating a structure of a lattice-shaped fluid (gas-liquid) guidepath made of high-density porous sheet material to activate the internal pressure of the roll axis, therein the structure of the lattice-shaped fluid (gas-liquid) guidepath, consisting of an internal pressure action space made of a cut-out portion provided on the circumference of the roll axis, and in the axis direction of the roll unit, and an internal pressure branching guidepath made of low-density porous sheet material, or a space communicating with the internal pressure action space, as well, being provided in the radial direction of the roll unit.
US08708877B2
A drum rotating device enables a drum and a driving device mounted in the drum to be supported with a simple structure and which reduces the possibility that the driving shaft of the driving device may be offset with respect to the rotation axis of the drum. The drum rotation device includes the drum and the driving device arranged to drive and rotate the drum. The drum includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder arranged inside the outer cylinder coaxially therewith, and a support wall arranged to connect the outer and inner cylinders to each other at an approximately intermediate portion in the axial direction. The outer and inner cylinders are substantially cylindrical. The driving device is fixed to a frame at one axial end. The driving shaft of the driving device extends through the drum and is rotatably supported by the frame through a bearing at the other axial end. The driving shaft is arranged to extend through the inner cylinder, thereby being fixedly attached the drum so that the drum and the driving shaft can rotate together.
US08708874B2
An abdominal exercise equipment is provided with two front wheels and two rear wheels to ensure that the abdominal exercise equipment can move stably without tipping over during movement, preventing the exerciser from losing balance and getting hurt. A return gear assembly is disposed between the two rear wheels to produce a recovering force. Therefore, when the abdominal exercise equipment is pulled back, the recovering force will assist the exerciser to pull the abdominal exercise equipment back, which consequently lowers the difficult level of exercise. Furthermore, the abdominal exercise equipment is provided with a vibration device which is capable of softening the muscles and fat, and speeding up fat loss by producing vibration.
US08708872B2
Exercise apparatus and method with selectively variable stabilization enabling a user to progressively increase his/her core body muscular strength. In various embodiments, the exercise apparatus includes a resistance cabling system providing a user defined line of motion, and a partial stabilizer pad being adjustably positionable offset from the line of motion, wherein the user's core body is positionable against the pad and required to resist the torque created by the offset. The user can progressively increase the distance between the line of motion and partial stabilizer pad, in order to progressively increase the force which the user's core body must resist to maintain an upright stature. In this way, the user can progressively, over time, increase his or her core body strength. A vertically and rotatably adjustable handle/arm assembly, resistance cabling and pulley assembly, and an overall exercise apparatus having a relatively small footprint but allowing multiple variable exercise routines, are also provided.
US08708866B2
An exercise machine adaptable to perform a cardiac workout and an abdominal workout simultaneously includes a frame structure, a resistance provider, a pair of pedals, a first sprocket, a second sprocket, a sprocket rotating means, an axis, an engaging means, a cable, a seat, an elastic band, a pair of shoulder straps, a monitor and a pulley system. The sprocket rotating means allows the first sprocket to engage and disengage with the exercise bike. The pedaling of the pedals allows the user to perform the cardiac workout. The pair of shoulder straps designed to insert along the shoulders of the user is connected to the cable and creates a tensional force thereon by getting stretched with the pedaling of the pedals. The tensional force pulls the user backward and the user in turn resists the backward movement by manually contracting abdominal muscles to perform the abdominal workout.
US08708854B2
A torque transmitting system includes a case, first and second clutch plates, and a ramp member that is selectively rotatable about an axis and that defines a ramp surface. The system also includes an electric motor having a motor housing, wherein the case is rotatable relative to the housing about the axis. The motor is configured to selectively apply torque to rotate the ramp member. The system additionally includes a roller element mounted with respect to the case and contacting the ramp surface. The ramp surface is configured such that, when the ramp member is rotated about the axis, the roller element exerts a reaction force on the ramp surface that urges the ramp member to move in a first axial direction and thereby transmit the reaction force to the clutch plates. A transmission assembly including the above described torque transmitting system is also disclosed.
US08708845B2
A composite ball bat includes multiple failure planes within a barrel wall. By including multiple failure planes in a barrel wall, the bat exhibits a drop in performance when subjected to rolling or other extreme deflection, with no temporary increase in barrel performance. Because the barrel performance does not increase, the ball bat is able to comply with performance limitations imposed by regulatory associations.
US08708838B2
A golf club with a new innovative construction to attach a high density weight to an external surface of the sole of a golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention relates to utilizing a thickened sole portion having a specific surface area to thickness ratio to provide adequate support for a high density weight having a significant amount of mass. The new innovative method of attachment also incorporates a unique mechanical lock to properly secure the high density weight to the club head, as materials used for high density weighting may not be easily weldable to the titanium material currently used for metalwood type golf club head.
US08708834B1
The golf posture and swing training harness of the present invention allows for convenience in set up, usage, and portability and may be worn by a user during golf training or playing. The harness comprises a body, two shoulder straps attached to the body, at least a waist strap either fixedly or removably attached to the body, and a shaft; wherein the shaft is removably inserted within a channel that extends the length of the body. When the user wears the harness, the shaft extends above and below the channel and the shaft contacts a back of the user's head, the user's scapular or upper back area, and the user's sacrum or lower back area, and these three points of contact of the shaft with the user's body enable the user to learn and achieve a proper golf posture and swing.
US08708832B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a powered children's swing. In various embodiments, the swing includes a seat, swing frame, one or more swing arms, a first magnetic component, second magnetic component, swing motion sensor, and swing control circuit. The magnetic components are configured to generate a magnetic force that drives the seat along a swing path. The swing control circuit is configured to control the magnetic components based at least on input from the swing motion sensor and generate control signals causing the seat to swing with a substantially constant amplitude as specified by a user.
US08708831B2
A U-joint arrangement for attaching a propeller shaft to a pinion flange is disclosed herein. At least one of the pinion flange and the propeller shaft has a pair of full-round receivers. The U-joint arrangement includes, but is not limited to, a U-joint having a cross member and a plurality of bearing cups rotatably mounted to the cross member. A pair of the bearing cups each have an outer diameter that is substantially less than an inner diameter of the pair of full-round receivers. The U-joint arrangement further includes a pair of retaining members that engage the pair of bearing cups and that are configured to engage the pair of full-round receivers. The pair of retaining members are further configured to support the pair of bearing cups within the pair of full-round receivers when the pair of retaining members are engaged with the pair of full-round receivers.
US08708828B2
Frameworks for providing modular computer program code and automated configuration of server-based gaming environments are disclosed. One or more “pluggable” modular gaming modifier can be provided for the modular computer program code without requiring the replacement of the entire computer program code for the game. Typically, the pluggable” modular gaming modifier can be added to or can replace one or more gaming modules or sub-modules, thereby requiring less time and effort for effectively modifying game presentation. In addition, configuration data can be generated and stored as configurations templates which can be used to configure one or more gaming machines in an automated manner. The configuration templates can be generated based on gaming modules and/or sub-modules provided for modular computer program code. As such, a content-based configuration template can effectively include and/or identify one or more modules, sub-modules and/or pluggable modular or sub-modular gaming modifiers associated with a modular computer program code. The configuration modules can be combined together for form configuration modules that effectively incorporate the features of two or more existing configurations.
US08708825B2
A controller with a conformable fitting system is configured for controlling a device, such as a toy or game, is pliable, flexible and cushioning to provide a custom fit of the device controller to the body part of the patient or user. The device controller spans across a joint, such as a wrist, and includes a pivot between preferably two main portions. The rotation axis of the device controller is aligned with the pivot axis of the joint to receive the physical therapy. A sensor, such as a digital encoder, is located proximal thereto to determine the relative positioning of the main portions to each other. The sensor electronically communicates with the device, such as a toy or game, to serve as a controller therefor.
US08708824B2
A game system comprises image obtaining means, direction calculation means, first rotation means, and display control means. The image obtaining means obtains an image taken by an imaging device. The direction calculation means calculates a direction originally determined from the image of an imaging target included in the image taken by the imaging device. The first rotation means rotates an operation target in accordance with the calculated direction. The display control means generates an image in accordance with the rotation of the operation target performed by the first rotation means and displays the generated image on a screen of a display device.
US08708817B1
The disclosure relates to a graphic card animation display system for electronic card games. The system may be configured to display one or more electronically generated images of an electronic game card based on an orientation of the system. Animating the display of the one or more electronically generated images of an electronic game card based on an orientation of the system may increase and/or enhance the interest level of a user playing the electronic card game. In some implementations, the system may comprise a display, one or more sensors, one or more processors, a user interface, electronic storage, a housing, and/or other components.
US08708809B2
A transaction facilitation system is disclosed that is configured to affect substantially real-time crediting and debiting of a gaming accounts maintained within a gaming environment and structured to communicate by a private restricted communication link with an issuing financial institution of a stored value account to effect real-time crediting and debiting of the stored value account. Financial transactions using the stored value account can be and used customer relationship purposes.
US08708803B2
A method for providing an award feature on a gaming machine is provided. The method includes providing a sequential series of games, each game of the sequential series producing a game outcome, which can be a winning or losing outcome. A winning outcome results in an award value to be added to a player's award total. The highest single award value is determined from all award values resulting from all the games of the sequential series of games. Prior to adding the highest single award value to the player's award total, a multiplier is applied to the highest single award value to obtain a multiplied value. The multiplied value is added to the player's award total in place of the highest award value.
US08708796B2
For each bet on a slot machine game, such as a conventional reel-type game, a fraction of a free game is stored in the machine's memory, where the stored free game fraction is associated with the amount bet. Thus, each possible bet amount option is associated with a particular free game pot in memory. Each paid-for play may accumulate any free game fraction, such as 1/10, ⅕, ¼, ⅓, etc. The player is notified of the accumulated free games on a video screen so the player wants to keep playing so as to not waste any stored free game fractions. The player may play stored whole free games at any time by actuating a button. The free game pots may be easily added to existing games without significant regulatory involvement and does not affect the casino's profit.
US08708795B2
Systems and methods for facilitating one or more base wagering games in an extended format are provided. Outcomes for the base wagering game may be determined, and based on the outcomes, player rankings in the extended play wagering game may be determined.
US08708786B2
An aircraft air-conditioning system includes an air-conditioning unit that is connected by a main fresh-air line to a mixer in order to supply the mixer with fresh air at a desired low temperature. A fresh-air branch line that is connected upstream of the mixer to the main fresh-air line has a flow cross section that is smaller than a flow cross section of the main fresh-air line. In a region of connection of the main fresh-air line to the fresh-air branch line the main fresh-air line and the fresh-air branch line are so formed that a main fresh air flow flowing through the main fresh-air line is deflected, while a fresh air branch flow flowing through the fresh-air branch line experiences substantially no deflection.
US08708785B2
A processing apparatus for poultry is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes one or more transfer units placed intermediate of, conveying poultry from, a first line to a subsequent second line, wherein both the first line and the second line are selected from the group including a slaughtering line, an evisceration line, a chilling line, a sorting line and a cutup line. Each transfer unit is embodied with a circulating support that includes material that is magnetically conductive and transfer means are provided with at least one magnet so as to induce eddy currents in the circulating support that counteracts relative motion between the transfer means and the circulating support.
US08708783B2
An apparatus is provided for hanging sausage on a rod that does not need the task for suspending sausage on hooks to be paused when a chain of sausages hung on a rod is to be removed or when closure processing is to be performed on the front end portion or the rear end portion of a chain of sausages. Hook units are transferred and each include: a unit body that moves along a rail; a rod portion that is rotatably supported to the unit body and has attached thereto a hook portion at one end for hanging a joining portion of the chain of sausages, and a support portion that supports the chain of sausages suspended on the hook portion; and a rod receiving portion that is attached to the unit body, and has formed thereon a recessed portion in which a rod is to be placed.
US08708779B2
The blowdown silencing system includes an initial restrictor in communication with a blast pot vessel for controlling the flow of pressurized air from the vessel into a first expansion chamber. The outlet of the first expansion chamber is in communication with a reducer. The reducer outlet is in communication with a shut-off valve, which may be manually controlled or automatic. The shut-off valve may be upstream or downstream of the reducer. The outlet of the reducer/shut-off valve is introduced into a muffler system which includes an exhaust path and a deflector for absorbing and/or deflecting abrasive particles which may be evacuated from the blast pot vessel during blowdown.
US08708769B2
A toy figure is disclosed herein, the toy figure having a main body portion; a pair of appendages movably secured to the main body portion for movement from a first position to a second position and back to the first position; and a removably body portion removably secured to the main body portion, wherein the pair of appendages grasp the removably body portion when they are moved to the second position and the removably body portion is removably secured to the main body portion, wherein the removably body portion is subsequently removed from the main body portion by the pair of appendages as they are moved back towards the first position from the second position.
US08708767B2
In one aspect of the present invention, a toy arrangement involving a flickering, animated and/or luminescent toy object will be described. The toy arrangement includes a toy object having an ultraviolet sensitive layer. A light source is arranged to illuminate the ultraviolet sensitive layer with ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet sensitive layer is arranged to emit colored light in response to exposure to the ultraviolet light. In some implementations, the light source is arranged to vary the intensity of the ultraviolet light, which in turn can cause the colored light emitted from the toy object to fade, brighten and flicker. The toy arrangement may also include a speaker that emits sounds that are synchronized with changes in the colored light.
US08708764B2
The invention in one relates to a method for manufacturing a switchable particle-based display having a plurality of display units spatially arranged in a matrix form, wherein each display unit comprises one or more cells. In one embodiment, the method includes filling a plurality of first-type particles into the one or more cells of each display unit, filling one or more solutions into the one or more cells of each display unit, respectively, so that each cell contains one of the one or more solutions, where each of the one or more solutions comprises a respective colorant, and the respective colorant in each cell reacts with or adsorbs on the first-type particles therein, and filling a plurality of second-type particles into the one or more cells of each display unit.
US08708763B2
A laminated structure formed by placing a cover substrate over a device substrate with a projection structure in between in the vacuum atmosphere. Next, the laminated structure is taken out into the air in a state that a space between the device substrate and the cover substrate is maintained in the vacuum atmosphere. Subsequently, the portion of the organic layer formed on the conductive electrode is removed by irradiating laser light to the laminated structure. Since the space between the device substrate and the cover substrate is maintained in the vacuum atmosphere, even if the laser light is emitted to the laminated structure taken out into the air, the laser light is emitted to the portion of the organic layer formed on the conductive electrode in the vacuum atmosphere.
US08708762B2
A throwable rotatable rescue device having a cord wound therein including a cord reel for storing and unwinding the cord therefrom as the rescue device is thrown. One end of the cord is detachably mounted to the rescue device to enable a person receiving a thrown rescue device to reach into an interior region of the rescue device and detach the cord from the rescue device. Thereafter one can attach the cord to an object that can be retrieved by pulling on the cord.
US08708760B2
Disclosed herein is a trimmable pod drive assembly that includes a pod drive unit having a transmission assembly secured to a steering unit, a gear case assembly coupled to and rotatable by the steering unit about a steering axis, and a propeller rotatable about a propeller driveshaft axis extending through the gear case assembly so as to generate thrust along a thrust vector. The trimmable pod drive assembly further includes a trim assembly secured to the pod drive unit in a manner allowing for rotation of the pod drive unit about a trim axis that is substantially perpendicular to the steering axis, wherein actuation of at least one component of the trim assembly causes movement of the pod drive unit and the thrust vector about the trim axis.
US08708732B2
Connector includes a plug and receptacle. The receptacle includes a cylindrical part and a flange. The plug includes a cylindrical barrel, which houses internal connectors, and a coupling nut. At an end of the barrel, an engaging piece and a pair of locking pieces, which face each other, project in an axial direction of the barrel. Locking hooks are formed at the tips of the locking pieces. The coupling nut is screwed onto the cylindrical part to connect the plug to the receptacle. Before the connection, the engaging piece and the locking pieces are inserted into and engaged with the cylindrical part and positioned. At the same time, the locking pieces are caught in the receptacle to temporarily secure the plug to the receptacle.
US08708729B2
An electrical connector assembly (100) includes an electrical connector, a CPU (5) assembled to the electrical connector and a pair of cable connector assembles (7) assembled to two opposite sides of the CPU (5), each of the cable connector assembly (7) includes a cable connector (71) assembled to the CPU (5) and a cable (72) assembled to the cable connector (71), the electrical connector includes a first load lever (4) with a first press portion (420) pressing one of the cables (72) and a second load lever (3) with a second press portion (320) pressing the other of the cables (72).
US08708728B2
A power plug locking device that prevents unauthorized removal of a power plug from an inlet includes a lock member pivoted about its axis. The lock member is pivoted between a lock position, at which the lock member locks the power plug to the inlet, and an unlock position, at which the lock member releases the power plug from a state locked to the inlet. A manual operation unit is manually operated to pivot the lock member from the unlock position to the lock position. A position holding unit is formed to hold the lock member at the lock position and maintain the power plug in a locked state with the lock member.
US08708722B1
A power adapter has a cable port disposed on one side and a power conversion circuit to convert an input power from an alternating current (AC) power system to an output power used by a device coupled to the cable port. The power adapter further includes electrical contacts coupled to the power conversion circuit and locking columns disposed within a recessed cylindrical portion of a housing. An interchangeable head having prongs protruding from a surface couples to the electrical contacts of the power adapter to provide the input power to the power conversion circuit. A cylindrical body fits within the cylindrical housing in an assembly position, and includes locking tabs to engage the locking columns when the interchangeable head is rotated in a first direction into a first locking position and in a second direction into a second locking position.
US08708718B2
A cable connector compatible to type-A USB 3.0 standard includes a number of contacts divided into a first contact group and a second contact group. The first contact group is compatible to USB 2.0 standard. The second contact group includes a number of second contacts having a first pair of high-speed differential signal contacts, a second pair of high-speed differential signal contacts and a grounding contact disposed between the first pair and the second pair of high-speed differential signal contacts. The second soldering section of the grounding contact is of a forked manner and includes at least a first branch and a second branch. As a result, it is more effective to solder the second soldering section of the grounding contact with a cable without any manual alignment work.
US08708715B2
A circuit structure includes a circuit board having a conduction path and a through-hole continuing to the conduction path, a wire routing member that has a wire holding convex portion holding a wire configured to form a pre-determined conduction path and that is disposed to face the circuit board, a relaying wire whose one end is inserted into the through-hole in the circuit board to thereby connect the conductor path on the wire routing plate to that on the circuit board, and a positioning portion that is provided on the wire routing plate to thereby position a tip of the relaying wire.
US08708704B2
A system is described for providing roadmaps for building proficiencies in skill areas. The system may include a memory, interface, and processor. The memory may store skill area and skill level identifiers, and associated job experience data items describing tasks of a user within the skill area and skill level, formal learning data items describing learning activities of a user within the skill area and skill level, and collaborative data items describing collaborative roles of a user within the skill area and skill level. The processor may receive the skill area and skill level identifiers. The processor may retrieve the job experience, formal learning and collaborative data items associated with the skill area and the skill level identifiers. The processor may transform the data items into a roadmap describing the job experience, formal learning and collaborative data items recommended to reach the skill level, and provide the roadmap to the user.
US08708702B2
A method of supporting vocabulary and language learning by positioning at least one microphone so as to capture speech in the listening environment of a learner. The microphone is monitored to develop a speech signal. The speech signal is analyzed to determine at least one characteristic of the speech or vocalization, wherein the characteristic indicates a qualitative or quantitative feature of the speech. The determined characteristic is compared to a preselected standard or such characteristic is tracked to show growth over time and the comparison or growth is reported to the person associated with the speech signal or person who potentially can affect the language environment of the learner.
US08708695B2
A portable, handheld lighter assembly for lighting a lighting end of a rolled tobacco product, such as a cigarette or a cigar, includes an elongated body formed with opposed first and second channels formed on either side of a combustion zone and a stop formed in the elongated body. The combustion zone traverses the stop so as to couple the first channel in gaseous communication with the second channel. The stop restricts movement of a rolled tobacco product into the second channel from the first channel and restricts movement of a rolled tobacco product into the first channel from the second channel. A lighter is coupled to the elongated body and is for applying lighting heat to the combustion zone at the stop for lighting a lighting end of a rolled tobacco product applied against the stop in the combustion zone from the first channel or the second channel.
US08708694B2
A wooden wick for use in a wax candle comprising a strip of a predetermined wood having each of a first predetermined length, a first predetermined width and a first predetermined thickness. Such wick further includes a booster member having each of a second predetermined length, a second predetermined width and a second predetermined thickness adhered to the strip of wood.
US08708685B2
A imaging assembly for generating a light beam suitable for sintering comprises a lamp housing and a lamp mounted in the lamp housing comprising a filament and a lamp base, wherein the lamp is oriented with the lamp base to the side of the filament. The imaging assembly further comprises a reflector, an aperture, and at least one condenser lens configured to focus light emitted by the filament through the aperture. The imaging assembly further comprises a set of achromatic doublet lenses, each achromatic doublet lens comprising three surfaces optimized to focus light at three wavelengths, wherein the set of achromatic doublet lenses focuses light over a range including the three wavelengths. The imaging assembly further comprises an outer lens, wherein the focused light beam exits the imaging assembly through the outer lens.
US08708681B2
An apparatus for molding plastic preforms into plastic containers, includes a plurality of molding stations which are arranged on a movable carrier. The molding stations each include blow molds, within which plastic preforms can be molded into plastic containers by applying a flowable medium, as well as blow mold carriers for holding the blow molds, a clean room which at least partially surrounds the individual molding stations, so that the molding stations can be moved within the clean room, and a locking mechanism at least partially located within the clean room, to lock the two blow mold carrier parts together in a closed condition. The locking mechanism includes a first locking element that cooperates with a second locking element, the first locking element being arranged to be movable by a movement device that is supported by at least one bearing that is at least partially provided outside of the clean room.
US08708677B2
A screw compressor includes a screw rotor, a gate rotor and an injection mechanism. The screw rotor is provided with multiple helical grooves. The gate rotor is provided with multiple gates meshing with the helical grooves to form at least one compression chamber between at least one of the helical grooves and at least one of the gates. The compression chamber is configured and arranged such that refrigerant taken-in from a starting-end side of the helical groove is compressed and discharged from a dead-end side of the helical groove. The injection mechanism is configured and arranged to inject oil or refrigerant from a discharge hole of the injection mechanism into the compression chamber such that rotational torque is imparted in a direction in which the screw rotor is rotated at a time of compression.
US08708673B1
Draft inducers are set forth herein. According to one embodiment, a draft inducer for use with corrosive and high temperature gas includes an inline tubular housing, an impeller inside the housing, and a motor outside the housing. A drive shaft couples the motor to the impeller to rotate the impeller with force from the motor. According to another embodiment, an inline shaft driven draft inducer includes an inline tubular housing, a rotating member, a motor, and a drive shaft. The housing has an external perimeter, and the motor is outside the housing external perimeter. The rotating member is inside the housing, and the drive shaft couples the motor to the rotating member to spin the rotating member with force from the motor.
US08708668B2
A thrust generating apparatus is provided under water and configured to generate thrust by ejecting the water. A rotor main body includes: a first member including a side surface and outer peripheral surface which are opposed to a first water lubricated bearing; a second member including a side surface and outer peripheral surface which are opposed to a second water lubricated bearing; and a third member including a supporting surface contacting an inner peripheral surface of a rotor core. The first to third members are fixed to one another so that each member is detachable.
US08708665B2
A membrane pump (1) for pumping a medium has a pump housing (2), a membrane (3) mounted to the pump housing and delimiting a pump chamber (4) inside the pump housing (2) and an actuating device for moving the membrane (3) to and fro to expand and contract the pump chamber (4). In a first operating mode, the actuating device moves the membrane (3) in a frequency suitable for pumping the medium into and out of the pump chamber (4), and in a second operating mode, the actuating device moves the membrane (3) in a frequency in the audible frequency region.
US08708656B2
The blade dovetails and associated dovetail slots of a gas turbine engine rotor assembly are shaped so that during windmilling the high stress regions of the blade dovetails are shielded from rubbing against the disk and vice versa. Bumper surfaces are provided in low stress regions of the dovetail assembly such that the windmilling contact points between the blade dovetails and the disk are in non-critical areas of the dovetail assembly.
US08708655B2
A rotor blade for a turbine engine includes a first side that defines a first contact face with a hardcoat and a second side that defines a second contact face without a hardcoat.
US08708636B2
An improved outer reciprocating floor slat for use in a truck trailer or the like. The outer floor slat is located adjacent to a trailer's side wall. The floor slat has a portion that extends laterally upwardly and outwardly until it reaches the trailer's side wall at an elevation above the normal load-carrying floor elevation of the reciprocating floor slats. The upwardly extending portion facilitates material movement away from the corner region where the reciprocating floor normally intersects the trailer's side walls.
US08708634B2
A vehicle carrier assembly adapted to be mounted to the rear of a recreational vehicle which is designed to carry and transport a secondary vehicle. The carrier assembly includes a lift system which includes a pivoting subassembly combined with a deployable ramp. The ramp extends from the pivoted subassembly at an angle until it reaches the ground. The ramp extends from the pivoted subassembly in a direction perpendicular the longitudinal axis of the recreational vehicle. The secondary vehicle would then drive onto the angled ramp. The ramp is then retracted back to its first position, atop the pivoting subassembly. The pivoting subassembly is then pivoted back from its deployed angular position back to an original horizontal position. The secondary vehicle is secured to the vehicle carrier. The recreational vehicle is now ready to travel with an easily mountable and demountable secondary vehicle aboard.
US08708628B2
A component for use with a rotary tool and to be inserted through a surface of a workpiece made of a material showing friction-induced plasticity such as aluminum, is rotated in a first direction while an axial force of a sufficient magnitude is applied onto the component to produce insertion thereof by plasticizing the material through friction. The component includes a connection portion and an insert portion having a penetrating end defining a maximum outer diameter, and an outer surface forming at least one generally circular anchoring recess defining a minimum diameter. The connecting portion is adapted not to substantially deform upon insertion of the insert portion, and a ratio of minimum diameter and maximum diameter is between about 65% and 90%.
US08708626B2
A freight carrier (10) in the form of a flatbed road trailer of the side loading type, has a load deck (16) and includes two bulk container tanks (20.1) and (20.2) for carrying liquid freight. The carrier includes lifting arrangements at opposite ends of the tanks for lifting the tanks into the raised positions illustrated, so as to define stowage compartments under the tanks within which general dry freight can be supported on the load deck. The trailer transports liquid freight when the tanks are in their lowered positions adjacent the load deck. When the tanks are empty, they are raised for the transport of dry freight.
US08708614B2
A cutting knife for difficult-to-manipulate, chip-removing cutting tools, that is replaceably held in a knife window of a rotary-driven tool shaft of a base body, in which at least one knife holder that is connected to the cutting knife over a predetermined breaking point, and that assists with manipulation, is attached to the cutting knife, and is broken away for the tool shaft to be put to use.
US08708611B2
A cutting head (14) for a T-slot cutter (10) includes opposing cutting head top and intermediate surfaces (18, 20) extending perpendicular to a head rotation axis (A), and a head peripheral surface (22) extending therebetween. The cutting head (14) also includes cutting portions (24) located along the head peripheral surface (22) and a head protrusion (32). The head protrusion (32) extends from the cutting head intermediate surface (20) and includes a head torque-transfer portion (42). The cutting head (14) further includes a cutting head abutment surface (34), and a head bore (36) coaxial with the head rotation axis (A). The head bore (36) extends between, and opens out to, the cutting head top surface (18) and the head protrusion (32). The cutting head (14) also includes a head centering portion (40) distinct from the head torque-transferring portion (42) and located at an axial position different therefrom, along the head rotation axis (A).
US08708609B2
Gear milling cutter with replaceable milling inserts mounted on flank sides. Some are root inserts placed in tangentially spaced-apart positions along the periphery of the basic body; others are flank inserts tangentially spaced-apart and in ring formation radially inside the root inserts. Sweep areas of radially separated inserts overlap in a ring-shaped overlapping zone by radially inner ends of root inserts being situated nearer the center axis than radially outer ends of the flank insert next inside. A part edge of the cutting edge, located between the straight main edge and one of the ends of the insert is shorter than the main edge and deviates from a straight reference line in the extension of the main edge at a deviation angle of at most 10°. Cutting edges of root inserts overlap cutting edges of flank inserts in a point of intersection situated between end points of the part edges.
US08708607B2
A rock bolt comprising a shaft having first and second ends, and an anchoring device operative to retain the bolt when located in a drilled hole and comprising a mandrel mounted to, or integrally formed with, the shaft and at least one expansion element overlaying the mandrel, at least one of the mandrel or the at least one expansion element being a movable member and being able to rotate relative to, and move axially along, the shaft, the at least one expansion element being arranged to be displaced radially outwardly on a predetermined relative movement between the mandrel and the at least one expansion element, wherein when disposed on a first portion of the shaft, rotation of the movable member relative to the shaft causes axial movement of that member along the shaft, and when disposed on a second portion of the shaft, the movable member is able to rotate on the shaft without being biased to move axially along the shaft.
US08708603B2
An aeration and drainage system includes an aeration & drain pipe which contains slots on its upper surface, a stand which holds said aeration & drain pipe above a bottom surface, an air and liquid transfer element attached to the aeration & drain pipe and positioned over said slots. Additionally the air and liquid transfer element extends upward from the slots, and the air and liquid transfer element contains openings on its top to allow fluids to flow into the air and liquid transfer element and through the slots in the aeration & drain pipe.
US08708602B2
Systems and methods are described for controlling axial, lateral and/or vertical movements of subsea pipelines which reduce the need for expensive pipeline anchoring or other mitigation solutions. The pipeline is connected to a stabilizing structure generally adjacent to the pipeline using a plurality of load-bearing members attached to the pipeline and the stabilizing structure at a plurality of predetermined locations. Also described are systems and methods for monitoring operating parameters of the pipeline over time.
US08708601B2
A box culvert assembly and method of forming a box culvert assembly is provided. The boxes forming the assembly comprise portions configured to allow pivoted assembly of one box into another, while reducing the likelihood of high stress or fracture. The box assembly further allows for a generally tight seal between the boxes.
US08708599B2
A soil compacting device has an upper body and a lower body which is coupled to the upper body by a spring device and which has a soil contact element. Furthermore, a drive generates is provided for generating an operating motion of the soil contact element, and an energy store is provided for storing electrical energy. A cooling air flow, which is guided through a cooling air flow guide along the energy store, can be created by an air conveying device.
US08708594B2
A joint arrangement (1) comprising a journal-like retaining body (5) and a joint head (4) is provided, at the axial head end thereof, for engaging with one of a one-piece or multi-piece supporting device. The base region (5a, 5b) of the retaining body (5) is connected to an axle body (10), particularly of a utility vehicle, and designed such that, in addition to the retaining body (5) extending in a journal-like manner, the joint arrangement (1) also comprises a separate flange body (8) which can be used to apply force to the retaining body (5) in the direction of the base region (5a, 5b) thereof for the purpose of connecting the retaining body (5) to the axle body (10).
US08708591B2
A cleaning bottle has a detachable brush removably secured to the bottle. The cleaning bottle can have a spray head to spray liquid out of the bottle and deliver it to a desired surface, such as a golf club or a golf shoe, for example. The user can them use the brush, either attached to the bottle or after removing it from the bottle, to scrub the surface on which the liquid/cleaner in the bottle has been sprayed. A loop can be disposed on the bottle onto which a fastener, such as a carabineer fastener, can be used for easy transport of the bottle.
US08708587B2
The invention provides coating units, heat-treating units, and a first main transport mechanism for transporting substrates to each of these treating units. The substrates are transferred from the first main transport mechanism to a second main transport mechanism through a receiver. When a substrate cannot be placed on the receiver, this substrate is placed on a buffer. Thus, the first main transport mechanism can continue transporting other substrates. The other substrates in the treating units are transported between the treating units without delay, to receive a series of treatments including coating treatment and heat treatment as scheduled. This prevents lowering of the quality of treatment for forming film on the substrates.
US08708584B2
An electronic device may include a proximity sensor for determining when a user's face is near the device. The sensor can include an emitter and a detector that are separated by a foam block to limit cross-talk between the emitter and detector.A sheet can be placed over the foam block to define openings for each of the emitter and detector. Some electronic devices can also include a camera. A glass cover secured to the device enclosure can protect the camera. To improve an adhesive bond between the glass cover and a metal enclosure, an ink layer can be placed between an adhesive and the glass. During assembly, the position of the camera can shift due to closing an enclosure.A grounding assembly that maintains contact with the camera in its initial and final positions may be provided.
US08708582B2
An enclosure assembly for a camera is designed to be mounted on the frame of an optical inspection apparatus for scanning the profile of a surface of an article moving along a travel path axis, the profile being associated with a reference axis orthogonal to a reference plane parallel to the travel path axis. The camera is part of a profile sensor unit and has an optical sensing field directed toward the travel path axis to define a scanning zone associated with the surface as intersected by the optical sensing field, the profile unit further having a laser source directing at angle with the optical sensing field a fan-shaped laser beam toward the scanning zone to define an associated scanning plane transverse to the travel path axis, to generate sensor output data related the profile of the article surface. The enclosure assembly comprises an enclosure body secured to the apparatus frame and including a front end wall provided with an opening protected by an optical element made of light transparent material, and a device for mounting the camera within the enclosure body such that the camera has its optical sensing field directed toward the opening. The enclosure assembly further comprises a device mechanically coupled to the enclosure body for displacing thereof in a direction perpendicular to the profile reference axis and parallel to the scanning plane to adjust the position of the optical sensing field with respect to the scanning plane.
US08708570B2
A hub wheel (21) and an outer joint member (3) are coupled to each other through intermediation of a recess-projection fitting structure (M). The recess-projection fitting structure (M) can be separated by being applied with a pulling-out force in an axial direction under a state in which a bolt member (30) is removed, and can be re-formed by re-screwing the bolt member (30) into a bolt hole (5d). The hub wheel (21) comprises a receiving portion (23a) for receiving the bolt member (30). The shaft portion (5) has a small diameter portion (5a) serving as a fit-in portion to be fitted along an inner periphery of the receiving portion (23a) under a state in which the recess-projection fitting structure (M) is formed. The small diameter portion (5a) is used as a part for confirming the accuracy and the state of the recess-projection fitting structure (M).
US08708568B2
A synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing 1 includes a synthetic resin-made upper casing 12, a synthetic resin-made lower casing 22, a synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing piece 33 interposed between the upper casing 12 and the lower casing 22, an outer elastic seal member 47 having an inner elastically deformable lip portion 43 and an outer elastically deformable lip portion 46, and an inner elastic seal member 54 having an outer elastically deformable lip portion 50 and an inner elastically deformable lip portion 53.
US08708567B2
The present disclosure relates to a sliding bearing, and more specifically to a sliding bearing in which lubricating properties are improved by providing lubricating-oil-storage locations in the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface. The sliding bearing of the present disclosure has properties which are particularly advantageous when used under surface-pressure conditions of from 100 to 1,000 kg/cm2 and speed conditions of from 0.005 to 0.1 m/second.
US08708552B2
A damping member includes a body provided between a device case and a module encased within the case and damping an external shock applied on the case. The body includes a holding member having upper and side surfaces and disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the case and an outer peripheral surface of the module, a first shock absorbing member covering a predetermined part of the upper and side surfaces of the holding member, deformed elastically when the shock is applied on the case, and elastically absorbing the shock, and a second shock absorbing member covering the other part of the holding member, getting the shock earlier than the first shock absorbing member when the shock is applied on the case, each changing its volume in accordance with the shock, and absorbing and escaping the shock. A damping structure used for an electronic device uses the damping member.
US08708550B2
A fluid is processed between processing surfaces capable of approaching to and separating from each other, at least one of which rotates relative to the other. A first fluid is introduced between processing surfaces, by using a micropump effect acting with a depression arranged on the processing surfaces from the center of the rotating processing surfaces. A second fluid, independent of this introduced fluid, is introduced from another fluid path that is provided with an opening leading to the processing surfaces, whereby the processing is done by mixing and stirring between the processing members.
US08708548B2
An apparatus and a method detect the presence of solid particles in a liquid phase, where an at least partially transparent container encloses the solid particles and the liquid phase. The apparatus includes a camera to make digitized images in the form of arrays of pixels with their associated pixel values. The apparatus also includes an agitator device to hold the container and to impart movements to the container, transmitting kinetic energy to the mixture. The camera is aimed at a transparent portion of the container to take images of the mixture in motion. A processor unit, in electronic communication with the camera, receives and processes the digitized images of the mixture in motion, resulting in the generation of an analytical representation of the solid particles in the liquid. In this manner, the state of dissolution of the solid particles may be determined.
US08708541B2
The present invention provides a backlight module and display panel. The backlight module includes a light guiding plate, an optical film, and at least two positioning structure. The at least two positioning structure are placed on the opposite side surfaces of the light guiding plate. Each of the positioning structure includes a main positioning member and a sub positioning member fixedly connected to the main positioning member. The main positioning member is fixedly connected to the side surface of the light guiding plate. The sub positioning member extends for a fixing distance along the main positioning member. The opposite at least two sub positioning member fix the optical film on the emitting surface of the light guiding plate.
US08708539B2
A vehicular lamp is provided with a light source and a projector lens. An incidence plane of the projector lens includes a first light distribution control surface configured to form a first light distribution pattern and a second light distribution control surface configured to form a second light distribution pattern which is formed above the first light distribution pattern.
US08708538B2
A vehicle lamp includes a plurality of light sources, and a light guide plate configured to emit light to the front side of the lamp from a second surface facing a first surface by internally reflecting light, which is emitted from the respective light sources, by a plurality of reflective elements formed on the first surface after causing the light to enter the light guide plate from a rear end face of the light guide plate. The light guide plate is curved to the first surface and gradually becomes thinner toward the front side. The reflective elements are disposed at a predetermined interval in a longitudinal direction and extend in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction.
US08708531B2
A light-emitting device illumination apparatus includes a housing having a barrier wall that defines a first space and a second space in the housing; a light-emitting device module disposed on a first surface of the barrier wall and including a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed on the first surface and a plurality of light-emitting device chips disposed on the PCB; and a power supplier disposed on a second surface of the barrier wall, the second surface facing the first surface, and for applying a voltage to the light-emitting device module.
US08708530B2
A lighting fixture with a housing having an opening and containing a fan and at least one heat-generating light bulb to produce light at the opening and a protective lens assembly below the housing opening. The protective lens assembly includes a top clear or translucent lens and a bottom clear or translucent lens having an opening and spaced from the top lens to provide a first ventilation gap between the lenses while protecting the interior of the housing. The fan may be operated to cool the light bulb by moving air through the ventilation gap and across the bulb.
US08708527B2
A light module includes a light source and an optical lens. The light source emits light to the optical lens. The light source is a single unit and has a parallelizing surface, a first plane, a wave surface, and a second plane in sequence. The light source emits light to the optical lens and through the parallelizing surface, the first plane, the wave surface, and the second plane in sequence to form a parallel linear light.
US08708518B1
A luminaire includes a single luminaire housing that includes thermally isolated light source and power control device compartments. At least one light source is disposed within the luminaire housing, and at least one power control device is disposed within a second, thermally isolated compartment. The light source and power control device compartments are separated by a chamber that includes a substantially nonconductive member, which prevents heat from the light source compartment from travelling to the power control device compartment. Thermally isolating the power control device from at least a portion of the heat generated by the light source allows the power control device to be disposed relatively close to the light source without becoming overheated and damaged. A hollow, threaded rod extends between and couples together the light source compartment and power control device compartment. Electric wires connecting the light source and power control device extends through the threaded rod, providing necessary electrical power in an aesthetically pleasing design.
US08708515B2
A hybrid torch having a liquid fuel reservoir, a flame bowl, a wick that moves fuel from the reservoir to the flame bowl for combustion, and a cap that selectively covers the flame bowl and provides at least one light emitting diode (LED) for illuminating an area under the cap.
US08708512B2
The present invention provides a backlight system, which includes an LED light source, a back frame, and a PCB. The LED light source comprises an LED lamp and an LED substrate. The LED substrate includes, sequentially stacked, a first conductor wiring layer, a first insulation layer, an aluminum substrate, a second insulation layer, and a second conductor wiring layer and the LED lamp is mounted on the first conductor wiring layer. The back frame carries the LED light source and includes at least two primary assembling pieces. The at least two primary assembling pieces are joined to form a main frame structure of the back frame. The PCB is disposed on the second conductor wiring layer of the LED substrate. The backlight system of the present invention can reduce the cost of back frame mold and save the material and space of the back frame, so as to lower down the cost of the backlight system.
US08708491B2
There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for developing laser systems that can create a precise predetermined capsulotomy. The systems, apparatus and methods further provide laser systems that reduce the patient-to-patient variability and doctor-to-doctor variability associated with hand held apparatus for performing capsulorhexis and capsulotomies. There is further provided a precise predetermined shot pattern and shaped capsulotomy that is based at least in part on the shape of an IOL and in particular an accommodating IOL.
US08708486B2
An actuator for a fluid-filled lens including a housing having a first and a second end; a reservoir disposed within the housing. In an embodiment, a slider is slidingly disposed within the housing and disposed adjacent to the reservoir. In an embodiment, the actuator further includes a compression arm having a first end that is fixed and a second end that is not fixed, wherein the compression arm is disposed adjacent to the reservoir. Sliding the slider from one end of the housing to the other causes the slider to push the second end of the compression arm so as to compress the reservoir. In an embodiment, the slider includes a first end having a wedge shape configured to compress the reservoir. Sliding of the slider from one end of the housing to the other causes the first end of the slider to compress the reservoir.
US08708483B2
The present invention generally relates to integrating electronic components into an electro-active frame for driving electro-active focusing lenses. This is accomplished in a cosmetically pleasing manner that allows a platform of frame systems to be built from a single electronic module. Specifically, the present invention discloses controlling an electro-active lens in a deliberate, hands free manner that gives the user control of the electro-active lens.
US08708458B2
Various embodiments provide materials and methods for a superoleophobic device, which can include a conformal oleophobic coating disposed on glass pillars and/or stripe-shaped glass structures on a glass substrate to provide the device with a textured superoleophobic surface.
US08708457B2
A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a conveyor mechanism conveying a recording medium in a conveying direction; a plurality of liquid ejection heads each having an ejection face from which a liquid is ejected and arranged in the conveying direction; a support member opposed to the ejection face and supporting the recording medium; a first suction mechanism which has a first suction opening located between two of the plurality of liquid ejection heads adjacent to each other in the conveying direction, and which sucks air via the first suction opening; and at least one first contact member located between the two liquid ejection heads in the conveying direction and contactable with a recording face of the recording medium at a position closer to the support member than the first suction opening in a direction perpendicular to the ejection face.
US08708449B2
A liquid ejection device includes a plurality of nozzles and a common ejection testing portion. The nozzles are arranged to eject a liquid. The common ejection testing portion is provided in common to the nozzles, the common ejection testing portion being arranged to perform ejection testing of each of the nozzles during printing. At least one of the nozzles is selected to be tested using the common ejection testing portion when the liquid is ejected from the nozzles based on print data. The nozzles that eject liquid being identified based on the print data, and one of the nozzles, which have not been tested, having low ejection frequency based on the print data being selected as the at least one of the nozzles to be tested.
US08708437B2
A system for optimizing RGB digital color images to print a high speed textile conveyed substrate using a series of modular single color specific ink jet print engines. The system mounts a rotary screen upstream and in operable combination with the ink jet print engines consequentially providing a broad array of printing modes and effects. Each print engine extracts print engine specific instructions from a server to provide a sequential cascade of printings to print the desired image. Internetworking extends operable control to remote client and expands RGB image archive to galleries of the World Wide Web. Present commercial rotary screen machines can be retrofitted to utilize the present system.
US08708427B2
A hydraulic pressure brake unit includes a power hydraulic pressure source able to generate, by a supply of power, a high hydraulic independent of a brake operation by a driver; a field system which connects the power hydraulic pressure source with both first and second wheel cylinders, regulates the hydraulic pressure of operating fluid from the power hydraulic pressure source, and applies a common hydraulic pressure to both the first and second wheel cylinders; a separator valve provided so as to be able to cut off the supply of operating fluid to the second wheel cylinder via the first system; and a second system which connects the second wheel cylinder with the power hydraulic pressure source such that operating fluid can be supplied front the power hydraulic pressure source to the second wheel cylinder regardless of weather the separator valve is open or closed.
US08708416B2
A rotatable circular crossection cervical pillow is manually rotated in a continuous fashion as desired by a person whenever a fresh clean contact spot is sought, or a contact spot of variable support is sought, while the pillow is still attached to a seat back. The rotatable pillow is a cylinder of medium and/or firm high density polyurethane foam. An axial through-hole in the center permits the snug insertion of a rigid length of tubing to give the pillow axial rigidity. Swivel fixtures are attached at each end of the pillow by virtue of the central tube. A fabric cover with an opening closure covers the entire polyurethane cylinder snugly. Optionally the cover may carry therapeutic imparting elements therein. Straps with adjustable buckles are attached to each swivel fixture. Therefore, the cervical pillow rotates easily while still strap-attached to the seat back.
US08708415B2
A head restraint system includes a first support arm formed of a flexible material. The head restraint further includes a first clamp arm coupleable to a child seat. A first joint for coupling the first support arm to the first clamp arm is configured to allow actuation of the first support arm between a first position extending horizontally across a portion of a child's forehead and a second position disposed away from the child's forehead.
US08708409B2
A vehicle seat is provided that includes a seat back frame, a headrest, a pressure receiving member that moves independently from the headrest, and pivoting members that are disposed in at least one of both side portions of the seat back frame, are linked to the pressure receiving member, and move independently from the headrest under a predetermined impact load. The pivoting members are linked via coupling members to a biasing element that biases the pressure receiving member toward the front of the seat back frame. The force that restores the pivoting members into an initial state is greatest during normal seating, and covers a range in which the force decreases when the pivoting members move due to a rear-end collision.
US08708405B2
A slider rail is provided in the back face of the seat back of a vehicle seat. The vehicle seat is formed of a framework having a plurality of frame members. The slide rail forms a guide path along which a slider is moved. The slide rail is attached outside the framework to a side portion (side frame member) of the seat back and extends in a longitudinal direction of the seat back, and overlaps with the side frame member in a front-rear direction of the vehicle seat.
US08708402B2
A battery protection structure for an automobile includes a rocker placed in a side portion of a body, a floor panel whose outer end in a body width direction is secured to the rocker, a reinforcement located more inward in the body width direction than the rocker, and secured to the floor panel, the reinforcement forming a part of a frame of the body, a battery located more inward in the body width direction than the rocker, and placed below the floor panel in the body, and an input member that connects between the rocker and the reinforcement, and configured to input, upon input of a collision load directed inward in the body width direction to the rocker, a part of the collision load to a midsection of the floor panel between the rocker and the reinforcement as a component directed upward of the body.
US08708398B2
An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is provided for use with vehicles having surfaces that are not streamlined. The apparatus including an exterior cover supported by moveable frames which in turn are supported by sets of supporting linkages. The moveable frames extend rearward and together with the exterior cover form a drag reducing shape for use in a drag reducing configuration and collapse for use in a space saving configuration.
US08708391B2
A system relating to lining heavy-material hauling and processing equipment comprising a plurality of magnetically attached liner panels installed without the need to drill or otherwise alter the truck bed or device being lined.
US08708388B2
A partition for separating front and rear occupant areas of a vehicle comprising at least one partition member and at least one pair of partition support brackets. The partition bracket has an upper extent comprising a near ceiling member positionable adjacent a ceiling of the vehicle and two lateral extents comprising opposite side members. The partition support brackets are mountable to opposite sides of the vehicle and to the opposite side members of the partition member to couple the partition to the vehicle. The partition support bracket for at least one of the opposite sides comprises a load support section configured to support a proportion of a partition member load as applied to the at least one of the sides.
US08708381B2
Multifunctional packaging containers and methods of use are disclosed. An exemplary container typically comprises a body section having a generally flat rectangular shape when in a flattened configuration. The container transforms into a generally elongated cylindrical shape when in the closed configuration. The exemplary container also comprises a first and second side wall. A handle assembly may also be included. Additionally, the container typically includes one or more securing mechanisms adapted to lock the contents therein. Methods of using the container include using it as a disposable pet waste scooper or general storage compartment.
US08708376B2
A medium connector including a passage configured to allow for the flow of medium, and a multi-portion engagement surface positioned about the passage. The multi-portion engagement surface includes a first surface portion, and a second surface portion. The first surface portion is configured to provide an interference fit with a corresponding sealing surface of a mating connector. The second surface portion is configured to provide a clearance fit with the corresponding sealing surface of the mating connector. The ratio of the first surface portion and the second surface portion is selected to regulate an engagement force between the medium connector and the mating connector.
US08708372B2
The invention relates to a device for holding sheets in a binder which form a folded stack, comprising a holding element (3) connected to the spine (2) of the binder (1). According to the invention, the holding element (3) engages behind the innermost sheet of the stack (4) at its fold (9).
US08708366B2
A safety system for a motor vehicle includes a sensor suite detecting a lateral impact and a vehicle yaw, an occupant safety system, and a control module receiving signals from the sensor suite. The control module activates the occupant safety system if either: a) an impact magnitude detected by the sensor suite is greater than a first impact threshold and a vehicle yaw magnitude detected by the sensor suite is greater than a yaw threshold; or b) the impact magnitude is greater than a second impact threshold higher than the first impact threshold. The system may be operated to determine a longitudinal location of the impact on the vehicle by comparing a magnitude of the impact and a magnitude of the vehicle yaw. The occupant safety system may then be activated in a mode based upon the longitudinal location of the impact and/or appropriate for a spinning vehicle.
US08708358B2
A compact steering mechanism for steering a vehicle having a steering input being a pinion shaft coupled to a pinion meshing with a rack, and a steering output member coupled to the rack. The pinion is positioned at a middle portion of the rack and the output member is positioned between opposing ends of a rack. The mechanism includes a compact steering housing supporting the pinion shaft and containing the rack-and-pinion. The pinion and pinion shaft have a center axis parallel to an axis of the output member. The output member, being a steering pin and rack carrier, a gear, or a flange, is coupled to left and right tie rod assemblies and wheels for steering the vehicle to improve handling.
US08708356B2
Pivot bearing for a wheel suspension, in particular for a front axle of a motor vehicle, containing a wheel bearing receiver, a steering arm, a spring strut receiver with a damper clamping and a carrier rib, wherein the damper clamping of the spring strut receiver faces the vehicle outside and the pivot bearing has an opening in the region between the wheel bearing receiver and the damper clamping.
US08708348B2
This invention relates to a shopping trolley having castors and a handle, the surface of which consists of plastic. The surface of the handle consists of one or more different materials, at least one of said materials having conductive properties.
US08708343B2
A seal device where a seal lip reliably maintains shaft sealing relative to high-pressure fluid that is to be sealed and where the equivalent Mises stress occurring in the seal lip is reduced to extend the durable term of the seal lip longer. A backup ring has a tapered section continuously extending from a fixation section of the backup ring and also has a forward end section. A rounded surface (E) with a curvature radius (R-1) is formed at least at a boundary where a surface (D) of the tapered section changes to a surface (F) of the forward end section. A portion of the surface (D) of the tapered surface, which portion is in contact with the rounded surface (E) at the boundary, is a projected curvature surface having a curvature radius greater than the curvature radius (R-1) of the boundary.
US08708339B2
A game machine includes: an entertainment button that can move up and down from a normal operation position to a protruding position; an assigned object determining part that determines an assigned object; a prize determining part that determines a prize to be given to a player, when the assigned object determining part determines an assigned object; a prize display part that displays a prize symbol corresponding to the prize determined by the prize determining part; a movement determining part that determines whether or not to move the entertainment button from the normal operation position to the protruding position; a drive control part to move the entertainment button from the normal operation position to the protruding position, when the movement determining part determines to move the entertainment button from the normal operation position to the protruding position; and a push operation detecting part that detects the entertainment button being pushed down.
US08708337B2
Provided herein is sheet inverter apparatus which includes a diverter gate which diverts the sheet to one of at least two paths, a first paper path, and a second paper path. The first and second path each include a rotatable nip assembly, the rotatable nip assembly including a nip drive roll and a nip idler roll positioned so as to define a nip therebetween, the nip serving as a rotatable axis around which the nip drive roll and the nip idler roll rotate to invert the sheet.
US08708336B2
A drive controlling unit causes an ascending and descending unit to lower a recording medium discharge tray, and then causes raising of the recording medium discharge tray until detection of the upper surface of the recording medium by an upper surface detection sensor. A determining unit determines whether a raising time of the recording medium discharge tray measured by a measuring unit is a predetermined abnormal time. When the raising time is determined by the determining unit not to be the abnormal time, the drive controlling unit causes the recording medium discharge unit to execute the subsequent recording medium discharge into the recording medium discharge tray. When the raising time is determined by the determining unit to be the abnormal time, the drive controlling unit causes the recording medium discharge unit to stop the subsequent recording medium discharge into the recording medium discharge tray.
US08708335B2
A sheet conveyer device including a sheet container tray and a guide member to restrict a position of edges of the sheets is provided. The sheet container tray includes a first engagement section. The guide member includes an arm part and a first engageable part being engageable with the first engagement section. One of the first engagement section and the first engageable part is formed to have a concave structure, and the other one of the first engagement section and the first engageable part is formed to have a convex structure. A first plane in the concave structure, which becomes slidably in contact with the convex structure when the guide member is moved in a pointing direction, is formed to incline in a more moderate angle than an angle of a second plane in the concave structure, which becomes separated from the convex structure.
US08708331B2
A sheet supplying apparatus includes a feed roller, a sheet receiving plate, a lifting member, an urging member, and a cam. The sheet receiving plate is configured to pivot between a nearby position where the sheet receiving plate is disposed near the feed roller and a remote position where the sheet receiving plate is disposed remote from the feed roller. The lifting member is configured to pivot between a first position where the sheet receiving plate is in the nearby position and a second position where the sheet receiving plate is in the remote position. The urging member is configured to urge the lifting member from the second position toward the first position. The cam is configured to contact and move the lifting member from the second position to the first position when the feed roller feeds a sheet, and to move the lifting member to the second position again.
US08708330B2
A sheet conveyor apparatus may include a sheet support portion, a first roller that feeds sheets supported on the sheet support portion, and a second roller disposed downstream of the first roller and rotatable about a rotation axis. The apparatus further include a holder supported swingably about the rotation axis, a wall opposite the sheet support portion with the holder interposed therebetween, and a pressing member disposed between the wall and the holder to press the first roller toward the sheet support portion. The pressing member includes a holding member movably supported by the holder to contact the wall, and a spring disposed between the holding member and the holder to apply a biasing force causing the holding member and the holder to move away from each other while maintaining a state in which the holding member contacts the wall regardless of swing of the holder about the rotation axis.
US08708328B2
A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit, a suction conveyance unit configured to convey an uppermost sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit, a suction unit configured to adsorb the sheets onto the suction conveyance unit, and an adsorption completion detection unit. In the sheet feeding apparatus, when the tab-attached sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking unit and fed such that their tab portions are on the downstream side in a sheet feeding direction, the suction unit starts to adsorb the sheet and the suction conveyance unit starts to convey the sheet immediately after the adsorption completion detection unit detects the completion of the adsorption. When the sheets other than the tab-attached sheets are fed, the suction unit previously adsorbs the sheet onto the suction conveyance unit, and the suction conveyance unit starts to convey the sheet in response to the sheet feeding signal.
US08708322B2
A payload launch lock mechanism includes a base, a preload clamp, a fastener, and a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator. The preload clamp is configured to releasibly restrain a payload. The fastener extends, along an axis, through the preload clamp and into the base, and supplies a force to the preload clamp sufficient to restrain the payload. The SMA actuator is disposed between the base and the clamp. The SMA actuator is adapted to receive electrical current and is configured, upon receipt of the electrical current, to supply a force that causes the fastener to elongate without fracturing. The preload clamp, in response to the fastener elongation, either rotates or pivots to thereby release the payload.
US08708316B2
A lock for a fence, the lock including a seat having an opening configured to receive a socket and a lock plate rotatably coupled to the seat and configured to be coupled to a fence pole protruding from the socket.
US08708314B2
A gambrel device includes a gambrel frame of a generally tri-angular shaped plate construction of steel or similar strength material that includes a top apex, oppositely disposed base apexes and a substantially flat back surface. A winch is mounted to a front surface of the gambrel frame and includes an electric motor and a winch drum operatively connected to the electric motor for driving the winch drum. A rigging cable extends from the winch drum and is threaded through an eyelet disposed at the top apex of the gambrel frame. The rigging cable may be secured to an existing structure and the winch is operated to hoist and suspend the gambrel frame from the structure. Further, the gambrel device may be utilized as a skid to relocate an animal by dragging the animal across a ground surface.
US08708312B2
An indexable tool includes a handle, an indexable tool body and a coupling subassembly. The coupling subassembly rotatably joins and selectively locks and unlocks the handle and the indexable tool body in rotatable relation to each other. The coupling subassembly includes a push button fixedly coupled to a push button cylinder, adjacently disposed first and second serrated inserts, a cap, a cap retention ring, a push button retainer clip and a spring. The cap is held in fixed position with the cap retention ring. The spring is biased to hold the coupling subassembly in a locked position to prevent relative rotation between the tool body and the handle. In an unlocked position the push button is pushed against the bias of the spring to slidably move the coupling subassembly into a position enabling relative rotary movement of the handle relative to the indexable tool.
US08708309B2
A spring seat for self aligning a bias-open or bias-close spring is disposed within a tubular control element of a gas regulator and designed to reduce side loading of the spring, which can cause the spring to prematurely fail. The spring seat can comprise a spring seat adaptor and a seat ring. The spring seat adaptor is fixed inside of the tubular control element and the seat ring is movably mounted on the spring seat adaptor via a ball and socket type joint. The movable seat ring is engaged by the spring and adapted to be self-aligned through three-dimensional displacement relative to the spring seat adaptor via the ball and socket joint.
US08708306B2
A tunable valve assembly reduces valve-generated vibration. One embodiment comprises a valve body and valve seat having substantially collinear longitudinal axes. A rebound characteristic frequency is associated with rebound of the elastic valve body base plate from forceful contact with the valve seat. A central cavity in the valve body encloses a spring-mass damper optionally immersed in a dilatant liquid and having a damper resonant frequency approximating a pump housing resonance. A lateral support assembly adjustably secured to the valve seat has a support resonant frequency designed in conjunction with the rebound characteristic frequency and the damper resonant frequency. Combined hysteresis heat loss associated with the above three vibration frequencies is reflected in lower closing energy impulse amplitude and damping of associated vibrations. Compliance of the elastic valve body base plate mating with the valve seat increases closing energy impulse duration and narrows the corresponding induced vibration spectrum.
US08708305B2
An article support assembly includes a stretch releasable adhesive strip having an adhesive portion and a non-adhesive pull tab portion, and a unitary article support member arranged over at least a portion of the adhesive portion of the stretch releasable adhesive strip. The article support member and pull tab are configured so that when the article support member is mounted on a surface using the stretch releasable adhesive strip, the pull tab remains exposed but is visually inconspicuous.
US08708301B2
The invention provides holder devices and methods of making and using the same. The holder devices described may be used to hold a wide variety of personal electronic devices, as well as other items. Illustratively, the holder device may include a body portion, at least two holder sides, and an extension portion. Each of the holder sides may be disposed in slots in the body portion. The holder sides may be in the form of an elephant head, for example. The extension portion may be selectively positioned in either a stowed position, an extended position, or some interim position. In the extended position, or partially extended position, the extension portion provides enhanced stability to the holder device.
US08708295B2
Improved workpiece-carrier in the form of a high-temperature-grating 10 assembled from mutually engaging elements consisting of carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon-composite-board-strips comprising comb-shaped elements, having a frame surrounding a horizontal grating as well as at least one workpiece-support (40) which is inert in relation to the supported workpiece and provides a workpiece-support-area (50) at a distance above the grating (3O)7 said work-piece-support (40) being arranged within at least one enclosing cut-out-section of at least one element wherein furthermore said elements comprise at least one element having interlocking cut-out-sections in alternating arrangement, at least one auxiliary element, said workpiece-support (40) is a single-piece part of high temperature ceramic of rod-shaped elongation being arranged parallel to the plane of said grating (30) and being an integral part of the grating by being enclosed beneath the workpiece-support-area (50) by cut-out-sections of a multitude of crosswise arranged grating-elements while also being framed at its ends by crosswise arranged continuous elements, the enclosed, non-removable work-piece-support being floatingly integrated within the grating and the workpiece-carrier being fastened in assembled position by the at least one auxiliary element, wherein each comb-shaped element has at least one auxiliary bore with an auxiliary element arranged tightly and form-fittingly in said auxiliary bore and each auxiliary element being furthermore arranged tightly and form-fittingly in at least one auxiliary bore of the at least one element having interlocking cut-out-sections in alternating arrangement.
US08708289B2
A component for a fastening clip which is composed of two identical components of this type and serves to fasten at least one conduit, having a base plate and at least one seat for a conduit, the seat defining a substantially semi-cylindrical receiving space, the seat having first latching elements and second latching elements arranged opposite each other in pairs with respect to the cylinder axis and extending on one side of the base plate away therefrom, wherein with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to the cylinder axis, the first latching elements are arranged on a first side of the plane and said second latching elements are arranged on the second side of the plane, and wherein the first latching elements are formed such that they can latch on the second latching elements.
US08708287B2
A lock bearing for a points setting arrangement has a lock bearing screw penetrating a foot of a setting tongue and an anti-rotation ring enclosing the head of the lock bearing screw in an annular, force-fitted manner with an outer toothing and a safety plate matching the outer toothing. It therefore is possible to tighten the lock bearing screw within a small torque range and only to have to align the lock bearing screw with the pitch of the outer toothing. Therefore if, for example, the outer toothing has 36 teeth, the lock bearing screw only need to be aligned within a range of maximum 10°. The anti-rotation ring functions like an adapter for the toothing mass and contributes to the fact that no modifications need to be carried out on the remaining construction of the lock bearing, which is advantageous as regards safety and approval considerations.
US08708277B1
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus configured to automatically retrieve, service, and launch an aircraft. For retrieval, the aircraft drops a weighted cable, and pulls it at low relative speed into a broad aperture of the apparatus. In certain instances, the cable is dragged along guiding surfaces of the apparatus into and through a slot until its free end is captured. The aircraft becomes anchored to the apparatus, and is pulled downward by the cable into a receptacle. Guiding surfaces of the receptacle adjust the position and orientation of a probe on the aircraft, directing the probe to mate with a docking fixture of the apparatus. Once mated, the aircraft is automatically shut down and serviced. When desired, the aircraft is automatically started and tested in preparation for launch, and then released into free flight. A full ground-handling cycle is thus accomplished with a simple, economical apparatus.
US08708275B2
In order to generate an efficient aerodynamic braking force, whatever the speed of a vehicle such as an airplane flying in the air, the method includes a step for the production of energy by the vehicle, a step of storage of the energy produced and a step of utilization of such energy to drive a propeller which generates a force opposing the forward motion of the vehicle. Energy is produced by using the displacement of the vehicle with respect to air using a propeller driving a generator, or using the displacement with respect to the ground, using wheels driving a generator, or using generators driven by motors of the vehicle. The energy can be stored in the pneumatic, electric or kinetic form and the generation and driving means are selected according to the technology used for the storage means.
US08708274B2
A propulsion engine comprises a compressor, a combustor and a turbine arranged in flow series about a turbine axis. A shaft is coupled to the turbine along the turbine axis, and first and second propulsions fans are rotationally coupled to the turbine at opposite ends of the shaft. The first and second propulsion fans rotate substantially parallel to one another, and transversely with respect to the turbine axis.
US08708270B2
Dispensers and dispensing systems and methods having communication abilities are provided. Various embodiments include the ability to communicate reminders and other messages to users and maintenance personnel. An embodiment of the present invention has two sensors, one for detecting when to dispense a product and the other for detecting when to communicate pre-recorded messages. Another embodiment also includes the ability to record multiple messages into the dispenser for later playback upon triggering events. Still yet other embodiments provide messages upon dispensing of product.
US08708268B2
A fishing reel having a reel housing comprising a ring gear with a rod mount directly or indirectly attached to the ring gear and a spool positioned within the ring gear, a reel crank adapted to impart rotational movement to the spool, a line guide positioned radially outwardly from the spool, a flange hingedly attached to the spool, wherein the spool may be positioned in a first casting position wherein the axis of the spool is generally parallel to a fishing rod when the rod mount is mounted to the fishing rod; and wherein the spool is movable 90 degrees with respect to the flange to be positioned in a second reeling position, wherein the axis of the spool is generally perpendicular to a fishing line being retrieved upon line retrieval; and wherein as the reel crank is rotated the spool orbitally rotates within the ring gear.
US08708261B2
Lubrication system for application of lubricant to the cutting mechanism of paper shredders. Maintenance and lubrication can be performed by applying lubrication agents to the cutting mechanism of a paper shredder without requiring disassembly of the paper shredder. The agents can also include scented agents and decomposing agents or a combination thereof. Lubrication sheets are configured to apply agents to the cutting mechanism of paper shredders. A holder can be positioned on a housing of a paper shredder for retaining one or more lubrication sheets within proximity of the shredding mechanism of the paper shredder. Paper shredders may include means for identifying when lubrication is needed and/or when the cutting mechanism of the paper shredder has been lubricated by a lubrication sheet.
US08708259B2
Various embodiments of the present invention generally provide processes for recovering and/or using one or more constituent components of carpeting. More specifically, various embodiments provide processes for reclaiming a filler material from carpet as well as processes for using the recovered filler material in subsequent carpet manufacturing processes. The present filler recovery processes can provide recycled filler material, which can be extracted at various stages of processing, and in different purities, depending on the subsequent need or use for the recovered filler material. In some instances, the filler recovery processes described herein can be implemented as sub-processes for recycling other carpet components.
US08708255B2
A shower attachment which can be adjusted about a joint is proposed. The shower attachment comprises in one shower-attachment housing two water guides with in each case one outlet option. A changeover device can be used to change over between the two water guides. The changeover device comprises a valve having a valve closing body. In order to actuate the changeover device, an actuating element is provided on the shower-attachment housing and can be adjusted in two opposite directions relative to the shower-attachment housing. The two adjusting directions of the actuating element are at the same time directions which lead to a pivoting of the shower attachment about the joint axis.
US08708254B2
A fluid sprayer includes a rigid fluid conduit with a conduit side wall extending along a conduit axis between open first and second conduit ends. The conduit side wall defines a fluid passage extending between the open first and second ends. A spray nozzle with a fluid-expulsion bore is connected to the second conduit end such that it can pivot about a nozzle-pivot axis that extends orthogonally to the conduit axis and such that fluid introduced into the first conduit end is expelled through the fluid-expulsion bore. A nozzle actuator is attached to the conduit for bi-directional rotation about an actuator-rotation axis having a component of spatial extension perpendicular to the conduit axis. The nozzle actuator and nozzle are mechanically linked so that rotation of the actuator causes the nozzle to pivot with respect to the conduit axis. A spray-angle selector rotates in tandem with the nozzle actuator and includes an angle-selection surface. A selector stop, with a base portion fixed relative to the fluid conduit, cooperatively engages the angle-selection surface to define a plurality of angular nozzle positions and provide resistance opposing pivotal movement out of each angular nozzle position.
US08708253B2
The invention relates to a hand application device (1) having improved handling capability, in that its individual elements (2, 7, 12) are rotatable and adjustable to one another around four rotational axes (8, 10, 13, 28).
US08708252B2
A sanitary fixture with a mounting housing which has a thread for fastening to a mating thread provided on the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting. The mounting housing has a downstream housing end side with flow-through holes, and wherein at least one insertion part can be inserted into the mounting housing as far as an insertion stop. The fixture has an aerated jet regulator or is configured as such, so a circumferential wall of the mounting housing borders at least one aeration duct at least in a subregion of at least a double-walled configuration, and the at least one aeration duct, which is open towards the downstream housing end side, opens out in at least one aeration opening leading into the housing interior of the mounting housing.
US08708248B2
A straw is provided for drinking beverages which may contain pieces, fragments, chunks, etc., of food matter. The straw has one or more notches, cuts or recesses located near an end portion which facilitates fluid intake even in the presence of blocking material.
US08708241B2
Radio frequency certificates of authenticity (RFCOAs) and associated scanners and methods are presented. In one implementation, an array of miniaturized antenna elements in an RFCOA scanner occupies an area smaller than a credit card yet obtains a unique electromagnetic fingerprint from an RFCOA associated with an item, such as the credit card. The antenna elements are miniaturized by a combination of both folding and meandering the antenna patch components. The electromagnetic fingerprint of an exemplary RFCOA embeddable in a credit card or other item is computationally infeasible to fake, and the RFCOA cannot be physically copied or counterfeited based only on possession of the electromagnetic fingerprint.
US08708239B2
A stored-value card includes a housing, an audio circuit storing an audio file, and a speaker coupled to the audio circuit. The housing includes a first panel, a second panel spaced from and positioned opposite the first panel, and a side wall extending between the first panel and the second panel. The side wall extends substantially perpendicular to each of the first panel and the second panel such that an open cavity is formed between the first panel and the second panel. The housing further includes an account identifier signifying a financial account or record linked to the stored-value card. The audio circuit and the speaker are substantially enclosed within the open cavity of the housing. Stored-value card assemblies and methods of using a stored-value card are also disclosed.
US08708234B2
An IC (Integrated Circuit) tag communication apparatus is capable of transporting a medium with an IC tag along a transportation path and communicating with the IC tag. The IC tag communication apparatus includes an antenna portion for communicating with the IC tag. Further, the transportation path includes a low dielectric region arranged to face the antenna portion.
US08708227B1
Remote deposit of checks can be facilitated by a financial institution. A customer's general purpose computer and image capture device may be leveraged to capture an image of a check and deliver the image to financial institution electronics. Additional data for the transaction may be collected as necessary. The transaction can be automatically accomplished utilizing the images and data thus acquired.
US08708224B2
An electronic screen shows video that has a barcode wrapping an URL. A user images the barcode with a mobile device and decodes it into a web page with an audio feed corresponding to the video. Or the barcode wraps a phone number which the user's device contacts to get an audio feed. The web page lets the user pick between several audio feeds, where the feeds might be in different languages. Several users get audio feeds for the same screen. An electronic screen controlled by a user with a mobile device shows a barcode. Another user with a mobile device images the barcode and causes the screen to be 2 split screens, where the original user has one and the new user has the other. Each split screen can offer via barcode a separate audio track that can be heard by a user with a cellphone.
US08708222B2
A method for producing a finishing layer containing a window (104) for a portable data storage medium, in particular a chip card, and the use of the method for producing a data storage medium. A transparent plastic-based support layer (28) is used and an opaque color layer (30) is applied on the support layer in a screen printing process, wherein the color layer (30) has a recess (32) having the dimensions of the window (104). A first layer (40) of a transparent primer is then screen printed onto the color layer and a design color layer (50) is then applied in an offset printing process onto the first layer. A second layer (60) of a transparent primer is applied in an offset printing process on top of the design color layer (50) and a transparent finish (70) is finally applied onto the second layer (60).
US08708221B1
A system and method for distributing and tracking product information to users, such as consumers, is described. In an embodiment, a plurality of articles intended for distribution are provided. The articles are labeled to include a digitally readable code that is controllably variable with respect to each individual article. The labeled articles are arranged for distribution and are then distributed. A user can capture (e.g., photograph or scan) the digitally readable code using a portable electronic device. The captured digitally readable code may, among other things, provide various product information that can, if desired, be viewed on the electronic device.
US08708219B2
A mailbox support attaching to a post includes an arm for supporting a mailbox at a given height, an opening for freely allowing the arm to slide over the post, and a tab flexibly extending into the opening and designed to limit movement of the arm relative to the post if the post is disposed within the opening.
US08708218B2
Packaging that has a small space requirement after use, is economical and practical to use, and avoids the user soiling his fingers during opening and when grasping the product comprises a lateral strip (410) having two longitudinal edges connected by two end edges and having at least one curvature and/or fold in order to form a storage space for the food product and a membrane seal having a bottom region (501) and a cover region (502), each region begin secured to a separate longitudinal edge, and a lateral border region (503) secured to the end edges of the strip so as to enclose the food product in the storage space. The membrane seal is secured in a peelable manner to the end edges, to the whole of a first longitudinal edge and to at least a part of the second longitudinal edge.
US08708216B2
A remote-controlled joining system for subsea pipelines for joining two smooth pipeline ends (pipe ends) that are arranged facing in line a distance apart. The system includes an apparatus arranged to move at least one of the pipeline ends sideways and in the longitudinal direction. The joining system includes a pipe sleeve having internal seals for sealing against each pipeline surface. The pipe ends are inserted into the sleeve to a facing position within the seals. The system also includes a welding clamp with an integrated welding tool for remotely welding of a first end of the pipe sleeve to the first pipeline and a second end of the pipe sleeve to the second pipeline. The welding clamp can be remotely fastened sealingly around the pipe ends and the sleeve and is equipped with means for establishing and maintaining a welding atmosphere in a volume that is delimited by the seals of the clamp and the seals of the sleeve.
US08708215B2
Disclosed herein is a solder ball supplying apparatus including: a cartridge formed in a box shape and having a plurality of solder balls embedded therein; a vibration unit coupled to a lower portion of the cartridge; and a metal mask coupled integrally with a lower portion of the vibration unit and having a plurality of holes formed over the entire surface thereof.
US08708204B2
In continuous casting of steel, the flow out of the tap hole (11) in the tundish (10) is controlled by a stopper rod that is rotatable so as to give the molten steel a swirling motion. This rotation reduces the risk of deposits in the tap hole and in the discharge tube (12). A non-rotatable sleeve around the stopper rod (16) extends through the slag layer (18) and into the molten steel (17). Protective gas is supplied to the gap between the stopper rod (16) and the sleeve (30) to prevent air from being drawn through the gap and into the molten steel.
US08708202B2
Systems for delivering coating compositions are disclosed. The system may include a support base for supporting a container of a coating composition and a pressure canister movable in relation to the support base from an open position to a closed position in which the pressure canister surrounds the coating composition container and forms a seal with the support base. The system may include a pressure canister that is movable from a delivery position in which the canister is pressurized to a cleaning position in which the canister may be cleaned by a cleaning fixture. The pressure canisters are useful in automated systems for delivering various types of coating formulations.
US08708201B2
A modular platen assembly comprises an annular hub, a wiper ring assembly and a coupling ring. The annular hub is for connecting to a ram of an inductor pump. The wiper ring assembly includes an annular wiper for sealing with a container. The coupling ring is independently joined to the hub and the wiper ring assembly at first and second connections, respectively.
US08708189B2
A disposable pest entry barrier and open bottle cover is constructed in various shapes, such as conical or cylindrical, having a sidewall, a closed end and an opposite open end. The bottle cover is formed from a disposable material, such as cardboard or plastic. The bottle cover is coated or sprayed with a solution consisting primarily of lemongrass essential oil. This oil solution acts as a natural repellent and deters fruit flies and other contaminating pests from entering the open end of a bottle on which the bottle cover is placed.
US08708188B2
A “clean can” beverage can includes a beverage can body and a beverage can top coupled to the body. The can top is shaped to define a groove between a lower inside edge of the rim of the can top and an upper surface of the can top. A groove cover is disposed to cover the groove along at least a portion of the groove that is located adjacent to the openable section of the can top. The groove cover prevents collection of debris in the groove. The groove allows the can top to be wiped clean without debris getting stuck in the groove by sloping upwards towards the top of the tim. The groove cover can also cover the rim and an upper portion of the can body. The groove cover provides a more sanitary drinking experience and serves as a marketing surface.
US08708180B2
The invention relates to a container (1) for holding fluid or particle compositions which container (1) comprises an inner lining (6) applied to an inner side (2) of the container (1), where the container (1) is provided with an inner lining (6) of a peel-able coating. The peel-able coating can be applied as water based, as Acetone based emulsion or as UV curable lacquer. The invention relates further to a method of manufacturing such a container (1), where the lining (6) is applied to the container (1) by following process steps: Applying a peel-able coating to the inner side of the container (1); Curing and/or drying the peel-able coating by heating, blowing or radiating by UV-light. Further the invention relates to the use of a peel-able coating as an inner lining (6) in a container (1) for fluid materials, such as paint or other materials able to leave residues on or in the container.
US08708172B2
A crane for loading and unloading a cargo includes multi-stage trolley. The multi-stage trolley for a crane includes a first trolley movable in a longitudinal direction along a boom of the crane; a second trolley movable in a lateral direction on the first trolley; a hoisting wire provided in the longitudinal direction along the boom; a spreader connected to the hoisting wire through the first trolley and the second trolley and supported by the hoisting wire, the spreader being movable in a vertical direction according to a movement of the hoisting wire. The multi-stage trolley further includes a sheave block unit for changing a direction of the hoisting wire to maintain a vertical level of the spreader constant when the first trolley and/or the second trolley is moved.
US08708171B2
A boom (1) is used for receiving loads on the end thereof. The boom (1) has a metal boom hollow profile (2) extending along a boom longitudinal axis (3), and also a reinforcing layer (7) made of a fiber-plastic composite, connected to the boom hollow profile (2) at least in sections. At least one sensor element (12) is arranged in the region of the reinforcing layer (7). The sensor element (12) is used to detect strains in the boom (1).
US08708170B2
The present invention relates to a crane control for the control of a hoisting gear of a crane which takes account of oscillation dynamics based on the elasticity of the hoist rope on the control of the hoisting gear and reduces them by a suitable control of the hoisting gear.
US08708166B1
A confection rack enables confections to appear as a bouquet of flowers. The confection rack Comprises a plurality of wire rings in circular form mechanically coupled to one another. The plurality of wire rings is mechanically coupled to a ring base with riser prongs. The ring base is further mechanically coupled to locating prongs which can be used to align the confection rack into a pot. In this manner, a user can insert the confections into the plurality of wire rings to make the confections appear as a bouquet of flowers.
US08708164B2
An air sealing device for installation in server racks to minimize the internal mixing of cooling air with warm air without passing through a server. The device has an elongated support strip of ABS or similar plastic material, to one portion of one side of which is secured a double side foam mounting strip, with an outside adhesive surface covered by a removable strip. A Neoprene foam, resiliently flexible sealing strip is adhesively secured by one edge margin thereof to the available surface portion of the support strip, on the same side as the mounting strip. The sealing strip can be mounted on a rack element to extend across an air space and into contact with a cover panel to prevent bypass air flow along sides of the rack. The device can also be mounted on a frame element to extend over surface areas thereof to close openings therein.
US08708163B2
Provided are spunbond polyester mats using an improved curable composition. The curable composition comprises a reaction product of an amine and a reactant in the form of an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form the curable binder composition. The composition when used as a binder in the mat is cured to form a water-insoluble binder which exhibits good adhesion and thermodimensional stability.
US08708160B2
A device is provided for filtering particles from a dishwashing fluid in a dishwashing machine, the dishwashing machine having a dishwashing container in which are disposed items to be subjected to the application of a dishwashing liquid thereto such that particles disentrained from the items during the application of a dishwashing liquid are entrained with the dishwashing liquid. The device includes a container operable to retain therein a predetermined quantity of a liquid mixed with at least one of a foam-forming substance and cleaning agents, the container including an arrangement for producing a flow of a gaseous fluid through the predetermined quantity of the liquid so as to generate a foam layer. The foam layer filters out from a dishwashing liquid passed through the foam layer a substantial fraction of particles entrained with the dishwashing liquid and such filtered-out particles are retained in the foam layer.
US08708148B2
Various embodiments of flanged containers that can be stacked in a nested relationship are disclosed so as to provide uniform spacing between the containers to facilitate reliable denesting thereof. The flanges and/or sidewalls of the containers may be provided with features that facilitate alignment and uniform spacing of the nested containers so that a denesting apparatus can reliably denest the containers. Other containers include sidewalls divided into two sections that serve to stabilize stacked container.
US08708145B2
The present invention provides a package cushioning structure for module, which includes a cushioning bottom board and a cushioning band extending through and interlaced with the cushioning bottom board. The cushioning bottom board forms a plurality of spaced hollow sections. A bar is arranged between every two of the hollow sections. The cushioning band includes a plurality of cushioning air columns mounted thereto at interval. The cushioning air columns are arranged alternately on the bars. To package, modules are each positioned on and born by each of the bars between two of the cushioning air columns. An alternate package cushioning structure includes a cushioning bottom board having a surface forming slots and a cushioning band arranged in the cushioning bottom board through a mounting channel extending through the bottom board from a side surface thereof. Air columns of the cushioning band are located in the slots to support modules.
US08708141B1
An eye protection kit comprises a plurality of soft, smooth eye patches and an atomizer providing ultraviolet radiation protection for use while sunbathing or in a tanning bed is herein disclosed stored within a carrying case. The eye patches are each comprised of a textile material comprising reinforced perimeters. For personal comfort and to maintain moisture, the patches are wetted with a cooling fluid therefrom the atomizer. Further, the patches would be oversized, thus providing shielding to areas adjacent to the eye where skin lines often form and shielding below the eyes where sunbathers sometimes develop unflattering skin discolorization.
US08708139B2
Transportation packaging may be used to ship or transport a product, such as an electronic device. The transportation packaging may be reused subsequent to the transport of the product by removing a shape defined by a pattern included on the transportation packaging, assembling or altering a portion of the removed pattern, and engaging the assembled pattern with the product. In a particular embodiment, the assembled pattern may provide a usability surface for at least one peripheral device to be used with the electronic device.
US08708126B2
A method is shown providing a Bill Validator that is adaptable for bill payback by utilizing an attachable bill hopper module to fit between the bill Stacker and the Bill Validator.A construction is shown providing a bill Validator utilizing an attachable bill hopper module fitted between the bill Stacker and the bill Validator that fits in the same “envelope” with an existing Bill Validator with Stacker.A method and construction is shown where higher bill security is provided when the power is off.A method and construction is shown where higher bill security is provided when humidity and icing occur in and around the inlet.
US08708125B2
A clutch is provided that includes an annular clutch housing, a driving-side rotor, a driven-side rotor having a control surface, and a rolling element located between the inner circumferential surface of the clutch housing and the control surface. The control surface faces radially outward in the clutch housing. When the driving-side rotor rotates, the rotational driving force of the driving-side rotor is transmitted to the driven-side rotor. When the driving-side rotor is driven to rotate, the rolling element rotates together with the driven-side rotor. When the driving-side rotor is not driven to rotate, the rolling element is held between the inner circumferential surface of the clutch housing and the control surface so as to prevent the driven-side rotor from rotating.
US08708116B2
To provide a simply-structured vibration damping device having excellent vibration damping capacity.A vibration damping device is configured to damp torsional vibrations of a rotary member of a hydraulic transmission 1, in which the rotary member is rotated integrally with a drive side impeller 2 or with a driven side impeller 5, and in which the drive side impeller 2 and the driven side impeller 5 are connected with a lockup clutch 26 actuated by fluid pressure. The vibration damping device comprises: a holding chamber 24 rotated integrally with the driven side impeller 5; a rolling member 25 held in the holding chamber 24, which is rotated in a rotational direction of the driven side impeller 5 but allowed to rotate relatively with the driven side impeller 5; and a movable member 23 configured to lock the rolling member 25 in the holding chamber 24 when actuated by the fluid pressure for disengaging the lockup clutch 26, and to unlock the rolling member 25 in the holding chamber 24 when actuated by the fluid pressure for engaging the lockup clutch 26.
US08708103B2
An interconnect structure of a support apparatus. The interconnect structure includes a channel configured to receive a portion of a cross member. The interconnect structure further includes a pair of openings oriented relative opposite sides of the channel, each opening configured to receive a leg member of the support apparatus. The interconnect structure is a single-piece structure.
US08708099B2
A portable anchor for use in a fall arrest protection system. The anchor comprises a base for abutment to a solid support structure, a post extending perpendicular from the base, at least one attachment point connected to the post for receiving a connector, and a rod adapted to be inserted through a central bore through the base and post. The rod has an anchoring section at a first end of the rod for frictionally engaging a portion of the solid support structure and a locking section in the vicinity of a second end of the rod for reversibly securing the rod to the post. Also disclosed is a fall arrest protection system that includes the portable anchor described above. Furthermore, a method of attaching the portable anchor to a solid support structure is also disclosed.
US08708097B2
A panel (1) including a substantially air impermeable membrane layer (3) and a layer (5) having apertures (6) therein, wherein each portion of the membrane layer (3) which overlies an aperture (6) defines a diaphragm (9) which is able to vibrate in response to sound waves incident on the membrane layer (3) and thereby absorb at least part of the sound waves' energy, at least some of the apertures (6) being arranged in clusters (11) whereby the greatest distance between adjacent apertures within a cluster (11) is less than the distance between (i) any one of the apertures (6) within the cluster (11) and (ii) any aperture (6) outside of the cluster (11), each region of the panel (1) defined by an outer periphery of a cluster (11) forming a resonance absorber (13) which is able to vibrate in response to sound waves and thereby absorb at least part of the sound waves energy, wherein at least one resonance absorber (13) is able to provide sound absorption at a frequency which is different to the frequency of resonance of at least one of the individual diaphragms (9).
US08708094B2
An exhaust system (1) for an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, has at least one exhaust tract (2), which has at least one exhaust pipe (3) which conducts exhaust gas, and has at least one active silencer (5). The active silencer (5) has a silencer housing (6) and at least one electro-acoustic converter (7), which is arranged in the silencer housing (6). At least one connection pipe (8) connects the silencer housing (6) fluidically to the exhaust pipe (3). The thermal loading of the converter (7) can be reduced if a sound propagation path (9) formed for the propagation of airborne noise in the connection pipe (8) is impermeable to thermal radiation (16) emanating from the exhaust gas in the exhaust pipe (3).
US08708088B2
Adjustable control arms for dual path hydrostatic pumps have first and second arms interconnected by an eccentric mechanism with a common pivot point on a pivotal control input shaft for the pumps. The control arms are adjusted at a minimal pump output such as 500 r.p.m. by varying the eccentric to achieve equal r.p.m. The throw of the pump arms is adjusted at a maximum pump output r.p.m., such as approximately 4000 r.p.m., to achieve uniform tracking, steering, and directional control from the dual path hydrostatic pumps.
US08708084B2
A power-assisted bicycle with an auxiliary power unit that improves positional stability of a torque sensor and inhibits the position of the sensor from being misaligned, wherein the power-assisted bicycle includes an annular hollow member inserted over an outer periphery of a crankshaft and a one-way clutch disposed on the hollow member for transmitting, when a pedaling torque in a direction in which the power-assisted bicycle traveling in a forward direction, is applied to the crankshaft, and wherein a magnetic film is formed in a recess disposed in an outer periphery of the hollow member, and a magnetostrictive torque sensor is positioned and fixed by a support member for rotatably supporting the magnetostrictive torque sensor relative to the annular hollow member at both ends of the recess, such that the magnetostrictive torque sensor faces the magnetic film in the recess.
US08708073B2
A generator unit, in particular for motor vehicles, having at least one generator for producing electrical power and having a multi-stage compressor unit that includes at least two compressors connected in series and downline from which there is a turbine unit having at least one turbine, there being a combustion chamber situated between compressor unit and turbine unit. An injection device is provided for injecting fuel between the compressors.
US08708069B2
A vehicle equipped with a double tandem members suspension system to suspend the vehicle, the double tandem members being operatively interconnected together and adapted to receive idling wheels adapted to support and guide an endless belt thereon to provide significant suspension travel and prevents an endless belt disengagement from the idling wheels.
US08708063B2
The present invention provides a rechargeable electric tool in which a battery pack detachably mounted to a mounting part, which is formed lower than an opening provided at a housing, wherein a seal member is held in the housing to seal between the opening and the battery pack mounted to the mounting part. A projection projecting toward the opening side is provided at the seal member, and a passing hole that penetrates the projection and the seal member and allows a lead line connecting an electric component accommodated on the opening side in the housing to the battery pack to pass therethrough is formed.
US08708062B2
The invention relates to a machine tool having a two-part housing. The housing parts of the machine tool are connected by a connection device that has at least two connection projections. According to the invention, the connection projections in one housing part are arranged adjacent to each other and engage in corresponding connection recesses, in a positive fit, arranged in the other housing part.
US08708056B2
A packer that includes a mandrel, primary and secondary opening seats attached to an interior of the mandrel, a landing seat attached to the interior of the mandrel, a packer element attached to an exterior of the mandrel, and a closing seat attached to the interior of the mandrel. The secondary opening seat may be between the primary opening seat and the landing seat, and the primary opening seat may be between the closing seat and the secondary opening seat. The primary opening seat engages an opening plug and moves from a first position covering an opening to a second position not covering the opening, and the secondary opening seat engages the primary opening seat and moves from a first position covering a port to a second position not covering the port.
US08708050B2
Apparatus and methods for controlling the flow of fluid, such as formation fluid, through an oilfield tubular positioned in a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation. Fluid flow is autonomously controlled in response to change in a fluid flow characteristic, such as density. A fluid diverter is movable between an open and closed position in response to fluid density change and operable to restrict fluid flow through a valve assembly inlet. The diverter can be pivotable, rotatable or otherwise movable in response to the fluid density change. The diverter can control a fluid flow ratio through two valve inlets. The fluid flow ratio is used to operate a valve member to restrict fluid flow through the valve. The fluid diverter can move in response to a change in the fluid to affect fluid flow patterns in a tubular, the change in flow pattern operating a valve assembly.
US08708048B1
A gas recovery component heating apparatus and method of use. The apparatus includes an insulating shell and at least one heating element positioned along the interior of the insulating shell. The apparatus further includes one or more apertures configured to allow a portion of the gas recovery component to pass through said aperture when the apparatus is secured about the gas recovery component. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for securing the apparatus about the gas recovery component.
US08708042B2
An apparatus for controlling fluid flow that includes a chamber having a first valve and a second valve; a sensor that senses a pressure parameter associated with the chamber; and a controller programmed to operate the first valve and the second valve in response to the sensed pressure parameter may be used to control for flow and to obtain data relating to a formation and/or formation fluid.
US08708041B2
A wellbore instrument system includes a pipe string extending from earth's surface into a wellbore. At least a portion of the pipe string includes a signal communication channel having a cable, such as an electrical conductor or an optical fiber. At least one wireline configurable wellbore instrument is coupled to the pipe string and has at least one sensor therein for measuring a physical parameter. The at least one instrument is in signal communication with the signal communication channel in the pipe string. The system includes a controller functionally associated with the at least one instrument and configured to initiate operation of the at least one sensor upon detection of a command signal.
US08708040B2
A double string pump transports liquids to the surface of a hydrocarbon well including a hydrocarbon well that is producing both natural gas and liquid fluids. The double string pump includes a hollow tube that raises and lowers the plunger and carries the liquids to the surface and an outer tube receives liquids down into the well to lubricate the moving parts and flush particles from areas prone to wear and back toward the production tube. The natural gas is produced through the annulus between wellbore casing and the outer production tubing string.
US08708036B2
A heat exchanger for cooling high-temperature gas includes a gas tank portion into which the high-temperature gas is supplied through an inlet port of the gas tank portion, a plurality of tubes configured such that the high-temperature gas flowing from the gas tank portion passes therethrough, and a cooling-medium tank portion covering each of the tubes with a gap defined therebetween. Each of the tubes has an expansion portion located at a side of the inlet port. A cooling medium flows in the gap on an outer peripheral surface of the tube. The gas tank portion, the cooling-medium tank portion, and the expansion portion of the tube are stacked such that a partition portion between the gas tank portion and the cooling-medium tank portion has a thickness larger than a thickness of the gas tank portion or the cooling-medium tank portion.
US08708035B2
The invention relates to a heat exchanger in modular construction, in particular for facilities operated using large load and/or temperature changes, having an external shell and a number of heat exchanger modules, wherein each heat exchanger module, which is either a preheater, evaporator, or superheater module, has an entry manifold, and exit manifold, and meandering pipes, through which the heat-absorbing medium, in particular water, flows from the entry manifold to the exit manifold, and the heat exchanger modules are also situated in a shared external shell, so that they have the same heat-dissipating medium flowing around them, the evaporator modules being connected in parallel via a steam-collecting drum situated outside the external shell.
US08708032B2
A decoring method and system is provided. The method includes the steps of providing the casting having a core material disposed in the internal passage; providing the decoring apparatus configured to selectively oscillate the casting and selectively rotate the casting; securing the casting in the decoring apparatus; introducing a quantity of shot into the internal passage of the casting; oscillating the casting; and rotating the casting. A decoring apparatus configured to selectively oscillate the casting along a first axis, rotate the casting about a second axis, and rotate the casting about a third axis, is also provided.
US08708021B2
To improve the tact time of a heating apparatus, provided is a heating apparatus comprising a first pressing member that heats a heating target; a second pressing member that includes an elastic body, and sandwiches the heating target between the first pressing member and the elastic body; and a floating jig that thermally separates the first pressing member from the heating target, holds the heating target between the first pressing member and the second pressing member, and when one of the first pressing member and the second pressing member presses the heating target toward the other of the first pressing member and the second pressing member, thermally connects the heating target and the first pressing member.
US08708009B2
To enhance cornering performance on each road surface and improve steering stability while ensuring traction performance and breaking performance of a pneumatic tire on a snow road or off-road.A shoulder land row (31) between a main groove (11) extending in the tire peripheral direction of a tread unit (2) and a tread end (TE) is partitioned into plan-view trapezoidal blocks (31B) with their widths reducing toward the outer side of a tire width direction by shoulder lug grooves (26) in an almost tire width direction. A plan-view trapezoidal notch (40) with its width reducing toward the inside of a block (31B) is formed in almost the center of the main groove (11) side edge of a block (31B), and an inclined surface (41) extending from the surface of the block (31B) toward the bottom of the main groove (11) is formed in the notch (40) integrally with the block (31B). This inclined surface (41) is formed stepwise by a plurality of recessed curved surfaces and protruding ridges formed between them.
US08708008B2
A carbide cutting tip including a rear surface and a bottom surface for mounting the tip to a cutting tool tooth, a top surface having a pair of peaks separated by a trough, the top surface including a frontward facet and a rearward facet sloped downwardly and rearwardly at a non-zero angle α with respect to the frontward facet, and a front surface having a substantially flat lower portion and a concave upper portion having a shape defined by a segment of an ellipse, the lower portion being disposed substantially perpendicularly to the frontward facet of the top surface, the lower portion and the upper portion joining at a break point located at the apex of the major axis of the ellipse, the major axis of the ellipse being canted frontwardly from the break point at a non-zero angle β with respect to the lower portion of the front surface.
US08708005B2
A gas filling system includes a vehicle having a gas tank, and a gas station that supplies the gas tank with gas. The vehicle includes a controller having a filling protocol that specifies a method of control on the gas station side that is used when the gas is filled into the gas tank. The gas station controls filling of the gas into the gas tank according to the filling protocol provided by the controller. A filling protocol specific to the vehicle is used and therefore, it is made possible to perform filling adapted to the gas tank of the vehicle.
US08708003B2
A two part system for transferring fill material in and out of soft furniture such as beanbag furniture, which comprises a transfer bag and a tubular funnel secured to the transfer bag and a second tubular funnel secured inside a piece of soft furniture to which the filling is to be transferred.
US08708001B2
An end treatment portion 1a which treats ends Wa and Wb of an electric wire W and a transfer portion 7 which transfers the electric wire W are provided; a discharge portion 6, which discharges the electric wire W which is subjected to an end treatment by the end treatment portion 1a and transferred by the transfer portion 7, is also provided; the discharge portion 6 includes a discharge beam 11 for securing the electric wire W in a predetermined arrangement pattern; a calculation portion 20, which controls a securing treatment for securing the electric wire W to the discharge beam 11 in the discharge portion 6, is provided; and the predetermined arrangement pattern is set by the calculation portion 20 based on a content of processing the electric wire W at a subsequent process.
US08708000B2
An apparatus and method for plugging a tubular bore is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises: a shaft member; one or more cylindrical compressible seals slideably disposed around the shaft member, wherein the shaft member passes axially through the one or more cylindrical seals; one or more cylindrical hard sleeves having one or more conical ends slideably disposed around the shaft member and adjacent to the one or more cylindrical seals; a flange attached at or near a distal end of the shaft member, wherein the flange retains the cylindrical sleeves and cylindrical seals on the shaft member; and a pulling mechanism disposed at or near a proximal end of the shaft member, wherein the seal is positioned between the flange and the one or more cylindrical hard sleeves such that compression of the seal causes it to expand away from the shaft member.
US08707999B2
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a solid body having a superhydrophobic surface structure formed by using a surface treatment of a metal body, a replication process, and a polymer sticking phenomenon to increase efficiency of fluid transfer and prevent foreign materials from being accumulated in the tube, and a superhydrophobic fluid transfer tube using the method. The superhydrophobic fluid transfer tube includes a fluid guider and a solid body provided on a fluid contact surface of the fluid guider and has micrometer-scaled unevenness and nanometer-scaled protrusions. In the method, a plurality of nanometer-scaled holes are formed on a surface of a metal body through an anodizing process, a replica is formed by immersing the metal body provided with the nanometer-scaled holes in a non-wetting polymer material and solidifying the non-wetting polymer material, the solid body having the superhydrophobic surface is formed by removing the metal body and an anode oxide from the replica, and the solid body is provided to a fluid contact surface of a fluid guider for guiding a fluid.
US08707996B2
A selector valve for independently controlling fluid between a first passage, a second passage, and a common passage, comprising: a valve housing comprising an inner chamber in communication with the outlet, having a first valve seat in communication with the first inlet and a second valve seat in communication with the second inlet, a shaft slidably extending through the housing between the first and second valve seats; first and second valve poppets slidably mounted upon the shaft within the inner chamber, each having valve faces for seating against the first and second valve seats; and a spring coaxially located around the shaft between the first and second valve poppets, pushing against the inner surfaces of the first and second valve poppets, biasing the first valve poppet and the second valve poppet away from each other and toward the first valve seat and the second valve seat.
US08707991B2
A float device for use in drawing liquids such as fuel from a tank or other reservoir is disclosed. The device comprises a float arranged for rising and falling with the level of liquid in the tank and a liquid pick-up duct, which comprises a flexible tube having its free end coupled to the float. The float is arranged for vertical movement within a filter or other member, which encloses the float and the flexible tube. The filter or other member is elongate and tubular in construction and comprises an open lower end.
US08707977B2
An example valve described herein includes a bonnet having a bonnet cavity defining a bonnet inner surface, a bonnet outer surface, and a first pressure sensing passageway extending between the bonnet outer surface and the bonnet cavity. A base is coaxially coupled to the bonnet and has a base outer surface, a base cavity that defines a base inner surface, a fluid inlet passageway extending between the base outer surface and the base cavity, a fluid outlet passageway extending between the base outer surface and the base cavity, and a second pressure sensing passageway extending between the base outer surface and the base cavity. A valve element within the base and bonnet cavities controls a fluid flow path through the fluid inlet passageway and the fluid outlet passageway.
US08707969B2
A hair treatment device and a corresponding method for treating hair are disclosed. The hair treatment device is suitable for heating hair and has a heating element that is heated to a starting temperature and whose temperature is regulated by a temperature control. The hair treatment device has a sensor that measures data from which a parameter based on the condition of the hair can be generated, wherein the parameter influences the temperature control.
US08707968B2
A hair weave removal tool comprising a shaft having first and second ends; and at least one peripheral, each peripheral having a base, including the capability of attaching the peripheral to the shaft, wherein at least one peripheral comprises a fork and razor peripheral, comprising: a prong extending from the base generally opposite the point of attachment to the base, at least two arms extending from the prong, and a blade extending between the arms.
US08707967B2
Wrapper for cigarette manufacture includes transversely extending band regions applied by a printing technique, such as gravure printing. The band regions comprise starch, an anti-wrinkling agent such as 1,2 propylene glycol or glycerin, and optionally calcium carbonate. Any suitable printing technique can be used to apply the aqueous solution to the banded regions. The pattern of banded regions may be bands, stripes, two-dimensional arrays, undulated regions, and the like along and/or around the tobacco rod. The pattern can be applied in one or more layers. The pattern may be configured so that when a smoking article is placed on a substrate, at least two longitudinal locations along the length of the tobacco rod have film-forming compound located only on sides of the smoking article not in contact with the substrate.
US08707966B2
A filter rod used in manufacture of a smoking article contains: (a) a rod of filter material, and (b) a plug wrap surrounding the rod of filter material. The overlapping side edges of the plug wrap are secured together with a plug wrap adhesive and the plug wrap adhesive comprises a disintegration accelerating agent. Alternatively or in addition, the plug wrap may contain perforations.
US08707962B2
A device for protecting an area of skin of a human body includes a plate. The plate includes a first face covered by an external layer and a second face opposite the external layer. The second face is configured to be applied onto an area of skin to be protected. The plate also includes a protective part made of a polymer gel and at least one adhesive part made of a polymer gel. The protective part is configured to ensure mechanical protection of the area to be protected and the adhesive part is configured to come into contact with the skin. The adhesive part has an adhesive power greater than an adhesive power of the protective layer to hold the plate on the area to be protected.
US08707959B2
At least one implant structure is sized and configured for implantation in, on, or near an extrinsic muscle region affecting movement and/or shape of a tongue, e.g., a genioglossus muscle. The position of the implant structure is stabilized relative to the extrinsic muscle region to maintain the tongue in a desired orientation, e.g., to maintain patency of an airway.
US08707952B2
Systems and methods for estimating a leak flow in a breathing assistance system including a ventilation device connected to a patient are provided. Data of a flow waveform indicating the flow of gas between the ventilation device and the patient is accessed. A specific portion of the flow waveform is identified, and a linear regression of the identified portion of the flow waveform is performed to determine an estimated leak flow in the breathing assistance system.
US08707947B2
The invention relates to a solar collector. The collector has a heat regulating medium which defines a cavity therein. An aperture communicates with the cavity so as to allow solar energy incident on the aperture to enter the cavity. An energy collection device is disposed in the cavity and in thermal contact with the heat regulating medium to collect solar energy entering the cavity.
US08707946B2
The invention relates to a household appliance (1), in particular a kitchen range with at least one control and/or display circuit board (2) that is set in an appropriate mounting recess (3), said control and/or display board (2), when installed, being tightly pressed against another component (4) (specifically against the bottom surface of a glass-ceramic stovetop or of a control panel. To ensure good tolerance compensation in cost-effective fashion and, thus, secure pressure contact between the control and display board and the said other component, the invention proposes the placement of the control and/or display board (2) in a socket (5) in the mounting recess (3), which socket (5) is provided with several spring elements (6) so configured and arranged as to press against the control and/or display board (2) on its side facing away from the said other component (4).
US08707942B2
A rotary wheel for a ball pitching machine includes a wheel body and a resilient member engaged on an outer periphery of the wheel body. A shaft hole is provided in the wheel body for receiving a shaft of a motor of the ball pitching machine. The wheel body includes a spring portion arranged between the shaft hole and the outer periphery of the wheel body in a radial direction and including first and second bending portions both of which protrude from two sides of the wheel body respectively. When the rotary wheel is driven to turn by the motor, a frictional force of contact of the resilient member with a ball makes the ball shot outwardly, and the rotary wheel is not broken or damaged due to the spring portion compressed in the radial direction to absorb the impact energy.
US08707940B2
A launcher has a base having a pair of opposite supports that define a channel therebetween, a hub having a body that defines a hollow interior, an inlet tube extending through the body into the hollow interior, and an outlet tube extending through the body into the hollow interior. A first tube connects the bellows to the inlet tube, and a second tube connects the outlet tube to the object. The base and the hub are constructed so that the position of the hub inside the channel can be adjusted to allow the outlet tube to be oriented at different angles.
US08707927B2
An oil squirter includes a housing in fluid communication with a source of oil pressure, a first nozzle in fluid communication with the housing, and a second nozzle in fluid communication with the housing. The oil squirter also includes a mechanism arranged within the housing and configured to open the first nozzle and close the second nozzle when the oil pressure is below a threshold value. The mechanism is also configured to open the second nozzle and close the first nozzle when the oil pressure is at or above the threshold value. An engine having a cylinder defined by a cylinder bore, a piston configured to reciprocate within the cylinder bore, and the oil squirter, along with a vehicle having such an engine, is also disclosed. In the engine, the first nozzle sprays oil onto the cylinder bore and the second nozzle sprays oil at the underside of the piston.
US08707922B2
A spark ignition device includes a ceramic insulator with a metal shell surrounding at least a portion of the ceramic insulator. A ground electrode is attached to the shell. The ground electrode has a ground electrode sparking tip spaced from a central sparking tip by a spark gap. A first terminal is arranged in electrical communication with the central sparking tip and is configured for electrical connection with a power source. The device further includes a second terminal configured for electrical connection with the power source. The second terminal is spaced from the first terminal, with the second terminal being arranged in electrical communication with the first terminal. A heater element brings the first terminal in electrical communication with the second terminal and completes an electrical circuit. The heater element has a resistance greater than the first and second terminals thereby producing a significant source of heat.
US08707919B2
A camshaft adjuster arrangement (2) having a camshaft (4) and a rotor (6) for a camshaft adjuster. The rotor (6) has a central bore (8) for a fixing element (14), the rotor being mounted on the camshaft (4) in a rotationally fixed manner by the fixing element (14). The mounting of the camshaft adjuster arrangement (2) is simplified by forming a frictional connection between the camshaft (4) and the rotor (6) using a clamping unit (16).
US08707913B2
Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency of the engine.
US08707909B2
A blind animal halo guide that is in the form of a harness, having a neck cushion that fits around the top circumference of the animal's neck to guide and protect the visually impaired animal from bumping into objects, causing injury or harm to the animal. The neck cushion holds a protective halo in place around the dogs head protecting its head, eyes, nose, and shoulders. The halo provides protection for the blind or visually impaired animal, from bumping into objects, while enabling the animal to feel its way around to participate in activities. This device specifically provides protection and guidance for the visually impaired animal, while also providing maximum comfort and does not inhibit the animal's movements, so the animal can lick itself, eat, drink, nap, sleep and participate in other normal daily living activities.
US08707908B2
A poultry weighing apparatus includes a support surface configured to permit at least one fowl to stand thereon. A force sensor is operably connected with the support surface, and detects the weight of the fowl or fowls on the support surface. A second sensor is operably connected with the support surface, and detects at least one additional physical characteristic, other than weight, of the fowl or fowls standing on the support surface.
US08707896B2
An apparatus for manufacturing an integrated circuit having a thick film metal layer includes an applicator for applying a layer of metal paste onto a heat-conducting substrate. The metal paste includes metal particles of a predetermined size. An RF generator selectively inductively couples RF energy into the metal paste. The predetermined size of the metal particles of the metal paste corresponds to a coupling frequency of the RF energy for heating the metal particles. In this way, the metal particles of the metal paste are heated with only a small fraction of the power of conventional processes, and without the need to pre-sinter the metal paste.
US08707893B2
A substrate treatment system includes a plurality of treatment apparatuses, a position adjustment apparatus adjusting a center position of the substrate, a substrate transfer apparatus transferring the substrate to the treatment apparatuses and the position adjustment apparatus, and a control unit controlling operations of the apparatuses. The substrate transfer apparatus includes an arm part curved along a peripheral edge portion of the substrate with a radius of curvature larger than a radius of the substrate, and a holding part projecting inward from the arm part and holding a rear surface of the substrate. The position adjustment apparatus includes a mounting table which holds a central portion of the rear surface of the substrate and is rotatable and horizontally movable. The control unit controls the mounting table such that the center position of the substrate held on the mounting table is aligned with a center position of the arm part.
US08707892B2
An apparatus for single-sided bilayer formation includes a first fluid chamber including a sidewall and a second fluid chamber extending through the sidewall. A barrier wall separates the first and second fluid chambers and includes a nanopore therein across which a planar lipid bilayer (PLB) is formed. In use, an electrolyte is added to the first and second fluid chambers and a lipid/organic solvent mixture is added to the first fluid chamber to form a lipid/organic solvent layer. The electrolyte level within the first fluid chamber is adjusted such that the lipid layer is raised above the barrier wall and a PLB is formed. Electrolyte levels may be adjusted manually or utilizing a fluid level regulator with or without feedback control. Optionally, the apparatus may be in the form of a nanopore array. The apparatus may be incorporated into an ion channel sensing system.
US08707879B2
A monohull offshore vessel includes a hull having a moonpool and a pipe storage. A multipurpose tower is mounted on the hull at the moonpool, and a pipe handling system is provided for handling pipes to be used with the multipurpose tower. The pipe handling system includes a gantry beam provided at opposite ends thereof with guides for interacting with horizontal guide tracks extending along opposite sides of the pipe storage for movement along the pipe storage. The guides supporting the gantry beam extend beyond the pipe storage, such that the pipe handling system can cover parts of the vessel other than the pipe storage to transport pipes and/or other objects.
US08707874B2
A molding for accommodating and fixing rectangular-outline storage containers, wherein an accommodating surface of the molding covers an even-numbered multiple of the area covered by the container surface, and in each case two containers are arranged adjacent to one another such that their facing side walls are located symmetrically in relation to the short center longitudinal axis of the molding. The underside of the molding is directed away from the accommodating surface and is provided, along the course of the center longitudinal axis, with an encompassing groove which brings together the facing side walls of two adjacent storage containers arranged beneath the molding and of which the side peripheries extend into the respective container.
US08707869B2
A cableway installation including a travel cable, a vehicle suspended therefrom, boarding and disembarking points, an aerial carrier configured to support and drive the travel cable, a mobile conductor disposed on the vehicle, a fixed conductor disposed on the aerial carrier adjacent to the travel cable and in an area proximate to at least one of the boarding and disembarking points, the fixed conductor including a first fixed contact element connected to a low voltage electric supply and a first plurality of flexible conductive contact wires extending from the fixed conductor along a longitudinal length of at least one side of the travel cable, where the mobile conductor is disposed so as to the contact the first plurality of flexible conductive contact wires and establish electrical contact with the first fixed contact element and with the low voltage electric supply when the vehicle is transported between the boarding and disembarking points.
US08707868B2
A projectile instrument is provided for penetrating a target, the penetrator element being disposable in a projectile. The instrument includes a substantially cylindrical core, first and second plates and first and second devices. The core has first and second ends and a radially extending surface. The first plate supports the first end; the second plate supports the second end. The first device radially constrains the surface, whereas the second device axially constrains the first and second ends respectively disposed between their corresponding plates. Preferably, the core is either a ceramic or else is composed of reactive materials. In one embodiment, the first plate and the first device combine as a closed sleeve; the second plate is a lid removably secured to the first plate; and the second device is a helical spring disposed between the first end and the first plate. In another embodiment, the first and second devices constitute a plurality of bolt-and-nut assemblies, each bolt-and-nut assembly having a bolt and a nut, the bolt having a shaft terminating at head and tail ends, the shaft mechanically engaging the surface, the head end having a cap mounted to the shaft and male threads on the tail end, and the nut has female threads compatible with the male threads, the head and the bolt engaging against the first and second plates to compress the core.
US08707864B2
A space-saving in-flight trash compactor, comprising a trash chute, a compactor mechanism disposed above a level of the trash chute, and a storage chamber removably positioned below the compactor mechanism and below a level of the trash chute. The storage chamber is vertically aligned with the compactor mechanism. The trash chute is configured to channel trash disposed through an opening of the trash chute at a level of a counter top and above a level of a top of the storage chamber into an opening of the storage chamber at the top of the storage chamber. The opening of the trash chute may be horizontally offset from the vertical alignment of the storage chamber and compactor mechanism.
US08707852B2
A cantilever feedback mechanism includes an upper cantilever and a lower cantilever. The upper cantilever and lower cantilever have a resistance spring rate to facilitate movement of the bellows over a selected range of resistances. The upper cantilever has downwardly oriented upper cantilever stops. The lower cantilever has upwardly oriented lower cantilever stops that engage the upper cantilever stops. Mean are provided for applying a preload to maintain the lower cantilever stops and the upper cantilever stops engaged until a force urging movement exceeds the preload.
US08707841B2
A punch tip design configured to be universal in its application with wide varieties of punch assemblies, and various punch body designs from which universal application of the punch tip is exemplified. In some cases, ancillary components used with the various punch body designs enhance ease by which the operator can selectively manipulate the same for alternately securing or releasing the punch tip. The ancillary components comprising a cam, a carrier body, and a plurality of wedge members, the cam coupling the punch body and the carrier body, the cam adjustable with respect to the punch body and the carrier body, adjustment of the cam resulting in corresponding movement of the carrier body.
US08707839B2
A workpiece adjusting mechanism for a miter saw is provided. The workpiece adjusting mechanism may include: a table for supporting a workpiece to be cut by the miter saw; an engager for engaging the workpiece, the engager configured to move the workpiece with respect to the table; and an actuator configured to control the engager to move the workpiece with respect to the table.
US08707837B2
The objective is to improve durability while making it possible to maintain an excellent cutting plane and feeling of use with a simpler configuration. Disclosed is a tabletop circular saw for which a main body equipped with a saw blade that is rotated by the driving of a motor is provided to be capable of vertical movement on a base on which a material to be cut is placed; the output shaft of the motor is provided parallel to a spindle of the saw blade; and an automatic torque adjustment mechanism, which is equipped with a drive pulley, a follower pulley, and a belt, and which automatically adjusts the torque transmitted from the output shaft to the spindle according to the load when the saw blade rotates, is provided between the output shaft and the spindle.
US08707831B2
A dual-drive self-ratcheting device, that efficiently converts alternating clockwise and counterclockwise rotation applied to its input, into unidirectional rotation at its output, by employing a plurality of means, such as, but, not limited to, ratchet and pawls or roller-type clutch mechanisms, oriented the same and arranged in tandem, on a common drive shaft and caused to alternately drive the shaft continuously in either all clockwise or counterclockwise direction, as oscillatory motion is applied to its input; while the first ratchet and pawl or roller clutch mechanism is caused to impart motion onto a drive-shaft, the second ratchet and pawl or roller clutch mechanism is simultaneously caused to override the driveshaft; while the second ratchet and pawl or roller clutch mechanism is caused to impart motion onto a drive-shaft, the first ratchet and pawl or roller clutch mechanism is simultaneously caused to override the driveshaft; hence regardless of the direction of rotation applied to the input, the output is either always clockwise or counterclockwise; dual-drive eliminates the need for unproductive ratcheting-up between drives.
US08707830B2
A socket for driving a fastener, having a damaged head, includes a hole defining an inner peripheral edge. The inner peripheral edge defines a plurality of engaging sides and slots. Each engaging side includes first, second, and third sections. The first section extends from one slot and approaches to a center of the hole, the second section extends from the first section and away from the center of the hole, and the third section extends from the second section and towards and connects to another slot.
US08707825B2
The teachings provided herein relate to an articulable crankset for converting a pedal-powered vehicle into a push-powered vehicle having the articulable crankset in a retracted position to provide at least less of an obstruction to a user's legs during use of the push-powered vehicle than a non-retractable crankset. The vehicle can be a bicycle, and the articulable crankset can be a component of a production bicycle or a component of a conversion kit that will convert a bicycle from a pedal-powered bicycle to a convertible bicycle that can also function as a push-powered bicycle.
US08707823B2
A pedal crank for a bicycle comprising structural fibers incorporated in a matrix of polymeric material which has two seats in which two metal inserts are received. The seats have a mouth which opens onto the outer surface of the pedal crank and have a geometry such as to allow the insertion of the inserts from outside of the pedal crank.
US08707820B2
A load-sensor-equipped vehicle operating pedal device includes a load sensor (30) having a case member (34) formed with a pair of mounting wall portions (62a, 62b) converged in a convex shape at a predetermined apex angle α. The pair of mounting wall portions (62a, 62b) are held in surface contact with a pair of rest surfaces (28a, 28b), formed in a sensor-mounting hole (28) in a fixed and positioned state. Thus, even if a direction of an input load (reactive force), applied to a clevis pin (26) varies with an operating pedal 16 being progressively depressed, the pair of rest surfaces (28a, 28b) always bear the input load via the pair of mounting wall portions (62a, 62b). This suppresses the case member (34) from flexure deforming due to stress concentration. As a result, positional displacement of a sensor is prevented regardless of a variation in the direction of the input load, improving detecting precision.
US08707815B2
A vehicle having a power generating device and a power transfer device. The power transfer device includes a plurality of gears in a housing within which the plurality of gears rotate. The plurality of gears include a first gear and a second gear, the first gear meshing with the second gear. The housing has a lubrication passage. The housing also has a lubrication slot and/or a spray nozzle in fluid communication with the lubrication passage. The lubrication slot and/or spray nozzle direct the fluid flowing therethrough toward where the first gear and second gear mesh.
US08707812B2
A ball screw (7, 24), having a threaded spindle (8, 28) which is mounted in a rolling fashion by balls (9, 27) on a threaded nut (10, 26) and which is supported on an axial bearing (13, 25), wherein the threaded spindle (8, 28) is axially supported with its first bearing surface (18, 23), which is convexly shaped with a radius of curvature (R1), on a preferably conically designed second bearing surface (19, 22), wherein the first bearing surface (18, 23) and the second bearing surface (19, 22) make contact with one another along a contact path (37), wherein a quotient formed from the ratio of the radius of curvature (R1) to the radius (R2) of the contact path (37) assumes values of between 1.2 and 2.4 inclusive.
US08707808B2
A sensor attachment device is provided for attaching a sensor device in such a way that removal of the sensor device without damage is ruled out, whereby the sensor device has a pair of holding fingers and a pin. The sensor attachment device has a first and a second pin recess corresponding to the pin of the sensor device. The sensor attachment device has a first and a second pair of holding finger recesses corresponding to the pair of holding fingers of the sensor device, whereby the second pin recess is offset by an offset distance with respect to the first pin recess and whereby the second pair of holding finger recesses is offset by the offset distance with respect to the first pair of holding finger recesses.
US08707798B2
A testing apparatus for characterizing a tension strength of a fillet bond of a test specimen may include a lower fixture and an upper fixture. The test specimen may include a skin component bonded to a stiffener component. The lower fixture may maintain the stiffener component in a fixed position. The upper fixture may engage the skin component at a pair of discrete engagement locations on opposite sides of the fillet bond. The upper fixture may be mechanically coupled to a gimbal joint and may substantially isolate the filet bond from asymmetric bending during application of a tension test load to the fillet bond.
US08707797B2
A sample for fatigue and/or crack growth testing, including an axisymmetric or cylindrical gage section with a concentric hole running from a first end, and terminating within the gage section, with one mode of loading introduced at the terminus of the hole, and reacted at the end where the hole originates. A second mode of loading is optionally introduced at a second end of the specimen. Use of the specimen is described in both in the context of an apparatus for fatigue/crack growth testing described in the referenced parent application, as well as with conventional test machines.
US08707795B2
A method for measuring fatigue on a metal or metal alloy structural part, which includes mounting a fatigue gage on a surface of the part, the fatigue gage being the same material as the part, applying electrical power on the gage and measuring the resistance of the fatigue gage, inspecting the fatigue gage at various time intervals by applying electric power on the gage and measuring the resistance of the fatigue gage; and analyzing the change of resistance of the fatigue gage at the various time intervals to determine fatigue on the part.
US08707784B2
A structure having a first movable portion displaced perpendicular to a substrate surface and a second movable portion displaced parallel to the substrate surface is realized by a laminated structure employing a nested structure for the first portion and the second portion. The laminated structure is provided with inner and outer movable portions. A y spring is connected to the outer portion, and the outer portion is supported in a y-axis direction by the y spring at a height apart from an outer substrate. A z spring is connected to the inner portion, and the inner portion is supported in a z-axis direction by the z spring at a height apart from the outer substrate. The outer portion and the z spring are at different heights from the substrate, and the z spring overpasses across the outer portion at a height apart from the outer movable portion.
US08707778B2
A tire condition monitoring system includes a transmission device, a receiving device, and a monitoring section. The transmission device includes a sensor which detects a condition of gas in a tire cavity area surrounded with a tire and a rim as tire information, a transmitter which wirelessly transmits the tire information, and a housing which houses the sensor and the transmitter. An opening portion of an air vent connecting a housing inner space and the cavity area is formed on top of a protruding portion protruding from the surface of the housing. An area of the opening portion is 0.4 mm2 or smaller. An area of contact between the top portion and a contact plane in contact with the top portion and perpendicular to a protruding direction of the protruding portion is not larger than 30% of the opening portion area.
US08707774B2
Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for sensor systems for measuring pressure in an exhaust conduit of a combustion engine. The sensor system includes an electronics module assembly and a housing assembly for housing the electronics module assembly. The electronics module assembly can include several components such as sensing element carrier element with a sensing element, an electronics module carrier element carrying electronic components. Electrical connections can be provided between the electronic module carrier element and the sensing element carrier element. Another component includes a main carrier element for supporting the sensing element carrier element and the electronic module carrier element.
US08707773B2
A method of monitoring oil in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes setting an original oil life, which is measured by event units occurring in the engine, and measuring a lapse of the event units. The method calculates a remaining oil life as a function of the lapse of event units and the original oil life. The remaining oil life is expressed in terms of the event units. The method monitors for oil additions and calculates an addition credit from any monitored oil additions. The method also includes calculating a modified oil life as a function of the addition credit, wherein the modified oil life is expressed in terms of the event units.
US08707771B2
A first passage has a branch position where a second passage is branched from the first passage to move air along a reference vector. The second passage accommodates a thermal sensor. The first passage has a throttle at a downstream of the branch position. The throttle has a throttle wall surface having a normal vector directed inwardly. A width direction is perpendicular to both a flow direction of air in the throttle and the reference vector. The throttle wall surface has a specific region, in which the normal vector includes a vector component in the width direction, and an angle θ between the normal vector and the reference vector is in a range of 90 degrees<θ<180 degrees.
US08707760B2
Embodiments of a front-end pre-concentrator module, a back-end pre-concentrator module and a gas analysis subsystem are disclosed, as well as gas analysis systems using combinations of the front-end pre-concentrator module, the back-end pre-concentrator module and the gas analysis subsystem. Embodiments of disposable and re-usable moisture removal filters are disclosed for use alone or in combination with a gas analysis system.
US08707753B2
To correctly recognize the 0 kg state and to reduce the time required for weight measurement. A body composition meter including a load cell for measuring a weight includes step of performing a measurement of an output value of the load cell in an initial state on which a measuring target does not ride, a storage unit for storing a plurality of measured output values of the initial state, step for creating 0 kg reference value data when variation of the plurality of output values in the initial state is within a predetermined range, and step of measuring using the initial reference value when measuring the weight with the load cell.
US08707750B2
The invention relates to such a method and apparatus, as well as to the resulting deformed object out of a relatively hard material such as e.g. a metal or plastic wire in which an undeformed section (2) is clamped near its ends (3, 4) and is subsequently upset in a controlled way by an axial pressure force (22) to a predefined shortened and thickened longitudinal section (5), with which simultaneously over substantially the entire contour sheath (19) of this section (2) a counterforce (29) is exerted so that, with the progressive deformation during upsetting, the total volume of the longitudinal section that is deforming, remains substantially constant. In this thickened section (5) a flattened zone (8) can subsequently be applied in order to realise a final shape (10) such as an opening (26). The invention concerns in particular also the use of a deformation line (40) for manufacturing a heddle for weaving looms.
US08707748B2
A turn down apparatus is disclosed for guiding a hot rolled product moving along a downwardly curved path. The apparatus comprises a stationary support structure having an open bottomed channel following the contour of the curved path. The channel has a top surface overlying the path, sides extending downwardly from the top surface, and ledges projecting inwardly from the sides. Wear resistant inserts are affixed in place in the channel. The inserts are arranged to line the top surface of the channel, with sides of the inserts overlapping the inwardly projecting ledges, and with the lengths of the inserts defining chords of the curved path.
US08707746B1
A lock includes a housing having an axial space and multiple radial top pin holes. Multiple through holes are defined through the housing and located corresponding to the space. A core is located in the space and has multiple radial bottom pin holes which communicate with the top pin holes respectively. A key hole is defined in the first end of the core and a connection member is connected to the second end of the core. The key hole communicates with the bottom pin holes. The housing has a connection portion located corresponding to the connection member. The through holes are located alternatively to the bottom pin holes. When the bottom pin holes are rotated to the through holes and the core moves axially, the connection member is connected to the connection portion. The through holes communicate with the bottom pin holes.
US08707745B2
A lock includes a lock body, a lock bar, and a locking mechanism. The lock body extends in a longitudinal direction between a first end defining a longitudinal passage and a second end. The lock bar is disposed within the passage and movable in a longitudinal direction between a securing position proximal to the second end and a release position distal to the second end, with a proximal end portion of the lock bar and the second end defining a first gap when the lock bar is in the release position. The locking mechanism is assembled within one of the lock body and the lock bar and is operable between a locking condition securing the lock bar against movement from the securing position to the release position, and an unlocked condition permitting movement of the lock bar from the securing position to the release position.
US08707741B2
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber preform by depositing glass fine particles onto a surface of a glass rod while the glass rod is reciprocated relative to a plasma torch, including: moving the glass rod in a first direction relative to the plasma torch while the plasma torch is applied to the glass rod and supplied at least with a dopant material and a glass material to deposit the glass fine particles onto the surface of the glass rod, in such a manner that a plasma power is set higher during a first time interval starting from a beginning of the movement of the glass rod in the first direction than during a second time interval starting from an end of the first time interval; and moving the glass rod in a second direction relative to the plasma torch, where the second direction is opposite to the first direction.
US08707738B2
A glass-melting furnace, which suppresses the effect of exhaust gas on molten glass quality, a process for producing molten glass, and a process and apparatus for producing glass products. The glass-melting furnace containing: a raw glass material particle feed portion disposed downwardly at a furnace wall portion in an upper portion of the glass-melting furnace; a heating unit provided under the feed portion, which forms a gas phase portion for converting raw glass material particles into liquid glass particles; a flue inlet disposed on the upstream side of the gas phase portion in a flow direction of the molten glass liquid; a furnace-bottom portion, which accumulates the liquid glass particles that produce the molten glass liquid; and a discharge portion, which discharges the molten glass liquid.
US08707730B2
A process comprising receiving an ethane-rich stream comprising at least about 70 molar percent ethane, conditioning the ethane-rich stream to a temperature such that the ethane-rich stream has a vapor pressure similar to the vapor pressure of conventional liquefied natural gas (LNG), and transporting the conditioned ethane-rich stream. Included is a plurality of processing equipment configured to implement a process comprising receiving an ethane-rich stream, adjusting a temperature, a pressure, or both of the ethane-rich stream such that the ethane-rich stream has a temperature from about −160° F. to about 0° F. and a pressure from about 14.7 pounds per square inch absolute (psia) to about 100 psia, and removing substantially all of any vapor fraction from the ethane-rich stream.
US08707726B2
A refrigerator including a main body provided with a freezing chamber, a freezing chamber door to open and close the freezing chamber, a subsidiary door to open and close an opening provided on the freezing chamber door, and an ice maker installed on the rear surface of the subsidiary door to manufacture ice. As the opening is opened by the subsidiary door, the ice maker is drawn out of the freezing chamber, thereby enabling a user to conveniently supply water to the inside of the ice maker or to conveniently use the ice manufactured by the ice maker.
US08707725B2
An ice making device with a manually removable water tank is provided. When mounted, this tank has a system for opening a valve that allows dispensing water into an ice making tray of the ice making device. The ice making tray is rotatable so that the ice cubes formed in the tray can be removed. The ice making tray may be rotated by a pair of gears, one of them holds the ice making tray in position and transmits a rotation force to the tray; this gear has a preload spring which generates an appropriate return force. The other gear is part of the lever, giving torsion to the tray and may be operated by a user. When rotating the tray, the ice cubes may fall directly into an ice bucket which can be removed from the system to externally serve ice.
US08707724B2
A refrigerator with an ice making chamber is provided. The refrigerator may include a main body that defines a cooling chamber, and lateral wall passages formed at a lateral wall of the cooling chamber. A door that is rotatably coupled to the cooling chamber may be provided with an ice making chamber installed on an interior side thereof, and a connection duct part that connects the ice making chamber to the lateral wall passages. The connection duct part may include passage forming members that define a cold air passage therein, and insulation portion formed around the passage forming members, whereby components of the duct may be quickly and easily assembled at correct positions.
US08707719B2
An air conditioner includes a refrigerant circuit, a switching valve, an outdoor fan and a controller. The refrigerant circuit sequentially circulates refrigerant through a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, a decompression mechanism and an outdoor heat exchanger during a heating operation. The switching valve is connected to the refrigerant circuit to switch a flow direction of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor. The controller executes a defrosting operation control in which the outdoor fan is deactivated and the switching valve directs refrigerant discharged from the compressor towards the outdoor heat exchanger during a defrosting operation. The controller further maintains the switching valve so refrigerant discharged from the compressor is directed towards the outdoor heat exchanger and executes a fan defrosting operation control in which the outdoor fan is rotated for a predetermined period of time after completion of the defrosting operation when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
US08707718B2
An engine configured to drive a compressor of a vehicle air conditioning system is controlled based on a threshold condition. In at least one embodiment, a comfort-level selection is received, a threshold condition is determined based on the comfort-level, and a vehicle interior condition is detected. The engine is requested to run if the interior condition exceeds the threshold condition.
US08707710B2
An expandable mid-turbine frame assembly includes a first bearing cone, a second bearing cone and a mid-turbine frame. The mid-turbine frame assembly connects to a gas turbine engine casing and transfers a first load from a first bearing and a second load from a second bearing towards the engine casing. The first bearing cone transfers the first load from the first bearing. The second bearing cone transfers the second load from the second bearing. The mid-turbine frame is connected to the first and second bearing cones and includes segments. Each segment includes a pre-stressed support for equilibrating the first and second loads.
US08707693B2
An energy harvesting system comprises a first region and a second region having a temperature difference therebetween. A plurality of heat engines are located proximate to the conduit and configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy. The heat engines each include a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy driven to rotate by heat exchange contact with each of the first region and the second region. At least one pulley for each of the plurality of heat engines is driven by the rotation of the respective shape memory alloy, and each of the at least one pulleys is operatively connected to a component to thereby drive the component.
US08707690B2
A hydraulic pump controlling apparatus of a construction machine according to the present disclosure includes: a hydraulic pump in which a swash plate angle is controlled to control a discharge flow; an auxiliary pump; a control valve controlling a flowing direction of a fluid discharged from the hydraulic pump and selectively supplying the fluid to an actuator; an orifice and a relief valve connected between a center bypass line of the control valve and a tank T to be parallel to each other; signal pressure selecting units receiving a fluid passing through the center bypass line of the control valve and a fluid discharged from the auxiliary pump, and selecting the pressure of any one of the fluids as a signal pressure; and a regulator receiving the signal pressure selected from the signal pressure selecting units to control the swash plate angle of the hydraulic pump, and the signal pressure selecting unit selects the pressure of the fluid discharged from the auxiliary pump as the signal pressure and transfers the selected pressure to the regulator when the construction machine is in an idle state.
US08707679B2
A system for a vehicle includes a triggering module and a cylinder control module. The triggering module generates a trigger when a catalyst temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature. In response to the generation of the trigger, the cylinder control module: disables opening of an exhaust valve of a cylinder for an exhaust phase of a first combustion cycle of the cylinder; disables opening of the exhaust valve for N combustion cycles of the cylinder that follow the first combustion cycle; and enables opening of the exhaust valve for a second combustion cycle that follows the N combustion cycles. N is an integer greater than zero.
US08707677B2
A vehicle includes an engine having an exhaust port, an exhaust system for conditioning an engine exhaust stream, a nitrogen oxide (NOx) sensor positioned within the exhaust stream, and a controller. The controller has an out-of-range diagnostic tool for evaluating a range performance of the sensor. The controller detects a predetermined engine-on fuel shutoff event, and then temporarily disables the diagnostic tool during the fuel shutoff event. The fuel shutoff event may be a vehicle deceleration-based event. A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device may be positioned within the exhaust system, with at least one NOx sensor positioned at the outlet of the SCR device. An additional NOx sensor may be positioned in proximity to the exhaust port. A method for use aboard the above vehicle includes detecting the engine-on fuel shutoff event via the controller, and temporarily disabling the diagnostic tool for the duration of the detected fuel shutoff event.
US08707673B1
Turbine systems are provided. A turbine system includes a transition duct comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a duct passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The duct passage includes an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The upstream portion extends from the inlet between an inlet end and an aft end. The downstream portion extends from the outlet between an outlet end and a head end. The turbine system further includes a joint coupling the aft end of the upstream portion and the head end of the downstream portion together. The joint is configured to allow movement of the upstream portion and the downstream portion relative to each other about or along at least one axis.
US08707671B2
A fuel control method for a gas turbine with a combustor being formed of at least two groups of a pluralities of main nozzles for supplying fuel, and that supplies fuel from the main nozzles of all groups upon ignition of the combustor (S1), and supplies fuel from three main nozzles of a group A during subsequent acceleration of the gas turbine (S3). Because fuel is injected from a small number of the main nozzles during acceleration, the fuel flow rate per one main nozzle is increased, thereby increasing the fuel-air ratio (fuel flow rate/air flow rate) in a combustion region and improving the combustion characteristics. Accordingly, the generation of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon is reduced, whereby no bypass valve is required and manufacturing costs are reduced. Because fuel is supplied from the main nozzles of all groups and burned in the entire area of the combustor upon ignition, it is possible to easily propagate a flame to all the other adjacent main nozzle groups, thereby improving the ignition characteristics of the whole gas turbine.
US08707667B2
A textile machine with multiple workstations equipped with a yarn processing device, and a drive shaft extending along multiple workstations, each yarn processing device connected to the drive shaft by a continuous traction means, and the drive shaft including multiple drive devices each guiding a continuous traction means. Each drive device has two grooves coaxially to the drive shaft, one of the grooves being part of a free wheel about the drive shaft. An output means is connected to each yarn processing device, each output means having front and rear guide grooves, the front groove at a free end of the output means and the rear groove adjacent the associated yarn processing device. Each traction means has one loop engaged in the rear groove of the associated output means and another loop engaged in the front groove through 180 degrees.
US08707661B2
A packing and filling machine produces a container by forming web-shaped packing material into a tube, filling the tube with liquid food up to a liquid level, and laterally sealing the tube with a seal jaw and a counter jaw under the liquid level. The machine includes a diagnostic device having a pressure flange above the position of the lateral sealing under the liquid level and including sterilized gas to detect a vibration propagated when the packing material is clamped by the seal jaw and counter jaw and to diagnose the residual quantity of sterilized gas from the vibration thus detected. The packing and filling machine operating at high speed does not damage the external surface or the longitudinal sealing portion of a packing container, and even the forming/lateral sealing pressing from the opposite sides at high speed does not have a tendency to vary or oscillate the liquid level.
US08707656B2
The present invention relates to a tower for a wind power installation. The tower comprises a wall extending from a foundation in an upwards direction towards a nacelle and defines an enclosed space. Furthermore, the tower comprises a safety blanket which is distended across the tower interior along an inner surface of the wall to thereby split the enclosed space into an upper compartment above the blanket and a lower compartment below the blanket. The safety blanket is flexible.
US08707652B2
The present invention relates to a building block serving as a mold when carrying out civil engineering and construction works and forming an external appearance of a structure, a building structure and a method of bricking a wall using the same. The building block comprises first and second exterior walls facing each other and spacing from each other in back and forth directions, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second exterior walls to each other and having an upper portion provided with a first mounting groove for mounting a width-directional reinforcing bar. Here, concavo-convex coupling portions are formed at inner peripheries of the first and second exterior walls, for concavo-convexly coupling to each adjacent block, and here, leakage preventing recesses are respectively formed at outer peripheries of the first and second exterior walls.
US08707641B2
A two-piece cylindrical telescopic canning sleeve comprising an inner lower member and an upper outer member. The outer member is provided with at least one set of a plurality of engagement devices. The inner lower member is provided with at least one set of a plurality of engagement devices complimentary to the engagement devices provided with the outer member. The telescopic canning sleeve is assembled for use by aligning the engagement devices of the outer member with the engagement devices of the lower member, then sliding the outer member over the inner member until the desired functional height of the canning sleeve is reached after which, the outer member is frictionally engaged with the inner member by twisting the outer sleeve member to the inner member so that the complimentary engagement devices frictionally communicate.
US08707636B1
A memorial foundation system includes a pair of vertical supports having screw threads on their bottom ends and first attachment structure at their upper ends. Support plates corresponding to the vertical supports have respective second attachment structures configured to mate with the first attachment structures. A block has a first end supported by one of the pair of support plates and one of the pair of vertical supports and a second opposite end supported by the other of the pair of support plates and the other of the pair of vertical supports. The block includes a plurality of pockets in a row, each of the pockets open to an upper side. Each of a plurality of markers is configured to be received by a corresponding one of the plurality of pockets in the block to arrange the plurality of markers in an aligned row with even height.
US08707629B2
A tradeshow booth is constructed of portions including structural members [10, 28, 44, 56, 56a, 72, 103]. Each of these portions are constructed of laminated cardboard or other similar easily recyclable material, Vertical L-shaped beam members [74] connect upper and lower structural members together to form portions of a tradeshow booth. The individual portions are in turn connected together using U-shaped connectors [68], and which may be locked in place by gussets [62]. A decorative or advertising display covering [90] covers the assembled portions. Significantly, the entire tradeshow booth is extremely lightweight and strong, and may be assembled entirely by hand without using tools of any kind.
US08707628B1
A plantation window shutter comprises a frame and a plurality of shutter blades pivotably supported by the frame in a fan configuration. The frame comprises a front surface and a rear surface. The rear surface has a plurality of upper grooves and a plurality of lower grooves, each upper groove being axially aligned with a respective lower groove. Each of the shutter blades has a longitudinal pivotal axis and a top pivot and a bottom pivot aligned along the axis, the top pivot and the bottom pivot being received in respective upper groove and the lower groove for pivotal motion therein. At least one member is attached to the rear surface disposed to bridge over the upper grooves and the lower grooves, thereby to capture the top and bottom pivots within respective the upper grooves and the lower grooves.
US08707623B2
A window opening device for use in an automobile door. The device including a motor having a drive gear comprised of a tooth region and a head region. The diameter of the head region is greater than the diameter of the tooth region. A sector gear engages the tooth region and the head region overlaps the sector gear. A first lever arm has a drive end engaging the sector gear and a window end engaging a window. The motor is secured to a body plate configured for mounting to a door. The body plate includes an opening through which the drive gear passes to facilitate engagement with the sector gear.
US08707617B2
A greenhouse generally comprising a growing section and a climate control system adjacent to the growing section. The climate control system controls the environment within the growing section by flowing ambient air from outside the greenhouse into the growing section, re-circulating air from the growing section back into the growing section, or a combination thereof. A method for controlling the temperature within a greenhouse growing section comprises flowing air into the growing section from outside the greenhouse to reduce the temperature in the growing section. Warm air is flowed into the growing section to increase the temperature in the growing section, and air within the growing section is re-circulated when the temperature therein is at the desired level.
US08707614B2
This disclosure relates to the field of illuminated insect-catching devices. In particular to insect-catching devices comprising an adhesive surface upon which insects are trapped. In particular the illuminating component is electrically powered.
US08707603B2
A firearm butt stock includes a portable GPS unit having a display on a surface, and control buttons on adjacent surface/surfaces, and a butt stock including a cavity defined by sidewalls formed in one side thereof intermediate a rearward end and a forward end. The cavity receives the portable GPS unit therein with the display facing outwardly. Attachment apparatus removably secures the portable GPS unit within the cavity.
US08707602B1
An electrically-ignited muzzle loader is provided having a stock portion, a trigger assembly, and a barrel portion. The trigger assembly is electrically coupled to a spark plug which extends partially into the barrel portion of the gun. Within the stock is a hand cranked magneto for generating an electric charge. The magneto is electrically coupled to capacitor and coil portions to configure the electrical charge so as to cause the spark plug to generate an igniting spark.
US08707599B2
A sign holder has a main portion, a sign or display holding member, a detachable portion, and a breakaway portion. The main portion has a first gripping member and at least first and second receiving members. The sign or display holding member is attached to the main portion and is arranged to releasably and frictionally hold a sign or display. The detachable portion includes a second gripping member and an engagement member. The breakaway portion detachably attaches the main portion and the detachable portion to one another. The engagement member is arranged to engage one of the first and second receiving members in a manner permitting the first and second gripping members to grip a fixture so as to hold the sign holder to the fixture.
US08707595B2
Retractor safety device for identifying and controlling hazardous areas associated with unmarked, unbarricaded or unprotected areas of Construction and General Industry work sites, as well as any application requiring pedestrian movement-control, designed to meet all required safety standards in terms of color and signage, and will incorporate a variety of elements to promote visibility and ease of use. Retractor safety device is an industrial-grade, reusable caution/danger/hazard tape retractor that attaches by means of a universal mounting bracket, includes a manually- or automatically-operated tape-locking mechanism, as well as a quick-connect, universal tape attachment with Lock-Out, Tag-Out (LOTO) capabilities, and field cleanable/maintainable.
US08707594B2
A card holder assembly for holding multiple transaction cards, such as gift cards, to a common backer panel for presentation and sale. Cards mounted on the backer panel may be lifted for scanning by a card reader without necessitating removal of the cards from the assembly.
US08707580B2
A dryer having an improved automatic dryness detection circuit is provided. Wet clothing in the dryer bin contacts a sensor and causes a pulse to be sent to a microcontroller if the resistance of the clothes is low enough. The microcontroller disregards pulses which are shorter than a threshold time and counts pulses which are longer than a threshold time. The microcontroller issues a termination signal if the rate of pulses is lower than a threshold rate.
US08707577B2
Embodiments of the present invention include an adjustable hairdryer permitting a user to rotate and vertically adjust the barrel portion of a hand-holdable dryer. Embodiments of the invention disclose ball-and-socket and disc joint couplings between a hairdryer barrel and handle. Embodiment linkage apparatus is disclosed providing mechanical contact between the barrel and a rotatory electrical interface, permitting the barrel to be freely rotatable relative to the handle while maintaining electrical contact.
US08707574B2
A template for forming an opening in a surface includes a substrate having parallel first and second planar surfaces. The first planar surface includes parallel first and second lengthwise edges. The first planar surface also includes parallel first and second widthwise edges, where the second widthwise edge is perpendicular to the first and second lengthwise edges. First matching measurement index markings are located on the first planar surface along the first and second lengthwise edges. Second matching measurement index markings are located on the first planar surface along the first and second widthwise edges. A lengthwise slot is formed in the substrate parallel to the first and second lengthwise edges. Lengthwise measurement index markings are located on the first planar surface adjacent to a lengthwise edge of the lengthwise slot. A widthwise slot is formed in the substrate parallel to the first and second widthwise edges.
US08707568B2
A top-handle portable working machine includes a grip configuration that makes it easy for a worker to manipulate the implement as intended in order to adapt to tasks in which accuracy, fineness, or an attractive finish is needed. The direction of an axis in which the top grip extends and the direction of a working axis of the implement are inclined from each other in a vertical direction so as to intersect at a point to the rear of the housing at angle between 15 and 25°.
US08707558B2
A threaded weld fitting and a method of welding a threaded weld fitting to the tank wall of a water storage tank are provided. The threaded weld fitting comprises a body defining an aperture and having a facing surface configured to be positioned facing the tank wall. A female thread is formed along the aperture. A first beveled surface portion of the facing surface extends from an edge of the body. A landing surface portion of the facing surface extends from the first beveled surface portion toward a longitudinal axis of the aperture. A second beveled surface portion of the facing surface extends from the landing surface and to the female thread. The landing surface portion and the second beveled surface portion together define an open annular area positioned to receive a portion of a weld formed by welding the threaded weld fitting to the tank wall.
US08707553B2
A method and system for improving alignment precision of a pair of MEMS parts. The method involves stacking the two parts such that at least one rolling element is between facing surfaces of said two parts, and each rolling element has a first diameter and an axis of rotation parallel to the facing surfaces. The first and second of a pair of MEMS parts respectively include a first alignment pad and a second alignment pad and a liquid drop formed in contact with both alignment pads can align the two parts which can then be locked together by solidification of solder while remaining spaced by the first diameter.
US08707548B2
An electronic component mounting apparatus includes a head unit, component supply device, camera unit, and controller controlling the head unit and component supply device. The component supply device has a holder holding electronic component accommodating tapes, each having storage cells arranged in a row, the storage cells storing electronic components, and a feeder forwarding the electronic component accommodating tapes and moving the storage cells to a suction area where the electronic component can be suctioned by the nozzle. The camera unit is fixed to a head support, and captures an image of the suction area. The controller analyzes the image of the suction area obtained by the camera unit. When the controller determines that a portion of the electronic component accommodating tape in the suction area is a spliced portion based on a result of the analysis, the controller determines that the electronic component accommodating tape is changed.
US08707538B2
A clamp tool that has stop edges and ear edges is disclosed. In one embodiment, stop edges close against each other while the ear edges, being cut deeper than the stop edges, do not touch each other and provide a space between which an ear of a clamp is position and closed by the clamp tool without cutting or nicking unnecessarily into the ear of the clamp. The width of the stop edges is predetermined to provide an alignment for proper alignment of the clamp on a hose that obscures features of a fitting that is positioned beneath the hose.
US08707530B2
A rivet gun has a barrel, a handle assembly, a cylinder and a seal ring assembly. The handle assembly is mounted under the barrel and has a hydraulic shaft and a handle mounted around the hydraulic shaft and having an annular shoulder. The cylinder has a top cover, an annular body and a bottom seat. The top cover is mounted under the handle and contacts the annular shoulder. A diameter of the top cover is larger than a diameter of the annular shoulder such that an outer periphery of the top cover protrudes radially out from an outer periphery of the annular shoulder instead of being covered by the annular shoulder. The annular body is mounted detachably on the top cover. The bottom seat is mounted detachably on the annular body. The rivet gun is allowed to change cylinders of different sizes or types.
US08707527B2
A method for providing coil shaved metal fibers according to the present invention comprises the steps of -providing a metal composite foil, the metal composite foil comprising oat least two metal layers (Lx) for being converted into metal fibers, each pair of adjacent metal layers are mutually separated by a sacrificial layer (Sy) provided from a sacrificial metal, each sacrificial layer (Sy) having a first and second surface, whereby for each sacrificial layer, the first surface contacts one of the pair of adjacent metal layers, the second surface is contacting the other of the pair of adjacent metal layers; -coiling said metal composite foil on a shaft thereby providing a metal coil having one free end surface; -rotating the metal coil and cutting the free end surface of the metal coil by means of a cutting tool, thereby providing a bundle of composite fibers; -removing the sacrificial metal of the sacrificial layers from the composite fibers thereby providing a bundle of metal fibers, each metal fiber being obtained from one of the metal layers (Lx).
US08707513B2
An upright vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a suction airstream inlet and a suction airstream outlet. A dirt container is selectively mounted to the housing for receiving and retaining dirt and dust separated from the suction airstream and includes a first cyclonic air-flow chamber and a second cyclonic airflow chamber. The chambers are spaced apart and are each approximately vertically oriented and arranged in a parallel relationship. An air manifold is disposed at a top portion of the dirt container. The air manifold includes an inlet section through which dirty air passes and an outlet section. The inlet section directs a flow of dirty air into two separate inlet conduits leading to a respective one of the first and second airflow chambers. The outlet section collects a flow of cleaned air from both of the chambers and merges the flow of cleaned air into a single outlet conduit.
US08707510B2
An extraction cleaner comprises a fluid delivery system and a fluid recovery system. The fluid recovery system includes a centrifugal separator for separating a liquid and debris-entrained working air flow with a tangential air/water inlet, water outlet and air outlet at a lower portion of the separator. The air outlet has a vertical stand pipe that extends upwardly above the tangential air/water inlet and water outlet. The centrifugal separator can be mounted in a plurality of locations on the extraction cleaner thereby offering greater architectural flexibility.
US08707502B2
A cleaning device for golf equipment that is attachable to a wheel is disclosed. The device generally comprises a cleaning support surface for attachment of one or more cleaning accessories. The cleaning support surface is formed in a substantially bowl shape, having a front surface and an opening in place of a rear surface. A perimeter edge is formed along the bottom edge of the cleaning support surface. The perimeter edge includes one or more attachment members for attaching the device to a wheel, such as a golf cart wheel or the like.
US08707500B2
A toothbrush can include a handle and a head. At least one bristle can be attached to the head. The toothbrush can also have an illumination member, an illumination circuit and an activation device. A pliant base on the handle can be used to activate the activation device to initiate the illumination circuit.
US08707484B2
A patient support structure includes a pair of independently height-adjustable supports, each connected to a patient support structure. The supports may be independently raised, lowered, rolled or tilted about a longitudinal axis, laterally shifted and angled upwardly or downwardly. Position sensors are provided to sense all of the foregoing movements. The sensors communicate data to a computer for coordinated adjustment and maintenance of the inboard ends of the patient support structures in an approximated position during such movements. Longitudinal translation structure provides for compensation in the length of the structure when the supports are angled upwardly or downwardly. Patient translation structure provides coordinated translational movement of the patient's upper body along the respective patient support in a caudad or cephalad direction as the support structures are angled upwardly or downwardly for maintaining proper spinal biomechanics and avoiding undue spinal traction or compression.
US08707479B2
A sleeping bag constructed such that its outer circumference is greater than its inner circumference includes additional integrated protuberances, or space fillers, that are added to the interior lining of the sleeping bag to fill-in around the sleeper's body. Making the circumference of the outside of the bag greater than the inside maintains the thickness of the insulation in selected areas. To maintain insulation thickness at other locations around the sleeper's body, the insulation-containing space fillers are incorporated into the interior of the bag and expand under the influence of the insulation to fill-in around the sleeper for reducing the internal volume of the bag. This construction can be carried the length of the sleeping bag.
US08707472B2
A protective hood (18) of a protective garment (16) is provided for use with a face piece or mask (12) worn by a user. The hood (18) includes an outer shell (30) having a peripheral edge (20), and a gasket (22) that extends from the peripheral edge (20) to an interior of the hood (18) for sealing engagement with the face piece or mask (12) with the gasket (22) being covered by the outer shell (30) of the hood (18) when worn by a user.
US08707470B1
An integrated impact energy absorption system application for enhanced safety performance of sports related protective head gear. A multiplicity of pattern positioned energy shock absorption impact strips of high performance dual elastomeric polyurethane resin of the invention are selectively secured in a pattern orientation on a sports helmet to protect critical vulnerable locations on the exterior thereof. Preformed impact absorption strips are of a composite construction having internalized compartment energy attenuating cells in a repetitive matrix construction for enhanced forced absorption and deflection to the helmet surface to which they are so secured.
US08713709B2
A computer program product for secure key management is provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes creating a token and populating the token with key material, and binding key control information to the key material. The key control information includes information relating to management of the key material populating one or more key management fields that define attributes that limit distribution of the key material.
US08713702B2
A method for distributing digital media content, including the use of a digital performance right key that is unique for a media content and a subscriber of the digital media content distribution service, and apparatuses configured to practice the method or portions thereof, are described herein.
US08713699B2
A mechanism for securing information by hiding identity in a computing device is disclosed. A method includes generating, by a computing device, a dummy profile of the computing device. The dummy profile is a clone of a home profile stored in the computing device and the home profile is assigned to a user authorized to use the computing device. The method also includes altering, based on instructions from the user, the dummy profile to remove data that the user indicates is not to be included in the dummy profile. The method further includes switching a current operating profile of the computing device from the home profile to the dummy profile and executing the computing device in a normal operation mode using the dummy profile.
US08713692B2
A system and method that accepts material from the Internet, computes and maintains a computationally unique representation of the received material in a database, computes a computationally unique representation of the updated database state as a whole, publishes material and database representations in various forms for the global Internet audience to witness, and returns a time stamped attestation to the submitter of material as proof of the material being witnessed on the Internet along with unique database state and revenue generating advertisements. Published representations may include pictures, common words, or hexadecimal character string to facilitate Internet searching mechanisms.
US08713691B2
A system which implements a method for providing attribute data. A request is received from a user device via a network for a virtual ID token relating to attribute information pertaining to a subscriber associated with the user device. A data record including L attributes of the subscriber is read from a database, L being at least 2. The data record is provided to the user device via the network. A selection of M attributes of the L attributes is received from the user device via the network, M being less than L. A virtual record including the M attributes selected from the data record is generated, the virtual record including a virtual ID (VID) for identifying the virtual record. The generated virtual record is stored in the database. The virtual ID token is provided to the user device via the network, wherein the virtual ID token includes the VID.
US08713682B2
An adaptive normal behavior profile (NBP) architecture for providing fast protection of enterprise applications are disclosed. The adaptive NBP architecture includes a plurality of profile items. Each profile item includes a plurality of profile properties holding the descriptive values of the respective item. An application-level security system can identify and prevent attacks targeted at enterprise applications by matching application events against at least a single profile item in the adaptive NBP.
US08713672B2
According to one embodiment, an apparatus may receive a token that indicates a change that occurs during a session. The session may facilitate access to a resource. The token may indicate a risk token should be computed. The apparatus may determine, from the token, a first set of attributes. The first set of attributes may include attributes required to compute the risk token. The apparatus may determine that a cache contains a set of cached attributes. The apparatus may examine an attribute in the set of cached attributes, and determine the attribute in the set of cached attributes is not in the first set of attributes. The apparatus may then remove the attribute in the set of cached attributes from the cache.
US08713670B2
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: determining which of a plurality of users detected in proximate vicinity of a computing device has primary control of the computing device, the computing device designed for presenting one or more items; ascertaining one or more particular formats for formatting the one or more items based, at least in part, on said determining; and presenting, via the computing device, the one or more items in the one or more particular formats. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08713656B2
A system and method whereby the identity of a person, entity, device or the like attempting to gain access to a secured resource may be securely authenticated includes a means for receiving from a requester purporting to be an authorized user of a secured resource a request for access by an unauthorized user (such as, for example, a retail store, a service station, an on-line service provider or merchandiser, a healthcare provider, a medical insurer, an information consumer or the like) to the secured resource; a means for generating and communicating to the purported authorized user a challenge string adapted to provide a basis for authenticating the identity of the requester; a means for receiving a response string corresponding to the challenge string; and a means for evaluating the response string to authenticate the identity of the requester.
US08713654B2
In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, every time a user submits a form the client software tries to match the submitted information with the stored profile of that user. If a match is discovered, the program tags the field of the recognized data with a corresponding type. The resulting profile can be used after that to help all subsequent users to fill the same form.
US08713653B2
According to one embodiment, a storage stores secret data, first identification data, and a first random key. A generation module generates first authentication data from the secret data, first identification data, and second identification data of a removable medium. A first verification module determines whether the first authentication data and second authentication in the removable medium are identical. A second verification module determines whether the first random key and a second random key in the removable medium are identical, if the first and second authentication data are identical. An activation module activates the data processing apparatus if the first and second random keys are identical.
US08713651B1
Some embodiments provide an advocate system to facilitate automated online presence verification for different entities on behalf of the entities. The advocate system places service providers on notice that profiles and information hosted by them and that form the online presence for a particular entity should first be verified with that particular entity. The advocate system further facilitates online presence verification by 1) directly or indirectly connecting the service providers that are placed on notice with the appropriate authoritative entities to facilitate the verification of the profiles and information, 2) selectively targeting service providers hosting profiles and information that are unverified, 3) automatedly verifying hosted profiles and information based on a verified profile lists and verified information that authoritative entities provide to a central repository. In so doing, the advocate system prevents potential damage to the authoritative entity's credibility while also mitigating potential for fraud, identity theft, etc.
US08713649B2
A system and method can provide subnet manager (SM) restrictions in an InfiniBand (IB) network. A first SM in a subnet in the IB network operates to determine whether a second SM associated with a remote port is trustworthy. Furthermore, the first SM is allowed to send at least one of a request and a response that contains a management key to the second SM, if the first SM determines that the second SM is trustworthy. Additionally, the first SM is prevented from attempting to initiate communication with the second SM, if otherwise.
US08713642B2
A role mapping method and system for a collaborative computing environment in provided. A set of permissions defining access to a generic business component for a named permission set is stored in a database. The set of permissions for the named permission set are mapped to an abstract role. Based on these mappings, access permissions to a business component instance within a community can be set.
US08713636B2
A computer network is disclosed in which a group of computers co-operate to perform a distributed application. In order to ensure that only members of that group of computers are able to carry out certain operations, messages sent in the performance of the distributed application are checked by the recipient for the presence of a group membership token. The inclusion of a group membership token is controlled by one or more group membership handlers which intercept messages from local components and only include a group membership token with the message if they list the sending local component as being entitled to include the group membership token in the message. Furthermore, by operating the group membership token on a separate machine, or preferably a separate virtual machine from the local component, security is further improved. In the most preferred embodiments, the group token handler and/or the local component are hosted on virtual machines which provide virtualised cryptographic functionality.
US08713632B2
A user authentication system is provided with a client apparatus and an authentication server. An application program used for processing the measurement results of the measuring apparatus is installed on the client apparatus. Databases for storing use authority information of the application program are provided on the authentication server. A user inputs authentication information when operating the client apparatus and the application program is started. The client apparatus sends the authentication information to the authentication server, and an authentication process is performed by the authentication server. When authentication is successful, the use authority information of this user is sent from the authentication server to the client apparatus, and the client apparatus sets the application use restrictions according to the use authority information.
US08713623B2
In a cable television system in accordance with the invention, program materials are made available to subscribers in a neighborhood on an as needed basis. Specifically, when a subscriber at a set-top terminal selects a program channel to watch, the selection request is transmitted to a headend of the system. In response to such a request, a controller in the headend determines whether the material of the selected program channel has been made available to the neighborhood. If it has been made available, the controller identifies to the set-top terminal the carrier which is carrying the requested program material, and to which the set-top terminal tunes to obtain the requested program material. Otherwise, the controller assigns an unused carrier to carry the requested program material, and informs the set-top terminal of the identity of the newly assigned carrier. The controller also retires those carriers assigned for the program channels which are no longer watched by the subscribers in the neighborhood.
US08713622B2
Methods and systems are described for providing complete Internet anywhere with partial server processing in which a request is sent from a set-top-box (STB) to a server communicatively coupled with the STB to process a portion of a web page that is unsupported by a web browser running on the STB. In one such method, the STB sends to the server an unsupported content request associated with a portion of a web page that is unsupported by a web browser executing on the STB. The STB receives a data stream from the server in response to the unsupported content request. The data stream was generated at the server by processing the unsupported portion of the web page. The STB composites the received data stream with another portion of the web page, that is supported by the web browser, to produce the web page.
US08713621B2
Method, systems and devices for error reporting in a video distribution network are disclosed. A method may include determining that a network communication error has occurred in a video distribution network. The method may also include sending an error reporting interface to a video display. The method may also include receiving a send error report selection via the error reporting interface. In response to receiving the send error report selection, the method may perform at least one action.
US08713620B2
Methods and apparatus for supporting on-demand content services, using conventional non-IP based VOD servers are described. The methods and apparatus of the present invention, through the use of a protocol converter and/or a content redirector, can be used to enable a conventional VOD server to supply content to a customer premise equipment (CPE) device which supports IP based content delivery and/or RSTP control of content delivery. The protocol converter of the invention can be implemented as an RTSP-ISA PROXY. The RTSP Proxy converts messages between RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) to the appropriate ISA protocol signal or another protocol format. The proxy module handles the conversion between these formats and converts a received signal, e.g. message, into the format required by the device which responds by implementing the operation requested by the signal.
US08713612B2
A hospitality media system includes a plurality of entertainment devices installed at a hospitality location and a content selector. The content selector is configured to retrieve a plurality of user profiles corresponding to current users of the hospitality location, and automatically adjust content made available on each of the entertainment devices at the hospitality location according to information stored in the user profiles.
US08713602B2
An apparatus, method, and system are provided for associating or tying an audio source/content to visual/video content. A request to tie a selected audio source to visual/video content may be received. Upon receiving the request, the selected audio source may be tied to the visual/video content. Audio received from the selected audio source may be substituted for audio associated with the visual/video content. One or more synchronization techniques/methods may be used to synchronize audio content with visual/video content.
US08713595B2
Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer's television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information.
US08713592B2
A content hosting system allows content providers to create channels of video content and make them available to users in a marketplace. Users can search or browse for channels of interest, and selectively subscribe to channels. Users can also pay for the right to view premium videos in each channel. The system ranks channels according to the value provided. Generally, users will seek out and subscribe to the highest ranked channels that provide the greatest value. The ranking function allows different providers to compete for the subscriptions of users. Providers can observe their channel's reception in the market by analyzing rankings and usage statistics to adjust channels to maximize channel performance. The system operator can also create bundled channels containing videos from multiple providers, and the resulting subscription revenue can be distributed to the various providers of the videos in the channel.
US08713587B2
Provided is an optical disc drive having a tray to receive a disc. The tray includes a hollow portion having a bottom corresponding to the disc and a wall surrounding a portion of the bottom, and a plurality of supporting portions formed on the bottom of the hollow portion to locally support a bottom surface of the disc.
US08713582B2
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for providing policy-based operating system services in an operating system on a computing system. The computing system includes at least one compute node. The compute node includes an operating system that includes a kernel and a plurality of operating system services of a service type. Providing policy-based operating system services in an operating system on a computing system includes establishing, on the compute node, a kernel policy specifying one of the operating system services of the service type for use in the operating system, and accessing, by the kernel, the specified operating system service. The computing system may also be implemented as a distributed computing system that includes one or more operating system service nodes. One or more of the operating system services may be distributed among the operating system service nodes.
US08713579B2
Various embodiments involve monitoring the execution of jobs in a work plan. For example, a system maintains a risk level associated with the critical job may be maintained to represent whether the execution of a job preceding the critical job has a problem, and a list associated with the critical job may be maintained so as to quickly identify the preceding job which may cause a delay to the critical job execution.
US08713578B2
This disclosure describes monitoring the execution of jobs in a work plan. In an embodiment, a system maintains a risk level associated with the critical job to represent whether the execution of a job preceding the critical job has a problem, and it maintains the list associated with the critical job so as to quickly identify the preceding job which may cause a delay to the critical job execution.
US08713572B2
Methods, systems, and physical computer-readable storage medium for processing a plurality of IO request jobs are provided. The method includes determining whether one or more request jobs are not meeting a QoS target, each job of the one or more request jobs having a corresponding priority, selecting a highest priority job from the one or more request jobs, if one or more request jobs are not meeting the QoS target, determining whether the highest priority job has a corresponding effective rate limit imposed thereon, if so, relaxing the corresponding effective rate limit, and if not, selecting one or more lower priority jobs from the one or more request jobs and tightening a corresponding effective limit on the one or more lower priority jobs from the one or more request jobs in accordance with a delay factor limit.
US08713567B2
A method performed by an embedded system controlled by a CPU and capable of operating as a virtualized system under supervision of a hypervisor or as a non-virtualized system under supervision of an operating system, is provided. The embedded system is executed in a normal mode if no execution of any security critical function is required by the embedded system, where the normal mode execution is performed under supervision of the operating system. If a security critical function execution is required by the embedded system, where protected mode execution is performed under supervision of the hypervisor, the operating system is switching execution of the embedded system from normal mode to protected mode, by handing over the execution of the embedded system from the operating system to the hypervisor, and when execution of the security critical function is no longer required by the embedded system is switched from protected mode to normal mode, under supervision of the hypervisor.
